Dominant female pic won't snap out of bad mood

J

Jlea3124

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Hi

I've got two female bonded pigs that joined our family summer last year (rescue piggies).

It was clear who the boss pig was from the start and occasionally she'd get a bit confrontational with her cage mate which I put down to being in heat. So we would see if the usual behaviours like rumble strutting, chinning, the occasional attempt at humping.

But it seems like she's been in this bad mood for ages now. All the bad behaviours and then some. I'm now seeing blocking where she is preventing her cage mate from going places. Lots more proper humping going on also. Lunging - I don't have think they are biting. So I've put in two of everything (2 x bottles, bowls and even more places to access hay. I feel there is plenty hiding spots - covers, tunnels, wee cabin, twig tunnel thing. There's even loft space where they could spend time apart. Boss pig seems to use the ramp from the loft to gather up speed on her decent and run straight to her cage mate to intimidate!

I took her out the cage tonight to give the other one 5 mins of peace. I gave her cuddles, she complained constantly (as usual). Tried to give her a pep talk. Felt for any lumps or bumps. She has always been such a vocal pig but I rarely hear her the contented chutting noise anymore. Everytime she moved round the cage she'd make the explorative noise. That's seems to have stopped.

It's like her personality has changed and it's breaking mine and my daughters heart!

Has anyone else experienced this? Please tell me she'll calm down eventually? Is it the menopaws?
 
Apologies I appear to have started the this thread in the wrong place! :no:
 
It sounds to me, that she may be dealing with ovarian cysts, very common in female piggies over 18 months. I've tried having a feel of some of mine many a time, in fact only recently I checked one of my girls over and found a mammary lump but couldn't find anything else, but as she was a little 'off' I took her down the vet, who found a cyst the size of a golf ball! With the ovaries so deep in, right up by the kidneys, it's really hard to feel for them.
If everything is fine at home, space, access to hideys eye then a trip the the vet would likely be a good next step.
 
I think they were atleast two years old when we got them, so they'll be around about three this year.

Last weigh in I did they seemed OK wieght wise as in they've maintained. Maybe actually towards the heavy healthy weight end for female pigs.

I know I should watch for the bullied pigs weight in case she's getting blocked from accessing food.

Think vet trip is probably a good shout. She's clearly not happy.
 
I agree - please have your sow checked for ovarian cysts.

Around 2-4 years is the most common age you have problems with aggression/disruption issues in sows with hormonal ovarian cysts.

Guinea pig sows don't have a menopause - they can have babies until the day they die in old age (with usually devastating consquences the older they get) and their hormones never turn off. Hence the problems with ovarian cysts in adult and older sows...

Please take the time to read our information on ovarian cysts and treatment options in @Piggies&buns 's green link.
 
I hope your vet can get to the bottom of it for you x
 
Don’t panic if it does turn out to be ovarian cysts.
I’ve had to have 2 of my girls spayed because of cysts and they’re fine now.

Holding you in my thoughts
 
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