6 WEEK OLD NOT MOVING THIS MORNING!

[Angela99]

Hello

I just adopted a 4 week a couple weeks ago as my beloved 6 year old passed away and his younger brother Comet now 8 months old was very sad

It seems he doesn’t care for the baby, Gabriel though and I’m not sure if something happened in the night while I slept!

I saw him not moving slunched in the corner! I thought he was dead! So I picked him up and he barely moved! Last night he was fine eating running playing etc!

I quickly syringed fed him water and critical care and after 20 minutes he came to life again. I’m confused… I’m checking for poops but I think he wasn’t pooping. Maybe Comet was aggressive and scared him?!

Well I will place grids between them tonight but I’m wondering if I should get another pig for Gabriel because he needs a friend and unfortunately Comet wants him to off

Now Gabriel is fine running eating like nothing happened!

Unfortunately they are boars so I feel sad that they are not a match. I have a huge cage two of everything AND they run in my apartment when I’m home (it’s piggy proof!)

 

[Piggies&buns]

The first thing is to check for medical issues, see a vet for any health concerns and switch to daily weight checks.
If he isn’t pooping, then he isn’t eating properly. Poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake so if you don’t see any poops today then that means he wasn’t eating enough yesterday so makes it unlikely something happened overnight.

You should not assume there is a bond problem and you should not separate them.
What makes you think he doesn’t care for him and doesn’t want him there?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Firstly, please make sure that there is no health issue. How are the two boars with each other? Did you introduce them on neutral ground or have you just stuck the baby in your other boy's cage?

It could however be that his prey animal instincts are in full flow.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Angela99]

The first thing is to check for medical issues, see a vet for any health concerns and switch to daily weight checks.
If he isn’t pooping, then he isn’t eating properly. Poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake so if you don’t see any poops today then that means he wasn’t eating enough yesterday so makes it unlikely something happened overnight.

You should not assume there is a bond problem and you should not separate them.
What makes you think he doesn’t care for him and doesn’t want him there?

Hello I watched him eat all day everyday and play etc. I’m home all the time right now. Also he is very comfortable with me and sleeps in my arms so I really don’t see how he stopped pooping unless Comet was mean in the night or who knows.
Comet uses his alpha purrr to keep him away. Doesn’t want him to sleep by him and pushes him away at times.
As for health issues I don’t know he recovered after I fed him water and critical care so it seems like it was shock or something

Now he is Popcorning and running eating and pooping again. Is it possible that he stopped pooping for another reason? He’s so young and fragile

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hello I watched him eat all day everyday and play etc. I’m home all the time right now. Also he is very comfortable with me and sleeps in my arms so I really don’t see how he stopped pooping unless Comet was mean in the night or who knows.
Comet uses his alpha purrr to keep him away. Doesn’t want him to sleep by him and pushes him away at times.
As for health issues I don’t know he recovered after I fed him water and critical care so it seems like it was shock or something

Now he is Popcorning and running eating and pooping again. Is it possible that he stopped pooping for another reason? He’s so young and fragile

A gap in poop output will be caused by a gap or reduction in food intake.
Hay intake cannot be judged by eye so they can appear to be eating it but it doesn’t mean they are eating enough, hence the importance of regular weight checks.

The behaviours you are describing (the purr, not wanting to sleep with him etc) are not necessarily signs of a problem with their bond. Not wanting to sleep together is entirely normal.

Have you witnessed any actual fights or bullying (bullying being a sustained behaviour whereby a piggy becomes withdrawn and potentially loses weight through being chased away from food etc)?
As we have said though, you need to rule out health issues first.

 

[Angela99]

A gap in poop output will be caused by a gap or reduction in food intake.
Hay intake cannot be judged by eye so they can appear to be eating it but it doesn’t mean they are eating enough, hence the importance of regular weight checks.

The behaviours you are describing (the purr, not wanting to sleep with him etc) are not necessarily signs of a problem with their bond. Not wanting to sleep together is entirely normal.

Have you witnessed any actual fights or bullying (bullying being a sustained behaviour whereby a piggy becomes withdrawn and potentially loses weight through being chased away from food etc)?
As we have said though, you need to rule out health issues first.

Well Comet s teeth chatter at him as well … he doesn’t like him. I just picked him up to syringe feed and he’s shivering.. not purring. It’s summer but my place is fresh air etc. so I don’t know. I’ll monitor him and call the vet

 

[Free Ranger]

You can keep boys as neighbours through-the-bars but the little chap is very young to begin a life alone. The most important thing though is to reassure yourself about the health of your new arrival. You might find they actually get on OK as neighbours at least for now. I've had failed bonds with Boar/Boar, Sow/Sow and Boar/Sow before now so it does help to have a plan B. They're lucky to have such an attentive owner that's for sure!

 

[Angela99]

You can keep boys as neighbours through-the-bars but the little chap is very young to begin a life alone. The most important thing though is to reassure yourself about the health of your new arrival. You might find they actually get on OK as neighbours at least for now. I've had failed bonds with Boar/Boar, Sow/Sow and Boar/Sow before now so it does help to have a plan B. They're lucky to have such an attentive owner that's for sure!

Ok thank you. Yes I don’t want him to be on his own because he is still learning! He needs a guide! He’s so tiny! I was surprised they were allowing adoption so young but he was alone so I had to take him home.
Health wise he seems OK now.. so I’m really confused I’ll keep a close eye on him. Thanks for feedback because if I get another piggy what if they don’t work out either my friends adopted babies together and when they got to 8 months it was war so they live side by side now
I mostly hope he is healthy

 

[Piggies&buns]

Are there certain their bond is actually in trouble?
Teeth chattering is also normal.

This is the guide to determine if a bond is in trouble

Bonds In Trouble

I have also had a failed boar bond (I also currently have a successful one as well - I have a bonded pair of 5 year olds).
The two youngest were together as babies but their bond broke down when they were 18 weeks old. They had a full on injury causing fight and they now live side by side.

 

[Angela99]

Are there certain their bond is actually in trouble?
Teeth chattering is also normal.

This is the guide to determine if a bond is in trouble

Bonds In Trouble

I have also had a failed boar bond (I also currently have a successful one as well - I have a bonded pair of 5 year olds).
The two youngest were together as babies but their bond broke down when they were 18 weeks old. They had a full on injury causing fight and they now live side by side.

Thank you… yes that scares me… it’s to imagine such sweet cuddly little Guinea pigs fight so intensely! Right now the bond is so so … Comet and my sweet Truffle bonded instantly but Truffle was a jolly laid back 6 year old and him everything. Baby doesn’t know anything yet … do they know they need to keep eating hay? ? Well praying for the best outcome

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you… yes that scares me… it’s to imagine such sweet cuddly little Guinea pigs fight so intensely! Right now the bond is so so … Comet and my sweet Truffle bonded instantly but Truffle was a jolly laid back 6 year old and him everything. Baby doesn’t know anything yet … do they know they need to keep eating hay? ? Well praying for the best outcome

Yes they know they need to eat hay.