Should I Split Them?

[Amysguineapigs]

Hi everyone

So gutted. My boars Cookie (5) and Teddy (2) have seemed to have a small fight, they've been living together 11months. Checked on Cookie today and he has a bite mark on his bottom lip, red and swollen, doesn't look infected yet. Teddy is very hormonal, constantly mounting poor Cookie and being pushy, Teddy doesn't have a mark on him, Cookie just warns him off. There's no teeth chattering, just squealing etc. Cookie isn't 100%, arthritic and suspected heart disease, so maybe Teddy sees him as weak at the moment? I'm not really sure what to do if I'm honest, I've watched them for 5/10 mins and can't see any aggressive behaviour, not sure whether to split them for the night or not? Thought they were getting on so well and feel ever so guilty for Cookie

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone

So gutted. My boars Cookie (5) and Teddy (2) have seemed to have a small fight, they've been living together 11months. Checked on Cookie today and he has a bite mark on his bottom lip, red and swollen, doesn't look infected yet. Teddy is very hormonal, constantly mounting poor Cookie and being pushy, Teddy doesn't have a mark on him, Cookie just warns him off. There's no teeth chattering, just squealing etc. Cookie isn't 100%, arthritic and suspected heart disease, so maybe Teddy sees him as weak at the moment? I'm not really sure what to do if I'm honest, I've watched them for 5/10 mins and can't see any aggressive behaviour, not sure whether to split them for the night or not? Thought they were getting on so well and feel ever so guilty for Cookie

Please have that lip disinfected! ideally you get some hibiscrub or sterile saline from the pharmacy and have it checked by a vet tomorrow

With adult boars, it is likely to do with a takeover coup amd not with hormones . I would split them for the night to let them calm down and then see how they are with each other tomorrow when you re-introduce them. Unlike with teenage boars, adults don't fall out very often. Keep them next to each other and see how they react to the split. If Cookie looks instantly relieved, then it may be better to keep them as nextdoor neighbours for the time being. Take your boys' interactive behaviour as your guide and go along with what you pick up from them.
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?