Introductions Two guinea pigs fighting

[betty]

People I met through Craigslist could no longer keep their guinea pig due to severe allergies. They are going out of town tomorrow and wanted to rehome her before they left. Instead of dumping her at a shelter I said we could see if she gets along with my girl. I was thinking with my heart and not my brain and am really regretting that I allowed this to happen.

I introduced the two guinea pigs in neutral territory and they got along fine. After a few hours I placed them in a the cage and my girl was literally going inn for the kill. I seperated them (temporarily) with grids in the middle of the cage, but my girl is very angry! She has nipped me and is even chattering her teeth at me.

At the same time my husband is having really bad allergies with this new little pig living with us whereas he was okay when we had just Molly. I don't think we can keep her : (

I made a very bad decision, but felt that I should try and help one less piggy ending up in a shelter.

I am thinking of surrenering Minnie, the new cavy, to a rescue, but feel like a horrible person about it.

Any support and advice would be great from someone has been in this situation.

 

[ellisa]

Did you clean the cage before putting them in it together? You need to make sure everything is cleaned really well so it doesn't smell like your first pig at all.
She may need a bath, that could be why your husband is having reactions to her. You could also do a buddy bath to see if it helps your girls to get along. I wouldn't give up just yet, it can take time for pigs to bond. Have a look at this link:
Guinea Pigs Social Life
Also, what hay do you use? The hay might be bugging your husband and not the pigs.

 

[Squint96]

I am kind of going through something similar. Don't give up just yet, and maybe you should bring minnie to the vet if she is bothering your husband so soon. Good luck.

 

[bpatters]

Other things to consider... How big is your cage? How old are the pigs? And is your husband having contact allergies (skin rashes, etc.) or respiratory ones (sneezing)?

 

[CavyMama]

Ditto what ellisa said. Was the cage they were eventually put into, freshly cleaned and any piggy smells eliminated?

Also, you said your pig was "going in for the kill". Chattering teeth is pretty normal. If there was no blood drawn, things are fine. No need to separate unless there is blood drawn. Anything less is just dominance stuff.

My suggestion would be to introduce again on neutral territory. Make sure that the cage you eventually put them in is newly cleaned, including wiped down with a 50/50 solution of vinegar/water. Hideys any everything else has been cleaned of piggy smells.

When you put them back, don't separate unless there is blood drawn. The repeated separation only stresses them out when they have to start all over the next time.

It's rare to find two pigs that truly cannot get along. Most of the time there are other influences (like smells or lack of space) that add to stress that can cause a dust up.

Also ditto what BP said about cage space. How big is the cage you have? That can definitely have an impact on how pigs get along.

 

[betty]

Thanks for the quick reply...
I completely strip cleaned the cage. Cleaned it with vinegar/water solution, fresh fleece, bedding in kitchen, clean bowls, hay rack, water, etc.

The previous owner gave Minnie a bath before she dropped her off (she smelled like shampoo) Poor girl has a horrible hair cut and has not eaten hay for a year! She gorged on the Orchard grass I feed!

My husband is okay with having a second piggy, he knew they have to have a friend. He is sneezing and can barely see through his puffy eyes. He has asthma that I am worried about. He was fine with just our Molly so far.

The new little pig is so sweet and has just been running away from my bully. Even now as they are seperate mine is trying to battle through the grids.

 

[CavyMama]

Okay so that's good news. It sounds like your hubby isn't allergic to pigs, if he was fine with your original one. It might be something else. Hay can sometimes cause allergies to flair up. Obviously they cannot go without hay but the type of hay can make a difference with that.

If the new pig hadn't had hay for a year, I would check her teeth for signs of malocclusion. When you take her to the vet, they can check more in depth with the molars.

How big is the cage they are in now?

 

[betty]

Both girls are in a 2x4 grid cage, I put two grids in the middle as a means to seperate them (short term only) without having to do introductions again. Molly, my original pig is chattering constantly and showing her teeth (looks like yawning) and puffing her hair up. She flew at the new girl yesterday chasing her around the cage and biting (fur was flying and luckily no blood yet).

My Molly seemed really happy before, she was very outgoing and sweet. Now she is nipping ME and chattering her teeth at me when I come near the cage. It is as if I broke our bond : (

 

[betty]

Forgot to add, Molly (1st pig is 2 years old) and Minnie (new) is around a year old.

Minnie has been bathed by her previous owners every month, her coat looks horrible and has been chopped really short (she looks like she may have long hair with little rosettes) How can I get her back to health?

 

[bpatters]

Some pigs are just loners. Your Molly may be one. If she's still trying to attack through the bars, that's not a very good sign.

You might be able to arrange a swap with a rescue. As in, take both pigs with you and let Molly pick out her new cage mate, which you'd take in exchange for Minnie. A rescue would see to it that Minnie goes to a good home, and Molly might be able to live peaceably with a friend that she​ chose!

 

[CavyMama]

Oh dear...bathed every month? Her skin's got to be very dried out! I believe bathing that often strips the fur of its natural oils which might explain the condition her fur is in.

I'm sure someone here has a suggestion on battling skin and hair issues. Wish I could be more help.

 

[betty]

Thank you bpatters, I really trust your advice. What should I do for the next few days while I find a solution? I am thinking of moving Minnie to a seperate cage. bpatters can you also recommend a rescue, I am in Vancouver, BC Canada?

 

[betty]

bpatters, I just want to get your thought on Molly (my first pig)...

When we brought her home from the animal shelter, she popcorned all over her cage and ate from my hand right away. Before piggy # 2 she always made little noises when I went to her cage and stood up looking for attention and treats. To me she seemed happy, but I thought that they all need a friend.

Do you really think she is happy by herself or should I continue to search for a buddy at the risk of her fighting with another one???

 

[FuryanGoddess]

I have three pigs. One short haired, tri colored American, Gumball. One American Crested, short haired, Darwin, and Pruvian/Aby, Mr Dad. I hold and snuggle w/ Mr Dad w/ no issues... The minute I pick up Gumball and he snuggles my neck, it starts to burn and itch. I have less of a reaction w/ Darwin, but I don't hold him much as he tends to pee on everyone. So, perhaps it's the breed of piggie that's causing him the issue... not having another one in the house... Know what I mean?

 

[betty]

That makes sense FuryanGoddess, the new girl has a very dense rough coat. Molly has long hair but it is whispy and soft and almost like hair.

 

[FuryanGoddess]

yep, see, Mr. Dad's fur feels like hair. I have to trim it, we keep him in a mohawk The other two have really soft fur also, but it makes me itch like mad

 

[bpatters]

Betty, if you want Molly to have a friend, I wouldn't give up yet. But I would see if there's some way to let her met the potential roommate ahead of time. For the moment, keeping them separated sounds like the best idea.

The new one might be a teddy if it has coarse hair. If you google "teddy guinea pig pictures" (without the quotes), you'll be able to see what they look like.

As far as rescues go, the best way I know to find one is to go to Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on Petfinder, put in "small and furry" for the animal and "guinea pig" for the breed, and then put "vancouver, bc" for the location. You'll get guinea pigs at about three or four rescues/shelters, but I'm not sure how far they are from you. But you could call them anyway, because usually rescues have foster homes spread out over a fairly wide area, and someone from the rescue may have pigs very close to you.

 

[betty]

Guinea pigs still fighting

My Molly and newly adopted Minnie are still fighting (well actually Molly is attacking Minnie, even through the grids) so I will be rehoming Minnie.

Does anyone know a person in the Vancouver, BC Canada area who is looking to adopt?

Secondly, I still want to try to find a friend for my Molly. Do females do better with baby females or is there a possibility that she will still attack?

 

[bpatters]

Re: Guinea pigs still fighting

There's no guarantee what Molly will do, but in general, older guinea pigs are very tolerant of babies. However, Molly sounds like a fairly belligerent female, so I still think introducing them ahead of bringing a new one home if you can work that out.

Were any of those shelters/rescues on Petfinder close to you? You could also list Minnie on Guinea Pig Zone, I believer.

 

[SurfingPigs]

Re: Guinea pigs still fighting

Like Bpatters said, at this point I would try to find a rescue nearby that would allow you to introduce Molly to potential other pigs. Rescues will have already quarantined adoptable pigs, so you can ask to bring Molly to pick her next friend. Your odds of having a happy pair are much greater if your pig picks her friend.