Almost 10 year old guinea pig passed today -- what to do with his 9 year old cage mate?

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lonesomeseniorpig1

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My almost 10 year old male guinea pig passed overnight, assuming it was from old age. It's been a bit rough on me to process being he was my ESA through college and died a day before my birthday. He left behind his 9 year old spayed female cage mate. She appears to be doing fine so far, but seems to be like a different pig already.

She was comforting him while he was headed towards his last moments and was never one to come out for attention from me. He was always the attention seeker, while she was more shy and would hide. With his passing, she's squeaking at me and now coming out of her hideouts seeking attention.

We have a newborn and the house and I do not intend to continue the cycle of having guinea pigs in the house as it is a struggle to care for them properly and an infant and a little exhausting. I thought about fostering, but I don't think it would be right to foster a pig just until she dies and then that pig is left alone. I also don't think it is fair to uproot her from her environment she has known since I adopted her from a rescue when she was 2 years old towards the end of her life. I feel like that would be stressful for her.

With an infant and a full time job, I don't have the time to constantly give her attention throughout the day. I can check on her as I work remotely, but not for long. Any suggestions on how to make her the happiest and most comfortable given the situation? Would boredom busters and stuff animals help? I want to do the best I can for her, but I'm struggling right now to decide what that best is.
 
Hi there and I'm sorry for your loss what a fantastic age. Your girl does need guinea pig company for sure, if you fostered another guinea until she leaves for the Rainbow Bridge too the foster guinea pig would return to the rescue and your guinea pig cycle ends there, obviously until your little one asks for a pet once they're older 💗
 
CTWC said:
Hi there and I'm sorry for your loss what a fantastic age. Your girl does need guinea pig company for sure, if you fostered another guinea until she leaves for the Rainbow Bridge too the foster guinea pig would return to the rescue and your guinea pig cycle ends there, obviously until your little one asks for a pet once they're older 💗
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Do you have any ideas on how to make it less cruel for a fostered guinea pig? I'm afraid that given her age I may be introducing another guinea pig only for a couple of months until she passes away, just putting another pig through a grieving process only to just go back to the rescue almost immediately.
 
I've got a similar case, the last one of three brothers who had lived their whole lives together, I lost the other two at nine years old and was expecting to lose this last one fairly quickly too, he had always been the quietest, smallest one. So I didn't want to split up anyone else to find him a live in friend, especially as if I split up my only other threesome I would not be able to put them back together again when he went. But determined to put me on a guilt trip he is now looking like he has every intention of getting to be a teenager and is still going strong. He managed to develop impaction, but luckily it only occurs when he gets too much dried food, but just like yours he has also come out of his shell and has developed the weirdest habits, like running around with his tunnel on his back, lifting one end up to put it over the food and then eating inside his tunnel! He will no doubt continue to try and make me feel guilty about his lifestyle for some time yet!
 
lonesomeseniorpig1 said:
My almost 10 year old male guinea pig passed overnight, assuming it was from old age. It's been a bit rough on me to process being he was my ESA through college and died a day before my birthday. He left behind his 9 year old spayed female cage mate. She appears to be doing fine so far, but seems to be like a different pig already.

She was comforting him while he was headed towards his last moments and was never one to come out for attention from me. He was always the attention seeker, while she was more shy and would hide. With his passing, she's squeaking at me and now coming out of her hideouts seeking attention.

We have a newborn and the house and I do not intend to continue the cycle of having guinea pigs in the house as it is a struggle to care for them properly and an infant and a little exhausting. I thought about fostering, but I don't think it would be right to foster a pig just until she dies and then that pig is left alone. I also don't think it is fair to uproot her from her environment she has known since I adopted her from a rescue when she was 2 years old towards the end of her life. I feel like that would be stressful for her.

With an infant and a full time job, I don't have the time to constantly give her attention throughout the day. I can check on her as I work remotely, but not for long. Any suggestions on how to make her the happiest and most comfortable given the situation? Would boredom busters and stuff animals help? I want to do the best I can for her, but I'm struggling right now to decide what that best is.
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Hi and welcome

What a grand old age to live to! And what a testament to your love and good care.


At this age, there is no right or wrong; especially if you are not planning to continue. It can be harder in the USA to find new temporary companionship.

You can see whether your remaining girl is hacking it on her own. Some old sows prefer to be on their own rather than accept new company. What you should look out for are signs of depression/lack of stimulation when your old lady is obviously not able to cope with being a single - this is usually a few weeks in. In this case, I would recommend to look for companionship.


As long as your remaining lady is eating and drinking on her own, you will have that time to see how things are panning out for her, so please do not rush into something right now as a knee-jerk reaction.

Please take the time to read these guide links here. You will hopefully find them helpful as they discuss different aspects in much more practical depth:

For the immediate aftermath, timing aspects and longer term options:
Wiebke

Thread 'Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig'

1 What can I do immediately after a guinea pig has died?
- Saying goodbye
- What can I do for my grieving piggy?
- Emergency: acute pining (not eating/drinking) or sudden illness
2 New companionship and human grieving
- When can I start looking for a new mate?
- "Replacing" a guinea pig: the conflict between human and cavy needs
- How do I best go about finding a new mate? (Possible options listed for bereaved sows and boars)...

Includes a chapter on challenges specific to bereaved singles (especially end of the line piggies) and how to spot when a single is transferring their social species needs onto you:
Wiebke

Thread 'Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities'

Introduction
1 When is a 'single' really a single?
- Bought singles
- Fallen-out and aggressive piggies
- Bereaved guinea pigs
- No interest in other guinea pigs
- Disabled and special needs guinea pigs
2 Companionship options (with pros and cons)
- Dating
- De-sexing (neutering or spaying)
- Living alongside
- Buying a baby companion
3 Caring for single guinea...
  • Like

Wiebke

Thread 'Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs'

1 Intro: Reality check on where your pets come from
2 Are guinea pigs really the right pet for me?
3 Rescue adoption
- What extra services do good rescues provide that other places don’t?
- What about not recommended rescues? How can I spot a bad place?
- Shelters and rescues – is there a difference?
- How does the adoption process run?
4 Pet shops
- How will you choose your pets?
- Why...

For yourself and your child (there is material for all ages included):
Wiebke

Thread 'Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children'

1 The grieving process
- Loss and the start of the grieving process
- Grieving with a terminally ill guinea pig
- Going through the grieving process
2 Ways of coping
- Expressing and processing your feelings
- Regaining your guinea pig
- Burial and marking the passing
- Dealing with special days
3 How do I tell my children?
- Finding local support lines and charities...
  • Like
 
Bluebell said:
I've got a similar case, the last one of three brothers who had lived their whole lives together, I lost the other two at nine years old and was expecting to lose this last one fairly quickly too, he had always been the quietest, smallest one. So I didn't want to split up anyone else to find him a live in friend, especially as if I split up my only other threesome I would not be able to put them back together again when he went. But determined to put me on a guilt trip he is now looking like he has every intention of getting to be a teenager and is still going strong. He managed to develop impaction, but luckily it only occurs when he gets too much dried food, but just like yours he has also come out of his shell and has developed the weirdest habits, like running around with his tunnel on his back, lifting one end up to put it over the food and then eating inside his tunnel! He will no doubt continue to try and make me feel guilty about his lifestyle for some time yet!
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for sharing. That's amazing that he is headed towards being a teenager! I had a vet tell me the longest he has seen a guinea pig live was 17 years, teens is definitely possible! No doubt, your little guy is getting a lot of love and care to so that healthy. I never considered the fact she might do that too, I'll have to factor that into any decisions for sure!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

What a grand old age to live to! And what a testament to your love and good care.


At this age, there is no right or wrong; especially if you are not planning to continue. It can be harder in the USA to find new temporary companionship.

You can see whether your remaining girl is hacking it on her own. Some old sows prefer to be on their own rather than accept new company. What you should look out for are signs of depression/lack of stimulation when your old lady is obviously not able to cope with being a single - this is usually a few weeks in. In this case, I would recommend to look for companionship.


As long as your remaining lady is eating and drinking on her own, you will have that time to see how things are panning out for her, so please do not rush into something right now as a knee-jerk reaction.

Please take the time to read these guide links here. You will hopefully find them helpful as they discuss different aspects in much more practical depth:

For the immediate aftermath, timing aspects and longer term options:
Wiebke

Thread 'Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig'

1 What can I do immediately after a guinea pig has died?
- Saying goodbye
- What can I do for my grieving piggy?
- Emergency: acute pining (not eating/drinking) or sudden illness
2 New companionship and human grieving
- When can I start looking for a new mate?
- "Replacing" a guinea pig: the conflict between human and cavy needs
- How do I best go about finding a new mate? (Possible options listed for bereaved sows and boars)...

Includes a chapter on challenges specific to bereaved singles (especially end of the line piggies) and how to spot when a single is transferring their social species needs onto you:
Wiebke

Thread 'Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities'

Introduction
1 When is a 'single' really a single?
- Bought singles
- Fallen-out and aggressive piggies
- Bereaved guinea pigs
- No interest in other guinea pigs
- Disabled and special needs guinea pigs
2 Companionship options (with pros and cons)
- Dating
- De-sexing (neutering or spaying)
- Living alongside
- Buying a baby companion
3 Caring for single guinea...
  • Like

Wiebke

Thread 'Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs'

1 Intro: Reality check on where your pets come from
2 Are guinea pigs really the right pet for me?
3 Rescue adoption
- What extra services do good rescues provide that other places don’t?
- What about not recommended rescues? How can I spot a bad place?
- Shelters and rescues – is there a difference?
- How does the adoption process run?
4 Pet shops
- How will you choose your pets?
- Why...

For yourself and your child (there is material for all ages included):
Wiebke

Thread 'Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children'

1 The grieving process
- Loss and the start of the grieving process
- Grieving with a terminally ill guinea pig
- Going through the grieving process
2 Ways of coping
- Expressing and processing your feelings
- Regaining your guinea pig
- Burial and marking the passing
- Dealing with special days
3 How do I tell my children?
- Finding local support lines and charities...
  • Like
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for all the resources! I never considered the fact that she could be happier on her own. I'll keep an eye out for these signs and not jump into anything too quickly. It has kind of shocked me how outgoing she has become ok her own so quickly. I'll look through these today. I appreciate the help!
 
lonesomeseniorpig1 said:
Thank you so much for all the resources! I never considered the fact that she could be happier on her own. I'll keep an eye out for these signs and not jump into anything too quickly. It has kind of shocked me how outgoing she has become ok her own so quickly. I'll look through these today. I appreciate the help!
Click to expand...

Please take the time to think things through. There is not necessarily any right or wrong because each case needs to be judged on its own merits. Bereaved end of the line piggies are as diverse as their circumstances, so there is never a single 'right' solution. Very often, you end up with a compromise between the available, the achievable and practical.

I've had old ladies who were happily seeing each other out in several incarnations of 'Golden Oldies' groups and I have had several widows who would never accept a new piggy in their space and do their best to ignore the neighbours I surrounded them with... It also depends on whether you can find a potential companion who will be able to return or not - that may not happen. Just try not put yourself under too much pressure right now and look after yourself as well.
 
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