Guinea pig ripped out the eye of other piggy. I don't know what to do.

[iDontKnowPleaseHelp]

One of my family's guinea pigs ripped out the eyes of the other guinea pig, and I don't know what to do.

A little back story to my families situation my sister adopted two rabbits and is currently fostering two other rabbits she absolutely loves animals. My mother is in a similar same boat she likes to cuddle and pet them even though she is extremely allergic, but at the same time she can be harsh and unreasonable. I feed them when they are both at work.

Recently my sister bought two baby, I think they are babies, guinea pigs they are in a 60cm by 120cm cage, have unlimited hay, pelts, water, plastic igloo, carboard box, a thing that gives them shade that they can climb on and towel. When we first got them any little noise would send then running to hide, but over the past week they seem to be less scared of little things. They still run and hide if humans come close to the cage. During the night they make lots of noise eating, running around and singing.

Tonight when I checked in on them I found out that one of the eyes was ripped out and there was a little bit of blood below the eye, its not currently bleeding, so I separated them put one in a box with some hay and water. My sister is working two jobs tomorrow from 6am to 11pm she would want them to be healed by the vet and put back together. My mom on the other hand said she wants to bring them to the vet and have them put down because one is clearly suffering, and the other because she doesn't want this to happen again. I also think my mom wants this because of the money.

I feel very bad for the guinea pigs. I have no idea what to do. I feel like no mater what I do I will be betraying someone. I feel like there is no good choice.

Any advice, suggestions and recourses are appreciated.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The piggy’s welfare must come first and seeing a vet immediately is vital. Nothing else matters, providing vet care when it is needed is a legal requirement of pet ownership.

Any bond issues between the two piggies and care information and issues needs to come later, but the immediate concern is getting vet treatment for the injured piggy.

 

[SusieW]

Please get vet treatment for the injured guinea pig. I have one with one eye as he needed an enucleation some years ago and he's perfectly fine with one eye.

But please, please, please don't let anyone put down the other guinea pig... it could have been an accident, do you have proof one actually injured the other or is it speculation? Either way I don't understand why your mum wants to put down the guinea pigs.

Take care and best wishes.

 

[Siikibam]

I think this is a case where a vote isn’t really appropriate. As above, please have the injured piggy seen by the vet as soon as possible. I know vet care can be difficult there but please do see about having piggy checked out.

Once that is done you can go on to sorting the relationship as Piggies&Buns said. Let us know how you get on. Hopefully the eye can be saved.

PS eye treatment is the same for all animals so you can get piggy seen by a general vet. Preferably today because eyes are classed as an emergency. Good luck.
CANADA - Guinea Lynx Records

PPS are they boars or sows?

 

[VickiA]

I have removed your poll. It is entirely inappropriate.
Please get the injured piggy to a vet as soon as possible.

 

[Flutterby]

 

[Free Ranger]

If mom is worried about the money there are other options such as surrendering to a rescue where they can get the treatment the one-eyed piggie needs. They are generally a happy, good natured animal (if a bit nervous!) and not a violent species, although they can fall out - but it is usually quite obvious beforehand that they don't like each other. If you know about piggie behaviour you can tell if something is brewing but even newbies should be able to tell the difference between happily playing and full-on furball fighting. It might well have been an unfortunate accident and it might not even have been a claw that did it if there is something sharp in their enclosure like a splinter, a bit of wire, stray nail or even just a sharp corner - and to put down two healthy animals as a knee-jerk reaction isn't really fair. Besides which they are your sister's pigs and if she's working she'll be the one paying - it should be her choice.

People can be very squeamish about eyes and just the thoughts of what happened might be giving mom the heebie-jeebies! But in truth some painkiller and a little time might be all this needs. Piggies, like people, have eyes removed surgically every now and again and they do just fine. Older ones also sometimes lose sight for other reasons and go blind but there are some very sweet stories on the forum about 'guiding' companions who realise their friend can't see and help them along. If mom takes over here and puts the pigs to sleep at the vets it will be something that your family will struggle to get over for years... I know this because my lovely old mum once told a lie ('for the best') about what happened to one of our pets when my sister and I were living at home. We found out the truth and although we're nearly 50 now we've never been able to forget it. She wishes she'd done different, but she thought she knew best, wasn't prepared to discuss it, and that meant she didn't look into any other options - and there were options. If your mom is thinking "well, this is for the best" without getting any veterinary advice, or if she is perhaps feeling angry about the whole situation she might do well to consider the (very) long-term implications on the family relationship. Thankyou for trying to intervene on behalf of these innocent animals x

 

[SusieW]

Hi OP, is there any update on your pigs? I really hope you and your pigs are all okay, been thinking of them a lot today and worrying.