Looking for Advice…

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catmann211

Post   » Sat Apr 01, 2023 12:13 am


Hello. I am looking for some advice regarding my guinea pigs.

In the summer of 2020, I rescued a female guinea pig (BMO). At that time, the vet said she was about 4 or 5. She has been a very docile pig, not picking fights or anything, until recently. My other female guinea pig (Marceline, 3) used to be the more dominant of the two- rumblestrutting occasionally and things like that, even though she is younger. Recently, BMO has started to fight with Marceline, chasing her around and biting. Marceline is terrified of BMO now, so I had to separate them. They still get time together outside of their cages, where they don’t fight at all.

I went to school for just a couple of months (in the meantime my mother cared for them), and when I came back, BMO lost weight. She has been eating normally, but I wonder if this and her behavior are being caused by some underlying problem.

What do you think?

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2023

Post   » Sat Apr 01, 2023 12:36 am


Guinea pigs can drop a little weight as they get into their senior years. In fact, their body shape kind of changes as well. When they're younger, they are more round all over. As a senior, they kind of get pear shaped with more of a ridge on their spine, and wider around the tummy.

However, the behavior and the weight change would make me suspicious that something else is going on. I would look for a guinea-pig savvy vet and get a checkup just to be on the safe side.

If you're not already doing so, it would be a good idea to weigh her about once each week at the same time of day, and keep track to see if she is still dropping weight or leveled off. Also, be sure she is truly eating. Sometimes they have issues eating, and they continue to snuffle through the hay. So they look like they're eating but they aren't actually picking the hay up and chewing it. Watch her when she eats to see if the hay is actually getting eaten.

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Sat Apr 01, 2023 12:48 am


I'd want her checked for ovarian cysts. It's the most common cause of aggression in older guinea pig sows.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Apr 01, 2023 8:27 am


A couple articles to expand on comments here:
https://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html
https://www.guinealynx.info/aging.html

Sometimes aggressive behavior is related to a mite infestation. Note the hair and skin qualities and if there is any possibility of mites:
https://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html

catmann211

Post   » Sat Apr 01, 2023 9:27 am


Thank you all so much! I will definitely be looking into this as well as weighing her more often.

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