Please help I’m worried and feel helpless - wheezing after serious bite in fight

[Emily333]

Hi I’m new to this and I’m really worried about my piggy Ben. He currently lives in a herd of three with two other male guinea pigs and noticed tonight whilst cleaning them out that one of the younger two ( as he’s much older and one of my first) launched towards him causing Ben to squeal. Once I’d picked him up and took him inside to check him he seemed find however did have a cut on the inside of his mouth but was still eating as normal and acting normal. I decided to keep him in for the night with me separated from the others ( they usually all live outside together) so he could get a break from them and so he could rest. Once inside and settled I set him up in my room and he was acting normal like before, however once it went quiet and I was silently scrolling on my phone, I heard him grunting and wheezing ( realised he was wheezing after googling the sound) and so became worried straight away thinking he was having difficulty breathing. This confused me though as he’s now 2 (3 at Easter) and been on the same shavings and hay all his life- despite this though I came to the conclusion that he might of developed a slight allergic reaction and so shrugged it off as he was quiet but kept an eye on him. He’s pooping, eating and drinking normally but has now become abit louder and seems to be fidgeting around a lot more so I’m now concerned he’s in pain and feel helpless as I don’t know wat to do. Any ideas on what could be happening I feel horrible knowing that he could be in pain and I can’t do anything as it’s the middle of the night and Christmas Eve tomorrow so not many shops will be open and ordering something in will take weeks to arrive. I won’t be able to cope with losing another as I got him as my first with another (Jerry) who passed away at one years due to bad health, he really is the sweetest guinea pig I’ve met so would be torn apart if he was to go. Please help. Emily x

P.S. sorry for the long winded story

 

[VickiA]

Hello and welcome.
I’m sorry but if blood has been drawn then he cannot go back with the other 2 piggies. A trio of boars often ends in failure. The younger one is challenging for dominance (hormonal).
With a mouth injury and wheezing I am afraid you definitely need to take him to see a vet. We cannot help further. He needs to be examined and tested by a qualified vet.

 

[Seven7]

Welcome.
Sorry to hear about your Piggie. I love mine also so I understand your concern. It seems 3 boys fight more frequently and cause injuries. If you think his injuries are severe enough and he appears to be suffering, please take him to see a vet.

 

[Sophie B]

Please take him to see a vet, I’m afraid he will not be able to go back with your other two, you can either keep him separate and get him a friend, or you can separate with a divider, it’s up to you, I’m sorry this has happened to you

 

[Wiebke]

Hi I’m new to this and I’m really worried about my piggy Ben. He currently lives in a herd of three with two other male guinea pigs and noticed tonight whilst cleaning them out that one of the younger two ( as he’s much older and one of my first) launched towards him causing Ben to squeal. Once I’d picked him up and took him inside to check him he seemed find however did have a cut on the inside of his mouth but was still eating as normal and acting normal. I decided to keep him in for the night with me separated from the others ( they usually all live outside together) so he could get a break from them and so he could rest. Once inside and settled I set him up in my room and he was acting normal like before, however once it went quiet and I was silently scrolling on my phone, I heard him grunting and wheezing ( realised he was wheezing after googling the sound) and so became worried straight away thinking he was having difficulty breathing. This confused me though as he’s now 2 (3 at Easter) and been on the same shavings and hay all his life- despite this though I came to the conclusion that he might of developed a slight allergic reaction and so shrugged it off as he was quiet but kept an eye on him. He’s pooping, eating and drinking normally but has now become abit louder and seems to be fidgeting around a lot more so I’m now concerned he’s in pain and feel helpless as I don’t know wat to do. Any ideas on what could be happening I feel horrible knowing that he could be in pain and I can’t do anything as it’s the middle of the night and Christmas Eve tomorrow so not many shops will be open and ordering something in will take weeks to arrive. I won’t be able to cope with losing another as I got him as my first with another (Jerry) who passed away at one years due to bad health, he really is the sweetest guinea pig I’ve met so would be torn apart if he was to go. Please help. Emily x

P.S. sorry for the long winded story

Hi and welcome!

If your boy is wheezing and has a mouth injury, he should be vet checked. The bite could have affected his nose and cause bleeding in there, too. I highly doubt that it is life-threatening, though, so please take a deep breath!

Piggies will never go back together after such a serious bite.
Boar trios have around a 90% fall-out rate when they hit the teenage months between 4-14 months old; the rate is the higher the more aub-adults are in the mix as the hormone spikes during those months are highly destabilising an already more fragile personality balance. Trios and (in boars) quartets are by far the most instable combinations as long as testosterone is in play.
Please take the time to read this guide here. It will talk you through all your options: Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[DMS260820]

Seperate the boar and get him a nice sow in a seperate cage if you can afford another pig and have the room

 

[Claire W]

Seperate the boar and get him a nice sow in a seperate cage if you can afford another pig and have the room

Make sure the boar is neutered first and gone through the 6 week post op wait before introducing to a sow though

 

[VickiA]

Seperate the boar and get him a nice sow in a seperate cage if you can afford another pig and have the room

Just to clarify @Skypipdot If a sow is contemplated as a companion OP should get him neutered and wait 6 weeks before introducing him to the sow. Otherwise there will be the patter of tiny paws and more problems to deal with.

 

[DMS260820]

Sorry i completely forgot to mention this.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
I can’t add to the advice already given.
Hope things work out for you and we are here to support you