Advice please with separating an injured guinea pig

[BobbyandFudgexxx]

Hi, this is my first post and I’m a first time guinea pig owner.
We got 2 lovely boars just 2 weeks ago. I understood they were litter mates, from pets at home, but now know they weren’t ( I was worrying why one was gaining much more weight and took them to the vet after a week, she said one is a bit older). They seemed to be bonding well, the bigger one the dominant one, but no signs of aggression I don’t think. but the bigger one does a lot of zooming around and has crashed into little one several times. I noticed little one has a lame leg, the vet said shes pretty sure its swollen from a trauma and to separate piggies for 2 weeks.
The cages are next to each other but one has a high base so they can’t see each other. My question is should I keep them completely separate for the 2 weeks or let them be together when they’re in their outside run? They’re just having about 20 minutes run time, building up. When they’re in their outside run they’re so busy eating that I don’t think there would be any bashing around.
I’m wondering which would be better for bonding and for when the 2 weeks is over?
thanks for reading

 

[Piggies&buns]

I personally wouldn’t separate them at all, not for a leg injury (one of mine had a leg injury and they remained together throughout the recovery period). Vets who dont appreciate the social complexities of guinea pigs often do recommend separation but separating can be detrimental to a bond. We don’t recommend medical separation unless it is absolutely essential as medical separations have the ability to break bonds - piggies simply refuse to go back together. I'm assuming they are young so they need to be with another piggy at all times.
Please definitely dont separate and then reintroduce just for run time and then separate them again. This will cause them a lot of stress.

Has he been given an anti-inflammatory?

The key with boars is space - ensure their cage is 180x60cm (6ft x 2ft) as a boar pair need a lot of room as they are more territorial and small cages can cause problems in their bond. Commercial pet shop cages - I only mention this as you say you got the piggies from pets at home - aren't big enough for a boar pair. With lots of space, they also shouldn't run into each other. Also ensure all hides are two exit hides (nothing enclosed) - this is important not only for ease of running around and through things, but enclosed hides can cause problems for boars (teens in particular) as one can get cornered by the other.

They all gain weight at different rates and as along as they are gaining (not losing) each week, then you don’t need to worry about that.

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[BobbyandFudgexxx]

hi, thanks so much for your help.
They were in a pets at home cage for the first week and are now in a 5x2 c and c cage. I’ve got the option to add another couple of grids so that’s possible to make bigger.
they have a guineadad fleece liner which has a pocket end, I guess I could somehow open it up so they wouldn’t be cornered. The other hides and tunnels are open ended .
they’ve just been separated one night so I think I should put them back together now. The vet didn’t give painkiller of any sort, she said she didn’t want to encourage him to use the leg much while it’s sore and healing?!
I think part of the problem with the running is that Bobby is a ball of crazy energy while Fudge just sits in the way! i hope opposites attract, they did seem pretty happy.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Good - 5x2 is the recommended size for a boar pair, and open ended tunnels - so you’re all good there!

I’m rather surprised by the vets advice - I would expect a weeks worth of metacam to have been given to help with pain and bringing down any swelling. It’s an anti inflammatory pain killer. Can you see a different vet?
One of my boy‘s is a climber and hurt his leg, I suspect, by leaping off a hidey. I certainly wouldn’t separate (neither would my vet have ever advised to), he was given a week of metacam and you can’t stop them from moving! A piggy who is immobile can end up with other health issues.
Keeping him off pain killers, and therefore potentially in pain, to stop movement sounds to be terrible advice and a bit cruel. If an injury is so severe that immobility is recommended for some reason, then the injury is definitely bad enough for him to need a lot of pain killers!

I would reintroduce them and leave them together. He will have to learn to move out the way!

 

[Swissgreys]

You are clearly a very caring and attentive owner, but I have to say your vet doesn't sound like he has much experience with guinea pigs.
I agree that there really is no need to separate, and you could just be making potential bonding problems for your boys further down the line which would be a shame.
Plus I have never known a vet not to offer pain killers for an obvious injury.
If you twisted you ankle, even with pain killers I doubt you would be trying to run around on it.
I would seriously consider looking to find another vet with more experience.
Allowing an injured guinea pig to suffer unnecessary pain just doesn't seem right.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I agree, call the vet and ask for Metacam/Loxicom and if they don’t give you some find a different vet. Injuries heal much faster if the human/animal has pain medication x