The vet said hes stressed

[Annie-piggie-mama]

Hello. I'm new here, thought it looks a good place to ask some advice. Had my boy to the vet and he said there doesnt look to be anything wrong other than stress with goku who is 1and a half. His hutch mate died a few weeks ago and hes lost a lot of weight. I'm looking for another hutch mate for him but that's not proving easy in our area right now. So goku is in with his brother rubble who is a bully when he has a cage mate he picks on them he usually lives alot after killing his hutch mate/brother last year. Any advice for goku to put weight on hes 600g right now and it's coming into autumn I'm very worried

 

[Piggies&buns]

If I’ve understood this right, you’ve put goku into rubble’s hutch after goku having lost his friend. If rubble really is a bully (and it’s not just dominance - what exactly does he Do?) then take goku out of rubble’s hutch. It isn’t fair on either of them to be together if they genuinely aren’t happy together. Did you do a proper introduction between them before putting goku into rubble’s hutch? Being in with another piggy whom he doesn’t get long with, really won’t help at all.

 

[Annie-piggie-mama]

Rubble starved his hutch mate and he ended up dying from how he was treat. When I got the piggies got 4 brothers, they used to live together in one run then we seen they only got along in 2 and as a 4 they would scrap. So they lived in the 2s they had seemed to choose Rocky and Rubble, Goku and Everest and they lives in cages one on top of the other then in their double hutch so they always close. Rubble likes they his brothers are close by but not with him. Now I dont want Goku to die of loneliness or anything. Our close by rescue only had pairs to be rehomed together which I dont have space for and there only neutered female is reserved

 

[VickiA]

I really don’t think it’s a good idea to put the bereaved boar in with his brother who’s bullied him or another cage mate previously. The vet is doubtless right that he’s stressed by being put back in with him.

I’d separate them and build him back up (600g is very low weight for an adult boar). Please check when he’s back on his own that he’s eating enough and gaining weight. If there is nothing wrong with him other than stress of being bullied then he should perk up again. I’m sure I’d be happier alone than
Living with a bully who’d tormented me previously.
Once he is full weight again you could look at getting him date with a boar of his choice. Have you contacted the rescues in our rescue locator? They do offer boar dating to get the match right. Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hello and welcome

Your Poor boy sounds very underweight and is obviously grieving for his housemate. Please separate him from Rubble and give him a good diet with plenty of hay. Porridge oats are good to fatten up piggies. Hope you can take him boar dating soon at a local recommended rescue so he can find a new housemate, let us all know how you get on x

 

[Wiebke]

Hello. I'm new here, thought it looks a good place to ask some advice. Had my boy to the vet and he said there doesnt look to be anything wrong other than stress with goku who is 1and a half. His hutch mate died a few weeks ago and hes lost a lot of weight. I'm looking for another hutch mate for him but that's not proving easy in our area right now. So goku is in with his brother rubble who is a bully when he has a cage mate he picks on them he usually lives alot after killing his hutch mate/brother last year. Any advice for goku to put weight on hes 600g right now and it's coming into autumn I'm very worried

Hi!

Please bring your boy indoors so he is in warm and stable surroundings and you can monitor him more closely (it is the time of year when you need to bring your piggies under cover anyway as they are not winter hardy) and start syringe feeding ASAP - ideally at least 4-5 times a day; if he is not eating at all every 2 hours during the day and at least once during the night!
Please follow the emergency care advice in the link below, which also contains detailed syringe feeding advice. It takes you through all aspect
That is a dangerously low weight for an adult boar; and it is definitely not due to 'nervousness' although being on his own may be a contributing factor! Has your vet checked his teeth, especially the ones at the back?
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Please monitor the food intake by weighing daily at the same time instead of weekly and adjust your top up feed accordingly. your first aim is to stabilise the weight until the cause for the massive weight loss can be found.

I would also strongly recommend to see another vet.
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

How big are your hutches and how well insulated are they? Boars need all the space they can get, especially teenagers. Fights only happen when boars cannot get away from each other, as they would normally do. Fatalities are rare; they only happen when a full-on bite is hitting a vital spot by accident. It is important that you separate boars that are close to fighting or have had a fight in your absence asap for good.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Cage Size Guide

I would certainly not put a piggy back with another that has bullied him in the past (baby boar trios sadly rarely work out); this only adds extra stress and acerbates any problems for your poorly boy!
If your boy is perking up noticeably as soon as he is away from the bully, then you know that he is not at all happy and is indeed stressed. If he is starting to put on weight promptly after the separation, then you know that the weight loss is mainly due to bullying.
Bonds In Trouble

Only once you have sorted out the health/relationship problem, then you can think about finding a new friend. Your closest good rescue that offers rescue dating is Tees Valley Guinea Pig Rescue in Middlesbrough.
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues