• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Possible Fall Out?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Lady Kelly

Lady Kelly

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 11, 2011
Messages
18,588
Reaction score
36,903
Points
2,115
Location
Leicester
I'm very confused now, my pigs have all been together for two months without much by way of problems. We've had a gardener round today so have been out in the garden for a good hour and just before he left I noticed a red streak from Issy's mouth. After he left I got her out and she has a wound to the side of her mouth which I've cleaned as best I could. I have checked all the pigs and no one else has any injuries. There were a couple of clumps of Jemima fur on a cosy with skin attached.

I have treated them all with ivermectin incase of mites. I have given Issy a touch of loxicom. The downstairs of the hutch was changed to fleece this week and a couple of fleece beds if that makes a difference. There has been a bit of teeth chattering from all of them but they have eaten their veg together (apart from Jemima who seems to be sulking at the back) and Issy has been grooming Peter and Bumble (and they don't seem to be minding it).

Obviously first thing tomorrow I am calling the vets and getting an appointment for the afternoon to get it checked over and ask for some antibiotics so it doesn't get infected. Hopefully the vet can clarify if it looks like a tooth puncture wound as I'm just not sure myself at the moment. I'm mostly confused as there was no obvious fighting, no squealing when it happened and when I found Issy with her vampire look they were all sat in close proximity and tolerating each other. I feel paranoid that something horrible will happen overnight or while I'm at work tomorrow but don't want to separate her unnecessarily

I'm hoping for some guidance and advice
@Wiebke @Pebble
 
Best have it seen. See how the two girls are with each other; is one wary of the other? Sow fall-outs are much rarer than boars.
 
Hard to say whats going on really. There is an atmosphere, I can tell something isn't quite right but I am surprised that after 2 months (and them seeming to have settled together) to find this. Peter doesn't seem bothered by anything in the slightest. Jemima, Issy and Bumble all seem a bit wary of each other but then Issy has been snuggled up grooming Bumble with no problems. Jemima is my dominant sow and spent a good month after Issy's introduction constantly asserting her authority so my inclination is to think she has done this but its hard to tell for certain. As the blood was very fresh I did check the others teeth but no signs there of anything untoward.
 
Well we've been taking it in turns checking every 5-10 mins and the OH just called me out saying she was bleeding again. Her mouth is bleeding more so I think somepig has reopened the wound, we also found a scratch over her nose :( I have just spent 15 mins setting up the indoor cage for her but I'm gutted that its come to this. Some serious thinking/planning/decisions to make for when she's feeling better.

I have given her 0.1ml loxicom and she weighs 773g... does anyone know if I can give her more than this? I am planning on giving her another 0.1ml first thing in the morning to tide her over before we can get her to the vets. Unfortunately I have appointments and am covering a work colleagues jobs tomorrow so won't be able to leave til 2.30 at the earliest. Least I know she won't get hurt further now.
 
Oh, no. How gutting for you Kelly. What a shock as the bonding had gone so well for you. Healing wheeks from me and my three x
 
Well we have been to the vets and she is doing really well. Today during a thorough exam I found two older bite wounds that were only noticeable when you really brushed the hair against its natural flow (I suppose the downside of a sheltie x) I feel bad for not noticing them before but the vet (who I have to say... for a man... did not do a very manly squeal of delight when I got her out the carrier :))) said they are healing extremely well and all of the wounds (4 in total) are quite superficial. The older two were deeper than the new ones and all seem to be healing quickly and with minimal redness and no swelling. She has had the two doses of loxicom and he said that should do it for pain relief and anti-inflammatory. I was a bit worried about the minimal eating but I think part of it is being on her own indoors in the temporary cage now whereas she is used to being around other guinea pigs. That said she hasn't said no to the veg yet, I have topped her up with CC before work, when I got back around 3.30 and from about 5pm when I got home from the vets. She has taken a lot of it and I've left her in peace for a while. Will check her before I go bed and possibly offer her some more syringe feed if she doesn't seem to have eaten anything else.
 
Poor you - just the things you don't want to find. :(

I hope that you can find a good solution for her.
 
Yes Wiebke, we will get something sorted for her I am sure. Poor little girl.

I suppose the first experience of a fall out has to happen at some point... just over 4 years into being owned by piggies isn't too bad
 
Lady Kelly said:
Yes Wiebke, we will get something sorted for her I am sure. Poor little girl.

I suppose the first experience of a fall out has to happen at some point... just over 4 years into being owned by piggies isn't too bad
Click to expand...

Having been there myself, I know what a gutting experience it is when a group goes wrong. :(
 
Right so Isobel hasn't been eating right and I have had to top up with syringe feeding. She is very withdrawn and hunched up so after we nipped out this morning I decided to bring Bumble in as well and see what happened. Issy is back to where she was before, immediately explored the cage and picked up a bit of green pepper thats been sat there all night and ate it. I was thinking that loneliness might be what was half the problem and it seems I was right. They are near to us so if there are any problems we will hear. It is only a 100cm so is far from ideal but better than feeding Issy every couple of hours because she's too depressed to eat!

The plan is... I currently have a 6ft x 2ft outdoor hutch over two levels. We will take out the ramp and nail a cover over the hole. We will cover one of the downstairs doors in wood and put a plywood inner to match the top so there is a very sheltered and dark sleeping area. Bumble and Isobel will live downstairs and Peter and Jemima can have the upstairs. I figured that I could actually take in more pigs on this basis buttttttttt daren't mention that in front of the OH just yet :))
 
Good to hear that Isobel has perked up since being joined indoors by Bumble. Hope you can get the hutches sorted out to everyone's satisfaction and peace can be restored to your otherwise happy piggies.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top