Barbering

[WobblyPiggy]

Hi,

So sorry to keep bothering you lovely people but it seems like the fates want to pile everything on this week...

My elder sow (believed to be anywhere from 9-11) seems to be barbering on one side...she is a loner piggy we have tried to bond her after her sister passed away but she attacked them as soon as they went near any of the bowls...unfortunately I didn't have space for more cages at the time as i have the two elder males...she comes out atleast 4 times a day to have a run around...she stays out for as long or as little as she wants each time...she also is kept company in her cage by us talking to her or sitting by her...she has stuffed animals in with her...we don't use sawdust she has a combination of puppy pads fleeces and bath mats and pillows along with her hay and pellets...she also sits and watches Disney...yes she loves a bit of Disney...but the past maybe few days I noticed a bald patch on her side...she has had her mite/lice treatment and also a bath...she doesn't use sawdust and so far she is eating a combination of Timothy hay and redigrass...she in general is eating fine...she sleeps a bit more than I'm used to but I was told that may be because of her age...she has lovely fur if not a little coarse feeling...we belive she is a Teddy crossed with a rex piggy...is there any particular reason she could be doing this? And what can I do to possibly help her...if it doesn't settle or I cant get s clear idea of what is happening she will go to the vets...we are struggling a bit to get an appointment as she isn't classed as an emergency...I have metacam and baytril in as well as Johnsons tea Tree antiseptic cream which says its meant to help with itching and sooth skin...she has also been started on a little bit of critical care on an evening to keep her weight from falling due to her age...is there anything else I can try while waiting for a vet?

Any help would be great I have had guinea pigs the majority of my life but never as old as my current ones...

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

Wow, between 9 and 11? What an amazing age!

Have you considered contacting a rescue to try find a match for her? As ideally she should not be kept alone. Did you mean she has access to a boar pair through the bars? Well done for managing that! My boys certainly could not cope with a female in the same room, let alone next to them.

With regards to the barbering, particularly if it is one area, it can be an indicator of pain or discomfort; but only a vet can diagnose a problem. I would be booking her an appointment. Even if it is a behavioural cause, you want to rule out any medical reasons first.

I would not medicate her with anything that you have at home, until you have spoken with a vet.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

So sorry to keep bothering you lovely people but it seems like the fates want to pile everything on this week...

My elder sow (believed to be anywhere from 9-11) seems to be barbering on one side...she is a loner piggy we have tried to bond her after her sister passed away but she attacked them as soon as they went near any of the bowls...unfortunately I didn't have space for more cages at the time as i have the two elder males...she comes out atleast 4 times a day to have a run around...she stays out for as long or as little as she wants each time...she also is kept company in her cage by us talking to her or sitting by her...she has stuffed animals in with her...we don't use sawdust she has a combination of puppy pads fleeces and bath mats and pillows along with her hay and pellets...she also sits and watches Disney...yes she loves a bit of Disney...but the past maybe few days I noticed a bald patch on her side...she has had her mite/lice treatment and also a bath...she doesn't use sawdust and so far she is eating a combination of Timothy hay and redigrass...she in general is eating fine...she sleeps a bit more than I'm used to but I was told that may be because of her age...she has lovely fur if not a little coarse feeling...we belive she is a Teddy crossed with a rex piggy...is there any particular reason she could be doing this? And what can I do to possibly help her...if it doesn't settle or I cant get s clear idea of what is happening she will go to the vets...we are struggling a bit to get an appointment as she isn't classed as an emergency...I have metacam and baytril in as well as Johnsons tea Tree antiseptic cream which says its meant to help with itching and sooth skin...she has also been started on a little bit of critical care on an evening to keep her weight from falling due to her age...is there anything else I can try while waiting for a vet?

Any help would be great I have had guinea pigs the majority of my life but never as old as my current ones...

Sudden self-barbering is generally a sign of discomfort either in the skin or in the area of the body underneath (arthritis, ovarian cysts going wrong, mange mites etc.)
Please have any serious self-barbering or -biting vet checked; there is usually a pain or major discomfort issue behind it even if it may not be the one that springs immediately to mind. You also have to take into account agility in older piggies - that they may no longer necessarily be able to reach the area that gives them the most trouble.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

Increased and deeper sleep is normal for old age.

Here is our oldies information bundle with lots of links that may be helpful with the more common problems and with general care: Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A helpful and supportive information collection

 

[WobblyPiggy]

She does see them but in general she runs from them and just sits with us...she is very much a lap piggy...and pretty much refuses to run around on the floor she just likes to plod around our legs or sit and watch TV with us...we have considered the rescue as I didnt want her to be alone either I have been looking into it to see if there was one close by to us...we are trying to get her a vet appointment as I am worried about her especially with her age...she is a wonderful piggy and is the main cause for myself to keep my mobility issues in check as I refuse to neglect her or the two males due to my own issues...I was thinking it may be arthritis due to her age...however from what I could tell when I first saw her she was never spayed...she is the eldest of piggies and definitely the boss of the house...we try our best to keep her occupied and social but it has been difficult due to one of the males having medical issues at the moment...

 

[Wiebke]

She does see them but in general she runs from them and just sits with us...she is very much a lap piggy...and pretty much refuses to run around on the floor she just likes to plod around our legs or sit and watch TV with us...we have considered the rescue as I didnt want her to be alone either I have been looking into it to see if there was one close by to us...we are trying to get her a vet appointment as I am worried about her especially with her age...she is a wonderful piggy and is the main cause for myself to keep my mobility issues in check as I refuse to neglect her or the two males due to my own issues...I was thinking it may be arthritis due to her age...however from what I could tell when I first saw her she was never spayed...she is the eldest of piggies and definitely the boss of the house...we try our best to keep her occupied and social but it has been difficult due to one of the males having medical issues at the moment...

Please have your girl vet checked.

Sight unseen and without any access to your piggy, we can only guess based on the quality and filter of your vague speculations; that won't get any of us very far and is in no way conducive to allay any concerns of yours. Without any access to impartial information, all we can basically do is throw your thoughts back at you and amplify them as things stand as a kind of echo chamber.

You may want to move your old girl next to other female piggies or mixed gender groups for regular stimulation and interaction. Keep in mind that guinea pig interaction is very complex and relies on scent (pheromones), body language and a vocal component plus situational context.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Please take the time to read the information links.

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Up date on our sow...she went to the vets today...the same vet who saw our male for his ear and eye...she is otherwise fit and healthy he has suggested either she is in heat and frustrated from the males since she isn't spayed or it is ovarian cysts...he however couldn't feel anything when he checked...so until November (although not ideal) she has been removed from the company of the males she is taking up residence in the main room with us so she has constant company until we sleep...she has been given extra teddies ones the size of baby piggies to snuggle and we have until November at the latest if it hasn't stopped she goes for an ultrasound...shes now back home and in a mood from her trip out...also she thankfully doesn't have mites/lice as he took a skin sample from her...

 

[Siikibam]

Are your boars all in pairs, or is there one who could live with her as neighbours? She really does need company of some kind. You can do your very best and spend time with her. However, neither you or a cuddly can replace the multi-faceted interaction, even if through a divider. I hope you can get her sorted soon.

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Unfortunately they had to be separated too due to constant fighting that lead to one now being partially blind and he keeps having a barage of issues since then...they were all through the bars where they could see eachother...hopefully once her barbering stops she will go back to see them...we are looking into taking her to try get bonded again as hopefully third time lucky and she won't attack them...

 

[Siikibam]

Is it she was separated from a boar or a boar pair were separated? If the former it’s not entirely surprising. Even if they can’t get to them, the scent of a female is enough to cause an issue with a boar pair. Sorry for so many questions

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Its ok...the sow did originally have a sibling but she passed away last year...we tried to bond her with another piggy and she attacked it drawing blood...we then tried a baby she attacked it again drawing blood...I got given the boars which I wasn't expecting but I took them...they were originally together and she would be able to see them through the bars...so she could chat and see them...then I had to buy a new cage when one attacked the other biting his eye...we were advised not to put them back in together...they can still see each other through the bars...but he dies keep getting unwell from all the meds (mainly when coming off them it seems to upset his stomach even with probiotics) but she could still see them...but when she started pulling her fur out we did everything the vet said over the phone to ensure it wasn't skin related but when he said it could possibly be because of the boys if she wants babies (she's 9 so it isn't worth the risk) he advised putting her in a room where they can't be smelled to see if she stops...so now she is in with me...I know she needs other piggy company and we will get her some hopefully soon once her fur has started growing back...