Heartbroken by possible separation

tatals

tatals

Junior Guinea Pig
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So, it appears I'll have to separate Oreo and Shoyu.

I'm heartbroken. I found another bite on Oreo's snout. Yesterday they were fine, lying next to each other, and then at night they started stressing each other out. I thought they'd let it go, but today they had a fight, and I found the bite right after separating them - I don't know if it happened before or after the fight. I put a bar in the cage with cardboard covering the bottom, as they can still squeeze themselves through the grids. I may still try to bond them again, but I must say I'm disheartened about it after seeing their reaction apart. Although they kept trying to get to the each other's side, they started popcorning and chuttering, as if they were better like that. I will leave them like that for a few hours yet and observe. Any advice you might have will be welcomed.

I guess it's something I can't control, but I can't help feeling guilty. I really hoped they'd get along forever, silly me. :(
 
tatals said:
So, it appears I'll have to separate Oreo and Shoyu.

I'm heartbroken. I found another bite on Oreo's snout. Yesterday they were fine, lying next to each other, and then at night they started stressing each other out. I thought they'd let it go, but today they had a fight, and I found the bite right after separating them - I don't know if it happened before or after the fight. I put a bar in the cage with cardboard covering the bottom, as they can still squeeze themselves through the grids. I may still try to bond them again, but I must say I'm disheartened about it after seeing their reaction apart. Although they kept trying to get to the each other's side, they started popcorning and chuttering, as if they were better like that. I will leave them like that for a few hours yet and observe. Any advice you might have will be welcomed.

I guess it's something I can't control, but I can't help feeling guilty. I really hoped they'd get along forever, silly me. :(
Click to expand...

Hi!

Having to separate a dysfunctional pair is always absolutely gutting, but unfortunately piggies are their own people. Like you can't just stick two people into an office or a marriage and expect them to become best friends/fall in love instantly, not all piggies will suit each other. Character compatibility and mutual liking are key to any successful boar bond, but that is exactly where shops and breeders fall short. Hand on heart: who is spending hours to watch the piggies in a shop to find out which two like to really hang out together most?
 
Thanks for your message, Wiebke! I read it in the afternoon (here) and it helped me calm down.

Here's where we stand:

I went to work and hurried back to check on them. They were okay, lying down back to back on the separation grid. So I went out again to see a movie, and now I got home and this is what I find:

1549330789463.webp

I couldn't take a better picture because I was laughing.

Apart from the absolute mess they left the whole cage in, Shoyu somehow managed to get to the other side, even with the cardboard blocking passage. He's an evil genius, that one. I removed the grids, and decided to pray instead. :P They're eating together now, as if nothing ever happened. Should I risk it? Should I separate them again?
 
May I ask how big their cage is? And do they have two of everything? How old are they?
 
It looks like a “Can’t live with you, can’t live without you” situation.
Their goal in life is obviously to add decades to your life!

Seriously - I can’t add to the advice given in earlier threads but want to assure you of my support
 
Siikibam said:
May I ask how big their cage is? And do they have two of everything? How old are they?
Click to expand...

They live in a 2x4 C&C cage. They're currently undergoing the horrifying teenage months. I don't know for sure how old they are, but they're supposed to be between 4 and 6 months. I assume the youngest is 4, and the oldest is 5, but that's just a rough inexperienced estimative based on what I've read.


Merab's Slave said:
It looks like a “Can’t live with you, can’t live without you” situation.
Their goal in life is obviously to add decades to your life!

Seriously - I can’t add to the advice given in earlier threads but want to assure you of my support
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yes, they just can't live each other!

Night passed well, and they're okay so far. It's 10:20AM now. Still alive. They're eating together. There has been rumblestrutting and teeth chattering, but everything in the normal range.

I'm definitely getting white hair sooner than I thought.
 
A sad update:

Unfortunately, Shoyu kept finding his way to Oreo's side, and during the night they had a big fight that turned bloody. I heard a noise and went to check on them. Shoyu had bitten Oreo under his chin and there was some blood. Also, I noticed that his bottom lip was really swollen, but he wouldn't let me inspect it too much and I didn't want to hurt him. So I kept him in my room throughout the night. In the morning, I syringe-fed him, as he was mostly uncapable of eating by himself - he surprised me by eating some lettuce and some hay - and took him to the vet.

The vet found out that he had bitten his lower lip and pierced it. In fact, his teeth were still stuck in the lip. He stayed for a procedure. They've called me a while ago and he is fine, and I'm about to pick him up.

I've solved the cage problem and now Shoyu is really unable to cross to the other side. I'm sad about the separation, but now I really have to make sure they are both fine. They can still touch noses, and they did it in the morning, after I put Oreo back in the cage for some water and rest.

Thank you, everyone, for your support.
 
Blooming boars! You’ve really been through an extreme case of naughty boar behaviour. Good to hear he’s doing better since seeing the vet.
 
Thank you. He's doing well. I thought I'd had to help him eat for one or two days, but he's been eating all by himself. Tomorrow he'll take his last course of antibiotics and then there'll be only the stitches left to remove.

They are now living separately - I've made sure none of them can cross to the other side -, and I hope they'll adapt well.
 
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