Lonely Little Guinea Piggie

[Sieanx]

Hey everyone, kind of new here

I've owned my little guinea pig Oscar for about 2 years now and he's always been so cheery and friendly, 2 weeks after I got him my sister bought him a cage mate whom he got on great with, unfortunately though his cage mate Snowy passed away in February of this year to heart problems and he's since been a lot quieter, my sister got my little niece 2 younger piggies but they're extremely hostile to my poor Oscar, they live in a separate cage setup from him, no matter where he is, outdoor pen or just walking about he gets attacked by them, even though I did give them a quarantine period, they seem to snap at him, the two we have is Cookie and Mello 'Demon wig' are rather antisocial towards Oscar, now although Cookie was ok with him at first, most of the issues we have are with the little albino Mello being rather anti-social, this piggie has bitten me twice, one while getting him out to clean the cage and the other putting food in, they A&E near me is pretty used to seeing me with a bad pig bite but I don't blame him because I think its fear but I just want him to get on with Oscar or at least feel a little less afraid.

Cookie isn't really a biter and is content being picked up, he will will surprisingly greet Oscar at his cage but then get a little grouchy and grind his teeth at him, any advice for my 3 guinea pigs? ps sorry for wall of text, new member.

 

[7squeakers.]

Hello and to the forum!

Poor Oscar! Those two young piggies sound very unfriendly. I am guessing that Oscar is about 2 years old? How old are the other two? It may be that they are reaching their teen age when their hormones start to kick in, which may be why they are hostile to Oscar. Perhaps it would be a better idea to boar date Oscar and find him another friend of similar age, who will get on better with him. Have a look at the Rescue Locator on the top bar. There may be a rescue near you that you can take him to. And keep the two youngsters separately, on their own. Good luck.

 

[Sieanx]

Thanks for your reply. I was looking about my local RSPCA branch at a very friendly pair of piggies, I could take him on a cage date to see how he gets on with them, this grumpy old man has had it with the two youngsters chirping at him, I might try taking him to the branch to greet them

 

[Sieanx]

Also regarding the other two we have had them for about 4-5 monthes, I never got information on their age because my sister had gotten them however they are young

 

[7squeakers.]

I don't know much about the RSPCA. I don't know what they are like with Guinea pigs. Two new males would be too much for Oscar as there will be dominance issues when you bring them home, and Oscar may find himself at the bottom of the pecking order. If you are going for TWO new pigs, make it spayed females. There will be less dominance trouble that way. Have you had Oscar neutered, or thinking of doing so?

 

[Sieanx]

I was considering in neutering Oscar but the idea of expenses is off-putting, but really it is about his happiness as well, I may consider it but its only only if I can definitly find another lonely pig for him. :/ the branch I went to did have a lone spayed female which was interesting but my family is concerned about babies which is the whole reason for me considering getting him done I might have a talk with the family about this though

 

[Sieanx]

It is a tough decision to be honest, I think when my sister got the two little males we all expected them to get along happy which is a mistake, but even finding any available females that will go with him is tough, he has been fine up to now with just humans to talk to but it is sad seeing him when he's alone in his house infact its enough to make you cry because you know they're social animals and the other two don't like him at all :/

 

[Sieanx]

But still I will keep looking around animal shelters and branches, hopefully when I get called up for my new workplace i'll be able to start saving and maybe have a better idea of what is best for him, so far he's popcorning about in his outdoor pen destroying the lawn, at the moment he seems rather content with his own space but I think I will talk to my sister about finding him a friend because I do believe she knows how alone he is, I do appreciate all the awesome advice its really appreciated

 

[helen105281]

I was considering in neutering Oscar but the idea of expenses is off-putting, but really it is about his happiness as well, I may consider it but its only only if I can definitly find another lonely pig for him. :/ the branch I went to did have a lone spayed female which was interesting but my family is concerned about babies which is the whole reason for me considering getting him done I might have a talk with the family about this though

If she is spayed he would not need to be neutered. My Tim is not neutered and lives with a spayed sow.

 

[Cavy_lover]

If she is spayed he would not need to be neutered. My Tim is not neutered and lives with a spayed sow.

This, if there is a spayed girl then there is absolutely no way she could get pregnant by any boy piggy. Spaying in a female piggie is basically a hysterectomy (removal of the womb), so there is no way for sperm and egg to meet, as well as, no where for a baby to grow.

 

[7squeakers.]

Neutering a boar is not all that expensive, around £40 - £50 and a lot less invasive procedure than spaying a female. Of course, there is always a risk with anaesthetising a small mammal, but if you can find a cavy-savvy vet, it should all go smoothly. I have had three boars done by my Vet (who is not particularly cavy-savvy) and they all came through fine.

 

[Sieanx]

Wonderful thanks for the information everybody