Lone Guinea Pig

[jeffnsweep]

I currently have 3 beautiful guinea pigs, we bought Jeff and sweep at the beginning of December unfortunately sweep had to be put to sleep 3 weeks later die to a tumour/mass in his tummy. Jeff seemed fine on his own but I wanted to get him another friend so 4 days later on the advice of somebody who claimed to be a guinea pig 'expert' we purchased two new boars chocolate and dumbo, after being told that if we had 3 boars together the likelihood of one being bullied would lessen, to introduce them to each other by bathing them and applying tea tree oil to their bums as this would get rid of their scents. Luckily I didn't use the tea tree oil after googling. So we introduced them and they were doing the usual bum strutting etc however 3 days later Jeff and chocolate had a massive fight, luckily we had a spare cage so separated them there is no chance we can ever put them together to put it bluntly they hate each other. The lady we had dumbo and chocolate from did say we could take them back but after falling in love with them this wasn't an option. So dumbo and chocolate are housed together and Jeff is by himself, now he seems very happy, he is always popcorning around his cage, is very vocal, he lies outside of his hides so seems very comfortable even when my dog is around, he doesn't seem to be moping for a cage mate at all. However I don't particularly want him to be a lone pig and I'd really like to get him a spayed female asap, my husband isn't too keen as we were originally only meant to have two, so I suppose my question is, if he seems ok, he's healthy, happy, eating, showing signs that a happy guinea pig should, would you get him a new mate?

 

[Wiebke]

I currently have 3 beautiful guinea pigs, we bought Jeff and sweep at the beginning of December unfortunately sweep had to be put to sleep 3 weeks later die to a tumour/mass in his tummy. Jeff seemed fine on his own but I wanted to get him another friend so 4 days later on the advice of somebody who claimed to be a guinea pig 'expert' we purchased two new boars chocolate and dumbo, after being told that if we had 3 boars together the likelihood of one being bullied would lessen, to introduce them to each other by bathing them and applying tea tree oil to their bums as this would get rid of their scents. Luckily I didn't use the tea tree oil after googling. So we introduced them and they were doing the usual bum strutting etc however 3 days later Jeff and chocolate had a massive fight, luckily we had a spare cage so separated them

I am very sorry for the mess you have been landed in. Sadly, Chocolate and Jeff will not go back together again after a major fight. Unfortunately, three sub-adult boars rarely work out and the danger of bulling/fighting is at highest with trios and quartets.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Could you please add your state/province or UK county (or country if you happen to live in another country) to your details, so we can help you with recommendations that hopefully take your regional options into account in order to find as low-risk a solution that helps all three boars as possible. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

PS: You are welcome to post a tribute to Sweep in our Rainbow Bridge section if and whenever it feels right for you.

 

[jeffnsweep]

Sorry wiebke I have edited my post since you have commented unfortunately my phone posted my thread before I'd completed it I will update my location now many thanks x

 

[Julesie]

Guinea pigs are social animals so ideally he needs a friend. A sow would be a great option as theres small chance of them falling out or if you have a nearby rescue boar dating will assure that you come home with a stable pairing rather than risk a fallout.

Sorry you got such bad advice about putting 3 boys together. Sounds like she just wanted rid.

If you really, really cannot have a fourth guinea pig then putting the cages side by side so the piggies can see each other is an option though still it'd be better to get a friend for him. Best of luck!

 

[Wiebke]

Please be aware that spayed sows are about as rare as gold dust. I know of only a couple of rescues worldwide that spay sows, none of them in UK. It is a much more invasive and expensive operation than a boar neuter.

However, until you tell us where you are, we are limited to general advice.

 

[jeffnsweep]

Hi just tried updating my profile but my phone is definitely having an off day I am in the west midlands UK, xx

 

[jeffnsweep]

I'm thinking then it would probably be better for me to get Jeff neutered? Or maybe to try and bond him with anether male where I could make sure they get on first? The only problem atm is Jeff is going to be coming into adolescents soon, where I've heard the hormones will be all over the place? Would it be better to wait until after he has hit adolescents to then try and find him a cage mate, sorry for all the questions too but chocolate and Jeff only had a massive fight about 3-4 days after.introducing them, how would I know if they originally got on that days later they wouldn't fight? Thanks in advance xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hi just tried updating my profile but my phone is definitely having an off day I am in the west midlands UK, xx

Thank you! The West Midlands are not the best place for boar-boar dating, but they sport some very good operating vets, the best of which would be Simon Maddock at the Cat&Rabbit Clinic in Northampton with a pretty much 100% absolutely problem-free success rate for boar neutering, so if you can get there, please do! A good number of our West Midlands members from Wolverhampton to me in Coventry (and I go by train) see him for dental issues and operations. It is well worth the longer trip. The boars he operates on usually behave as if nothing untowards has happened afterwards.

You will have to wait for 6 weeks post-op until Jeff is 100% safe to go with one or two sows (depending on whether single sows are available), but there are a number of good and piggy savvy rescues in our region that you can contact, from the RSPCA Walsall to The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Kidsgrove (who just has had a spate of babies and new mums recently, so there should be sows looking for homes at about the time that Jeff is ready for bonding) to Honeybunnies not far from the M1/M69 junction by Fosse Park on this side of Leicester who had a large rescue intake last year.

All three of them offer neutered boar/sow dating at the rescue and I can recommend them all personally. The dating under expert supervision at the rescue will make sure that the piggies like each other and click. Once acceptance has happened, cross gender bonds are the most stable of them all.
All these rescues practice a 6 weeks post-op wait with any neutered boars of their own and request it from any neutered boars they bond rescue sows to. Any incoming sows go on a mandatory 10 weeks pregnancy watch, so you do not have to worry about potential pregnancies. All guinea pigs are only put up for adoption once they have passed a mandatory quarantine and have been signed off by a vet in case they needed medical care.

Jeff is perfectly OK to live as a next door neighbour to your two boys until he ready to meet a girl or two.

A 'husboar' and 2 sow pair require a minimum of 2x5 ft, the same as we recommend for 2 boars, by the way. Ideally you keep any boars-only pairs away from any sows, always out of sight or above a sow cage if you are tight on space because of the ways pheromones travel.
Cat&Rabbit: The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic - Home
Here are the contact details for the rescues I have mentioned: Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator

 

[jeffnsweep]

Thanks.for the advise and the links I'm thinking the neutering of Jeff is the way forward and I really appreciate the link to the vets too luckily I drive so travelling isn't an issue. Once again thank you x

 

[Trish B]

Would having a sow not cause a problem with the other 2 boars though?

 

[Wiebke]

Would having a sow not cause a problem with the other 2 boars though?

Please read my post carefully through and you will find that I have addressed the issue in the last paragraph.

 

[Trish B]

Ooh, sorry. Missed the last paragraph! I was never sure quite how far the pheromones would travel...I think a millimetre would be enough for my Zebedee! He has failed to appreciate that at 17 months he should have calmed down a bit!

 

[Wiebke]

Ooh, sorry. Missed the last paragraph! I was never sure quite how far the pheromones would travel...I think a millimetre would be enough for my Zebedee! He has failed to appreciate that at 17 months he should have calmed down a bit!

Young boars are usually the worst; thankfully they tend to calm down and mellow to a good extent the older they get. Although my 6 year old Hywel is still trying to convince the other unimpressed husboars that he is Mr Macho...

 

[MerryPip]

Boar bonding (with the help of a reputable rescue like those Wiebke has mentioned) is also still an option for him .As your lone lad is a hormonal teenager he is most likely to get on with an older, calm boar, ideally over 2 years old.

If bonding is done well and by someone who knows what they are doing, there's no reason why he shouldn't be able to find a friend boar or sow (when neutered). It's all about personality...