Help, please!

[abijay]

Hi there. I have a guinea pig dilemma and it's really worrying me. If you know a bit about guinea pig behavour/health I would be really grateful if you would plough through the following story and give me some advice. It's quite complicated but thank you in advance for helping.

I had two outdoor guinea pigs (Papua and Calvin) who had been pals for about 1.5 years. Calvin died, sadly, and after about a week we bought a new friend for Papua, called Reg. Papua took to Reg very well and all seemed OK, except that Reg kept sneezing and I started to find scabs on him. So I took them both back to the petshop - they kept them in and gave them a course of antibiotics. I got them back and continued to give them the antibiotics, but very suddenly Papua (the older guinea pig) became very ill: covered in weeping scabs and lost a LOT of weight. The pet shop didnt think he'd make it, but they kept them both in for about 6 weeks and Papua has pulled through, despite what sounds like some fairly horrific treatment and some solitary confinement.

I have them both back home now and although the scabs have gone from the older pig, he is still very thin, can't squeak properly and looks a shadow of his former self (although often quite chirpy). I am keeping them inside in a smaller indoor cage - but, I am worried that this cage is big enough for them as they are 2 males (dimensions: H53 x W123 x D45cm). But the large outdoor cage wont fit inside and it's too cold to have them back outside even if they were fully well. The main problem is that over the last few days the Reg (the newer guinea pig, now almost fully grown) has started persecuting Papua (the older, frailer one), continually doing dominance displays: leaping on his back, humping him, nibbling him and persuing him round the cage. Normally I would accept a certain amount of this behaviour as 2 guineas working our the heirachy but I'm worried that Papua isnt strong enough to cope with this - he (tries to) squeal and runs away. I'm worried that I'm trapping in hell! Last night I decided to seperate them whilst I decided what to do and put the younger one in a closed box in the same cage so that they could communicate without Reg terrorising Papua. This morning I found that they had gnawed through and were sitting in there together! I dont know if I being too protective over my beloved Papua and that I should let them get on with working out their heirachy - much of the time they seem happy in each others company. Or if I should seperate them whilst he gets better, perhaps putting them in cages facing each other until he's stong enough to fight his corner - but then would this be more stressful?

Advice PLEASEEEEE!

Thanks
Abijay

 

[4piggiepigs]

I would of thought seperating them would make it worse, I would keep them together and maybe give the frail one some critical care to help build up his strength if you can and give him extra cuddles and sneaky treat's during lap time like barley ring's i've heard they can help weigh gain

 

[Guinea-pigGaga]

Firstly, may I offer my deepest sympathies for the loss of your, and Papua's, beloved companion, Calvin. However, I am pleased to hear that you felt able to adopt a new companion for Papua.

However, I feel I must address your case to highlight the importance of quarantining a new cavy. Recently, I have become increasingly aware of a moderate amount of cavy owners adopting a new cavy from untrustworthy sources, and introducing the new cavy to their existing cavy/ cavies, without the new cavy even receiving a veterinary examination.

Regardless, I am pleased to hear that both boars have made somewhat of a recovery. However, I am sorry to hear that Papua continues to be in poor health, particularly after such intensive treatment.

Personally, I would advise you to separate the two boars, however, to house them next to one another. However, this is not a decision to be made hastily. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that the two boars will not accept one another once separated. However, I would be concerned about competition between to two boars.

Lastly, may I enquire as to the veterinary diagnosis?

Best and warmest wishes.

 

[abijay]

Thank you for the advice and the kind words. I take your point about quarentine, although the place I bought it from had given him a vet assistant checkover before giving him to me. I know now that this is not sufficient.

In answer to your question, despite sending several skin samples to the lab they couldnt find out what it was. They said it looked like a very voracious version of ring worm, but that ring worm could never be that damaging that quickly.

I think I will give the piggies a little longer to get along with plenty of attention and distractions from the family over christmas. If it's still a problem in the new year I might invest in an extra cage facetoface with the old one.

Thanks again for your help.

Abi