Introductions Intros did not go well, at a loss of what to do next

[LauraK]

Hi all, I rescued an unwanted young female pig about 6 weeks ago. I was really not looking to get another pig, but as you all know sometimes animals come into your life when you least expect it. Eloise is a PEW, and the sweetest girl, she was used to living with other guinea pigs before coming to me. I'm guessing she is about 6-7 months old. She was terrified the first 3 weeks I had her, didn't make a sound, didn't come out of her house, but with a little time and patience she is becoming quite the boisterous little lady.

After the quarantine period was up, one of my 2 girls, Willow, had a huge (blueberry sized!) stone removed from the base of her urethra, so obviously I have waited until she was healed from her surgery to do any kind of introduction.

I've been reading up A LOT on introductions, reading others experiences, watching videos, etc, so I would be prepared for introductions today. Yes, I was nervous about it, but my girls, Nora and Willow are 3 year old sisters and very laid back. My worst fear was that introducing a 3rd girl would ruin their relationship. Eloise squeaks when she hears them, so it seemed that she wanted companionship and I thought all would be well!

I put them in a neutral area with lots of veggies and hay and was prepared to camp out all day and watch them. Things went really well at first, but then Eloise was constantly chattering her teeth very loudly and kept lunging at my girls. I held back for a while, but I really don't feel that it's fair for my girls to be stressed out and have this newcomer just beat them up. I am absolutely shocked, I did not think that Eloise would be the problem. I ended up taking her out because things were just escalating (based on the literature on Cavy Spirit's website).

So I'm super discouraged, I could try the buddy bath system maybe next weekend when I have more time to be home and watch to be sure there aren't problems. I thought about contacting our rescue here in Colorado- I've never given an animal up because I believe in forever homes, but if it's what is best for all 3 girls, then it's what I will do. I have no plans of having 2 pairs/2 cages at this time in my life because I may be moving and don't know what my living situation will be. Overall, I just want all 3 of my girls to be happy because I love them SO much- anyone else been through this or have any words of encouragement? I don't want my sweet 2 girls to be bullied by this young little gal, nor do I want to have to give her up.


Sweet (but sassy!) little Eloise


Willow and Nora

 

[bpatters]

I'd keep them separate until next weekend, and try again. Make sure they're hungry when you put them in the neutral area with the food.

Other people have reported good luck with putting a tiny dab of vanilla on each nose before putting them back in the cage. Everything smells the same to everybody else, and that may get you through the initial hours. I've never tried that, but it seems reasonable to me.

Be sure you're not separating too soon. It can be very stressful for owners to watch intros, and you should be prepared to intervene in case of an all-out fight. But unless that's happening, just let them be. Also, don't put any hideys down in the neutral area, and spread the food around to several piles. You don't want to give them any place to hide.

 

[LauraK]

Thanks bpatters, I will definitely give the vanilla a try, sounds like a good idea! I really thought this would be easy, but like you said it's stressful for an owner- especially when you're very attached to the two originals and don't want them to be hurt. I just felt like the way Eloise was acting with her constant angry teeth chattering and rising up on her haunches a bit was going to turn in to an all out fight, so it worried me. I don't need any more vet bills at the moment since Willow just went through surgery.

I really want this to work, so we'll try this different tactic next weekend. And don't worry, I definitely did not have houses in the neutral area Thanks again for your words of wisdom!

 

[bpatters]

I haven't had those kinds of problems with introductions, but it seems to me that if only one pig is raising its nose in the air and chattering, the likelihood of a fight is less than if both pigs are doing it. So as long as you're positioned to intervene if hostilities really break out, you probably should leave them be to work it out. I think I'd also be tempted to try a buddy bath before the next session. Be sure you bathe them both together -- some people have misunderstood and bathed them one after the other. The whole idea is to have them together for moral support and courage-sharing during the trauma of the bath. Of course, if your pigs are like mine and don't mind a bath, that may be a total bust...

 

[beachgurl_1988]

I had several pigs come and go in my herd when I had them and I always found it best to put them in the bathtub and suds them up. Once they did that and were dried I would put them down in a rubbermaid tote with towels and near a heater (was terrified they would catch cold) and would almost always find them huddled together. While they were in the tote I totally washed the cage, wiped it down with vinegar, cleaned all the bowls/hideys/etc, washed the fleece, moved cage contents around.

Never had any problem. I would keep trying. Now that her QT is over you can also put her cage near your other girls so they can see and hear each other. Hold her and then your other pigs so they smell her on you and vice versa. Don't give up yet!