Eye injury caused by cage mate?

[Watsoon]

Today when I came home from work I found one of my GP’s with a bleeding eye, he seemed fine in himself but I took him to the vet immediately. They said he’d scratched the conjunctiva(I think) of his eye, not the cornea, which is good news, and we now have some eye drops to help heal it and prevent infection.
I was just wondering how likely it is that it was his brother and cagemate that caused it?
I never see them fight, just the usual dominance behaviours (injured piggy is less dom). Neither are neutered and they’re about 9 months old. Every person I’ve spoken to including the vet seems to think it was due to fighting so I’m worried, I’d hate to split them up. Is it more likely he accidentally scratched it himself or some hay poked it?
I can’t see any other signs that they’re fighting, no bite marks, missing fur or cuts/scabs.
If it was a fight, would it be easier to split them up with a divider to they can still see each other or get them neutered?

 

[Wiebke]

Today when I came home from work I found one of my GP’s with a bleeding eye, he seemed fine in himself but I took him to the vet immediately. They said he’d scratched the conjunctiva(I think) of his eye, not the cornea, which is good news, and we now have some eye drops to help heal it and prevent infection.
I was just wondering how likely it is that it was his brother and cagemate that caused it?
I never see them fight, just the usual dominance behaviours (injured piggy is less dom). Neither are neutered and they’re about 9 months old. Every person I’ve spoken to including the vet seems to think it was due to fighting so I’m worried, I’d hate to split them up. Is it more likely he accidentally scratched it himself or some hay poked it?
I can’t see any other signs that they’re fighting, no bite marks, missing fur or cuts/scabs.
If it was a fight, would it be easier to split them up with a divider to they can still see each other or get them neutered?

Hi and welcome!

Eye injuries are generally much more likely caused by hay stalks than by the occasional misjudged back leg swipe although it can happen.

Even so, there is a huge difference between an accidental injury from a glancing swipe (which is about the equivalent of an elbow push) and a full-on intentional deep bite during a fight - the piggies see it so, and you will generally perceive the difference in their behaviour.
Piggies are often very shocked after a serious altercation and don't go back to normal that quickly (if they don't end up with a grudge match anyway). The exception is bullying when the bullied piggy is not able to stand up for themself and the rump can end up covered in bites.

As you aren't reporting any of the 'red alert' signs, it is most likely that the scratch has not been caused by a major problem between the boys and that there is no reason to split them up.
Generally the time between 8-10 months is a phase where the boys are constantly pushing the limit and are your typical annoying teenagers, but in the majority of cases any real personality mismatches have long since clashed at around 4 and 6 months (start and end of the testicles descending). Fall-outs and full-on fights are actually comparatively rare at this time as the boys are generally careful to not push each other over the line; just right up to it.

You may find the information in these two very detailed and comprehensive guides helpful that talk you through all aspects, including how to evaluate whether a bond is still functional or not:
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?