My Spayed Sow Still Rumblestruts !

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I thought this behaviour would change after she was spayed ! I have also noticed that , after a session of rumblestrutting, her cage mate " grooms" her face .


Any advice anyone ?
 
They may have only removed her uterus and left her ovaries intact. It could be a show of dominance though.
 
I have 3 spayed sows - they do still rumblestrutt as well.
 
PiggyOwner said:
I thought this behaviour would change after she was spayed ! I have also noticed that , after a session of rumblestrutting, her cage mate " grooms" her face .


Any advice anyone ?
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It is important to remember that rumblestrutting is dominance behaviour. My spayed sows all rumblestrut and mount. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
It is important to remember that rumblestrutting is dominance behaviour. My spayed sows all rumblestrut and mount. ;)
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Thank you Wiebke - is her cage companion happy ? Is the "face grooming" a sign of affection ?
 
PiggyOwner said:
Thank you Wiebke - is her cage companion happy ? Is the "face grooming" a sign of affection ?
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Iola and spayed Hafren have a very rumbly, but happy relationship and sleep often together in the hay tray. They are very evenly matched in dominance. Nesta will also dominance rumble - even at boars.

You may find this guide here helpful in understanding what is going on. Face grooming is a sign of affection and reaffirmation of a bond.
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
 
Eddi rumble struts almost constantly.
He rumble struts when a girl walks past, he rumble struts at his food, he rumble struts at his favorite bed, and so on (and on and on and on!).
Eddi was castrated at 2 weeks old before he even reached sexual maturity, so it really isn't anything to do with their 'bits' (or lack thereof) but their personality and behavior.
 
Violet still rumblestruts to let Poppy know that she (Violet) may be advancing in years but is still the queen of piggy palace.
 
Unlike in other pets, spaying or neutering a guinea pig does not "calm its behavior".

Rumblestrutting is a display of dominance, as is mounting and the urge to display that dominance will not be removed via surgery. Relax it's perfectly normal and once the herd has decided who is where on the ladder of leadership things will quieten down a bit.
However there may always be a small reinforcement mount/strut to keep the other in their order of social ranks.

Face grooming is usually a sign of "Hey I want you as part of my herd" so no worries there. :)
 
Thank you everyone for your replies.

I have had a few "interesting" times with my sow ( Bess ) and her husbpig ( Reuben ) . I will update you all in a few days.

It really helps to share :hug:
 
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