Do guinea pigs pick on the weak ones?

HeatherRose

HeatherRose

Adult Guinea Pig
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Since my dog attacked poor Elsa (she is fine and escaped with just some bald spots and emotional trauma, see my other post for details), Tiana has been bullying her. Elsa was always the boss in her cage with her babies Tiana and Olaf, since the dog got to her a week ago she has been very submissive, she hid for the first two days and I was putting food and hay in her hides so she would eat. She is better now moving around the cage like normal but Tiana has been cornering her a lot and I hear Elsa do the submissive wheek and she sounds so scared. Tiana chases her around a lot too. Is this normal for her to pick on Elsa or try to steal the crown from her when she is weak?
 
HeatherRose said:
Since my dog attacked poor Elsa (she is fine and escaped with just some bald spots and emotional trauma, see my other post for details), Tiana has been bullying her. Elsa was always the boss in her cage with her babies Tiana and Olaf, since the dog got to her a week ago she has been very submissive, she hid for the first two days and I was putting food and hay in her hides so she would eat. She is better now moving around the cage like normal but Tiana has been cornering her a lot and I hear Elsa do the submissive wheek and she sounds so scared. Tiana chases her around a lot too. Is this normal for her to pick on Elsa or try to steal the crown from her when she is weak?
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It is very normal for another piggy to step in and take over the leadership whenever a leader defaults. After all, the group ust be kept running...
De-throning a previous leader is always connected with some emphatic dominance behaviour from the new leader. The previous leader often ends up on the bottom of the hierarchy unless they can fight back.

Has your vet checked for internal injuries due to shaking etc?
 
Wiebke said:
It is very normal for another piggy to step in and take over the leadership whenever a leader defaults. After all, the group ust be kept running...
De-throning a previous leader is always connected with some emphatic dominance behaviour from the new leader. The previous leader often ends up on the bottom of the hierarchy unless they can fight back.

Has your vet checked for internal injuries due to shaking etc?
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Yes she had xrays, an ultrasound, and a good physical exam, we took her to the emergency vet right away when it happened. Thank God I was home and right in the next room so I heard the commotion. I like to think that she was protecting her herd, the other two were behind her in a corner. It was a very unfortunate freak accident where the door was left open and the dog jumped on a chair to a desk and up into the cage.
 
HeatherRose said:
Yes she had xrays, an ultrasound, and a good physical exam, we took her to the emergency vet right away when it happened. Thank God I was home and right in the next room so I heard the commotion. I like to think that she was protecting her herd, the other two were behind her in a corner. It was a very unfortunate freak accident where the door was left open and the dog jumped on a chair to a desk and up into the cage.
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Thanks! things may reverse in time in case Elsa is feeling up to take on the leadership again.

Can you get a lid for the cage?
 
Wiebke said:
Thanks! things may reverse in time in case Elsa is feeling up to take on the leadership again.

Can you get a lid for the cage?
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I have built them new cages in my brand new piggie room that has been added on to my house. The tables are a foot taller and there will be nothing around them for him to climb on around the cages in the event that he would even get into the piggie room. The room is almost done, they just have to finish painting and hook up some wiring. I usually have a baby gate on the door to the current piggie room, I was using it to keep the dogs out of the new room where the guys are working, that is how the door was left open and the dog got in. Anyways, there is now a permanent baby gate and the door is shut and in a few days they will be moving to their new safer piggie palace!
 
HeatherRose said:
I have built them new cages in my brand new piggie room that has been added on to my house. The tables are a foot taller and there will be nothing around them for him to climb on around the cages in the event that he would even get into the piggie room. The room is almost done, they just have to finish painting and hook up some wiring. I usually have a baby gate on the door to the current piggie room, I was using it to keep the dogs out of the new room where the guys are working, that is how the door was left open and the dog got in. Anyways, there is now a permanent baby gate and the door is shut and in a few days they will be moving to their new safer piggie palace!
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Well done!
 
I’m afraid Tiana is just exploiting the situation. It’s perfectly normal and expected to be honest, but distressing for us humans to watch. I remember when last year Holly had surgery to remove a cyst and on her return was bullied by her much younger cage mate Charlotte, who had jumped at the chance to achieve a superior position in the hierarchy. Things did resolve when Holly felt well enough to reassert her dominance. I suspect Tiana is doing the same. Hopefully Elsa will regain her top sow status when she is firing on all cylinders again.
 
VickiA said:
I’m afraid Tiana is just exploiting the situation. It’s perfectly normal and expected to be honest, but distressing for us humans to watch. I remember when last year Holly had surgery to remove a cyst and on her return was bullied by her much younger cage mate Charlotte, who had jumped at the chance to achieve a superior position in the hierarchy. Things did resolve when Holly felt well enough to reassert her dominance. I suspect Tiana is doing the same. Hopefully Elsa will regain her top sow status when she is firing on all cylinders again.
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They are such intriguing little creatures, when I tell people about all the guinea pig drama they can’t believe how complicated it all is.
 
You’ve really been through the mill these last couple of weeks, I feel for you. I hope Elsa continues to grow in confidence and I hope you’re doing ok yourself too- these difficult challenges can really knock our confidence as owners can’t they? You did so well managing what must have been an awful moment for you all with that freak accident.

I hope you get some drama-free piggy time, you really deserve a break!
 
LucyP said:
You’ve really been through the mill these last couple of weeks, I feel for you. I hope Elsa continues to grow in confidence and I hope you’re doing ok yourself too- these difficult challenges can really knock our confidence as owners can’t they? You did so well managing what must have been an awful moment for you all with that freak accident.

I hope you get some drama-free piggy time, you really deserve a break!
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Yes, take care after these traumas. You have the added burden of caring for assistant slaves and managing their emotions following these two events.
 
LucyP said:
You’ve really been through the mill these last couple of weeks, I feel for you. I hope Elsa continues to grow in confidence and I hope you’re doing ok yourself too- these difficult challenges can really knock our confidence as owners can’t they? You did so well managing what must have been an awful moment for you all with that freak accident.

I hope you get some drama-free piggy time, you really deserve a break!
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Thank you, yes it has been too much drama, I had been blessed to not have much drama for the last year or so.
 
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