Reuniting piggies?

[Nim]

Hi,

We've three guinea pigs. All male. They're not related, but they were living happily together for a long while. They had the run of a room, with the ability to go in out of their cages.

The eldest developed teeth problems early last year. He had an anaesthetic so that the vet could fix them, after which we had big trouble getting his digestive system working again; as such he had to stay locked up to make sure that he got the food and not the others. He's not wanted to leave his cage since then. So that is the first of the three in a seperate cage.

Then in September we had to temporarily leave our house. During the short stay somewhere else the remaining two decided to fight over who was boss. I could not beleive how vicious a guinea pig could be, or how persistant either. So, that was another one locked in a seperate cage.

So now, only one has the roam of the room, with access to one other cage.

Is it possible to reunite this guys? If so, can someone give me any idea of how? Pleeeease.

Thank you,

Nim

 

[MemberY]

Oh dear! I am afraid my opinion is a definate no!

The fact that you had 3 males living happily together was brilliant. Basically, if at all possible, do not separate even for medical reasons unless very contagious as after 24 hours, it is very hard to re bond.

The remaining two fought as they had to re establish hirearchy after one was taken out and also a change in their home can set this off.

There are things you can try-bath them all together in gorgeous guineas shampoo, some recommend dabbing lavender oil on their bottoms, disinfect their cage and re arrange etc, but it is like bonding from scratch.

www.cavyspirit.com has some good advice.