Problem Sow.

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Alison

Alison

Teenage Guinea Pig
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I have Violet who is approx 14 weeks old and have been looking for some piggie friends for her. I have bought home a piggy, she is about 8 weeks old, She had a cyst on her eye which was treated and healed, but unfortunately she has been left blind in that eye. I introduced them this morning on neutral territory and they were fine for about 10 mins then the new piggy reared her head up and started teeth chattering, she backed violet into a corner, and started on her. Off course they were immediately separated. I tried again this evening and again they were fine for a bit and the younger piggy did exactly the same thing again. Violet did not react she did not fight back or seem fazed by it. I am taking the piggy back to work tomorrow as i believe it is for the best.
Do you think that younger pig is showing aggression because of her vision problems?
How did you find the perfect match when introducing new sows?
Any advice welcome.
 
The problem is with all the teeth chattering you really need to grin and bear it. If they are not making lunges at one another and actually attempting to draw blood then you really need to leave them to it. Seperating them each time just brings it back to square one and, in some cases, makes it worse. It will be harder for the younger pig, especially when Violet ends up on her "bad side" and she can't see her. Have a good read of this page - http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm - and especially the bit on buddy baths which is a good thing to try if all else fails.

Remember that it's really best to quarantine new pigs too as you don't want your existing piggy to become ill.
 
i agree with daftscotlass, if theres no lunging or biting then persevere, they have to sort out top pig. you seperated too soon.
X Paula x
 
I agree with the others, they all chatter their teeth and puff themselves up to show dominance :o As all pack animals do, the only way I would separate is if there is lunging and blood.. seems extreme and I feel sick when I put my new sows in with exisiting packs, but they have to assert the top piggie! I have a group of 6 girls together and at one time I had a gang of 11, so it is possible! Good luck with Violet and her friend! Maybe Violet will let little piggie chutter then give her a headbutt and it will all be resolved! :o :D :D
 
The younger piggy is lunging at her at did try to bite her but i managed to split them up in time, I checked Violet over and she is fine, but the other piggy managed to pull out a large chunk of her fur. I tried them again this morning and the younger piggy tried to attack her again. I am not prepared to let it get to the stage where Violet is bitten and bleeding.
 
Maybe, this baby pig has been through a rough time? what with her eye, is it possible you can put them side by side in cages? Just so they can get used to each other that way? Baby does sound like a terror....! :-\ I had a rescue piggie like that and she would pounce on all my other piggies, so I decided to keep her by herself... then she met Millie my other headstrong fiesty minx and they bonded extremely well... I have never got to the stage where they draw blood, its gone too far then... whatever you decide good luck... ;)
 
If they were mine I would split them and try someone else. It has to be gauged very much on what you see and hear and if you're not happy with them then split them- but split them for good, if you're going to get them together they need to be able to sort it out.
 
Thanks for your advice, I felt that the new piggie was not the right match for violet. Violet would stand there whilst the other piggy tried to attack her. Violets welfare is my main priority and i wasn't happy to let it get to the stage where she was bitten. I will not give up my search, i just need to find her the right friend. :)
 
Good luck in your search. Why don't you go to a rescue with her and try several piggies.
 
My local rescues very rarely have guinea pigs and when they do they are usually boars. She is fascinated with my boar Rodney but unfortunatly he is too old to be castrated.
 
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