Teeth grinding at cagemate

[cashewandpeppa]

My two girls Cashew and Peppa have been bonded for almost one year now. Peppa has been boss pig since day 1, and she is a serious boss - stronger dominance than I’ve seen in most boars. Cashew is super content as lowest pig and never challenges Peppa, ever.

Needed context:

• The two of them are in a 26 square foot cage. It has been this way for over 6 months now. No changes happened to set up.
• They have 5 water bottles, always 3 or more large hay piles, and 2 of every hidey. If cuddle cups are out, 2. Cardboard huts, 2. Beds, 2. Hammocks, 2. Always two of everything.
• Peppa has not lost any weight and has no signs of illness. Teeth, paws, nails, stomach, ears, all look good. Cashew is healthy as well.
• Cashew never challenged Peppa’s dominance and absolutely wanted nothing to do with fighting.

Out of nowhere last night, Peppa spent about 3 hours grinding her teeth at Cashew. This was DIFFERENT than a teeth chatter. It was loud grinding. She wouldn’t let Cashew even sleep. If she found Cashew anywhere in the cage, she’d wake her up or stop her eating, get close, grind her teeth, and Cashew would shriek and go running into an opposite corner. It was hard to watch.

Eventually during cage clean time, Peppa got to the point of beginning to seriously chase and lunge at Cashew. I had to separate them for the night because Cashew was absolutely terrified, I needed to go to sleep (it was 2:00 AM), and Peppa was so angry. The important note here is that Cashew tried to shriek in submission repeatedly and Peppa did not care. She continued to lunge at Cashew, even though Cashew was terrified and not willing to fight back at all. I am devastated and do not know what to do.

This morning, Peppa is still making grinding teeth sounds through the cage bars where they are now separated.

I’d really prefer not see blood. Cashew is so innocent and doesn’t understand what’s happening. She’s also been through a lot of hardship and illness in her very short life.

I’ve attached a video below of one of the many instances of Peppa tooth grinding then lunging. The standing there is Cashew frozen and she is quietly shrieking/crying while Peppa grinds her teeth. She tries to bite Cashew at the end:

I tried remedying everything I could for Peppa and nothing made her less aggressive. Are my girls done forever?

 

[Wiebke]

My two girls Cashew and Peppa have been bonded for almost one year now. Peppa has been boss pig since day 1, and she is a serious boss - stronger dominance than I’ve seen in most boars. Cashew is super content as lowest pig and never challenges Peppa, ever.

Needed context:

• The two of them are in a 26 square foot cage. It has been this way for over 6 months now. No changes happened to set up.
• They have 5 water bottles, always 3 or more large hay piles, and 2 of every hidey. If cuddle cups are out, 2. Cardboard huts, 2. Beds, 2. Hammocks, 2. Always two of everything.
• Peppa has not lost any weight and has no signs of illness. Teeth, paws, nails, stomach, ears, all look good. Cashew is healthy as well.
• Cashew never challenged Peppa’s dominance and absolutely wanted nothing to do with fighting.

Out of nowhere last night, Peppa spent about 3 hours grinding her teeth at Cashew. This was DIFFERENT than a teeth chatter. It was loud grinding. She wouldn’t let Cashew even sleep. If she found Cashew anywhere in the cage, she’d wake her up or stop her eating, get close, grind her teeth, and Cashew would shriek and go running into an opposite corner. It was hard to watch.

Eventually during cage clean time, Peppa got to the point of beginning to seriously chase and lunge at Cashew. I had to separate them for the night because Cashew was absolutely terrified, I needed to go to sleep (it was 2:00 AM), and Peppa was so angry. The important note here is that Cashew tried to shriek in submission repeatedly and Peppa did not care. She continued to lunge at Cashew, even though Cashew was terrified and not willing to fight back at all. I am devastated and do not know what to do.

This morning, Peppa is still making grinding teeth sounds through the cage bars where they are now separated.

I’d really prefer not see blood. Cashew is so innocent and doesn’t understand what’s happening. She’s also been through a lot of hardship and illness in her very short life.

I’ve attached a video below of one of the many instances of Peppa tooth grinding then lunging. The standing there is Cashew frozen and she is quietly shrieking/crying while Peppa grinds her teeth. She tries to bite Cashew at the end:

I tried remedying everything I could for Peppa and nothing made her less aggressive. Are my girls done forever?

Hi!

You may want to have Peppa vet checked for ovarian cysts.

Please be aware that the shrieking is submission squealing and that sows don't bite, they nip, which is a very carefully judged gesture of power that lets an under-piggy feel the teeth but without breaking the skin.

You can find out more about sow behaviours, strong seasons and ovarian cysts in this guide here: Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

Sows can fall out and suddenly decide that they do no longer recognise another member as part of their group; this usually happens without fighting and is therefore less well known. However I would have checked out the hormonal angle first because it is most often at the bottom of adult sow disruptive behaviour.
Here is more information on dysfunctional bonds on what to do once you have excluded any external/medical causes, including how work out whether a bond has become dysfunctional or not: Bonds In Trouble