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How to treat a bite

AliP

AliP

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 22, 2018
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Location
Lancashire UK
Hi I am looking after a friend‘s piggies and one has arrived with recent bites on his back from his cage mates. Should I wash or apply antiseptic? I am worried about making him smell different in case this incites further problems. I have them with open ended hideys and will separate if anything further happens. But immediately want to keep the sore bit clean.
 
Keep them clean with saline solution but really bites need to be seen by a vet as he may need antibiotics and painkillers.

If his cage mates are biting him then they need to be separated.
Are his cage mates male?
How many are there?
 
Three males, there were problems when they first arrived (Easter time). Things had settled over the summer but in the last few days problems reerrupted.
 
I’m sorry to hear that.

Unfortunately three boys together is pretty much guaranteed to fail.
They need a huge cage (much bigger than most people realize) and even then they find it very hard to form a functioning hierarchy amongst three boars so it means it is still not likely to work out.

Are they young?

Can you separate them? Things will only get worse if they’re left together, I’m afraid.
 
They are around 9 months old, bonded as a theee by a rescue. Yes could separate. Would the singleton be happier alone ? Obviously safer.
 
They will need to be separated. The evidence is already there that the bond has failed as you are treating bites. I’m sorry that this has happened.
 
:agr:

I’m shocked that a rescue has allowed a trio of teenage boars to be rehomed together. The chances of their bond working was next to nothing.

Yes, he will be much happier to be alone. His cage will need to be side by side with the pair though so they can still interact between the bars but he can’t remain in the cage with them (things will get worse - more fighfs, bites, risk od infection, depression, bullying etc).
 
Thanks again. I have only ever had girl piggies so this is different to what I am used to.
 
AliP said:
I think one at Blackburn, sorry I don’t know, I am looking after them for a friend.
Click to expand...
That will be Lancashire Guinea Rescue, then. Not on our approved rescues list nor ever likely to be! No decent rescue should ever rehome boars in a trio unless they are fully mature and have been together for a long time already. A trio of juvenile boars is doomed to failure and it’s just not fair on the adopters. Your friend and these boars are now paying the price 😢
 
I’m glad you’re able to separate him. He will certainly thank you for it!
I'm so sorry you’ve been left in this situation
 
Good luck. I hope they settle now they are a pair and a single. 🤞🏻
 
I’m do sorry to read this but so thankful you are such a caring and responsible friend to seek help whilst your friends are away.
A trio rarely works and I just hate it when people are encouraged to adopt a trio of boars 😡
I hope things settle and our rescue is always able to advise if you or your friends need any help. We specialise in boars and their happiness x
 
Yes that’s them, the family were told they were two but had little baby faces and were only 8/900g so I knew they were babies. The one in the middle is the one being picked on. The other two look like birth sibs.
 
Aww, they do have little baby faces. It's possible that they are 2 years old, just a bit on the lighter side.
How are his bites doing today? Are the other two behaving with each other?
I'm sorry you're in this situation, you're a great friend to be doing all this for the owners.

I feel like I might need to send the rescue in question a message to clarify some things I'm worried about (like their boars being housed in 2 by 2 c and c cages). I know that everyone wants to help piggies and we need to support rescues, but it's important that they follow some minimum welfare standards (unless there would be a medical reason for such small housing?).
 
AliP said:
The wounds look ok, will continue to clean. The other two boys seem fine. The separate boy seems content and has been chatting to my girls though the bars.
Click to expand...

Are the other boys in the same room as your girls/are they used to smelling sows? Just a note to be very careful about having bonded boys around sows if they arent used to sow pheromones (it can cause boys to fall out). I assume cages are secure, you don’t want any of them to escape and get your girls pregnant
 
This is horrific rescues should have high welfare standards but trying to put 3 boars together isn't fair on the piggies or their owners. Boars get such a bad reputation because of things like this but a well bonded pair of boars can be the perfect pets and can live drama free their whole lives. As a Boar mama this sort of thing makes me furious 🤬
 
In a twist to the story, the male piggy is now itching a lot. Could it be a skin condition after all and not bites? Or a reaction to the soreness?
And what should I do to help him?
 
AliP said:
In a twist to the story, the male piggy is now itching a lot. Could it be a skin condition after all and not bites? Or a reaction to the soreness?
And what should I do to help him?
Click to expand...

We can only guess I’m afraid, we aren’t vets and cannot see the piggy in any event - it’s possible it could be untreated parasites, or it could be that he is uncomfortable for another reason.
You can’t assume anything and don’t try to use any home treatments as you could be making things worse. The only thing you can do is take him to the vet so they can make the necessary diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Dont be tempted to bathe him or use any kind of pet shop product - it could hide evidence a vet needs to make a correct diagnosis; be the wrong product and risk making him worse
 
Jumping on this because I was looking for care on bites. Just popped our lovely Len into this rescue and have come home with a bonded rescue. I was told they'd never seen two pigs get on so quickly with each other and that they had been sleeping in the same hidey for the last 4 days. The piggy we brought home looks and acts a lot younger than the 2 years we were told he was and is very feisty. Len has sustained a bite already and now I don't know what to do. I don't know whether they were bonded, whether to keep going or separate.
 
Sorry to hear your piggies have fallen out @Gingerspider 🙁
If Len has been bitten and blood drawn personally I think it is time to separate. Could they live side by side? If not, as hard as it is it may be better for for your other piggy to be returned to the rescue.
 
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