Mum, muuum, she's murdering me mum.

[paulag]

Oh dear. So after sadly having Guiness put to sleep yesterday, Stella was out with Priscilla and Marmaduke in the run for a couple of hours yesterday as usual with no problems.

The reason the two pairs weren't together was that Guiness and Prissie hated each other and my 150 wasnt really big enough for 4. In the 7 foot run with grass to eat they just about tolerated each other so the four have been together a lot this year, but have separate cages

So we cleaned it out and put the three of them in with lots of hay and hiding places. Been a bit nerve wracking. First marmaduke decided to strut his stuff with a new girl in the cage - despite the fact he's spent many hours on the lawn with her. Then Prissie cornered her and was being a bit of a cow.

We got them settled overnight, but this morning there was this absolute racket going on. Stella was in a box with Priscilla outside and she was making one hell of a fuss about it.

I really don't like putting her through this stress at her age, but I think they *** settle as Prissie and Stella get on fine on the lawn. If I feel she's too stressed I will move her back into her own cage and get her a baby to live with.

Paula

 

[Hannahspanner]

Awww its never nice having a pig put down, very upsetting, hope you are holding up

I am sure the pigs will settle down, it can be quite disturbing watching them not get along! Mine were like it for agessss and still have the occasional tiff but they love each other really

 

[Wiebke]

I sincerely hope that they will settle down eventually; just give it some time. Try to remove any places that have only one entrance so that Stella can't feel cornered.

 

[paulag]

Peace has broken out - everyone is fast asleep in their boxes. Fingers crossed they'll be ok - it will make me feel better.

To be honest I have concerns about Stella. Her heart failure is kept under control with furosemide, but she is quite fluidly at the moment. She was checked out earlier this week, but maybe I should take her again as that was the vet that didn't realize Guiness's lump was an abscess (but in her defense I didn't either until it grew very rapidly).

Paula

 

[Wiebke]

Fingers firmly crossed! The loss of Guiness is hard on Stella; but she will still be better off with company.

I have had some sows who have just sat there and screamed the house down at first, but they have all settled in just fine.

 

[piggyfan]

I really hope it all works out.

 

[paulag]

They're still fine this morning. I think it was just that Marmaduke got overexcited about there being TWO WHOLE WOMEN in his cage, and then Prissie was trying to make it absolutely clear who is alpha.

I feel dreadfully sorry for Stella having to do this in old age and not the best of health, but it's got to be better for her than stuck in a cage on her own all day. And they are familiar guinea pigs.

Gave them cucumber this morning and she came and got hers, pulled it back into the box and started wittering away like she does when she's out in a herd. "my food, my food, did I mention this was my food. . . "

Paula