Squeaking all the time, is he sick?

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rosne1	Squeaking all the time, is he sick?		Lead	[-]
Posts: 6 04/13/09 09:44 AM	Tags : None Hello everyone, I have two male guinea pigs they are about 1 year old. When we bought them they were housed in the same cage. After 4 months one became more dominate, he would hog all the food and water form the other. Then he started to fight the smaller one. I had to separate them because the fights got it got bloody. The smaller one would be on the losing end of the fights. So they are now housed in separate cages in different rooms. Pyro my guinea pig squeaks (cries) all the time, when I say all the time day and night. I can not figure out why he is squeaks (cries). There is no blood in his poop or urine. He eats real well. He has food and water. He even squeaks when I am holding him. It is not a squeak (cry) because he is in pain. What can I do to stop him from squeaking (crying) all the time? He is driving me and my daughter crazy, please help us. Thank you
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PooksiedAnimals		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4093 04/13/09 11:57 AM Moderator	Is he truly wheeking? Or whimpering and crying? If he's wheeking, its very likely Pyro is calling out to the other guinea pig, that he knows is around. They are herd animals, and generally like to be in the company of other pigs. Boars often have a falling out as they hit adulthood (6-10 months old). Once they are both over a year old, you may want to try re-introducing them, and see if they can get along. Cage size makes a huge difference in getting boars to get along. Having two of things helps, too. You say Pyro was hogging the water and food. If you put waterbottles on opposite sides of the cage, he can't guard both bottles at the same time. I would try putting the cages in the same room, and see if that settles Pyro somewhat. He may be happy just to hear and smell another pig. How long have they been separated? When I first got pigs, one would cry out for her siblings, even though she had a sister with her. It took her weeks before she finally adjusted to just having her sister around, and stopped calling for the other pigs. How much do each of them weigh? Is the smaller one still growing? Or is he just a smaller pig that Pyro?
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AimBaim5		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 42 04/14/09 07:18 AM	My boys used to fight all the time (proper rolling around, big ball of fur type fights). The reason we didn't sepererate them was the constant squeaking. After a fight we would put them in seperate rooms to cool off at which point they would squeek manically until they were reunited! They still have the occasional bicker (they are 2.5yrs now) but after they were about 12 months old the big fights did stop. It sounds like you poor boy is lonely. I would try and re-introduce them. I would agree with Pooksied that more space may help too. I would recommend a second level to your cage as well even if it's only small - it means they can truelly escape each other if they need to (I often find one of mine asleep upstairs and one downstairs). Good luck!
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faeriechylde		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 71 04/14/09 11:09 PM	I have two males that often try to bite each other during out-of-cage time, but, to put a long story shortened, I know it's from the one being spoiled and now having to share the attention with his brother (which is my fault, this slave is a soft touch what can I say). But, picking him up and giving him attention relaxes him right away. I wonder if he just wants someone's attention? I also had to put in two water bottles, and a dish that was not able to tip therefore one couldn't guard the whole thing and that solved that issue. They routinely take food from each other, so I just have to make sure I do things to ensure that they are each getting food. Such as personally giving them their veggies and blocking one pig from taking the other's food. I agree with the previous suggestion as well. If they're just clicking their teeth and not actually fighting, it's not necessary to separate in that instance. Sometimes, fights of dominance can be worked out between the two. In the case where it's happening like you said, it may work to just separate them until they calm down. Another idea is to build a C&C cage and use one of the cubes as a divider for the middle. When they are fighting, you can place one piggy on the other side of the divider. The spaces in the cubes allow for the two piggies to interact, without being able to actually harm each other. Just make sure the that if a divider is in, each side has it's own water, food, and hideaway house, and any toys you might give them. Sarah
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rosne1		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 04/16/09 10:48 AM	Hello everyone, thank you all for the advise. The best way to describe the squeaking sound Pyro is making is a like someone squeezing a squeeze toy all the time. Pyro is the smaller of the two guinea pigs. When we bought them they were the same size and they where housed in the same cage. Sparky does not respond to Pyro cries. The only time Sparky cries is when he hears a bag. He thinks that it is food time. I do not know their weight at this time. I do not have a scale to weigh them. I will post some pics of them soon. They have been separated for two months now. Before hand I tried to divide the one cage with a divider but, Sparky would knock it down and get to Pyro. Pyro would wind up bloody. So when they fight they fight. After reading all of the suggestions I moved Pyro closer to my bed and talk to him more. He his squeaking has eased up some. Last night they spent some time together in my room. The first hour they got along just fine. The second hour Sparky started to bulling Pyro and the fighting started. I quickly separated; the last time they fought it took 30 min to get the bleeding to stop (Pyro). Thank you Last Edited By: rosne1 04/16/09 10:50 AM. Edited 1 time.
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PooksiedAnimals		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4093 04/16/09 11:54 AM Moderator	Have they ever been looked at by a cavy-savvy vet? Have they been treated for mites? Mites can sometimes cause aggressive behavior in pigs. When I think of a squeeze toy, I think more of a wheezing kind of squeak. Does it sounds like Pyro is having problems breathing? I had problems with flimsy dividers with a cage. It can work, but generally you need to have it tied in with strong zip-ties, and make at least one side has a lid. A strong-willed guinea pig can climb, and it sounds like the case with Sparky. Sparky seems to have a mean streak!
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rosne1		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 04/16/09 01:15 PM	They have never been to the Vets. They do not have mites. Here is a pic of them. Pyro Sparky
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rosne1		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 04/16/09 09:59 PM	When he cries he sound like a combination of this; Wheeking and being annoyed. www.jackiesguineapiggies.com/guineapigsounds.html thank you
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faeriechylde		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 71 04/16/09 11:02 PM	I would have to agree with the suggestions that have been given - use a very secure divider with a lid to prevent them from harming each other. I think the reason Pyro is calming when you talk to him is that he is receiving social contact. Not every piggy will respond when the other cries out for him. He still could be feeling lonely. If you don't feel any sort of divider option will work, try placing their cages in the same room, close enough together that they can see and smell each other, minus the fighting. Separating them during fighting is definitely the smart idea. While I have yet to actually hear of this, they are capable of fighting to the death. I am not attempting to suggest that your piggies will kill each other, but, as the type of animal they are, they are capable. It's good that they got along for an hour. Maybe having an hour's worth of play time together every day will help fill the need to socialize with another piggy. That, and putting the cages close by. I can't guarantee that will work, but it's safe and worth a shot. If it DOES work, you could consider a more secure divider as suggested above. I've seen guinea pigs not only climb, but jump too, to get out of or into someplace they want to be, and so I definitely agree with one side having a lid - extra protection so harm can't be done. While this last suggestion won't solve your problem, it will temporarily offer you some sanity - I put hay in my piggies' cages right before I go to bed. I give them a second helping of pellets at this time too - they munch on it and stay quiet lol. The hay won't hurt him either. Like I say - this is most definitely not a solution, but when it's driving you very crazy, it's a temporary source of sanity for you, or at the very least, a bit of a break from the constant squeaking. If you try the stuff suggested and Pyro still screams, then a vet might be the next best course of action. I don't think it will go that far, I think the social issue is the problem and I think it can be solved without the vet. But, if everything else fails after giving a good try, it is something to consider...just in case. I enjoyed those pictures - your piggies are VERY cute. I just love the colours on Sparky! Sarah Last Edited By: faeriechylde 04/16/09 11:04 PM. Edited 1 time.
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PooksiedAnimals		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4093 04/17/09 08:57 AM Moderator	I would say, if those are the sounds that Pyro is making, he's trying to draw attention of any other guinea pig in the area. Those are not normally sounds of an ill pig. Pyro looks young in his picture (how do you keep their nails so short and manicured!) -- he may be unhappy at being alone (even though he gets beaten up by Sparky. When it is in annoyance, you'll usually have two pigs, squared off with each other, often with one or the other's fur standing on end. It sounds like Pyro is trying to get Sparky's attention. What a glutton for punishment! Boys seem to be more verbal than the girls when it comes to establishing heirarchy. I would not suggest frequent re-introductions for short amounts of time. Each time they're together, Sparky needs to assert his dominance, and goes after Pyro. Pyro must not be submissive enough, or it wouldn't get to the point of drawing blood. Obviously Pyro isn't keen on being the submissive pig. Unless I missed it, I didn't see how old each of them are. I suspect Pyro is just under a year old, and is probably getting to the point that he wants to be top pig. If you can set them up, so they can see and hear each other, but not actually contact each other, you may have some peace. You may have to deal with them screaming and rumblestrutting at each other through the barrier, but hopefully the overall peace will be better. They should eventually settle down. Have you read Cavy Spirit's Social Life? I would give them a break, of not trying to introduce them at all for a while, and then try to buddy-bath them, and reintroduce, if you wish to try again for them to cohabit. I think at this point, however, giving them short times together is only aggravating Sparky.
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rosne1		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 04/17/09 04:42 PM	Thank you all. I will put them in the same room but separate cages. I trim their nails with the cat nail clippers, it's a two person job. My daughter holds them while I clip. It's difficult to do Sparky nails in the back because they are black, I just clip a little. Once again thank you for your help with my little babies. Last Edited By: rosne1 04/17/09 04:54 PM. Edited 1 time.
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AmeliaDaisy		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1595 05/12/09 08:42 PM	Have you noticed if the dominant one is blocking food access? They wheek like crazy for food - and I did have a pig who blocked the weak one from the food bowl!
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rosne1		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 05/17/09 03:44 AM	When they where in the same cage Sparky would hog all the food and water. They are still separated and in different rooms. I do let them spend time together. Pyro is still squeaking, but not as much as before. Sparky only cry when he hears a bag. He thinks it's time for food. When they are together on the floor, Sparky follows behind Pyro all the time. Pyro tries his best to get away from him. When they are on the floor their is not fighting.
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AmeliaDaisy		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1595 05/23/09 02:52 AM	Hope they can share a room soon, if not the cage. Tsk! and they look so innocent too!
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faeriechylde		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 71 06/09/09 09:25 PM	I just LOVE the markings on spike. Sarah
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Squeaking all the time, is he sick?

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