My female pig is in heat and acting aggressive. What can I do?

Guinea pigs can go into heat, on average, every 15-17 days (with a range of 13-21 days). When a guinea pig is in heat she can show the following signs: increased activity, swollen vulva, chasing cage mates, swaying hips/hind end, low pitched vocalizations, and arching her back and then putting her rump in the air.

yes, pot bellied pigs often get uterine tumors and they are also difficult to deal with when they go into heat. Find a vet who is willing to do this--I have spayed several and treat them just like a dog or a cat under anesthesia.

I didn't see that you mentioned how old Lilypad is, but this could be a sign of a medical problem. Cystic ovaries are very common in guinea pigs, and their presence can result in behavior changes. Additionally, other medical problems, such as urinary issues, can also result in urine spraying/urinating more frequently than normal. I would recommend having Lilypad examined by a veterinarian. They can perform a thorough examination, and may recommend radiographs (x-rays) or a ultrasound depending on what is found. From there, they can make recommendations for treatments. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I hope that your sweet guinea pig feels better soon!

Thanks for sharing your toe, however since we aren't human doctors there isn't much that can be done for that and you should visit your regular doctor. That said, if this is linked to your dog being in heat, keeping the two separated during her heat cycle may help reduce the behavior and prevent a fight from breaking out. Having your female spayed may also help reduce the aggressive behavior if it is related to her heat cycle as she will no longer have them. If the behavior continues to escalate, keeping the two dogs apart and speaking with a trainer in person is best so that they can address the issue and provide a more tailored plan. Picking up and keeping any and all toys, etc removed during this as well as feeding the dogs separately may also help reduce the behavior as well.

Thanks for your questions about your guinea pigs. The behavior you are describing sounds like breeding behavior. You are correct in that there is a lot of overlap between annoyance and breeding sounds. With them being so young, that can contribute to the confusion. They don’t quite know what they are doing either. I saw that you don’t necessarily want babies - the ages that your guinea pigs are now may lead to babies in the next couple of months. They are sexually mature by 4 months. You are correct that sometimes females will have difficult births - this most often happens when they are older than 6 months when they are bred and it is due to their pelvic bones becoming fused and inflexible. I hope that helps to answer your questions, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Pigs are natural rooters and puzzle solvers, so anything that involves nosing around with or digging in will be fun. Giant rubber balls (like the kind you see horses playing with) treats hanging from a chain, places to dig and more can all help encourage some playfulness and enrich the environment. Pregnant pigs should be up to date on any needed vaccines in your area prior to breeding, and should be fed a diet appropriate for enough nutrition for growing piglets and nursing them after birth. A growing or lactation diet is best for mom to prevent nutrient deficiencies during these high-energy periods. Signs of problems that warrant a call to the vet are lethargy, loss of appetite, failure to gain weight, or struggling to stand/move around. Depending on your production style, most pregnant sows are crated or kept in a special birthing pen that allows piglets to safely move away from mom without having her accidentally lay on or step on babies. Providing a heat lamp for the babies to come to and move away from is also useful after birth. When your sow is closer to labor you may see waxing from her nipples (a waxy, milky like substance that isn't milk) that indicate she is nearing labor. Making sure she has comfortable bedding, access to food and water, and safety for the piglets to get to is best.

Pig have two sets of teeth, deciduous (baby) and permanent teeth. They are born with needle teeth, eight of them, that are very sharp. As they grow, their baby teeth will come in, and then fall out to be replaced by their permanent teeth. It can take up to 20 months of age before all of their permanent teeth are in, so Penelope will be technically teething for a long time! There are a few things you can give her to help. Whimzees can be given to her, and you can get them from pet stores and online. You can give her frozen treats with a combination of water, juice, yogurt, pureed pumpkin, apple sauce, and bits of fruits & veggies. Put the mixture in an ice cube tray, freeze, and then give to her to enjoy. Teething can be painful for a pig, and I would speak to your vet about pain medications to her. Never give her any pain medications that your vet hasn't prescribed because you may accidentally do harm to Penelope.