Fighting ?

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GloriousGuineaGirl

GloriousGuineaGirl

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I've just got a text at work from my husband saying he got home and the pigloo was upside down Edgar was trapped inside and Poe has a few scratches. Edgar app is beat up bad as in he has alot of scratches some bloody. Their space is a 2x4 with a loft. I have 2 of everything in the cage for space. I have read at this age 12 weeks onward they can fight amd now I am worried they wont ever be able to get on. The advice I need is how to tend to the wounds and do I split the cage now? This is all totally new to me and I don't want to do anything wrong. Poe and Edgar are brothers. Poe is the bigger of the two.Thanks guys x
 
I am very sorry! It sounds like they have had a blow up; if they are already fighting that at young age, then that doesn't augur well that they are character compatible. Unfortunately, it is a persistent breeders' myth that brothers get on better - they have exactly the same risk of falling out as all baby boar pairs as it the success of a bond depends on whether their personalities mesh. :(

Please separate them. You can clean out their wounds with saline solution, made by stirring 1 tsp of salt into 1 pint of boiled cooled water. If the wounds are deeper, I would recommend to see a vet.
 
Okay Thanks very much. Is it worth trying to integrate them again at a later date? Or keep them seperate entirely from now on. Can I still get them out together for floor time? I have a C&C so I will split it down the middle. I am so very sad. Would nutering help? Not that I am keen on that Idea ...at all...
 
Neutering won't help, it doesn't change their temperament.Someone with more experience will be able to tell you if a bonding bath will help.I have two girls that flew at each other within five minutes so I now have two groups.Didn't want to risk injury.Good luck with them
 
Thanks so much for the support. I really hope I can work something out. If all fails I will build on top and they can live upstairs/downstairs to each other. I may rescue two spayed girls so they can have a partner each. This is again something I will have to research fully.
 
Sorry to hear they have had a bust up. I think you may have to keep them apart. Neutering only makes them sterile, not placid, so wouldn't help unless you are thinking of getting them wives in the future. Hope the injuries aren't too bad. Anyone who didn't know piggies would find it hard to believe how vicious they can be to their own kind.
 
So in all honesty once this happens there Isn't any going back? They are just coming into teenage years so to speak. I am so upset because they are sociable creatures I am worried that they will now be lonely as I have been told its cruel to keep them single:(
 
Aww what a shame. I am sorry they fell out. Spayed sows are very rare so you may wish to get them neutered so they can be paired with a sow.
 
piggyfan said:
Aww what a shame. I am sorry they fell out. Spayed sows are very rare so you may wish to get them neutered so they can be paired with a sow.
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would it be best to still keep them seperate. Edgar upstairs with a sow and Poe downstairs the same? Or could all 4 live in harmony? Sorry if I sound stupid but this is all new to me :)
 
Mu husband said Edgars wounds look like he has fell through a glass window. :( :( I can't finish work until 10... wish I could leave now.
 
Only one boar can live with a sow or sows. Please feel free to ask questions. We all have to learn. It really is best to separate them after such injuries.
 
Okay thanks so much. I have the indoor rabbit cage (4ft) I can put Edgar in and I will order more c&c grids and build up so Edgar can live above him in a seprate palace with his own loft. I cannot believe how awful this makes me feel.I am dreading seeing him in 30 mins. If the wounds are deep I will clean them with Saline and take him straight to Mr Maddock tomo.I will see how they are separated for a month and if they seem lonely I will visit a rescue and see about rehoming 2 sows, after of course nutering the boys.
 
GloriousGuineaGirl said:
Mu husband said Edgars wounds look like he has fell through a glass window. :( :( I can't finish work until 10... wish I could leave now.
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Sounds like he will need some tlc. Definitely bathe with cooled boiled water with salt. My vets also gave me some guinea friendly antiseptic ointment but I understand from a friend that you can also use bepanthen ( a baby nappy rash cream) which can be a short term substitute. Whatever happens don't beat yourself up. These things happen even to those of us with years of experience.
 
You could boar date them if you didn't want to neuter them and if there is a rescue near enough for you to get to.If you get the right combo boars can live together
 
tmp_2014-03-13 22.53.48818759370.webpThese are Edgars injuries :( Poe has only one of these marks.... Poe was trapped in the Pigloo I have a feeling that was what stopped this being a lot, lot worse... I am so upset :( Poor edgar is very very scared too.
 

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These injuries say to me it was a very bad fight. I am not going to try to bond bath them. I am going to buy some more C&C stuff and they can live upstairs/downstairs so they still have each others company and can see each other. I cannot risk this happening again if I am not in.
 
Edgar's injuries look worse than they are - As you will be aware, the skin of hairless guinea pigs is somewhat delicate/ fragile, and, due to the lack of hair, is vulnerable to injury!

Hopefully, Edgar's injuries will heal on their own accord, without medical intervention, and without leaving marks/scars. . .

Simply keep the wounds clean, and moisturised with a suitable aqueous cream - Sudocrem etc. . . Of course, any sign of infection will warrant an appointment with your veterinarian!
 
I have cleaned them with saline and applied a very thin film of sudocrem. I have separated them and will be building up on my c&c cage next week. I had them both out for floor time and they were fine. I think I won't risk leaving them again however. The lady I got them from said they are 5 months old now.
 
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