Pigs in the woods

[jesse1234]

I live in a very suburban area. My guinea pig is a city pig, but I have a cabin in a more woodsy area - in fact, it is in the woods. It's not a super new cabin either, it's big and livable but dusty. I have never brought my guinea pig there before because I have always had somebody to watch him, but I'm going up there the weekend of the 12th, and there is nobody to watch him so I'm thinking I have to bring him. It is too far to drive back and forth, so that's not an option. I guess my worry is that the difference in surroundings will somehow upset him. He's been in a more woodsy area, with woods behind the house, but not in complete woods before. I obviously would clean vigorously in the room he would be in, but I guess I am just very scared of him getting sick, so I want to know if there's any big issues about this situation I should know about. I know it's a very specific situation but if anybody has any input or knowledge please share. I really want to make sure my boy is protected the best I can protect him.

 

[Siikibam]

I can’t think of any big issues that could arise from you taking him with you. I’d say take his housing - hides, bowl, bottle - so that he has something familiar there with his scent. If he’s on fleece then take that with you as well.

the main concern is that he doesn’t seem to have a companion. Has he been a lone pig since you got him, or did a cage mate recently pass away? Guinea pigs are herd animals and need the (constant) companionship of their own kind. No amount of human contact or interaction can replace that I’m afraid.

 

[jesse1234]

I can’t think of any big issues that could arise from you taking him with you. I’d say take his housing - hides, bowl, bottle - so that he has something familiar there with his scent. If he’s on fleece then take that with you as well.

the main concern is that he doesn’t seem to have a companion. Has he been a lone pig since you got him, or did a cage mate recently pass away? Guinea pigs are herd animals and need the (constant) companionship of their own kind. No amount of human contact or interaction can replace that I’m afraid.

He doesn't have a companion because he has tried to kill all of them basically. Even when we had another guinea pig across the room from him he would try climbing up the side of this cage to get to the other cage. He would run across the room and literally try ripping though the bars of the other pigs cage. I know they're herd animals and I have really tried getting him to be able to coexist but he becomes restless even being near another pig. All the other pigs were rehomed, but we seriously tried with 5 other guinea pigs, male and female, and he never was able to relax. He would just yell all night and then attack the cage whenever he was out. He's good friends with the dog, which obviously isn't the same but he plays with her and popcorns near her. He was a rescue and I got him with another pig, but as soon as he got comfortable at the house he started beating that pig up, and he drew blood multiple times. I've stopped looking for solutions because I don't think there will be one.

 

[Siikibam]

When he attacked the others were they housed separately? What’s his background before he was in the rescue and you took him home?

please be careful with him around the dog. Just a small action from the dog (however unintentional) can result in fatal injuries. Is it right to assume you never leave him alone with the dog? They’re hunters at the end of the day.
PS how old is piggie? We’d love some photos

 

[jesse1234]

When he attacked the others were they housed separately? What’s his background before he was in the rescue and you took him home?

please be careful with him around the dog. Just a small action from the dog (however unintentional) can result in fatal injuries. Is it right to assume you never leave him alone with the dog? They’re hunters at the end of the day.
PS how old is piggie? We’d love some photos

He attacked pigs in the same enclosure and while they were in others. Each pig we tried at first in the same, then another, then same and then another again, and he attacked each pig in every situation. Before I got him he was a class pet, with the other pig I took him in with. They were adopted together but I honestly think they just relied on each other in the stressful situation at the school they had to, so once Oswald felt safe he just unleashed and became the beast he is now. I know the dog is obviously a potential risk, but they only really "play" briefly every day, maybe 2 minutes of Oswald just walking next to her and popcorning and squeaking a lot. My dog just walks and doesn't really pay attention. I always watch the whole time but my dog is not fast or playful so it's really just Oswald playing by her while she sits there. Oswald is going to be 3 in January.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I agree that I can’t see any problem with you taking him with you.
Regarding him attacking others, when he was put with new pigs, was it done on totally neutral territory? You can’t put a guinea pig into another guinea pigs cage because that will be seen as an attack on territory. It has to be a totally neutral, with no other guinea pig smells, area.

 

[jesse1234]

I agree that I can’t see any problem with you taking him with you.
Regarding him attacking others, when he was put with new pigs, was it done on totally neutral territory? You can’t put a guinea pig into another guinea pigs cage because that will be seen as an attack on territory. It has to be a totally neutral, with no other guinea pig smells, area.

It was totally neutral. We would put them in an unused cage so no pig had been living it in. He's perfectly fine with humans and the dog, but other pigs he has never been able to get on with. Just being near one, he won't eat or sleep, he just makes angry sounds and puffs up.

 

[PigglePuggle]

I think there is no problem taking your pig to your cabin if you took all his familar things, and if he is a lone piggy who relies on your company I think he would be very stressed if you went away without him!
But longer term I would agree with @Siikibam and @Piggies&buns that he needs a friend of his own species, if you think he wont tolerate a male friend why not get him neutered and 6 weeks later he could be living it up in married piggy heaven with a lovely wife pig or two... a happily married piggy pair is a joy to behold, our skinny pig girl Tallulah tried to kill all our other girls when we tried bond them, so we took her to date a rescue piggy husboar who was neutered after he also failed to bond with other males... complete love match, they are inseperable, so so happy

 

[Siikibam]

How big was the cage that they were housed in while at the school, and when you took them home?

And are there any rescues near you? I’m wondering about boar bonding. If he can select his own friend that would be the best way.

last question, how old were the pigs that you tried to bond with him?

 

[jesse1234]

How big was the cage that they were housed in while at the school, and when you took them home?

And are there any rescues near you? I’m wondering about boar bonding. If he can select his own friend that would be the best way.

last question, how old were the pigs that you tried to bond with him?

The cage he was initially in was disgustingly small. It was one of those 'starter kit' kind of cages, that is way too small for any animal. He was in there with another pig, and then once I took him and Vincent in they moved to a cage probably 5x5 ft. Much larger. I don't know of any rescues nearby other than the SPCA. The pigs I tried bonding ranged from a few months to 3.

 

[jesse1234]

I think there is no problem taking your pig to your cabin if you took all his familar things, and if he is a lone piggy who relies on your company I think he would be very stressed if you went away without him!
But longer term I would agree with @Siikibam and @Piggies&buns that he needs a friend of his own species, if you think he wont tolerate a male friend why not get him neutered and 6 weeks later he could be living it up in married piggy heaven with a lovely wife pig or two... a happily married piggy pair is a joy to behold, our skinny pig girl Tallulah tried to kill all our other girls when we tried bond them, so we took her to date a rescue piggy husboar who was neutered after he also failed to bond with other males... complete love match, they are inseperable, so so happy

I will definitely look into it, though he has tried to attack female guinea pigs on multiple occasions through the cage. I really would love for him to have a cagemate and friend, it just is scary at this point because he has come close to seriously killing another pig before and I am nervous to leave him alone with another pig even if at first he seemed okay with them. I'm also scared of him possibly getting into a bad fight and getting hurt himself, so I've held off for about 3 months now. It does make me sad and I really would like for him to be with another guinea pig. It just has been a really expensive and dangerous process to try to find a pig he will not try to murder.

 

[Siikibam]

When you say try to kill, what happened exactly when he attacked other pigs?

I would try and see if you can find a rescue that does boar dating. Even if it’s a couple of hours away it may be worth the hassle. And there’s no harm in asking the spca if they do it. makes you wonder how he was treated if he behaves like that.

You say you tried him with a female before, is he neutered?

have a read of this thread. Fear aggression came to mind when I was reading your response above.

Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

 

[jesse1234]

When you say try to kill, what happened exactly when he attacked other pigs?

I would try and see if you can find a rescue that does boar dating. Even if it’s a couple of hours away it may be worth the hassle. And there’s no harm in asking the spca if they do it. makes you wonder how he was treated if he behaves like that.

You say you tried him with a female before, is he neutered?

have a read of this thread. Fear aggression came to mind when I was reading your response above.

Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

He would go for their necks and faces and just bite them. He would also nip at feet and legs. He is neutered, yes. I got him that way. I have no doubt in my mind he was mistreated which makes him so aggressive. It's hard to see because he's so so sweet to all people. He's the nicest pig and it is so sad to see his whole demeanor change when he's in the presence of another pig. He stops eating and drinking and becomes restless. It's just sad because I know it's not how he is meant to be.

 

[Siikibam]

Poor boy, sounds a tough but to crack so to speak. I’m going to tag @Wiebke see if she has any advise.

 

[jesse1234]

Poor boy, sounds a tough but to crack so to speak. I’m going to tag @Wiebke see if she has any advise.

I tried having him next to guinea pigs, with a divider in between so he could see them and he would just slam his side into the barrier to try to knock it over. He would literally run at it and push his side into it and shove his little legs through it and make angry noises all night. After him doing that for days I decided it was enough because he needed to sleep and to relax at least a little bit. It's like he just can't let his guard down whenever he is near another pig. The guinea pig I got him with was very very submissive and actually I think probably had a neurological issue. I was told he was dropped repeatedly and he probably had damage from that. But that pig was never aggressive towards Oswald. Initially Oswald seemed even protective of him, but then he just snapped one day and would not stop trying to attack other pigs. I wish I knew what happened but I unfortuntely have no clue. It was like something just switched in him out of nowhere.

 

[Siikibam]

Dropped repeatedly? Poor thing! I take it you separated them to live side by side, or did his cage mate pass away?

 

[jesse1234]

Dropped repeatedly? Poor thing! I take it you separated them to live side by side, or did his cage mate pass away?

Vincent passed away. He was only about 2. The vet told me he probably died from a heart attack or something stress related that lead to his heart giving out. Once they stopped getting along I put them in separate cages and eventually had to move one cage into a different room because Oswald wouldn't sleep if he knew Vincent was in the room. I seriously had a camera on him and I did not catch him even lay down for like 48 hours once. He turns into a madman. Then as soon as Vincent was out of the room he just went back to normal. The vet has told me she has met some pigs that could not get along with other pigs before, but it still makes me sad knowing he's missing out so much.

 

[artcasper]

sounds like poor Oswald had a horrible life being a classroom pet.... I hope you find a solution that works for you both

 

[Freela]

We take the pigs back and forth to the cottage with us all summer... they are a bit skittish when we first arrive, as they obviously know they are somewhere different. They settle in really quickly, though, and are really only thrown off the first trip of the summer. They actually love grazing on the lawn up there, and there are no pesticides or anything like that to worry about. I put a cage top over them so that they are protected from all sides and sit close by whenever they are on the lawn because there are a lot of animals up there- mainly birds of prey like osprey and eagles to worry about in they daytime.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Vincent passed away. He was only about 2. The vet told me he probably died from a heart attack or something stress related that lead to his heart giving out. Once they stopped getting along I put them in separate cages and eventually had to move one cage into a different room because Oswald wouldn't sleep if he knew Vincent was in the room. I seriously had a camera on him and I did not catch him even lay down for like 48 hours once. He turns into a madman. Then as soon as Vincent was out of the room he just went back to normal. The vet has told me she has met some pigs that could not get along with other pigs before, but it still makes me sad knowing he's missing out so much.

Poor Oswald, it does sound like you have tried to get him bonded, he has obviously had something happen in his previous life

 

[Bill & Ted]

We take the pigs back and forth to the cottage with us all summer... they are a bit skittish when we first arrive, as they obviously know they are somewhere different. They settle in really quickly, though, and are really only thrown off the first trip of the summer. They actually love grazing on the lawn up there, and there are no pesticides or anything like that to worry about. I put a cage top over them so that they are protected from all sides and sit close by whenever they are on the lawn because there are a lot of animals up there- mainly birds of prey like osprey and eagles to worry about in they daytime.

Wow, it sounds amazing!