Warring sisters

[Amybere1]

My lovely rescue piggies, Daisy and Ginger are having a terrible time! Emergency trip to the vet this week to diagnose and start treatment for mange mites and this morning a massive falling out and vicious fight.

I've had to separate them this morning and both are hiding away in a sulk.

The girls are around 2 years old and are 1/2 sisters, according to the rescue. There was a third, Cherry, who died suddenly in the night last year.

I don't know if peace can be restored or if they are irritable because of their infection. Any advice, gladly received.

Thank you.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome! I am very sorry for your problem.

I am sure that part of it has been caused by the irritation of the mites; it probably won't have helped if some hormones have also kicked in.

Please give the girls a day or two to cool down again (especially if one of them has come into season) and then conduct introductions on neutral ground. Please don't give them a bath, as their skin is inflamed - it can make the pain worse.

Whether they go back together again is a bit of a toss up. Sows tend to fall out much more rarely than subadult boars, but when they do, they will rarely go back together. Relationship isn't a factor.

Here are tips for intros: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...FAQ-Introducing-and-reintroducing-guinea-pigs
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?28949-Boars!-Simple-Dominance-Displays-or-Fighting
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?38561-Sow-behaviour

 

[Amybere1]

That is really useful, thank you. I'll see how they are in the day or two, and attempt a reconciliation on neutral ground. These mites are a nightmare for them and were missed by the vet the first time round, so the infection has had time to develop. I'm just going to try and keep them comfortable during the next 6 weeks of treatment (a spray treatment every two weeks). No bathing, minimal handling regular bedding change.

I've read the information about permanent fall-outs. I hope it doesn't come to that but there is a recommended rescue near to us who may be able to help my girls find new friends, eventually (and when they are completely recovered).

This is such a useful forum!

 

[Amybere1]

Think we have achieved a truce. Watching closely this weekend, I think hormones are the culprit!p

 

[piggyfan]

Hurray!