Fighting brothers and polycystic sows

[Animal.Lover]

Hello, I have been reading various threads on here about brothers that dont seem to be getting along and just wondered if i could have some advice please?

Bubble and squeak are about a year (came from rescue so not 100% sure on age) they have lived together all there life but these past few days they have started really fighting, they always used to try and hump each other and chase each other and a little bit of *friendly* teeth chattering and rumbling.

Last night bubble bit squeak on the ear and grazed it enough to draw a tiny bit of blood, they were separated for last night and I have just put them in the run together but again they have started fighting so they have been put in separate runs, I will separated the hutch floors but should i assume they will have to be kept separate from now on?

I have 2 sows with polycystic ovaries which have to be kept separate as they fight, I have tried paring them with some of the other sows but they seem to fight, if the boys were neutered would paring them with the lone sows be an option or would it be best to leave all 4 separate or try boar dating?

I have another set of boars which live fine together and a set of sow which live fine together too so 8 piggies in total

Thanks in advance
Kelly

 

[Wiebke]

I would see how your boys are after a bit of a cool down, a bath with the same shampoo and reintroductions on neutral ground. Give the testosterone surge time to subside. If they still don't get on, then I would recommend to separate. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562

With neutering you best find an experienced vet; that will cut down on the risks of having post op complications. You will also have to wait 6 weeks after the operation until your boys are 100% safe to go with girls.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm
http://www.guinealynx.info/vet.html

As to your hormonal sows - be aware that they may be as aggressive towards boars as they are towards other girls; in the long run, they may be happiest living as singles alongside other piggies with contact through mesh/grids. In view of the girls making rather doubtful partners, boar dating is probably a much less expensive and risky option.

 

[Suzygpr]

I would seriously consider having your girls spayed in light of the fact they are both polycystic. You could then see if they can pair up with a boar each, removing the need for the boys to be neutered and dealing with the girls' hormonal problems at the same time.

Great Western Vets in Swindon have a lot of experience with small animals and if they used the same technique that Molly Varga (Cheshire) uses the incidence of post op complications that other vets seem to encounter through spaying are much diminished.

If at all possible I would use Molly over any other vet for spaying.

Recently I asked her about cyst/spays/hormonal treatments and her reply is below.

"Approximately 75% of guinea pig sows between 1.5-5 years old will have some type of ovarian cyst. Not all of these sows will experience any ill-effects. Cysts may be associated with tumours within the uterus, overgrowth of the uterus lining and inflammation or infection within the uterus. When I see these guinea pigs as cases it is usually for hair loss, reduction in appetite or blood in the urine. It is difficult to predict which females will show clinical signs of cysts however if they are not intended for breeding neutering can be a good option. I would agree that surgery can be drastic; however the flank technique where only the ovaries are removed through two incisions high on the sows side is very easy and very well tolerated by most sows. It is less invasive than the more common abdominal approach (the incision in this case is on the bottom of the belly) and recovery is faster. Hormone injections can be effective for some ovarian cysts, but not all types respond, and all hormone injections can cause side effects so these are not my treatment of choice."

HTH

Suzy x

 

[Animal.Lover]

Thanks to both of you for your replies, both really useful, I am going to try bathing and introducing on neutral ground tomorrow, I am also going to move them into a larger hutch i brought for the other boys if they seem to get on. I suppose take one step at a time hopefully hopefully hopefully they will re bond, I'm thinking about moving them out of them guinea room as well (just incase that smells of the females).

Fingers crossed but i shant get my hopes up.

Thanks again
Kelly x x