Should I Introduce Another Pig To One That Likes Biting Ears?

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SqueakWheek

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Sorry if this is a bit of a mess, I had one of my little ones pts about 90 mins ago and I'm not thinking too clearly.

My last guinea pig, Sparkles, is a biter. Always has been. She likes to nibble wood, plastic, substrate if given the chance (she's on fleece) and, of course, myself or other humans along with other pigs.

She has never intentionally bit a living thing with the intention of severely injuring them/drawing blood, but her obsession with biting things leads to the latter. When my other little one got sick, I was so focused on her respiratory issues I didn't really look at her dark grey ears. Sparkles has nibbled them so much the edge of it looked like a series of flower petals. The damage was all recent.

I only noticed that about 9 hours ago at a vet visit, and separated them as soon as I got home. I hadn't really given much thought to what I would do now that they were both on their own.

But then my little Sapphire got a lot worse, and she had to be rushed back to the vets. There wasn't much the vet could do aside from run more tests for conditions they couldn't treat (like cancer), she also had an infection that wasn't responding to baytril. Given how much she was suffering I didn't want to prolong that, so I opted to have her pts.

So now I have a problem. I'm not sure how well Sparkles will cope with being on her own, but I'm concerned that her biting habits may make her an unsuitable candidate for a companion.

She'll be four years old in April (not that you'd know it by looking at her) and I don't want to make her life miserable, but at the same time I don't want her causing misery to another pig.

What do you think I should do?
 
SqueakWheek said:
Sorry if this is a bit of a mess, I had one of my little ones pts about 90 mins ago and I'm not thinking too clearly.

My last guinea pig, Sparkles, is a biter. Always has been. She likes to nibble wood, plastic, substrate if given the chance (she's on fleece) and, of course, myself or other humans along with other pigs.

She has never intentionally bit a living thing with the intention of severely injuring them/drawing blood, but her obsession with biting things leads to the latter. When my other little one got sick, I was so focused on her respiratory issues I didn't really look at her dark grey ears. Sparkles has nibbled them so much the edge of it looked like a series of flower petals. The damage was all recent.

I only noticed that about 9 hours ago at a vet visit, and separated them as soon as I got home. I hadn't really given much thought to what I would do now that they were both on their own.

But then my little Sapphire got a lot worse, and she had to be rushed back to the vets. There wasn't much the vet could do aside from run more tests for conditions they couldn't treat (like cancer), she also had an infection that wasn't responding to baytril. Given how much she was suffering I didn't want to prolong that, so I opted to have her pts.

So now I have a problem. I'm not sure how well Sparkles will cope with being on her own, but I'm concerned that her biting habits may make her an unsuitable candidate for a companion.

She'll be four years old in April (not that you'd know it by looking at her) and I don't want to make her life miserable, but at the same time I don't want her causing misery to another pig.

What do you think I should do?
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am ever so sorry for your loss! You are welcome to post a tribute to Sapphire in our Rainbow Bridge section if or whenever it feels right for you.

Sparkles is NOT unbondable!
Her ear nibbling is clearly an expression of her concerns over losing Sapphire taking over. Gentle ear licking or nibbling is an expression of friendly dominance. It means "I want you to be part of the group I am leading". In the context of an illness, ear nibbling is a gesture that means "I want you remain a beloved member of my group".
As to her dominance biting issues, you may find this guide here helpful: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
What you can do for her now and in the next days, and ideally find a rescue where Sparkles can choose her next mate herself (sow or neutered boar of any age, provided they click): Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
Thank you so much!

I had pigs before these two and never observed ear biting, only licking, so it was new territory to me and the severity of it made me question introducing a friend. It's great if not a little heartbreaking to know it was because Sapphire was sick and is (hopefully) not an issue I would have with a healthy pig. The depths of the bonds between pigs never ceases to surprise me.

Sparkles isn't behaving any differently at the moment, thankfully. I will definitely look into getting her a friend once I figure out where the closest adoption place is to me and I've had a moment to get my head around the last few hours.

Thanks again. I might post in the rainbow bridge section when I've gotten my head together.
 
SqueakWheek said:
Thank you so much!

I had pigs before these two and never observed ear biting, only licking, so it was new territory to me and the severity of it made me question introducing a friend. It's great if not a little heartbreaking to know it was because Sapphire was sick and is (hopefully) not an issue I would have with a healthy pig. The depths of the bonds between pigs never ceases to surprise me.

Sparkles isn't behaving any differently at the moment, thankfully. I will definitely look into getting her a friend once I figure out where the closest adoption place is to me and I've had a moment to get my head around the last few hours.

Thanks again. I might post in the rainbow bridge section when I've gotten my head together.
Click to expand...

Please take your time but try to console yourself that you know what you can do for Sparkles and that you do not need to worry about her, too, right now!

As stated in the guide, you have some leeway if your piggy is not acutely pining and you do not need to rush out and get another companion immediately.
Our bereavement guide contains liks to recommended rescues in several countries; the cast majority of them offer dating for bereaved and single piggies and will take personal quirks into consideration. Many rescues have got more piggies in rescue than listed on their website, so it is always worth contacting any rescues within your reach by phone or email.
Rescue dating at one of our recommended good standard rescues means that you come home with a new friend only if acceptance has happened and that any new piggy will be healthy, properly sexed and guaranteed not pregnant.

Guinea pigs have a much better sense for when things are not right than we humans. In several cases, it was the changed behaviour of the companions that has alerted me to a serious health problem. Overgrooming a spot (like eyes or ears) or aggressive dominance barbering are often a sign that something is not right and that the companions are aware of it. They can react in different ways.
 
I'm waiting on someone to contact a rescue that they know the owner of at the moment--they are going to contact them this weekend.

Sparkles is concerning me a bit. She's eating normally and seems very (almost overly) enthusiastic when being interacted with (licking and nibbling my hands like mad), but the second she's alone she seems withdrawn. She's been laying in the spot Sapphire last occupied in the cage quite a lot and seems less inclined to move in general. I've upped the amount of time she spends with me and that seems to be helping, but I'm now wondering if she needs a friend sooner than I'd be able to get via a rescue.

Sapphire was actually with a different pig before Sparkles. They were siblings, and I had Willow pts after she developed pneumonia on top of having cancer. Sapphire was an extremely nervous pig and clung to Willow like a limpet throughout their lives. She started pining hours after her death, and introducing her to Sparkles had her eating and popcorning in a matter of minutes. I really hope the same proves true for Sparkles.

She's a very dominant pig, and I'm worried that without a Piggy Date at a rescue I'm going to struggle to find her a suitable companion--the last thing I want to do is bring another dominant pig home and have to deal with that fallout.
 
SqueakWheek said:
I'm waiting on someone to contact a rescue that they know the owner of at the moment--they are going to contact them this weekend.

Sparkles is concerning me a bit. She's eating normally and seems very (almost overly) enthusiastic when being interacted with (licking and nibbling my hands like mad), but the second she's alone she seems withdrawn. She's been laying in the spot Sapphire last occupied in the cage quite a lot and seems less inclined to move in general. I've upped the amount of time she spends with me and that seems to be helping, but I'm now wondering if she needs a friend sooner than I'd be able to get via a rescue.

Sapphire was actually with a different pig before Sparkles. They were siblings, and I had Willow pts after she developed pneumonia on top of having cancer. Sapphire was an extremely nervous pig and clung to Willow like a limpet throughout their lives. She started pining hours after her death, and introducing her to Sparkles had her eating and popcorning in a matter of minutes. I really hope the same proves true for Sparkles.

She's a very dominant pig, and I'm worried that without a Piggy Date at a rescue I'm going to struggle to find her a suitable companion--the last thing I want to do is bring another dominant pig home and have to deal with that fallout.
Click to expand...

She is showing the typical behaviour of a depressed guinea pig missing the company of her own kind. Even if she doesn't bond (which is where rescue dating comes in and you may try a few), you can always consider adopting another difficult to bond adjoining cage companion with each their own territory but with constant stimulation or interaction through the bars.
 
I’m so sorry for your loss.
It does sound as though Sparkles is grieving the loss of her cage mate. Great advice from Wiebke above.
 
I'm really sorry for your loss. :( I think Wiebke gave great insight into the ear nibbling. I don't think it's all that uncommon (most of my pigs have come to me with some notches or nibbles out of their ears, presumably from whoever they were housed with before they came here.)
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. Sparkles has perked up a lot over the last couple of days. She's as active and happy as ever, though now a little jealous. My rabbit went into GI stasis because of a dental issue making it painful for him to eat, so I'm now syringing him medications and feed until his dental surgery on Monday. The catch? I'm doing this in the same room Sparkles is in. She was desperate for some of that recovery food and rumblestrutted on me when I took her out for lap time before burying herself in the crook of my arm.

Plans for getting another pig are on hold until my bunny is back on his feet, but it looks like she's coping okay with being alone for the moment. I'll still be keeping a close eye on her.

Dear pets,

Please stop getting sick. I'm begging you.

Signed,

Your extremely stressed out owner!
 
Just caught up with this and wanted to express sympathy for your loss.
The decision to have a pet pts is one of the hardest we have to make.
 
I feel for you! You'll get through it, just hang on in there. At least you know that you do not have to worry about Sparkles right now and have got that extra time.
 
Thanks to both of you.

I've been here so many times before, but I usually get some breathing space between health problems. I went backwards and forwards with having Sapphire pts--part of me wanted to try everything to get her well again, but the more logical side of me heard what the vet said about quality of life and incurable conditions. I didn't want to keep her alive in that moment only for her to pass in an entirely different manner later on.

Do you think Sparkles would mind if I changed her name to Grumples? Any times she sees me with my bunny she stares. I'm expecting her eyes to turn green any moment now.

Seriously though, I hate seeing another animal so ill after losing one not even a week ago. I feel like my stomach is in knots. At least Sparkles is providing comic relief.
 
Grumples! Haha. Hope your rabbit gets well very soon and that you are able to find a lovely friend for Sparkles.
 
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