One guinea pig is suddenly attacking the other!

[muminthecity]

They are both female, and have lived together in the same hutch for the last year with no problems. All of a sudden this evening, one keeps chasing the other, climbing all over her head and face and just won't leave her alone. The other one is trying to run away and squeaking. This has been going on for about half an hour now. The only thing that's changed for them is that I took them to the vet for the first time today, just for a check up. They're both fine and healthy, didn't have any treatment or anything, but perhaps the trip has unsettled them?

DD has taken the 'attacked' one out of the hutch now, but she'll have to go back in at some point. How can I stop the fighting?

[froglou]

It sounds less like attacking as you haven't mentioned biting and more like she's trying to hump the other one, which is normal and nothing "sexual"! It's her trying to dominate your other one, it usually happens as they get older and they'll sort it out themselves. However, by you taking the "attacked" one out you've set them back a bit, as you've given the dominant one the run of the hutch giving her the idea that it is all hers! I'm not explaining this well but hopefully you understand what I mean!
If you fully clean the hutch to get rid of the dominant ones smell, and rearrange the bits in the hutch then re introduce them and they should sort themselves out. Don't interfere or separate them unless one of them is getting hurt(you'll hear yelping and notice cuts) , otherwise you'll aggravate the situation.

Hopefully it's not too late and they'll sit themselves out :)

[Neenee61512]

My guinea pig is losing his hair! He is only a year and a half. WHAT is going on?

[froglou]

Are the bald patches a little scaly and/or irritated at all? If so it could be ring worm they get it from stress or coming into contact with an infected source.if so they'll need an anti fungal treatment from the vets.

Otherwise it could be from mites but for there to be bald patches they'd have had them a while your vet would've noticed it at the appointment, or it could be from being pulled out by another guinea.

[froglou]

Just realised you're not the OP so ignore the comment about the vets!

[EastMidsGPs]

Re girls 'fighting' i have girls and they do once in a while start bickering, it is a hey I'm number 1 around here action really.
They soon settle down and as long as there's no biting going on I'd leave them to it.
Agreed clean hutch out and new bedding, move their bowls and toys around to confuse them and give them 'stuff' to do to stop them getting bored ..
I've only ever had 2 sows that didn't get on and I've matched different pairs and different ages. And never had a bonded pair that fell out once friends.
In fact of the pair that didn't get on it was one of them, dhe didn't like piggies or people and went to live alone with family in Newcastle where she behaved more like a feral cat than a guinea pig.
Just think of your girls like sqabbling human sisters ..its the same without the mummmmmmm.

[Neenee61512]

no they are not..I think maybe they were nibbling at each other and squeeking alll the time! but better today :)

[muminthecity]

Thanks for the replies, they seemed to sort it out between themselves and have been fine since.

One other question, if you wouldn't mind. One guinea pig (GP1) is very cuddly and seems to love being picked up, stroked, cuddled and having her hair brushed. The other (GP2) hates it. She will tolerate being held for about a minute then starts biting me and scrambling to get away. What should I do? Just leave her alone? Or persevere in the hope that she'll get used to being handled?

I don't want to keep bothering her if it's upsetting her, but then I feel bad that GP1 is getting so much more love and attention .

(If it's relevant, GP2 is the more dominant one.)

[EastMidsGPs]

I think it is just different personalities. Our Mollie will sit with you forever and be stroked and cuddled. Children from all over the close come to visit and cuddle. But she wasn't always as laid back she was a bit skittish when you. She is coming up fo 5 now.
Sadie is a year and a half, she'll sit with DH to watch tv mainly cricket, football and James Martin, and complains when moved but she doesn't actually like to be stroked .. she just sits on his shoulder.
she doesn't like anyone really stroking her and certainly not from above her, so we don't. Occasionally she gets a stroke around the ears.
When with us they both have an old fleece each that they sit on .. incase of wee and poo but the fleeces smell of the piggies and keeps them calm.

cuddle and pet on her terms she will more than likely improve as she gets older.Bribery by hand feeding parsley or cucumber helps !!!