Help/guidance needed

[TC1]

Can anyone help me please?

I have successfully had guinea pigs for 6 years and have never had any problems until now....

I have a 6 year old lady (Louise) who is now partially sighted and my 3 year old (Vera) must've made her jump and ended up being bitten by Louise. I separated them and then went and got a 2 year old (Bella) to keep Vera company. Bella came from a home where she had lived with 2 other guinea pigs and all 3 had rarely been handled. Since getting her I have handled her at least twice a day and she is alot better.

When I first introduced the Bella, she tried to attacked Vera. I kept them separate for abit longer with a divide in the run so they could see each other but not get to each other. Eventually they seemed to bond, but sadly my Vera died due to a lump forming where she was bitten by Louise. The lump was operated on and removed and had virtually healed up, but a week ago I found her covered in blood where her scar was and was told by the vet the lump had returned. I am unsure if Vera had managed to make herself bleed or if Bella had been instrumental in all of this....... Vera was put to sleep.

Recently I tried to get Bella another friend, but once again she launched herself at this poor new girl and I had to grab her before she got hurt.

The situation I currently have is Louise in one hutch and Bella in another hutch. The new girl was returned to the safety and happiness of the hurd she came from because i thought it was best for her.

Bella is only 2 and I worry about her being alone, but don't trust her with anyone. When I pick her up she bites me to be put down.

Anyone got any suggestions on what I can do? Its heart breaking to watch, and seeing her recently seriously attack another guinea pig has really shaken me because it was horrific. Luckily it was only me that got hurt, so no vets bills this time!

 

[DM030819]

@TC1 Have you tried Bella with Louise?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Please firstly accept that Bella is not aggressive, she is motivated by fear and self-defence because she is deadly afraid of new guinea pigs and humans. That is a very different ball game; not easier, but different.

Forget about her biting open Vera's lump; that is a classic self-inflicted reaction to pain/a major irritation. I have seen it in piggies of my own and even caught them doing it once or twice.

What you can do to improve Bella's relationship with you is a spot of piggy whispering to tell her in her own language that you want to be her friend, that you want her to be part of your group and that you love her; do this repeatedly whenever you interact with her.
Use all the trick to work around her prey animal instincts which are set on high alert, either or both through her mother being very stressed out when she had her and not having had a good start to her life.
You can find all the detailed information on how prey animal instincts work, what you can do to settle her down as well as some piggy whispering tricks, which are very effective because you are suddenly taking sense to her. I find that this gets me further much faster than expecting the guinea pigs to figure out humans, especially with very skittish piggies. It is not a quick fix, but it definitely helps with handling and grooming etc.
Click on these links here:
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely (a much less stressful hands-off way!)
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs

Next door companionship:
It would be great if you could join the two hutches so Bella and Louise could interact with and stimulate each other safely through mesh. Just because Louise has got cataracts doesn't mean that she is aggressive and doesn't need companionship. She was badly startled once and has done a defence bite in reflex, nothing more; likely when Vera was in season or a sudden noise/movement freaked her out. It should not be a life sentence for solitary confinement!
I have at one point had a caratact ladies group with a very gentle 'husboar' which comprised several cataract sows from rescues that had otherwise failed to bond because of dominance/fear-aggression issues. Tegyd had some genuine aggression issues but did her best to control them when they flared up due to ovarian cysts. The group was very closely bonded; Terfel the master diplomat and integrating husboar followed the last of beloved wives very soon after.
This is for the medium term. If you could bring the girls indoors with adjoining cages where they can interact fully on all levels - scent, body language and voice, that would be even better!

In the longer term you want to date Bella at a rescue that offers bonding at the rescue under expert supervision; ideally a rescue with residential bonding, if that is an option. Ideally you opt for young and submissive piggies, either a pair of baby girls or a safely neutered teenage boar; or an old very chilled sow or boar.
Please be aware that it is going to be a very slow and gradual process (think more in years than months) and that you may have more failures than successes, but it is worth not to give up. The alternative is unbonded next door company for ongoing stimulation, interactions and social integration.
However, you need to calm and settle her down more and be more confident around other piggies. A C&C grid cage that allows full body sight would be ideal and would mean companionship for both girls, but each with their own space. it would also be a way of getting bella slowly used to other piggies without the pressure of having to bond with them, if she is too afraid. Any bonding where her dominance cannot come in question due to the other party being much smaller and not yet old enough to challenge her will have more chance of success, but it is always worth to see how she is at a rescue before bringing piggies home on spec.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (This guide also has a chapter on fear-aggression, which is in most cases behind aggressive behaviour. Far too many so-called aggressive behaviours are in fact strongly worded 'stay out of my space' behaviours; fights and bites generally happen if the answer is not a stand down/move away and if you do not separate quickly enough if things escalate)

" Biting" And What You Can Do

Recommended UK rescues: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
Recommended rescues in several other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations

 

[TC1]

Hi

Thank you for all this information, this is really helpful.

Bella still gets plenty of cuddles and kisses and a talk to her all the time so this should be helping. I have a two tier hutch which I was going to put her in the top and Louise in the bottom so that they can hear each other. When they are out on the grass, they share a run with a mesh divide so they can socialise through that anyway.

Ideally I would like to eventually bond Bella with a female the same age as her, so this would probably be a rescue girl. Trouble is with rescue girls you just don't know what their back grounds have been. I have only found out recently how poor little Bella's start in life has affected her. The previous owners certainly hadn't a clue what they were doing.

Vera would have been perfect for her because she was so calm and they were getting on fine.

How long do you think I should leave it before trying again with Bella. I am upset that she is on her own, she is too lovely to be lonely. My home should be full of happy squeaking, not silence.....all very sad.

Thank you again for your support and information provided.
Tx

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Thank you for all this information, this is really helpful.

Bella still gets plenty of cuddles and kisses and a talk to her all the time so this should be helping. I have a two tier hutch which I was going to put her in the top and Louise in the bottom so that they can hear each other. When they are out on the grass, they share a run with a mesh divide so they can socialise through that anyway.

Ideally I would like to eventually bond Bella with a female the same age as her, so this would probably be a rescue girl. Trouble is with rescue girls you just don't know what their back grounds have been. I have only found out recently how poor little Bella's start in life has affected her. The previous owners certainly hadn't a clue what they were doing.

Vera would have been perfect for her because she was so calm and they were getting on fine.

How long do you think I should leave it before trying again with Bella. I am upset that she is on her own, she is too lovely to be lonely. My home should be full of happy squeaking, not silence.....all very sad.

Thank you again for your support and information provided.
Tx

Try her next to Louise not just occasionally on the grass - and not just with them being able to hear each other, which is only one third of the full complex communication. The more time they have together the more they will get used to each other and hopefully accept each other.

You have to judge when the time is right to try and date Bella. From my own failed bonding experiences, I would not aim at the kind of sow you are thinking of. They have often failed. I'd rather try a couple babies/sub-teenagers that are less threatening for Bella and more accepting, but ideally by rescue dating so you don't come home with piggies that do not work out.
And please do not forget poor blind Louise who is much more desparate for companionship and stimulation...

 

[TC1]

Try her next to Louise not just occasionally on the grass - and not just with them being able to hear each other, which is only one third of the full complex communication. The more time they have together the more they will get used to each other and hopefully accept each other.

You have to judge when the time is right to try and date Bella. From my own failed bonding experiences, I would not aim at the kind of sow you are thinking of. They have often failed. I'd rather try a couple babies/sub-teenagers that are less threatening for Bella and more accepting, but ideally by rescue dating so you don't come home with piggies that do not work out.
And please do not forget poor blind Louise who is much more desparate for companionship and stimulation...

Thank you so much for your help and support.....I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders because I have been worrying about this. I love little Bella very much and didn't want to give up on her......and I adore my 6 year old lady Louise. All I want is them to be happy......