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Hello all (:
As everyone here is so knowledgeable about guinea pigs, I would really appreciate your advice!
I have had my two (unrelated) female guinea pigs for 8 months (they are about 10 1/2 months old), and up until now they had been fine together. They squabbled a bit at first (raising their heads, etc), and one would sometimes nudge the other away (when they were at the food bowl, for example). I assumed this was just them establishing who was the more dominant, but created a separate sleeping area just in case and it seemed to settle down fairly quickly. Ever since they were just fine together, and although I never really saw them sitting or sleeping next to each other, they would eat together and didn't fight, so I'd always thought they were okay. I wasn't aware that nearly all guinea pigs usually sit or sleep together - I asked two of my friends, and they said that theirs' always do/did (however, they were two sisters and a mother & daughter). Anyway, a few days ago the more submissive of the two developed a lump on her cheek (which I received advice on here - thanks!). We took her to the vet who said that she had been bitten by another guinea pig and the bite had become infected and developed into an abscess. The vet suggested that it could just be an isolated incident, and as I've never seen/heard them fighting I thought my other gp must have bitten (or maybe scratched?) her by mistake. However, just a few hours after returning from the vets and them being back in the cage together, I noticed that she had been bitten on the other cheek. Although we didn't see/hear any fighting, I feel sure that if this bite had been done at the same time as the first I would have noticed it earlier (though I did consider the possibility that one took longer to become infected?). I have separated them now (though they are still close, and can hear/see each other), but I'm confused as to why this has suddenly happened. I'm worried that, whilst the dominant one might be okay with just seeing/hearing another gp, that the submissive one will get really lonely. It was suggested that the more dominant gp might have become feisty recently because of her age and that I could have her neutered her to calm her down, but I don't really want to do that as it's such an invasive operation. Another option suggested was that I could get a neutered male cagemate for each of them, or possibly even just one for the more submissive gp (though that would make me worry that the other would get jealous of her having company whilst she does not!). It would really help me to hear any advice/opinions that anyone might have! Thanks in advance. (:
As everyone here is so knowledgeable about guinea pigs, I would really appreciate your advice!
I have had my two (unrelated) female guinea pigs for 8 months (they are about 10 1/2 months old), and up until now they had been fine together. They squabbled a bit at first (raising their heads, etc), and one would sometimes nudge the other away (when they were at the food bowl, for example). I assumed this was just them establishing who was the more dominant, but created a separate sleeping area just in case and it seemed to settle down fairly quickly. Ever since they were just fine together, and although I never really saw them sitting or sleeping next to each other, they would eat together and didn't fight, so I'd always thought they were okay. I wasn't aware that nearly all guinea pigs usually sit or sleep together - I asked two of my friends, and they said that theirs' always do/did (however, they were two sisters and a mother & daughter). Anyway, a few days ago the more submissive of the two developed a lump on her cheek (which I received advice on here - thanks!). We took her to the vet who said that she had been bitten by another guinea pig and the bite had become infected and developed into an abscess. The vet suggested that it could just be an isolated incident, and as I've never seen/heard them fighting I thought my other gp must have bitten (or maybe scratched?) her by mistake. However, just a few hours after returning from the vets and them being back in the cage together, I noticed that she had been bitten on the other cheek. Although we didn't see/hear any fighting, I feel sure that if this bite had been done at the same time as the first I would have noticed it earlier (though I did consider the possibility that one took longer to become infected?). I have separated them now (though they are still close, and can hear/see each other), but I'm confused as to why this has suddenly happened. I'm worried that, whilst the dominant one might be okay with just seeing/hearing another gp, that the submissive one will get really lonely. It was suggested that the more dominant gp might have become feisty recently because of her age and that I could have her neutered her to calm her down, but I don't really want to do that as it's such an invasive operation. Another option suggested was that I could get a neutered male cagemate for each of them, or possibly even just one for the more submissive gp (though that would make me worry that the other would get jealous of her having company whilst she does not!). It would really help me to hear any advice/opinions that anyone might have! Thanks in advance. (:
