Age Question And Bath Question

[Hoppsan]

I have 2 questions when comes to get Hoppsan a new friend:

1. I read that guinea pig pass their hormonal stage after about 14 months, should I wait till Hoppsan pass 14 month(that would be in Jun this year) before introducing him a friend in the same age to minimal the chance of nasty fights?

2. I've never bathed Hoppsan(or any other piggies, being the first time owner) because he hates to be picked up or held, he'll whine so much and try to escape(even try to jump blindly once!), to hold him still to clip his nails is already quite a battle, so I don't think I can give him/them a bound bath during the process...Are there good suggestions on how to give him a bath other than club him? Will he take a bath himself if I put him in the bathtub with warm water just over his pawes?

 

[Wiebke]

It would be good if Hoppsan had interaction or he may lose the ability to recognise guinea pigs as their species. As long as you can plan to keep two boys next to each other if they don't get on, but can still interact through the bars for mutual stimulation. An age difference can help so they don't get the hormonal spikes at the same time and the dominance question is not quite as debatable.

I don't know how experienced vets in Sweden are with guinea pig neutering, so Hoppsan could live with a sow or two. I know that a previous Swedish member had a little group of one neutered boar with 2-3 sows. Cross gender bondings are the most stable and fall-outs are virtually unknown and age is much less an issue than mutual liking.
Could you contact that rescue in Gothenburg? They may be able to help you figure out what they can do or not do for Hoppsan in his search for companionship?
PS: We recommend a full 6 weeks post neutering operation wait to make sure that a boar is 100% safe to go with sows, as per best practice here in Britain. One of my piggies is the unplanned daughter of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post neutering boar, so it can really happen as late as that!

Bathing is only needed if Hoppsan is really filthy (teddies tend to be dust collectors) or if he needs a medicated bath; too much bathing is not good for the skin. if necessary, you can just give him a little bum bath with some hand warm water if the back end is very soiled. Bathing 1-2 times a year is perfectly enough for a healthy short-haired piggy.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...inea-pigs-including-ears-grease-glands.47314/

 

[Hoppsan]

Thanks for the suggestions and the link Wiebke! I think we'll see how it will be with another boar first as I really don't want to put Hoppsan at risk. I'll keep you posted !