I adopted two guinea pigs around 3 weeks ago, one two years old and the other around 6 months old. They started to fight about a week after I got them, so I separated them.. however one guinea pig got depressed on his own previously so I had to eventually put them back together. I took one to the vets a few days ago to get nails clipped and she realised there is cuts and scabs all over his back, where the other pig had became nippy. The guinea pig is now on medication and the vet told me neutering the both may solve the problem as they're most likely fighting over dominance, which would cost £110 to begin with and possibly more. The guinea pig who is on medication has now stopped eating, and they both seem really stressed. I want to know any other opinions on neutering, it's stressing me out that they're not getting on and I'm not really getting to enjoy them as such. Not a great start, as the pet shop had initially told me they got along very well. Does anyone have any opinions on what I should do? Appreciate it!
Hi and welcome!
Please start syringe feeding your boy asap and have him checked for abscesses from infected bites. Use mushed up pellets as an emergency; the guide tells you how to prep the syringe. Switch from weighing once weekly to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle to keep a close eye on the food intake.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Please note that unlike with rabbits where neutering for either gender is most strongly recommended, boar neutering does NOT change personality or any social behaviours, including dominance. All it does is take away the ability to make babies. I would also recommend to not use any vet for neutering that is obviously not piggy savvy. Nor trust any pet shop sales person for advice; they are notorious for the lack of basic knowledge! Places like our forum and resces are picking up the pieces all the time...
Unfortunately you have to accept that your boys do not get on and never will! Fights are inevitable if boars cannot get away from each other if they clash over dominance, especially during the teenage months.
The key to any successful boar bond (or at that, any piggy bond) is mutual liking and character compatibility. No amount of bonding tricks or neutering can change that. It is not the piggies' fault, but the humans'. Just sticking a baby with a single boar is not going to work out if said baby grows into a dominant youngster.
If you have to live with a room mate you do not get on with at all, no amount of outside behavioural or medical intervention is going to you make you like them, is it? Guinea pigs are social animals, but they also resemble humans very much when it comes to getting on with each other - every bit as complicated. Sadly it is a still far too common and constantly perpetuated misconception that guinea pigs are breathing, placid cuddly toys.
Please take the time to carefully read this guide here. It explains in great detail what has happened (and why), your various future options and it also gives you the necessary links to recommended good standard rescues and vets.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Since we have got members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your Uk county to your details, so we may be able to help you with specific recommendations, according to what is available where you are. Vet and rescue access can vary greatly, so will your individual options. Please click on your username at the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. That allows us to tailor any advice straight away instead of keeping it as general as possible. Thank you!
