Advice for Phonenix.

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Andrewpeel

I recently lost Dylan one of my guineas, you may of followed the threads on here. Before i lost Dylan he lived with his brother Phonenix. Since Dylan has gone i have brought Phonenix in side and give him more attention e.t.c and kept an extra eye on him.Phonenix is now perking up and seems a little bit more happy.

My concern is that he is now alone and feel bad for him, i feel awful because i dont want to replace Dylan but concious that Phonenix needs some company too. From my understanding a young boar would be best to try and bond with him. I also have 2 others Guineas Mylo & Nylo (his mother and sister) he has always lived in a close area of them but never together as none of them are neutered. I never got any of them neutered because i took the boys out as soon as they were old enough and keep them seperated from the girls. Now i am unsure whether neutering Phonenix would be a good idea and putting him in with girls.


I am just not sure what to do for the best. Obviously if i got a another boar he would be from a rescue, as i dont agree with pet shops and all my other animals are rescues.


I just want Phonenix to be happy. Also i have no experience bonding pigs, all of my rabbits i have bonded myself and went ok but i would expect bonding pigs to be different. Any suggestions or ideas on what would be best?

Thanks
 
If you don't want to get a new guinea pig, then neutering Phoenix (and he is a stunning boy, I've seen the pics!) is certainly an option. To minimise the risk, I would recommend that you contact your local rescue and ask which vet they use for neutering - best way of finding a good'un! You can introduce Phoenix six weeks after the operation. As he's been around all his life, I don't think there will be a problem. If necessary wait till one of the ladies is in season (preferably the dominant one), so she's more welcoming than usual. This trick has worked brilliantly when introducing my new girls.

If you are considering a new friend, it might be a good idea to ring up your closest rescues and ask them for likely candidates. Take Phoenix to the one with the biggest selection and have a "road test" afternoon. Be prepared that his preferred friend might not be YOUR first choice, though! It has always worked for me in terms of happily bonded piggies, but I've never come back home with the piggy I had intended!

I wish you the best of luck wich ever way you decide to go!
 
Thanks for the good advice there Vicky. Its such a hard decision anyone would love a new boar well i would and i'd jump at the chance. But my concern is if it does not work out. But on the other hand i would not want to get him neutered and things dont work out with the girls. Before i lost Dylan all the pigs lived in the same hutch but on difference levels, the boys never fought over the girls or anything. Would this be an advantage on bonding him to the girls?

I worry cause he is such a little boy, he was the 'runt' of the litter and was not getting milk, i had to hand rear him. Even though i love all my animals the same i have a bit more of a bond with him (what do i should like lol)

Thanks.
 
My personal favourite grouping is a neutered boy with a bunch of females. I'd only recommend neutering if you have a very good vet, who is highly experienced with guinea pigs and practices the best neutering procedure.

Remember if you do decide to adopt a young boar, you are not replacing Dylan, and nobody will think that. By bringing home a new friend for Phonenix, you would be paying a wonderful tribute to Dylan. I've adopted pigs just 2-3 days after the passing of a beloved pig and it's never felt like replacing them, just honouring their lives and allowing my piggie journey to continue.
 
it's very natural to feel a stronger bond or an animal you care for, that's how it is. My opinion is that so many animals need rehoming, if you can accommodate one, not only will you make your piggy happy but another one too by offering them a loving forever home.

If your gut feeling tells you that surgery may not be a good idea, then I would listen.

Like Vickyt says, it's aways best to let the pig choose his own friend too, that way there'll be of a chance of it going wrong. I'm sure people on here will tell you who's nearest you.
 
Thanks, thats the logic as i have. Sounds awful but while i am still sad about the loss of Dylan. Phonenix would probably quite happily move on and would be happier with a new friend or in the in with the girls. Is neturing of Guineas common? i have four rabbits and they have have all been done by the same vet. I just dont know how a guniea would cope some of my rabbits have bounced back like nothing happen but my smallest rabbit had real bad stomach after the operation and i had to take him back to the vets a few times.
 
dunno, not had mine done.

you'll also have to think about re-introducing the runt to mum. How will she cope? Is his presence likely to uspet the mum-daughter balance?

There is so much to consider... Remember that no pig can replace Dylan. They'll be different and have their own personality. Also, i have found that each time I have introduced a new piggy to an older one, it's really changed their personality for the better... Bertie became more friendly and extrovert and Finlay's just become an adult; now that he has to care for Frank he can't get up to his old antics..:)).
 
Andrewpeel said:
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Is neturing of Guineas common? i have four rabbits and they have have all been done by the same vet. I just dont know how a guniea would cope some of my rabbits have bounced back like nothing happen but my smallest rabbit had real bad stomach after the operation and i had to take him back to the vets a few times.
Click to expand...

Provided the vet knows the right things for guinea pigs - the right anesthetic, the right medications (if necessary) and pre-surgical care, the right "removal" procedure, the right suturing, the right way of bringing the pig round - then the risk, while still there, is minimal. Let me know if you wanted more info on that, if you wish I can PM you the details and ideas for how to question the vet to see how 'suitable' they are.
 
Yeah that would be good if you dont mind? i would really appreciate that. Its just so i can evaluate the situation further. These things are so complicated and vets dont always help! Oh i dont mind probing the vets infact i think they get a bit sick of my questions and phone calls. lol
 
That is why I recommended that you contact your nearest local guinea pig rescue and asked them which vet they use for neutering their guinea pigs. That vet should have a fair amount of experience!

I've had two neutered boys in my life. My first was as a teenager when he got the "snip" after two lots of babies with his wife, which went very well. The second is the boy I have currently with my three sows. He had the op at the rescue.

I don't think that your females will remember Phoenix as a baby. He's a grown male now and, as that, in a different category. If you are worried you could let him meet the girls through bars or a mesh and see how they react. If htere is interest, but no teeth chattering, you are onto a winner!
 
Looks like good news then! He has been out serveral times this week in the run with the girls run adjacent. Ithought it might help just see other guineas and they seemed ok there was noises but i dont think they were any teeth chattering. I will see what happens when the weather picks up.

Thanks
 
Unless one of the girls consistently teeth chatters at him (or if he answers in kind), you are OK. Most girls will accept a male. If they have been next to each other with interest, but no "knives" out, you stand a very good chance.

If you have him neutered, I would keep him close to the ladies, so they are familiar with eachother when they finally meet. But be prepared for LOADS of fun and games!
 
Always fun and games with all animals! Took 4 rabbits to the vets yesterday, the vet said it was like a production line?
 
Yes, I can imagie!

I got some comments when I turned up with double the number of piggies at the vets...
 
They are worth it, though the £120 pet bill i could do without! I just dont think about it, its worth every penny and money well spent even if its money i dont have! lol
 
Vickyt said:
Unless one of the girls consistently teeth chatters at him (or if he answers in kind), you are OK. Most girls will accept a male. If they have been next to each other with interest, but no "knives" out, you stand a very good chance.

If you have him neutered, I would keep him close to the ladies, so they are familiar with eachother when they finally meet. But be prepared for LOADS of fun and games!
Click to expand...


Has i mentioned yesterday. I have put Phoneix outside in the run adjecent to the girls. Normally he is a very quiet pig even as a baby when all the others were very vocal he was silent! He was very vocal when he saw the girls. It was not like he wanted to jump through the mesh to see them or anything it was like he was aware that they were there. The girls just looked at him and carried on eating and made some low pitch noises. didnt sound like chattering of the teeth or anything.
 
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