Baby boy on own after dad died

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GarterSnake

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Hello

I’ve been up all night with Tony our neutered male. He was castrated over two weeks ago and post op checks went well. He was making strange noises a few days ago and I thought he was in pain
So back to the vet who said wound site looked good but gave me more pain meds.
Tony was in with a baby boy from a whoops litter (other babies were 3 girls and they are in with mum - we also have another litter but they are in with their mum as only just over one week old). I posted while back as Tony had got in with girls - hence castration.
Tony passed away an hour ago when I was trying to get hold of an emergency vet. I felt underneath and has hard lump near castration area. I don’t understand how the vet didn’t pick up on anything (all the vets in the vet hospital look incredibly young I have to say!)
I’m distraught as now not only have we lost our lovely boy but wee Titan (4 weeks old) is now in his own 😢
Any advice about what to do? Will he be ok on his own until I can remove one of the other babies from mum? He was only with Tony a week but I’m expecting he will suffer from bereavement?
 
I’m so sorry you lost Tony. The lump/whatever complications may have developed after the surgery and not before.

I would put Titan right next to the others so he has that company that he’ll be craving. How many of the other litter are boars? Would you consider getting him his own companion? If you have more than two boars in the mum’s cage, you could pair two up and neuter the third. I know you’ve had a bad experience however it is something you can consider again.

Wishing you all the best and take care of yourself ❤️
 
Oh no that’s so sad. I’m so sorry for your loss. Titan is very young to be alone. Put his cage as close as you can to the other piggies so he can get his interaction with them. Make sure he can’t get in with the females. That should be ok until the baby boys are ready to leave mum. Hopefully you’ll have an even number of boys so they can live in pairs. Good luck.
 
Thanks. I have moved Titans cage next to the girls big enclosure. They have two level 6x3 c&c but he is in the largest pet one (temporary home). So now there is lots of squeaking and Titan rumbling for first time! The girls are all very excited and poking noses at him. Good idea, thanks. That will certainly take his mind off the loss!
I was hoping to keep the huge cage as one herd with Tony neutered. Now I’m not sure what to do. Three of the other litter are male.
 
I mean I could use top level for two boars but as it’s not as wide (6x2) as bottom level the boys would be able to see and presumably smell girls - wouldn’t that drive them crazy?
 
I’m so sorry for your loss.

So with four boars in total, you will have the ability to have two separate boar pairs.
You will need three cages - the sows altogether in one, and then two separate cages for each boar pair.
Boars who grow up around sows tend to be less affected by pheromones But it is still a risk. The biggest problem comes from adding sows into a room which had previously only been the boars home.
Stacking cages and having the sows at the bottom and boars at the top is the best way to keep a boar pair and sows in the same room.
What will you do with the other boar pair? A three level cage, I would think, would be difficult to manage. The second boar pair would ideally need to be kept as far away from the girls as possible, with a divider which is a higher and wider so they don’t smell them as easily
A 5x2 (or bigger) is the recommended size for a boar pair.

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
 
I think I might try and rehome one pair. If I can’t rehome I’ll put in cage other side of room). So I could keep two boys on top of girls? Or I have to keep them far apart? But confused.
 
GarterSnake said:
I think I might try and rehome one pair. If I can’t rehome I’ll put in cage other side of room). So I could keep two boys on top of girls? Or I have to keep them far apart? But confused.
Click to expand...

Yes you can stack the boys cage on top of the girls cage long term. That is quite fine to do.
Its only if you can’t stack cages that you should keep boar pairs as far away from girls as possible. So second boar pair, if you can’t rehome, would be best away from the girls particularly once hormones start
(or moving both boar pair cages well away from the girls - so girls one side of the room, all boar pairs the other side (with the boys cages stacked if you need to save space)
 
GarterSnake said:
Hello

I’ve been up all night with Tony our neutered male. He was castrated over two weeks ago and post op checks went well. He was making strange noises a few days ago and I thought he was in pain
So back to the vet who said wound site looked good but gave me more pain meds.
Tony was in with a baby boy from a whoops litter (other babies were 3 girls and they are in with mum - we also have another litter but they are in with their mum as only just over one week old). I posted while back as Tony had got in with girls - hence castration.
Tony passed away an hour ago when I was trying to get hold of an emergency vet. I felt underneath and has hard lump near castration area. I don’t understand how the vet didn’t pick up on anything (all the vets in the vet hospital look incredibly young I have to say!)
I’m distraught as now not only have we lost our lovely boy but wee Titan (4 weeks old) is now in his own 😢
Any advice about what to do? Will he be ok on his own until I can remove one of the other babies from mum? He was only with Tony a week but I’m expecting he will suffer from bereavement?
Click to expand...

Hi!

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry that it has gone all haywire for poor Tony. :(

Please be aware that abscesses and many other lumps can blow up very quickly and can triple or quadruple in size in a matter of a day or just hours. it can be a quite frightening experience. The staff haven't missed anything when they did their check because there wasn't anything really noticeable. Only a post mortem examination at the vet's will tell you what exactly has gone wrong.
Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and a successful recovery example (Contains a chapter on common post-op complications)

Please take the time to read our grieving guide, which will hopefully help you understand all the various strong emotions and moods you are currently experiencing and will have to go through in the coming days and weeks, as well as helpful advice and support links: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I can't add anything to the practical advice for your boar arrangements.
 
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