Boris the boar - would he continue his behaviour with sows?

Thrymskvida

Thrymskvida

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Hi there! I'm wondering if a boar who has killed another boar in the past still has a chance at living peaceably with a group of 4 sows.

Some background: a family friend adopted two intact boars from another friend's child, who kept them in separate but adjoining cages due to them having fallen out with each other. This family friend, thinking the boars were lonely being in separate cages, put them together. They fought terribly, and one of them unfortunately killed the other :( This boar has been living alone now for some time, and is not thriving.

The family friend has contacted me, and said she is giving him away and asked if I want him. I have 4 sows living together, all about 2 years old. I would of course need to castrate the boar if he was to come live with me.

Do you think he would be a candidate for joining the group, or is it out of the question? I realise that the girls would also have to accept him even if he didn't have a history of aggression.
 
Hi

The boar can certainly live in a separate cage right next to your girls with interaction through the bars, as long as he cannot get into their cage. This will perk him up no end and will give him the stimulation and social interaction with his own kind that he needs - smell, sight (body language and not just vocal)!
Please be aware that boars can be amazingly athletic and determined when sows are in season and can climb bars, jump over a foot or wiggle out between grids that are not cable-tied!
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Before he can join your girls, he needs to be safely neutered, including a 6 weeks post-op wait. The little surprise baby in my avatar picture on the left is the unplanned legacy of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post neutering op boar (not one of mine, I hasten to add). Sows and boars are life-long nonstop breeding machines that start at weaning age and never stop until they die. Sows also come into season again within hours of giving birth.
Here is everything you want to know about boar neutering and care during recovery: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Please be aware that severe bites are generally the result of fear (instinctive defence bites) and not so much aggression and that they happen when the loser cannot remove themselves from the premises. A killing bite is rare and generally accidental. The fighting was not their fault and there will no repeat of any fighting bites unless you put him into a situation where he feels cornered and can only fight his way out.

Give him some time next to your girls so they can get used to each other and become friends through the bars. It will help to relax him, give him time to settle in and can also help a little with the acceptance rate although that always comes down to whether he gels with your girls or not. If you struggle to find a vet you trust re. neutering, then he can stay on life-long as a 'neighboar'. A single boar can live next to sows without problems since he doesn't have anypig to fall out with. Brace yourself for some boar stink and lots of excitement, though!
 
Thanks so much for the informative reply and helpful links! I was just visiting him and he is such a sweetheart. It's interesting what you say about severe bites - it seems like he and his brother were kept in a VERY small enclosure when they were put together, so it makes sense that they were desperate, stressed, and unable to escape the situation. I am phoning the vet tomorrow to inquire about neutering. You've really set my mind at ease!
 
Thrymskvida said:
Thanks so much for the informative reply and helpful links! I was just visiting him and he is such a sweetheart. It's interesting what you say about severe bites - it seems like he and his brother were kept in a VERY small enclosure when they were put together, so it makes sense that they were desperate, stressed, and unable to escape the situation. I am phoning the vet tomorrow to inquire about neutering. You've really set my mind at ease!
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Vets in South Africa are not necessarily experienced with guinea pig neutering.

If you have concerns, then the boy will be fine living next to the sows as long as he can fully interact with them on all communicative levels.
 
Well done for giving this sweet piggy a chance.
He is so lucky to have found someone who is prepared to give him the opportunity to lead a wonderful life.
It really does sound like the previous problems were not his fault - he was simply pushed into an impossible situation.
Please do keep us updated. I am sure he will just blossom with your care.
 
Wiebke said:
Vets in South Africa are not necessarily experienced with guinea pig neutering.

If you have concerns, then the boy will be fine living next to the sows as long as he can fully interact with them on all communicative levels.
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I am lucky to have an experienced vet nearby who did a long residency in the UK where he specialised in small animals. He is the only vet I trust with my Guinea pigs, and has never steered me wrong. He even managed to do a successful neutering of a gerbil a year ago, so I'm confident that a Guinea pig will not be outside his wheelhouse! He's on leave right now, but I'll call back in the new year to arrange for the boar's snip :) (Boar has been saddled with the name Boris, due to some unfortunate hairstyle similarities.)
 
Thrymskvida said:
I am lucky to have an experienced vet nearby who did a long residency in the UK where he specialised in small animals. He is the only vet I trust with my Guinea pigs, and has never steered me wrong. He even managed to do a successful neutering of a gerbil a year ago, so I'm confident that a Guinea pig will not be outside his wheelhouse! He's on leave right now, but I'll call back in the new year to arrange for the boar's snip :) (Boar has been saddled with the name Boris, due to some unfortunate hairstyle similarities.)
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All the best! Sounds like Boris is falling on all four paws!
 
Update: Boris is home with me! He is not in good condition, but he is very happy and sweet. Eating voraciously, and so calm! He is in the outside "secure facility" chomping away while the final touches are put on his C&C enclosure.

He is wheezing - I'm wondering if this is because there was sawdust/pine shavings in his previous cage or if it's an infection. He will be going to the vet ASAP. Probably best to keep him quarantined and away from my sows until his vet visit, right?

IMG_20230102_094714.webpIMG_20230102_103521.webp
 
I would definitely get him vet checked. Wheezing could be a sign of URI which would need treating before he could have any planned surgery. Your vet will be able to tell if it’s just irritation from sawdust too

Good luck, I think it’s lovely that you’ve taken Boris on, he is a very handsome little man 🤞
 
Thrymskvida said:
Update: Boris is home with me! He is not in good condition, but he is very happy and sweet. Eating voraciously, and so calm! He is in the outside "secure facility" chomping away while the final touches are put on his C&C enclosure.

He is wheezing - I'm wondering if this is because there was sawdust/pine shavings in his previous cage or if it's an infection. He will be going to the vet ASAP. Probably best to keep him quarantined and away from my sows until his vet visit, right?
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Hi

Good that you have him vet checked.
Yes, please keep him quarantined.
Importance Of Quarantine

Make sure that he has access to plenty of hay and - once his gut has become used to it (otherwise it can cause diarrhea or even potentially fatal bloating) - dog pee free fresh green grass, which combined should make over three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day. The best long term/life prolonging measure you can give any guinea pig is a good hay/grass fibre based diet.
Keep in mind that pellets and veg together only replace the supplementary role that wild forage used to have; the more you can keep it similar to their original diet, the better. Sadly too many people still think that dry mixes, fruit and sugary veg are a suitable diet for guinea pigs. :(
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets (looks at diet as a whole and all food groups in practical detail)

Weight - Monitoring and Management (includes advice on how you can feel for the BMI for every guinea pig at any age or individual size and what you can do with underweight piggies)

Boar care: Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
Caring for long-haired piggies: An Illustrated Guide to Hair Cutting

I hope that the detailed practical how-to information in the links will help you with getting Boris up to scratch.
 
Boris had his vet visit today. There is good news and bad news.

He does have a URI, and also lice. His teeth are a little long but nothing serious. He got a Baytril 5% injection (0,08ml), and prescribed Enrovet 10% (diluted with 2ml water) 0,15ml once a day for 5 days. Also a probiotic. The vet recommended a neutering in a month's time if recovery goes well. Vet was optimistic about long-term outcomes.

Now comes the bad news: he got Revolution Plus (selomectin), 1ml on the back of his neck. We took him home from the vet, and all was well on the drive. The moment we arrived home, 40 minutes later, he went into some kind of fit. His head is tucked fully into his side, and he had some pretty serious nystagmus. He can't walk properly due to the head tilt; he only goes in circles. It's very upsetting. We immediately went back to the vet, who said he thought the problem was an overdose of selomectin - Boris has absolutely no subcutaneous fat, so he absorbed the meds too quickly and had a reaction. The vet washed him to get any remaining meds off his skin. He doesn't think the head tilt will be permanent, and I just need to keep B safe, warm, fed and watered.

Boris is doing a bit better now. The nystagmus is minimal, and he's relaxed and eating and drinking, but still can't walk properly. Anyone else experienced something like this? Either with selomectin or these symptoms? Any advice?
 
No advice here unfortunately, just support. I'm really sorry this happened, hoping things will get better for Boris! ❤️
 
Ooh what a horrible shock for you! It's a good job he has you to look after him now. Looks like his life is looking up! 😍
 
Hi

What a shock! I am glad that Boris is recovering. Perhaps you may want to keep weighing Boris regularly and take the weight with you or having him weighed at the vets before the next dose in 2 weeks.

You will need three rounds to really get on top of any skin parasites and make sure that they stay gone. A one-off treatment is not enough. But your vet may consider to switch to an ivermectin based product and be more careful with the dosage as selamectin and ivermectin can cause some serious trouble if overdosed.

Selamectin and Revolution are considered a safe alternative for guinea pigs to the more common ivermectin based treatments but are recommended to being only used by a treating vet and not on spec.
Here is our forum skin parasite information: New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

All the best!
 
Boris is doing well. I feel bad about the name of the thread, lol!

He seems to be gaining some strength. When we first got him, he couldn't even climb into or out of his haybox (rim is 6cm high, and only 1cm on the inside when filled). Don't worry, he had access to plenty of hay! He's now regularly hopping in and out. The wheezing is still very bad, though. I hope his meds make a difference to that soon. His weight has remained a constant ~750g :) His "Incident" after the Revolution doesn't seem to have had long-term effects, thank god!

He loves being hand-fed, and is obsessed with fennel to a degree that must be seen to be believed! Such a cuddly boy.

@Wiebke - he is indeed going to get the three-round treatment, don't worry! The vet gave the same instructions you did: we are to bring him in to be assessed before his treatment on the 28th. The dose will be split in two, with half given on the 28th and the other half a couple of days later.

I am so grateful for all the advice and support I've received from this forum. You guys are fantastic. The resources available have been indispensable, not just for Boris but for my girls throughout the years. Thank you, everyone. ❤️❤️
 
Aw, so glad Boris is doing better. I hope his chest clears up with the AB’s
If you want to change the Title of this thread then ask @BossHogg if he can change it for you
 
Thrymskvida said:
Boris is doing well. I feel bad about the name of the thread, lol!

He seems to be gaining some strength. When we first got him, he couldn't even climb into or out of his haybox (rim is 6cm high, and only 1cm on the inside when filled). Don't worry, he had access to plenty of hay! He's now regularly hopping in and out. The wheezing is still very bad, though. I hope his meds make a difference to that soon. His weight has remained a constant ~750g :) His "Incident" after the Revolution doesn't seem to have had long-term effects, thank god!

He loves being hand-fed, and is obsessed with fennel to a degree that must be seen to be believed! Such a cuddly boy.

@Wiebke - he is indeed going to get the three-round treatment, don't worry! The vet gave the same instructions you did: we are to bring him in to be assessed before his treatment on the 28th. The dose will be split in two, with half given on the 28th and the other half a couple of days later.

I am so grateful for all the advice and support I've received from this forum. You guys are fantastic. The resources available have been indispensable, not just for Boris but for my girls throughout the years. Thank you, everyone. ❤️❤️
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Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage helps to ease the breathing issues. In that case, you might want to consider room humidification or nebulisation sessions together with your vet in addition to any further treatment.
It is not an all-heal and it isn't suitable for all breathing issues, hence my suggestion you do a trial and see whether it is an added ease of symptoms in combination with any necessary medication. But it can add to his comfort if it works. Firstly, see whether it does before we and your vet can take it any further.

Are you weighing Boris weekly on your kitchen scales? If not, then please do so. It will help both your vet and you to monitor his progress and also to see how much or little his rough breething is impacting on his food intake or not.

Thank you re. confirming the full course of parasite treatment. We have sadly not all that rarely seen only a single course prescribed, so we want to always make sure that the full cover is achieved; especially with piggies from a bad background whose own immune system is not yet up to full speed.
Selamectin and ivermection (or other topical on the skin treatments) are usually absorbed over the course of two days, so your vet is waiting until the first half is in the system before giving the second dose but close enough that they count as a single treatment and are not risking undertreatment with too low a dosage in order to give Boris the best balance of most benefit at the least risk.

Boris must be feeling like he has landed in heaven!
 
Oh, lord... the head tilt is back. My mother was carrying him, and then he started having another "fit". I'm so worried. I'm not at home at the moment either. He is drinking a lot of water, like last time. Also eating. We have contacted the vet, but as it is after hours we can only reach them through WhatsApp and no reply yet 😖 the out-of-hours vet doesn't have any cavy savvy vets but I will take Boris there if it is necessary (with printout of dangerous meds).

It looks like the selamectin probably wasn't the culprit after all. Hope the vet will be able to solve the mystery - ear infection maybe.
 
Thrymskvida said:
It looks like the selamectin probably wasn't the culprit after all. Hope the vet will be able to solve the mystery - ear infection maybe.
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To add: he did have very gross crusty ears (they are still not very clean), and he hates them being touched. Any touch anywhere near them results in vigorous annoyed head shakes.
 
Thrymskvida said:
To add: he did have very gross crusty ears (they are still not very clean), and he hates them being touched. Any touch anywhere near them results in vigorous annoyed head shakes.
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Please have his ears checked. It looks like either a bad build up of gunk (wax, ear mites, infection etc.) in the outer ear or an ear infection in the middle or inner ear. Either can cause a head tilt and he clearly has a bad earache.

Contact your vet tomorrow.
 
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