Guinea Pigs separated for 3 days due to illness and now not getting on, any advice?

[Meggy50]

Hi

On Sunday morning we woke to find one of our piggies, Lilly, was very poorly. She had no balance and a severe head tilt. I got an emergency vet appointment and they said it could be an inner ear infection, although the outer ear was clean, or a blood clot. They put her on pain relief and antibiotics and kept her in over night. We brought her home the next day but she was still very wobbly on her legs and had the head tilt but she was eating and toileting fine. We put her back in her cage with her friend, Candy. It was obvious that she was very weak and still in discomfort and was frightened every time Candy came near her. She squealed in pain when she tried to move away from Candy, so we thought it best to put her in a cage of her own, next to Candy, to rest and recuperate.

Tonight we put her back in the cage she shares with Candy but things have been a bit tense! Lilly is wheeking at the top of her voice when Candy comes near her. She never usually makes a sound, in fact I have never heard her wheek before. Is she just doing this because she still feels fragile? Is it a warning to Candy? Should I leave them together.?

I should say that Candy can be a bit of a bully. She has lunged at Lilly a few times tonight but I don’t think she is using her teeth, it’s more of a shove/nudge.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

Thanks xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

On Sunday morning we woke to find one of our piggies, Lilly, was very poorly. She had no balance and a severe head tilt. I got an emergency vet appointment and they said it could be an inner ear infection, although the outer ear was clean, or a blood clot. They put her on pain relief and antibiotics and kept her in over night. We brought her home the next day but she was still very wobbly on her legs and had the head tilt but she was eating and toileting fine. We put her back in her cage with her friend, Candy. It was obvious that she was very weak and still in discomfort and was frightened every time Candy came near her. She squealed in pain when she tried to move away from Candy, so we thought it best to put her in a cage of her own, next to Candy, to rest and recuperate.

Tonight we put her back in the cage she shares with Candy but things have been a bit tense! Lilly is wheeking at the top of her voice when Candy comes near her. She never usually makes a sound, in fact I have never heard her wheek before. Is she just doing this because she still feels fragile? Is it a warning to Candy? Should I leave them together.?

I should say that Candy can be a bit of a bully. She has lunged at Lilly a few times tonight but I don’t think she is using her teeth, it’s more of a shove/nudge.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

Thanks xx

Hi!

Please leave them together. Dominance behaviour is inevitable after a separation.
The loud wheeking is submission screaming, and very effective at that!
The lunging is a strongly worded 'stay away from me' and not an aggressive gesture in itself.

Please leave your piggies together as much as possible and always reintroduce again on neutral ground that is not part of their normal territory. Make sure that you don't have any hideys and corners with only one exit.
Separate only if the behaviour is not settling down again within a day or two.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Bonds In Trouble

Wishing your girl a good and full recovery!

 

[Patch89]

You have been given the advice I would give above. I do hope things improve. Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Meggy50]

Thank you, that is very helpful. I’d never heard of submission screaming. One of us is going to sleep downstairs with them tonight just in case they fight during the night! I hope they settle in a day or two.

 

[Meggy50]

Hi, just thought I would give you an update. Things are a lot quieter tonight . I haven't seen Candy chase or lunge at Lilly at all. Lilly is still quite jittery and has screamed 3 or 4 times when Candy walks near her but apart from that they seem more settled.

Lilly has a check up at the vets tomorrow, do you think it wise to take Candy as well so that they aren't separated? Our pet carrier is plenty big enough for both of them.

 

[Merab]

I usually take all my piggies with me even when only one is going to the vet.
It's company for the one needing the vet and gets them all used to the journey and the vet.

Hope all goes well for Lily

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, just thought I would give you an update. Things are a lot quieter tonight . I haven't seen Candy chase or lunge at Lilly at all. Lilly is still quite jittery and has screamed 3 or 4 times when Candy walks near her but apart from that they seem more settled.

Lilly has a check up at the vets tomorrow, do you think it wise to take Candy as well so that they aren't separated? Our pet carrier is plenty big enough for both of them.

I always take a companion pet to the vets unless it is for pts or a risky operation.

Glad that things are going in the right direction.