Fighting piggies

[peterson]

Hi all,

we have two little boys here. Older one is about 13 months old, we got him first. 5 weeks ago we got a friend for him, he is now about 5 months old.

They were getting on without any bigger problem (very mild teeth chattering, sniffing each other, gentle pushes...), they even shared one bowl for food/ball for veggies/water. Every piggie had it's "own" corner.

The younger one is very very active and often goes to the other one to distract him, we think he was trying to play with him. But the older one doesn't really care, he just kept walking around the cage.

We moved the house last wednesday and on the same evening they fought a nasty fight.

Both ended up stressed with bleeding wounds on their's noses, older one has a wound on his mouth and younger a bite in his ear.
Wounds on noses look really nasty, but they aren't deep (they don't look deep, there was only a little bit of blood).
Older one got worse bites than the younger.

Since this incident are piggies separated (cardbord which halved a cage).

We also bought antiseptic powder (it's not easy to apply, I just give them a puff of it over the wound), but they keep scratching it off. Any help there?

Also, and more importantly, what should we do to get them together again? I'm going to wipe clean the cage tonight + toys without scents + two of everything.

I want to put them into the enclosure in the garden while I'm doing the job, so I thought they would have a bit of time to check each other out.

I also considered giving them a bath. (?)

Question is, would it be safe enough to leave them together and alone (night time + while we're at work...)? Or will we introduce them again?

Or separate them while we're out of the house (I'll have a mesh panel) instead? Or separate them for good?

The advice (worst case scenario) I got in the pet shop was to get them neutred...any advice there?

Please, help!

(I also apologise if this post is a bit chaotic, I'm typing it on my mobile)

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Hi & Welcome,

Sorry to hear of your problems, the youngest one is at his hormanal stage which has obviosuly caused a fight, now that blood has been drawn its not advisable to ever put them back together again, or if you really wanted to try then as you have suggested on nuetral ground, bonding bath, clean cage, 2 of everything! What is the size of the cage they are in?

But i and many would advise keeping them separated and if you have the space for 4 in 2 separate cages, take them both boar dating at a rescue and let them both chose a new friend each.

Nuetering does not effect behaviour in the slightest, all it literally does is take away their ability to re-produce, unless you wanted to pair them with a single lady each (again in 2 separate cages) then it will be a waste of money and a great risk putting the boys through it.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Oh dear :... It sounds like the hormones on the younger one may have raised their head...neutering will not change their behaviour whatever anyone tells you :x
A younger boar may be strutting his stuff for top piggy pole now which has upset your older boy - you could attempt rebonding under close supervision but usually if a bloody battle has begun, they may not live together again.
Options would be to have them neutered, wait six weeks and find them a wifepig/s each, space permitting ?/
I waited 12 months until my boys had got past all these heirarchy stages before using the space we had set aside for any fall outs for more piggies...never had issues but it just seemed like the responsible thing to do. Our four boys are two years old this year and have sailed through things together luckily - they do have very large pens though which could be the answer, boars need lots of room so that could be your issue here ?/
Personally, I would try them together again when someone is around for a couple of days but be prepared and have plan B ready if a fight breaks out.
Also, consider taking the boys to a vet for check ups - wounds can become infected and need treatment. Most vets will prescribe a course of antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
Check for inflammation and if the wounds feel hot to touch, it is not advisable to use anything other than veterinary prescribed remedies.
It's very hard to see piggies fall out - my first instinct would be to check how much room they have...

 

[Katie Krafter]

I agree with everything Guinea Pig Slave has said. Two boars need two of everything and this includes space. Any pigs cage should be a minimum of 120cm(RSPCA stated min) and two boars should ideally be in bigger (140-160).

If you don't have space for two setups, you could take them to a rescue to choose their own friend - one each - keep one new pairing and leave the other one to be rehomed. Check out the Piggie Bank rescue map and rescues on here. Piggie Bank rescues meet minimum stabdards (having been peer checked) and take good care of piggies ad well as ensuring they go to a home checked owner. They also offer follow up help and support. Unfortunately pet shops often don't give the right advice or ensure that pigs they sell will actually get on. Most good rescues will offer "boar dating" where the pig chooses their own friend, which gives the best chance of a long term, happy outcome.

If you tell us where you are, we can point you in the direction of a good rescue if it comes to that.

 

[peterson]

Hi again and thank you for such a quick replies!

You're probably right with hormones, I think that's why they suggested neutering - to lower level of testosterone.
I also thought of moving to the new place as a possible trigger (related to stress + relatively new environment?).

Regarding the cage - it's about 130*60 cm (now halved).

I don't think we really can afford four guineys (it's a question of room:-(), best solution would be to put them back together. Not saying I'd mind, but....

Now, has enyone tried DAP (dog's pheremone)? I found it in the sticky one...what is it? Spray? Powder? Am I right saying that it's related to the scent of guineys?

Katie, we are in Ireland, I also don't think we want to give them up...if they'll have to have separate cages, they'll have them. :-)

 

[peterson]

just a quick update - bath didn't help, new environment the same, they were going to fight again...
so we have to find another solution to the problem :-(.

I just attached pictures of both piggies and their injuries...