• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Hormonal girl piggie

Status
Not open for further replies.
susiewoosie

susiewoosie

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
190
Reaction score
10
Points
220
Location
GLASGOW
Hi

Minnie is the small one, more timid and not so friendly piggy and Maxi, obvioulsy llarger more dominant. I got them from the adoption centre pah who said they were 8 months, one year ago. At first minnie was treated for mites and behaviour was terrible with baldness on her neck. She did constantly itch. I began bathing both in gorgeous guineas shampoo and balm. Things not so bad.. Now again, Minnie for the past 3 weeks going on 4, it seems she has been in season. Rumbling and mounting poor Maxi. I can honestly say the look on Maxi's face says she has had enough! i feel so sorry Minnie is constantly anxious, Maxi annoyed...

After reading all the posts regards cysts and behaviour I took her to the vet today. The vet examined both thoroughly. There are no signs of cysts physically but she did agree that Minnie was probably hormonal. She said she did not really know any piggies like this and was unsure what to do. She was going to call an expert for advice re: spaying.

What do you do with a hormonal piggy? do the injections work?
Or, does she just want to be an alone piggy? i dont think so, *** when she feels better or Maxi has fallen out with her, she tries her hardest to cuddle up to her.
Would a neutered boyfriend be helpful or another sow?

I just want them both to be happy again.. any advice please..

vet is calling me next couple of days.. s
 
Hormone implants or injections

Does anyone else's piggies have these?

s
 
I have only ever had one pair of sows live together all other pigs have been single or boars. I would personally seperate them put there cages side by side so they can see eachother etc just until this hormone issue is sorted out as your other pig is basically being bullied and stress is not good for pigs. I have never heard of a female acting this way before? Maybe ask a forum member who keeps sows. I'm stumped ?
 
Thanks for giving me a reply.. yeah the vet is stumped as well...hopefully someone can give advice.. at moment, i only have 120 cage and playpen. not got the space or money for another cage? oh dear...s
 
Can you not put one female in the playpen just buy a 2nd hidey hole/igloo. This really needs addressing as i your piggy is being bullie she may stop eating and become seriously depressed. All i can suggest is bathing them both again so they dont smell so much like piggys and rub baby talc over them to neutralise there scents. Make sure both pigs have hidey holes so the bullied pig can escape from your other hormonal pig. Have you tried googling this issue? It may not be hormones but just a case of severe dominant behaviour verging bullying :(
 
It is probably half a mix of dominance and hormonal behaviour. One of my sows has these bouts of incessant humping every few months - no sign of ovarian cysts and no real aggression either.

If it gets too much for the other girl, please separate and see whether things are calmer a day or two later.
 
Yeah, I'm going to bathe them saturday...the cage has hideys, as does the play pen...Minnie (hormonal) is in pen just now and Maxi is in cage..neither of them seem bothered just now...

just asked ebay seller to sell me a cage, maybe just try and as you say, cage next to cage, when she is feeling better, put them together.

Minnie is half the size of Maxi and thankfully Maxi is such a placid soul but forceful when she has to be.
its not happy days!
 
Wiebke said:
It is probably half a mix of dominance and hormonal behaviour. One of my sows has these bouts of incessant humping every few months - no sign of ovarian cysts and no real aggression either.

If it gets too much for the other girl, please separate and see whether things are calmer a day or two later.
Click to expand...

How long does the bouts last?
 
i have read all the posts on here and on web? i don't have enough experience of guinea pigs at all./. they are so complex
 
Separating cage temporary

Is it cruel to seperate them in their cage. I bought kinda wire shelves which can be put down the middle of 120 cage. Is that enough space just until Minnie gets better?
 
Ive posted to your other thread , i dont think the 120 is big enough to seperate id just keep one pig in the playpen for now personally hope your piggys settle down soon xx
 
I would only separate overnight or a day or two. Than see whether they have cooled down after the initial greeting. Ffowlyn's bouts have occasionally lasted for over two weeks - that is time enough for even the most patient piggy to get fed up and then some!

Young adolescent girls can suffer from hormonal spikes the same as boys; it rarely leads to break ups, that is why they are much less known. There is usually some dominance mixed in as well.
 
susiewoosie said:
Hi

Minnie is the small one, more timid and not so friendly piggy and Maxi, obvioulsy llarger more dominant. I got them from the adoption centre pah who said they were 8 months, one year ago. At first minnie was treated for mites and behaviour was terrible with baldness on her neck. She did constantly itch. I began bathing both in gorgeous guineas shampoo and balm. Things not so bad.. Now again, Minnie for the past 3 weeks going on 4, it seems she has been in season. Rumbling and mounting poor Maxi. I can honestly say the look on Maxi's face says she has had enough! i feel so sorry Minnie is constantly anxious, Maxi annoyed...

After reading all the posts regards cysts and behaviour I took her to the vet today. The vet examined both thoroughly. There are no signs of cysts physically but she did agree that Minnie was probably hormonal. She said she did not really know any piggies like this and was unsure what to do. She was going to call an expert for advice re: spaying.

What do you do with a hormonal piggy? do the injections work?
Or, does she just want to be an alone piggy? i dont think so, *** when she feels better or Maxi has fallen out with her, she tries her hardest to cuddle up to her.
Would a neutered boyfriend be helpful or another sow?

I just want them both to be happy again.. any advice please..

vet is calling me next couple of days.. s
Click to expand...
Hi,

My two sows are as you described. My larger alpha female is always and has been rumblestrutting near Titch since the day I got her and even had her checked to make sure she was female by the vet. When hormonal Ruby (dominant one) mounts Titch head on, sideways and chases her in a nasty way. Titch has always squeaked when she comes near her. It seems to be a cage thing, is yours when they are in the cage, are they fine on your lap?

It is hard to judge the quality of life the quiet one has as I think mine are unsuited but didn't realise that until it was too late. I leave them to it as Titch is eating fine. Is your quiet one allowed to eat and drink ok?

I know you aren't supposed to separate them unless there is blood but I do agree it is hard to draw a line between scuffles and feeling bullied all the time.

Good luck,

Silly.
 
Both are eating and drinking fine... Minnie spent the night in the pen and Maxi in the cage. Thats the first time they have been separated. Minnie, poor wee soul, where's my cage, my pal, what have i done? i felt dreadful.

cage has been rearranged to individual sides and devised a sliding gate which i can pop in if things go mental again...

I think a night apart and bath together has been very helpful..now have the emergency gate at the ready! thanks for the advice everyone!

I am waiting an appt for an ultrasound, then depending on result.. injections, implant or separate.....if there is no clinical evidence, i think separate when necessary...

many thanks it is greatly apreciated... sx
 
its both cage and pen..they have separate lap time so never an issue and they always eat and drink and poop fine! its very worrying..
 
susiewoosie said:
its both cage and pen..they have separate lap time so never an issue and they always eat and drink and poop fine! its very worrying..
Click to expand...
Hi Susiewoosie,

You will do what is right for you I am sure.:)

Odd thing is with mine when I get them out I have to get them out both on my lap as they miss each other, and if there is an odd noise they run to each other in the cage. I think mine could do with totally different friends for each other as my timid one seems to want to interact but the other one doesn't. I agree it is worrying when they have their worse episodes.

I hope it all goes right for you.

Silly:)
 
hello Silly

Your guineas seem quite close which is lovely. I tried having the two of them and they were pushing each other out the way. From day one, they have never been cuddly pigs but when they need each other, they stick together.. there is a bond but both i feel are very independent. Maxi, like yours would love a cuddly companion... i just hope she can hang on in there.

the emergency gate was in the cage today to give them some rest, they didn't seem bohtered.. they are now in pen.. its not really happening there!

i firmly believe there is something clinically wrong with Minnie, another thing she does is pull at her hair on each side just under her legs.. its not scratching but pulling and also when bathing her, i noticed her hair on her neck is getting thinner again..

Next year, bigger house, more room for piggies..

again, thanks everyone... very much appreciated...sx
 
hi susiewoosie
lil-ninnibig is right (in my opinion, your choices are up to *) i think you should separate them but make sure they can still see each other! I think when a guinea is in season it lasts something like form 2 weeks to a month? (I'm sorry its somthing like that i cant remember@)) spaying is not a good idea to be honest, as many guinea pigs dont come out of the anaesthetic because theyre so small :(
anyway,if you are going to use the other cage, put the cages next to each other so they can still talk, but for there own good, you should separate them before a nasty fight occurs. try it but if they start showing signs of unhappiness such as lack of energy, eating etc put them back together again.
I wouldnt split the current cage as they wont b used to having a space smaller then they have, and they may push the wall down (like mine did when I had to feed them separatly) or worse still it might fall and injure them or they may get stuck in a gap they may try and squeeze through.

I hope that helps you and your guinea pigs!
Dandilions! :)
 
hang on a second Susiewoosie,
pulling hair out from her back legs? I've read that somewhere before and yes it can be a sign of hormonal problems... i would get it checked out by a vet quite soon as it can cause implications.
I've also read in the same book (i'm sorry its so vague, i cant find the book) somthing about false pregnancys, where a guinea pig thinks she pregnant, but isnt, but again i would talk to a vet.

From
Dandilions! :)
 
Hi all

After the brief separation, bathing, everything was good for a couple of days and then bad again. So, went to vet, she had an ultrasound with no sign of cysts but vet had spoken to piggy expert in falkirk who suggest Choluron.. so i agreed to this injection as other option was hormone implant which is too invasive for my liking..She had this on friday, and has calmed down a lot! no purring, mounting, chasing, marking everywhere.. things are very quiet! its quiet strange..but i think she has mites now, due to stress.. poor wee piggy.. she is a very fragile soul..she is booked for another injection on friday, but *** she needs this if she is nice and calm now?

any advice on choluron is appreciated.. thanks to everyone..sx
 
susiewoosie said:
Hi all

After the brief separation, bathing, everything was good for a couple of days and then bad again. So, went to vet, she had an ultrasound with no sign of cysts but vet had spoken to piggy expert in falkirk who suggest Choluron.. so i agreed to this injection as other option was hormone implant which is too invasive for my liking..She had this on friday, and has calmed down a lot! no purring, mounting, chasing, marking everywhere.. things are very quiet! its quiet strange..but i think she has mites now, due to stress.. poor wee piggy.. she is a very fragile soul..she is booked for another injection on friday, but *** she needs this if she is nice and calm now?

any advice on choluron is appreciated.. thanks to everyone..sx
Click to expand...

She will still need the second injection of Choluron, we had this for one of our piggies it's a 2 injection treatment. It worked a treat for our girl too.

hope she feels better soon
 
Sorry couldn't edit my above post, I meant to say that Treacle was displaying Cyst signs but scan showed none also. Just Hair at sides thinning... Rumble dancing, dominance issues etc... Our vet was convinced she was about to go cystic so we went for the injection route. And all the behavior has returned to normal.

If you suspect your girl may have mites though, don't wait till friday, please get her down the vets to get treated for that. Sending lots of vibes her way.
 
Okay, thanks everyone, that is reassuring.. thought i could get her out of another injection...poor wee soul...
 
Hi There

Sorry to hear your girls are being very naughty!

I have had lots of hormonal girls. Chorulon the majority of the time works wonders but 2 injections MUST be given 10 days apart otherwise you have to start all over again. It may not work permanently so be prepared to repeat again over their lives (one of mine had to have them 6-8 monthly)

The mounting, bad behaviour and particularly the hairloss is classic hormonal behaviour. If and when I get another hormonal guinea I will try the implants. I would never spay now, I had one spayed a year ago (for other reasons than hormonal) and she died 4 weeks later not ever having really recovered :-( Very sad.

I personally would not separate, if they are eating then they will be fine and sort it out amongst themselves you are just stressing them out more by separating although giving them a break for a few hours at peak naughtiness will help. Mine bicker terribly sometimes when they are in season and you just let them get on with it.I think us humans think its worse, for them its just nature (clearly if blood is drawn then thats different).

If and when you can, get a bigger cage, lots of hideys (I always go for one per pig plus one extra), lots of hay to play in and distract. Also get a neutered boy if you can? Years ago I was given this advice when having similar issues and it made such a difference. All the boys I have had get fed up with it after a while, charge in and break up the fighting. In some cases they will defend the weaker of the two too. xx>>>pow-pow
Just a thought but it really helped my little herd. I had one boy roll over a more agressive sow once! She never argued with him again after that :{

The downside is that you eventually go from 2 pigs and a hutch to 3 pigs and larger hutch to 6 piggies and a blooming great purpose built shed rolleyes oops!

good luck!
 
Hi Guinea Slave

yeah, i agree i would not separate them again for any length of time (7 hours), i felt cruel and the next day when i put the gate in after a lot of nonense, one squeezed through and starting kissing the other, as if to say, look we love each other! honestly, they can make themselves understood if they want...I try and watch their body language very closely. a blooming great purpose built shed is my dream..hehehe, i will get more eventually and yes, a neutered boy would be good! piggie for pete my bo..sx
 
It's so hard trying to understand what they want isn't it? It does get better:-)

I love my shed, they love it and having them in such a large space makes such a difference. My husband built some little shelves in mine with a little ramp. I call them the r&r suite! (rest and relaxation!) there is no food up there just a nice fleece lined area so no need to fight and they go up there to get away from the others when they need a break . It is always occupied by one of them!

Hope you get your shed one day :))
 
your shed sounds fantastic.. my piggies are in the living room with me, how much time do you spend in the shed with them? Often thought i would feel lonely if they weren't with me..Do you have pigtures? love looking at cages, piggies, cages, piggies.
 
I must take some as I don't have any! Will do this week. I would love indoor piggies too! (never satisfied are we)

As a compromise we have a v large 150 Savic indoor cage and they all come in most evenings and watch telly with us, have lap time and have their dinner, then out to the shed about 11pm. My parents have the same indoor cage and every Sunday we all go over for Sunday dinner, my husband, me and six guineas! Nuts I know but we love our piggy love ins! It's a good compromise. :))
 
Sounds like they are definitely part of your family! hehe...your husband must be very helpful and understanding...look forward to the pics..piggies certainly have a way of grabbing your heart...sx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top