One guinea pig attacked by the other

[bethunsx]

Hi

I am looking for advice as I’m unsure of what to do in the situation I have found myself in with my two boats. They are just over a year old (14 months) and have been together since they were 2 months old with no problems. Obviously I had noticed one pig was more dominant and he would show dominance behaviours but never anything vicious and never stopping my other piggy from eating / drinking / sleeping and they seemed content together. However I know they are now in puberty at the age they are.

This morning when feeding them I’ve noticed small bites all over Wilburs back (less dominant pig) and a bite so bad on his shoulder he wouldn’t but weight on his front paw and it was all inflamed and swollen. There must have been about 10-12 small bites all over his body. I took him to the vet and she has given him antibiotic and anti inflammatory meds and says they must be separated. I had a spare cage and have taken cederick (dominant pig) out the c and c cage that the boys were in and placed him in there just for today while I decide what to do.

The issue is the vet has said to reintroduce them they must be neutered and I don’t want to have to do this. I also don’t think this is necessarily true. I also don’t really want them separate as I can already tell they’re looking for one another. How would I go about reintroducing them without risking Wilbur being attacked again (he’s a skinny pig also so I feel his skin is even more easily broken without any protection of fur).

Thank you!

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome. Considering skin had been broken therefore blood drawn then sadly they do need to be separated considering you have a c&c cage, you could have them living side by side with a divider so they can still interact without physical contact.

Neutering will not change the behaviour. In guinea pigs, it only stops a boar from impregnating a female. They will still fight even if you get them neutered. Only neuter them if you plan to introduce them to a female piggy each

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I am looking for advice as I’m unsure of what to do in the situation I have found myself in with my two boats. They are just over a year old (14 months) and have been together since they were 2 months old with no problems. Obviously I had noticed one pig was more dominant and he would show dominance behaviours but never anything vicious and never stopping my other piggy from eating / drinking / sleeping and they seemed content together. However I know they are now in puberty at the age they are.

This morning when feeding them I’ve noticed small bites all over Wilburs back (less dominant pig) and a bite so bad on his shoulder he wouldn’t but weight on his front paw and it was all inflamed and swollen. There must have been about 10-12 small bites all over his body. I took him to the vet and she has given him antibiotic and anti inflammatory meds and says they must be separated. I had a spare cage and have taken cederick (dominant pig) out the c and c cage that the boys were in and placed him in there just for today while I decide what to do.

The issue is the vet has said to reintroduce them they must be neutered and I don’t want to have to do this. I also don’t think this is necessarily true. I also don’t really want them separate as I can already tell they’re looking for one another. How would I go about reintroducing them without risking Wilbur being attacked again (he’s a skinny pig also so I feel his skin is even more easily broken without any protection of fur).

Thank you!

Hi! Please take the time to read these guides here; they deal with all the aspects you are looking at in much more detail than I can in one post (especially as it has taken me several days to write the guides!)

Please make sure that you have a divider in the cage until the wound has healed, but allow the interaction through the bars. You have to see how they react if you try a re-introduction on neutral ground with oven gloves at the ready.

Usually boars will not go back together after a serious fight with deep intentional bites, so don't get your hopes up. Neutering in guinea pigs only removes the ability to make babies but doesn't change behaviours, personality or stop any hormone spikes.

Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts