Is My Guinea Pig Depressed?

[Brucey]

hello, I brought Brucey a 4 month old male off a breeder in southam about two weeks ago she told me that he was born in a litter off two and his brother had been sold two months before she had tried to pair him with other guinea pigs of both sexes during these two months alone and eveytime he fought with the other partners he would draw blood so after many attempts and each one ending the same she decided he'd be best left on his own ive had him for two weeks now my older sister has a 4 year old female who is also on her own after her partner passed away we have tried to introduce them slowly just leaving there cages next to each other etc but he will have none of it and try biting her through the bars of his cage all he does all day long is lie in the one corner of his cage staring into space and when I bring him out for a run and graze in the garden he'll just hide in his tunnel and squeak really loud I don't know what to do I've tried eveything any advice is accepted

 

[Reenie]

If it's a female your sister has, do not introduce them to each other, except through the bars of the cage, unless you have your boy neutered and wait a full 6 weeks to make sure he's safe. Someone will give you better advice about behaviour and if you check in the guides above you will find information on bonding and behaviour. Sorry I can't do links on this device.

 

[Brucey]

Thank you reenie I will have a look now

 

[Betsy]

@Reenie is right if you want to pair him with your sister's sow then he must be neutered and wait for 6 weeks before being introduced to the sow.

 

[Brucey]

What can I do for the mean time to make his more happy whiles he's alone ?

 

[Wiebke]

What can I do for the mean time to make his more happy whiles he's alone ?

You can keep the two next to each other so they can interact through the bars, but cannot get at each other. This means that they have company, but there is no risk of pregnancy (since about every 5th pregnancy ends with the death of pups and/or mum, it is not something you want to risk). Please make absolutely sure that your boy cannot climb out of his cage in any way. Desperate and determined boys can be amazingly athletic!

Please consider using the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton for the neutering operation. They are by far the best operating vets for small animals in our area and have as close to a 100% success rate of complication-free neutering ops as any surgeon can get. I use them myself and had my Nye operated a year ago, which went as smoothly as could be. Since they keep up with operation techniques, your boy will not even need any antibiotics or post-op care or checks. He will just behave as if nothing untowards has happened. It is really worth every penny! We have got a post op care guide, but by going to Simon Maddock, you won't need it or need to worry about it. My Nye was bum wiggling at the (spayed) sow in the adjoining pen as soon as he was back home from his op and did happily tuck into his dinner...
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

You will find our New Owners guide collection helpful; it also contains our bonding and behaviour guide. We have got lots more guides, which you can access via the guide shortcut on the top bar.
New and Wannabe Guinea Pig Owners Corner

 

[Brucey]

Thankyou for all your help I will definitely be using that clinic and I am reading the care guides now on my laptop I think I'll just speak to a vet about introducing both of them as I don't want to risk anything

 

[Wiebke]

Thankyou for all your help I will definitely be using that clinic and I am reading the care guides now on my laptop I think I'll just speak to a vet about introducing both of them as I don't want to risk anything

If you can get to Coventry, I am willing to bond your two for you once your boy is 6 weeks post-op for a little donation towards TEAS sanctuary.