Runt of the litter

[Tonisita]

Can anyone tell me if a guinea pig will pick on a weak, ailing piggie? I lost Smudge a few weeks ago. He was two thirds of the size of Pickle, thinner and with a scratchy wheek. He died of fits. Pickle bullied him until I had to separate them. Now that Smudge has died, Pickle is popcorning, doing zoomies like he did when they were little, is much more affectionate with me and, horrible to say, is happier without Smudge.

 

[Ramia]

My submissive boy bullied my dominant boy when he was sick so the vet recommended separating them.

 

[Tonisita]

Thanks for the feedback

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry for your loss

It seems like you’re wondering if he picked on him to death? In short, no - a guinea pig is not likely to deliberately kill their cagemate. However bullying is a sustained set of behaviours due to incompatibility. The bullied pig will often not be allowed to eat and therefore loses weight and thus makes them weak if separation isn’t immediate (along with syringe feeding to boost reserves once separated etc).

I note that you asked about bullying back in May of this year. Were they permanently separated in May and hadn’t lived other since; or did you reunite them?
If they were separated and hadn’t been in the same cage since May then smudge’s death wouldn’t have had anything to do with pickle, and instead perhaps smudge was unwell. He wouldn’t have been able to bully him if they weren’t together.