Behavior Separation and a Seemingly Depressed Guinea Pig

[Res Judicata]

Been a while since I've posted anything, so I'll start at the beginning. I have three girls -- Toffee, Roxie and Gabby. Roxie is a frail nearly seven-year-old guinea pig with a tumor who I'd never thought would live past the summer because she just kept losing weight. I got her weight basically stabilized until a month ago when Toffee decided to start bullying her to the point that Roxie was chased constantly. Her only respite was when Toffee was asleep and the constant chasing was literally running the weight off Roxie. I decided enough was enough and that Toffee was just going to have to live on her own for a while until Roxie passed on. The cage was divided last night and is going to be remodeled this weekend so that everyone has enough room, but I figured we could live a few days in cramped space. Getting Roxie out of a stressful situation so I can re-stabilize her weight took priority.

Toffee has her own little section where she can still see the others, but is not a happy pig. Last night she was a ticked off pig, furiously biting the grids between the two temporary cages. Today she hasn't moved from her hidey and she tends to be a very active pig in the mornings. She's been housed with the other two for about a year and a half now. Now I'm wondering if she's suffering from a bit of depression (if guinea pigs can even get depressed) over the situation and what I can do to help her out.

 

[bpatters]

How old is Toffee? And is there any chance that she's got hormonal problems that might be at the root of the bullying?

Or can you put Roxie by herself and the other two together? Roxie might appreciate a little peace and quiet!

 

[Res Judicata]

Toffee was young when we got her, so I assume she's probably around twenty months old, give or take. What age can hormonal problems start? Roxie and Gabby are bonded, so separating those two would not be good. And actually that worries me since Roxie is nearly seven and she's not going to be around for much longer while Gabby is three and a half.

 

[bpatters]

If they've all been together up until now, Toffee and Gabby may be more bonded than you think. My two are littermates and have never been separated in their lives. But neither wheeks for the other when one is out of the cage, they don't sleep together, they don't get in cozies together. I think some pigs just are used to having another pig around, but aren't cuddlebugs.

You could try it and see -- it's not like it has to be a permanent move.

 

[pinky]

Guinea pigs can detect when one of them is weak and they can easily become a target. I've seen that firsthand with some of mine that were old or sick. I had one with osteodystrophy and she was bullied by the one guinea pig that seemed to want to be the boss. I eventually moved her into a separate cage with the one that always protected her. When she got sicker, I had her in a cage by herself so I could be sure she got enough food to eat without the other one eating it all. Having the others right next to her, but unable to mingle with, might be stressful for her.

 

[Res Judicata]

I got home from work and Toffee was out laying in the hay eating. My husband commented that she's the laziest pig ever and probably doesn't mind the smaller space because it means she has to move less to get to the food. She is the only pig I've ever had who lays down to eat, even at the pellet bowl. I'll try switching pigs around if things don't improve after the remodel of the cage. I don't have to be in court on Thursday like I thought, so I can go get some coroplast and get that done. She's in a two by two section of the C&C cage, the others have the two by three section and the upper level. My quarantine cage is buried somewhere in the garage (just moved), or I'd stick her in that. I'm going to make an appointment with the vet and see if she has hormonal issues even if seems a little young for them.