? Self harming

[Tilly92]

Essie lives with her daughter Twinkie . Twinkie is very much the boss and will snap at her mother if she thinks Essie is trying to get her food. When this happens Essie appears to bite her own back and she now has a V shape of thiner hair. Most of the time they get on fine and will frequently eat nuggets out of the same dish . If they have veg/fruit I always give them 2 or 3 piles so they both have space to eat. During the day time they have a run outside and at night they have an indoor cage. They have tunnels and boxes to play with plus equal times of fuss. When they have been separated ( this happens when I carry them in or out one at a time so a matter of minutes) they touch noses and chatter to each other appearing very pleased to see each other.

 

[Reenie]

I don't know about the behaviour of biting her back, however a v shaped hair loss may (and I'm not an expert) be indicative of mites. I would get her checked by the vet just in case this is what is causing the hair loss. If it is, please use vet prescribed treatments as the ones you buy in the shops are not strong enough and just prolong or hide the problem. I'm not an expert in either mites or behaviour, so I don't know if it could be self inflicted. I hope she's okay. X

 

[Claire W]

I agree. A V shape on the back is a classic sign of mites which may also be the reason for the biting.

Please see a vet for the correct treatment

 

[Wiebke]

Essie lives with her daughter Twinkie . Twinkie is very much the boss and will snap at her mother if she thinks Essie is trying to get her food. When this happens Essie appears to bite her own back and she now has a V shape of thiner hair. Most of the time they get on fine and will frequently eat nuggets out of the same dish . If they have veg/fruit I always give them 2 or 3 piles so they both have space to eat. During the day time they have a run outside and at night they have an indoor cage. They have tunnels and boxes to play with plus equal times of fuss. When they have been separated ( this happens when I carry them in or out one at a time so a matter of minutes) they touch noses and chatter to each other appearing very pleased to see each other.

Hi!

Nipping is normal mild dominance behaviour, but the classice v-shape on the back is a sign of mange mites, which burrow their eggs into the increasingly inflamed and painful skin - hence the biting.

Please have both girls vet checked and DO NOT home treat on spec with cheap low dosed shop brands that are not geared to cut through an acute case and will only suppress it temporarily (pet shops are not licensed to carry vet strength medication). You always need to treat all piggies in contact and conduct a full three rounds course of high dosed ivermectin at the product specific interval to get on top of mange mites. It is worth (and ultimately cheaper with less suffering for the piggies) doing it right from the start, get on top of it quickly and once and for all!
We cannot diagnose safely online (nobody can), nor are we qualified, and we cannot replace a hands-on vet visit.

You will find more information on dominance behaviours in sows, self-barbering and on mange mites in these links here:
Sow Behaviour
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Barbering ( Eating Hair)

What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness) (contains information on mange mites)

 

[VickiA]

I agree that this is something you will need to get a vet to check out and treat. Caught early enough with the correct treatment at the correct dose it will hopefully clear quickly.