Female Pig Problems

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sport_billy

sport_billy

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Hi

We have 2 pigs both female aged 4. Since Sunday 'Pitch' has been chasing 'Putt' around the cage trying to sniff 'Putts' bottom it seems.

She wont leave Putt alone and is pursuing her most of the time, when Putt is in the pigloo Pitch will try and barge in to get behind Putt often leading to alot of headbutting and squeals.
This has been quite distressing to watch and several times we have put them in the floor run which seems to slow the behaviour down as it is much bigger than the cage.

Normally they get on very well, I thought this could be because Pitch is in Season but it has been going on for 4 days now.

Have spent the past few days searching the net and reading the forums but am quite stumped. Any ideas or advice would be great...

Thanks
 
It is most probably connected with hormonal problems/imbalances.

Aggressive sexual behaviour can be the indicator of an ovarian cyst, so it may be worth having her checked out, especially if this behaviour doesn't stop soon.
http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html
 
Before Christmas we took her to the vet, thinking she may have Cysts as her nipples were enlarged. He said he couldn't feel anything and that if she did he would be loathe to remove them due to age and said sometimes it's best to leave them be if they aren't causing distress.

If it was to be Ovarian Cysts would this behaviour continue or flare down do you know? As it would be unfair on Putt to let the chasing persist for too long....
 
Cysts can also be treated with hormone injections which is what one of our pigs got treated with. Unfortunately she also had other problems so we never got to see if the hormone treatment would have worked but I've read other people have had success with it on here.
 
The bottom sniffing is still going on, also Pitch is eating Putts poo's like theres no tomorrow.

Is poo eating normal? I know they eat thier own poo's but she seems intent on eating Putt's.
 
Eating another cavy's excrement is not normal for a cavy. Usually, it is a sign that the animal is not emotionally, mentally or physically sound. Is Pitch consuming soft stools?

Urinary tract infections can have this adverse effect, especially in older cavies.
 
The stools she is eating are recently laid, it actually looks like she is trying to lick Putt's bottom.

Pitch is physically fine, she has crusty nipples but the vet seemed to think that it was a waxy discharge and could feel no cysts(this was in december).

She is eating fine and this morning was running around the cage like her normal self in fine voice.

Thanks for the advice, I think a trip to the vets next week if the behaviour continues would be the right thing to do.
 
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It is plausible that Pitch is not receiving enough of a particular nutrient, which she can detect in Putt’s excrement.

However, I would advise that you get a second opinion on Pitch’s physical condition. Unfortunately, something is not right.
 
Just to update, the sniffing/poo eating stopped on Friday. Pitch is back to her old self and no longer harassing Putt. Perhaps it was an unusally long 'season'
Gonna keep our eye on them and if the behaviour comes back, take her to the vets.

Thanks for all your replies
 
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