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Piggy with kidney issues but being a real nuisance to her sister

Stockyanna

Junior Guinea Pig
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I posted up a few days ago because I have a piggy who is obsessed with her sister and won't give her any respite from constantly being on at her or wanting to be with her. I took her to the vet and the nagging piggy has cysts on her kidneys and has the start of kidney failure i am upset to say. However I am getting her weight to creep up a bit since then and she seems bright enough. However she will not leave the other pig alone. She's constantly sniffing her bum or just trying to cram in small spaces with her trying to get as close as she can. It is driving the other one a little crazy, and although very placid, I can see her snapping at times and it is driving her mad. I dont know what to do for the best. Do I try and separate them perhaps with a divider? The cage is huge. But then I feel like I'm being cruel to the poorly one because she wants comfort. Or am I worrying too much about the other one and should just let nature take its course and let them find their own way? She is bothering her pretty much all day. I guess you wouldn't see it as much if they were outside but mine live indoors. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Anna
 
Sorry to hear about her cysts, I hope she is on the mend soon.
I don’t have much experience with this but perhaps a divider in the cage which would still allow her to see through and sniff her sister and squeak to her if it is comfort from her cage mate that she is really seeking. Perhaps a blanket or towel that smells like her sister in the sectioned off part of cage also so she can lay on it, cuddle it and be close to her scent without annoying your other piggie.
Sorry just a suggestion, I don’t have a lot of experience with behaviour like this, my girls are pretty chilled out even when one is poorly they tend to leave each other be. I hope this helps! And hope she gets better soon!
 
Well that's the strange thing. The poorly one is the one that is obsessing over the non poorly pig. So she is trying to sniff her back end constantly no matter where she is sitting. To the point that the poorly pig won't eat because she is so obsessed with the other one. And the well pig cant just get on and eat without the other one bothering her. It is now making me question whether the well pig has something wrong if the poorly one is so obsessed with her rear end. I just don't know what to do for the best.
 
Thank you. They told me it is the start of kidney failure and not a lot else so I have no idea whether she will improve or is the start of the end. Very vague at the vet. Yes that is what I am thinking. I do have several cages where I've switched over the years when I had boys that didn't get on. So I could either put two cages side by side or separate the larger one. Piggies are so complicated at times! Can't live with each other. Can't live apart! I think I will give that a try. I am starting to think there may be an issue with the well one because of the way the other pig is obsessing over her. Maybe giving off a scent? No idea but I know it's worrying me because I am checking on the web cam all day!
 
Are they sure she hasn't got ovarian cysts as well? Hormonal issues can cause this type of behaviour.
That's exactly what I was thinking. How were the kidney cysts diagnosed? I am thinking much more likely to be cystic ovaries.
 
That's exactly what I was thinking. How were the kidney cysts diagnosed? I am thinking much more likely to be cystic ovaries.
They gave her a scan and said that both kidneys had cysts on. But nothing about ovarian. I am starting to think the same! I am not sure what to do next because it is making the other one's life hell! She is the subservient one of the two anyway so doesn't really stick up for herself. She just takes it. I don't want her to go through all this really. But don't want the poorly one left lonely and have no comfort
 
I had a pig once with all the signs of ovarian cysts and hormonal issues AND progresses quickly into kidney failure (one kidney being double the size of the other). She had cushings disease - which is rare and usually only diagnosed in humans and dogs. The clue to this will be in the adrenal glands, which were also double sized. May be a thought.
 
The vet is going to see her again Monday night. They didn't check the ovaries! Even after I mentioned that, frustratingly.
 
I had a pig once with all the signs of ovarian cysts and hormonal issues AND progresses quickly into kidney failure (one kidney being double the size of the other). She had cushings disease - which is rare and usually only diagnosed in humans and dogs. The clue to this will be in the adrenal glands, which were also double sized. May be a thought.
Oh that's interesting thank you. The vet is going to see her again on Monday so I will mention that thanks
 
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