LindsW
New Born Pup
I've recently joined the forum although I've read lots of very helpful information and advice in the past. I would really appreciate some advice at the moment over the situation with my two guinea pig girls, Maple and Ginny. Maple and Ginny are coming up for two years old and they have been part of our family since October 2019. They were bought from Pets At Home so I'm not sure if they are sisters, and they are our first pigs (now I know more I would certainly adopt instead in the future). They lived together very happily and generally peaceably, except when Ginny decided she wanted to be in a particular hidey and chased Maple out (Maple seemed to know her place and go and settle in another hidey without argument!).
They lived initially in a Midwest Habitat Cage. They also had floor time in a play pen made out of 5 x 3 c and c grid set up nearly everyday. However, as they got bigger I realised they would need more full time space so I ordered a 2x4 c and c cage for them. Unfortunately, before they could go into their new home, Ginny sustained a serious injury to the eye. This happened whilst I was work. She was fine in the morning when I gave her her veggies, but when I returned at 4 o'clock and went to put her in the play pen I noticed the injury. Luckily, my vet was able to see her as an emergency immediately. I thought the injury may have been caused by hay poke, but the vet said she thought that was unlikely due to the severity of the injury, so she suggested it may have been caused somehow by Maple. I can only assume that this was accidental, such as an accidental kick, as there has been no signs of fighting prior to this and neither of the pigs had marks or scratches anywhere else. The vet was concerned that Ginny may lose her eye, but decided to try treatment first. She said that Ginny would need to be separated from Maple as the eye was in such a delicate state. We treated her for about two and a half weeks with two different types of eyedrop and Metacam, with regular checks up by the vet. We were absolutely delighted when the vet said her eye had healed very well and she would not need surgery. However, the eye was now so cloudy that the vet thought it unlikely that she would have any sight left in that eye.
Throughout the treatment period I rigged up a 3x2 cage for Ginny with the new grids, next to Maple's cage (close enough to see/ smell each other but not close enough that Maple could knock Ginny's eye through the bars). They sniffed at each other quite happily and seemed to be missing each other. When the vet said they could be reunited, I thought the best plan would be to set up the new 4x2 cage with just a fleece, hay and lettuce and do the reintroduction in there before adding in hideys etc. I assumed it would all go well as they had been next to each other and interacting, so I didn't even arm myself with an oven mitt or similar, which I now realise was very silly. All went well initially, with Ginny coming straight over to lick Maple's eye (which was always her sign of affection). However, as soon as Ginny had her blind side towards Maple and Maple came towards her, I think Ginny must have freaked out and she went for Maple. Maple ran off but they both started to teeth chatter very loudly (not the quiet teeth chattering when I am too slow bringing their veggies) and they both had their hackles up. There was a bit of chasing but they both tried to settle and eat a bit of hay and lettuce so I gave them a few minutes longer. However, the tooth chattering then started up again and a fight ensued - I can't quite describe what happened as it was so fast, but I had to get Maple out of there, at which point I got a bite to the thumb from Maple. Maple had a few clumps of fur pulled out, but otherwise no blood had been drawn (except for mine!). I checked them both out thoroughly and there were no bites or scratches.
I'm worried that I rushed the reintroduction - Ginny had been through a very stressful time with her injury and with having to get used to a new cage. Looking back, I think she had just got used to her new territory as she seemed a lot more confident after two and a half weeks than when she had initially been put in the temporary cage. And then to be put in a new situation yet again must have been quite scary, as well interacting with another pig following losing sight in one eye. Since then there has been much teeth chattering and yawning at each other through the bars.
I'd really like some advice over whether I should attempt another reintroduction. I now know that I was naive to assume it would go well, so I have read back through a lot of the very thorough posts about introducing and bonding guinea pigs in this section. (I had read information about it before and watched videos, but I don't think I was as prepared as I should have been). Is it a lost cause now that they have fallen out and Ginny seems scared around other pigs now that she has partially lost her sight? I don't want to put either of them through unnecessary stress, but obviously it would be wonderful if they could live together again. The alternative would be for them to live side by side permanently, but I'd only have space for two side by side 2x3 c and c cages, so adopting another piggie to keep Maple company for example would not be an option. I won't even consider a reintroduction for a few weeks as we are going away for a week and having a pet sitter looking after them, so I would not be able to monitor the situation if they were back together. If any experienced owners have any advice, or have been in a similar situation, I'd be so grateful to hear from you. Sorry about the very long post but I thought it was best to include as much detail as possible!.
They lived initially in a Midwest Habitat Cage. They also had floor time in a play pen made out of 5 x 3 c and c grid set up nearly everyday. However, as they got bigger I realised they would need more full time space so I ordered a 2x4 c and c cage for them. Unfortunately, before they could go into their new home, Ginny sustained a serious injury to the eye. This happened whilst I was work. She was fine in the morning when I gave her her veggies, but when I returned at 4 o'clock and went to put her in the play pen I noticed the injury. Luckily, my vet was able to see her as an emergency immediately. I thought the injury may have been caused by hay poke, but the vet said she thought that was unlikely due to the severity of the injury, so she suggested it may have been caused somehow by Maple. I can only assume that this was accidental, such as an accidental kick, as there has been no signs of fighting prior to this and neither of the pigs had marks or scratches anywhere else. The vet was concerned that Ginny may lose her eye, but decided to try treatment first. She said that Ginny would need to be separated from Maple as the eye was in such a delicate state. We treated her for about two and a half weeks with two different types of eyedrop and Metacam, with regular checks up by the vet. We were absolutely delighted when the vet said her eye had healed very well and she would not need surgery. However, the eye was now so cloudy that the vet thought it unlikely that she would have any sight left in that eye.
Throughout the treatment period I rigged up a 3x2 cage for Ginny with the new grids, next to Maple's cage (close enough to see/ smell each other but not close enough that Maple could knock Ginny's eye through the bars). They sniffed at each other quite happily and seemed to be missing each other. When the vet said they could be reunited, I thought the best plan would be to set up the new 4x2 cage with just a fleece, hay and lettuce and do the reintroduction in there before adding in hideys etc. I assumed it would all go well as they had been next to each other and interacting, so I didn't even arm myself with an oven mitt or similar, which I now realise was very silly. All went well initially, with Ginny coming straight over to lick Maple's eye (which was always her sign of affection). However, as soon as Ginny had her blind side towards Maple and Maple came towards her, I think Ginny must have freaked out and she went for Maple. Maple ran off but they both started to teeth chatter very loudly (not the quiet teeth chattering when I am too slow bringing their veggies) and they both had their hackles up. There was a bit of chasing but they both tried to settle and eat a bit of hay and lettuce so I gave them a few minutes longer. However, the tooth chattering then started up again and a fight ensued - I can't quite describe what happened as it was so fast, but I had to get Maple out of there, at which point I got a bite to the thumb from Maple. Maple had a few clumps of fur pulled out, but otherwise no blood had been drawn (except for mine!). I checked them both out thoroughly and there were no bites or scratches.
I'm worried that I rushed the reintroduction - Ginny had been through a very stressful time with her injury and with having to get used to a new cage. Looking back, I think she had just got used to her new territory as she seemed a lot more confident after two and a half weeks than when she had initially been put in the temporary cage. And then to be put in a new situation yet again must have been quite scary, as well interacting with another pig following losing sight in one eye. Since then there has been much teeth chattering and yawning at each other through the bars.
I'd really like some advice over whether I should attempt another reintroduction. I now know that I was naive to assume it would go well, so I have read back through a lot of the very thorough posts about introducing and bonding guinea pigs in this section. (I had read information about it before and watched videos, but I don't think I was as prepared as I should have been). Is it a lost cause now that they have fallen out and Ginny seems scared around other pigs now that she has partially lost her sight? I don't want to put either of them through unnecessary stress, but obviously it would be wonderful if they could live together again. The alternative would be for them to live side by side permanently, but I'd only have space for two side by side 2x3 c and c cages, so adopting another piggie to keep Maple company for example would not be an option. I won't even consider a reintroduction for a few weeks as we are going away for a week and having a pet sitter looking after them, so I would not be able to monitor the situation if they were back together. If any experienced owners have any advice, or have been in a similar situation, I'd be so grateful to hear from you. Sorry about the very long post but I thought it was best to include as much detail as possible!.
