Post Oc Surgery, Behaviour Questions

[Dilly's Piggies]

I was just wondering, how long after a spay surgery for ovarian cysts do we typically start to see behavioural improvements? Harriet was spayed 4 weeks ago and I have noticed a huge improvement with her constant rumblestrutting to her cagemates, she barely ever does that now and it's lovely to see her feeling better. However when in a small space (pet carrier) she has ended up fighting with one of her cagemates on two occasions now and this has only started happening AFTER surgery, she didn't do this before, no harm came to either pig but they did furiously scuffle around in circles and it was quite scary to watch. The first time was when she went to the vet for her post op check up, she went with her Mum Tizzie, on the way out of the vet they began to fight, we put it down to stress of being at the vet, the second time was when they were outside in the nice weather recently, I use the pet carriers to transport them in and out, Harriet was with her sister Lottie and they had the fight on the way inside again.

Once taken out of the carrier they're absolutely fine together like nothing happened, as I said no pig has ever been hurt but I just wonder why Harriet is getting so upset she starts fights with the others, only when in the carrier. Could she have some mental trauma/bad memories from travelling in the carrier for 2 hours there, 2 hours back for her surgery? If so, how do I fix this? She is obviously very upset about something and is taking it out on her friends that she does love very much. I also wonder if it's because her hormones are still adjusting. What do you guys think is going on with her and how do I help her?

 

[Tiamolly123]

Maybe it's being contained in a small space, have you got a large cat carrier for transportation.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Maybe it's being contained in a small space, have you got a large cat carrier for transportation.

They are large carriers for cats/small dogs, I don't use the small ones designed for Guinea Pigs.

 

[Tiamolly123]

So they have plenty of room, I'm at a loss then!

 

[DM030819]

It could still be being cramped into a smaller space. My two boys are fine with each other but they won't share a carrier, I have to have them in separate ones for vet visits.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

It could still be being cramped into a smaller space. My two boys are fine with each other but they won't share a carrier, I have to have them in separate ones for vet visits.

I've always been told to travel Guinea Pigs in pairs as it's less stressful, it's the only reason I keep doing it as it's what everyone says, I've had the opposite result with mine, not only with Harriet's break outs but with other piggies, I haven't had fights before but they do get upset with each other and teeth chatter, the only time it seems beneficial is with young or skittish piggies. They travel much better alone and most of the time I actually hold them in the car and don't use the carrier at all, they are much more at ease this way and seem to enjoy the ride. On the 2 hour there and 2 hour back journey they did travel separately but I still took another so Harriet had a friend whilst at the vet but they both did brilliantly with travel. So I don't think I will do the pairs thing anymore, it seems to cause more problems than it's supposed to solve.

 

[DM030819]

@CavyConnoisseur I remember taking my two current pigs along to the vet for a health check and to get them registered.

When we got there the vet had to clean up Jon's bloody nose for him as he'd started fighting with Podrick on the way in their box. I had to stop and split them into separate boxes.