Still Traumatised

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Grangran

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I got 2 female pigs 2 1/2 months ago. They were both extremely traumatised when I got them home, and it became quite obvious that they had never been touched before and had never heard normal, everyday noises before. One played dead for several days, and I was really worried it would die. The problem is, although they are far better than they were, and will even poke their noses out for a spring green leaf, they are still unhappy and just hide all day. One bullies the other, and I am beginning to think it would be better for them to be rehomed to someone who has other, confident pigs. I feel like a total failure, but I hate to see them so scared, and they don't have much quality of life just stuck in a cage hiding. I go to them regularly with a tasty treat, but as a carer for my dad, I don't have a huge amount of time.
 
Grangran said:
I got 2 female pigs 2 1/2 months ago. They were both extremely traumatised when I got them home, and it became quite obvious that they had never been touched before and had never heard normal, everyday noises before. One played dead for several days, and I was really worried it would die. The problem is, although they are far better than they were, and will even poke their noses out for a spring green leaf, they are still unhappy and just hide all day. One bullies the other, and I am beginning to think it would be better for them to be rehomed to someone who has other, confident pigs. I feel like a total failure, but I hate to see them so scared, and they don't have much quality of life just stuck in a cage hiding. I go to them regularly with a tasty treat, but as a carer for my dad, I don't have a huge amount of time.
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Hi! Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county, to your details so we can help you most effectively with any advice and recommendation. We have members from all over the world. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

Have you tried out tips on how to deal with skittish piggies? As open spaces scare them, have you considered placing a towel over the top of the cage to give them more of a feeling of safety and to use open sided cardboard boxes (at least two, so they can get away from each other) to help lure them out? Here are lots of tips on how to not look like a predator and how to make friendly contact in a way that guinea pigs understand immediately.
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
New and Wannabe Guinea Pig Owners Corner
How To Pick Up Your Guinea Pig

You have already made good progress.

The bullying is called dominance. What you are most likely witnessing is that the underpiggy is refusing to vacate the hidey when the top piggy wants it to (and as it its right), considering the circumstances.
Sow Behaviour
 
Thanks for that - I have added my location, which is local to you. I have already read, and follow, the advice given. I did research into their needs before getting the piggies, and I understand dominant behaviour ( I have had dogs and horses). I have provided both a tube with a fleece on one end, and a bed, as well as the house/shelf, which came with the cage, right from the beginning. They both have a space to hide, but they hardly come out. The underdog (pig) spends virtually all her time in the tube.It just seems no life for them, and they don't even seem to enjoy each others company. Their nails are due for a trim, but I'm shying away from handling them as they find it so traumatic.
 
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I cannot give you any fresh advice other than already given by Wiebke. But I can tell you about my experience in dealing with guinea pigs. My Amos was 4 months old when I got him from a rescue. He was to fastest and most skittish guinea pig I have had to date. It took him about 6 months to really settle down and relax. He never used to settle and was continually trying to climb over my shoulder to get away Although he is still pretty skittish if something unsettles him he has learned to relax and chill out when he is on my lap. That is him on my avatar. I have found him to be quite an intelligent guinea pig full of character. I hope that you are able to persevere with your two girls as it is a really rewarding feeling when they accept you and can enjoy themselves.
As a complete opposite experience I adopted another guinea pig from the same rescue recently he settled in immediately and walked round the kitchen as if he owned it. When I called his name he obviously recognized this and came to me. I couldn't believe it. It goes to show you cannot really know how a guinea pig will react but that's what makes them so interesting.
 
Thank you Val. So you handled him even though he was scared? I've got quite confused as to what is the best thing to do. I was advised to just let them settle and come to me when I first got them, which, apart from when I had to move them or touch them for a reason, is what I've done. However, if I do have to handle them, they get very stressed, and I'm back to the beginning with them. I'm having sleepless nights worrying that they have no exercise, and that they are scared all the time. On top of the worry of my dad, it's beginning to get me down.
 
Just take things slowly @Grangran. I have a mum who has dementia which is quite demanding. But I find the guinea pigs quite relaxing to care for.
I found any type of contact with Amos was an opportunity for him to get more used to me. They respond to food treats. So give your girls small amounts of food eg slice of red pepper, piece of kale ir cucumber every time you see them. Talk to them quietly so they get to know you and your voice. Amos is still not keen on me picking him up but he goes into a wicker tunnel with no problem. That's useful when you have to clean their cages/runs out. . If you are worried about their nails you could take them to a vet, who would be able to show you how to do it safely the vet could also do a health check to ensure no underlying health issues.
 
Thanks Val. I talk to them each time I go near, and give them a treat. As I said, they will take a spring green leaf if they are safe in their cage. I'm not bothered about actually doing their nails, I am used to doing dogs, but it just stresses them out handling them. Two people who have had piggies before have told me they have never seen any so scared, and that is after they have improved so much. I am pleased with their progress so far, but I seem to have hit a wall now. I'm feeling inclined now to say that if someone had a herd, or even one confident pig, and would like my two, I would let them go, as I genuinely think it would be better for them.
 
Grangran said:
Thanks Val. I talk to them each time I go near, and give them a treat. As I said, they will take a spring green leaf if they are safe in their cage. I'm not bothered about actually doing their nails, I am used to doing dogs, but it just stresses them out handling them. Two people who have had piggies before have told me they have never seen any so scared, and that is after they have improved so much. I am pleased with their progress so far, but I seem to have hit a wall now. I'm feeling inclined now to say that if someone had a herd, or even one confident pig, and would like my two, I would let them go, as I genuinely think it would be better for them.
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I felt exactly like you just a few weeks ago, felt like one step forward and either steps back! Have you tried putting them down for floor time and just sitting in their run with them? I did that, read a book quietly and they couldn't resist investigating the weird thing sitting with them! Nibbling my toes and climbing over my legs and sniffing my arm.

It is heartbreaking knowing that they're stressed when you handle them, my piggies still don't like being picked up but you just need to have faith and patience, they just need to learn that you're a friend and not a foe as with all animals. I genuinely don't think rehoming is the answer as it will undoubtably stress them out more, unless you can't look after them anymore in which case it might be better for them. However, from what you've said, they seem to be in good hands :)

I found the best thing that I could do was just be near them, not necessarily interacting with them, just so they felt my presence and realised that I wasn't there to hurt them. Good luck :)
 
Thanks for your reply, Kung-fu. I put them down (using a tube) and they hide away for the entire day, not even coming out for food. I spend as much time as I can with them, talking and offering titbits, then moving them back is traumatic again for them. If they have hidden somewhere other than the tube they race around in blind panic if I try to usher them in to the tube.
 
Grangran said:
Thanks for your reply, Kung-fu. I put them down (using a tube) and they hide away for the entire day, not even coming out for food. I spend as much time as I can with them, talking and offering titbits, then moving them back is traumatic again for them. If they have hidden somewhere other than the tube they race around in blind panic if I try to usher them in to the tube.
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My girls are still like that now, the chase to pick them up is horrible I know but it's not too bad as they're not that traumatised, it just seems like it to us. Once I catch my piggies I hold them to my chest so they can hear my heart beat, that always seems to calm them down after the chase and talking softly to them too.

Piggies are used to hiding away but they'll eventually get braver, mine rarely run around for floor time as they're not confident enough yet. Unless you rustle a treat bag of course lol.

I was just as worried as you are now, thinking I was doing something wrong or a bad pet owner but it's not you, it's them! They just need to get used to everything and get some confidence. Can you post any pics of their cage/run?
 
My Amos was like a rocket trying to keep as far away from me as he could when I went into the room where I keep my guinea pigs. It was a few months before he calmed down, I was worried he would never settle in as I have never seen such a scared pig. I used to leave him in his C an C run when I cleaned it.. I left a tunnel so he could hide.
After I had finished his run I did the same to the C and C run next to his. So he was aware of what I was doing and he watched me clean the other run with two guinea pigs who knew the ropes and were used to me walking round their run and they took no notice of me. As I say eventually bit by bit he became a calmer and I was less stressed about coming into contact with him as he was more settled.
You have only had your two girls for two and half months so that is quite a short time for more timid guinea pigs to settle in. But once you gain their trust they will be delightful companions.
 
worried val of york said:
My Amos was like a rocket trying to keep as far away from me as he could when I went into the room where I keep my guinea pigs. It was a few months before he calmed down, I was worried he would never settle in as I have never seen such a scared pig. I used to leave him in his C an C run when I cleaned it.. I left a tunnel so he could hide.
After I had finished his run I did the same to the C and C run next to his. So he was aware of what I was doing and he watched me clean the other run with two guinea pigs who knew the ropes and were used to me walking round their run and they took no notice of me. As I say eventually bit by bit he became a calmer and I was less stressed about coming into contact with him as he was more settled.
You have only had your two girls for two and half months so that is quite a short time for more timid guinea pigs to settle in. But once you gain their trust they will be delightful companions.
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I completely agree! It's still hard for me to catch my piggies, their fur is so shiny and smooth that they literally slip through my fingers! Sometimes I wonder if they're Satin piggies but I have no idea how to identify them lol.

I do the tube thing and turn their hidies upside down in the hope they'll hop in there, sometimes it works and sometimes they're wise to my tactics and avoid everything like the plague haha. I just know at some point they will be more used to being picked up and may even ask to be picked up, so I live in hope :) Hope, patience and green bribes are the key!
 
worried val of york said:
My Amos was like a rocket trying to keep as far away from me as he could when I went into the room where I keep my guinea pigs. It was a few months before he calmed down, I was worried he would never settle in as I have never seen such a scared pig. I used to leave him in his C an C run when I cleaned it.. I left a tunnel so he could hide.
After I had finished his run I did the same to the C and C run next to his. So he was aware of what I was doing and he watched me clean the other run with two guinea pigs who knew the ropes and were used to me walking round their run and they took no notice of me. As I say eventually bit by bit he became a calmer and I was less stressed about coming into contact with him as he was more settled.
You have only had your two girls for two and half months so that is quite a short time for more timid guinea pigs to settle in. But once you gain their trust they will be delightful companions.
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This is exactly why I think they would be better with some other confident pigs. :-(
 
Eh, they don't need other pigs, they just need time, gentle coaxing and lots of love. All piggies behave in a very similar manner, after all they will be scared to start with, being prey animals. But if you feel that you can't deal with them anymore that's fair enough. Good luck in what ever you choose.
 
I have never given up on an animal, and worked in horse rescue for years, but these two are so scared they need a lot more time than I can give while looking after my fathers ever increasing needs.I am trying to be fair all round, and their welfare is very important to me. I want them to have a better life than hiding away all the time. I have made the difficult decision to try to rehome them. If anybody in the Coventry area can help I would be very grateful.
 
Could you see if someone could foster them for a while? Someone who has more time and could perhaps get them more confident. You could then take them back a while later?

I am not sure other piggies would help. There may be dominance issues which would traumatise them further.

One tip on glossy coats. Use a damp hand and for some reason it grips better on their hair.

I think you just need time and to be around them as much as possible, they will definitely improve with age it's just patience. I suspect they can sense your concern as well and it's probably not helping. Just relax when you are with them and even tell them how silly they are being and joke about it with them. It will help relax you as well.
 
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