Beans Is Struggling Without Toast

Kirsteen says that would be ok. The best days for that would be a Sunday or a Monday. As she's closed to the public then so there is more space to put up a pen area.
 
Julie M said:
Kirsteen says that would be ok. The best days for that would be a Sunday or a Monday. As she's closed to the public then so there is more space to put up a pen area.
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Thank you so much. I'm going to get Beans vet checked first incase she's got any illnesses coming on x
 
I'm sorry to hear about your loss, after losing my Elsa a couple of weeks ago, I know how difficult it is. Elsa left behind Sven who we tried to bond with two guinea pigs but she decided she didn't want to live with anyone else so is living next door to them.

I just wanted to try and reassure you that if Beans doesn't want to live with another pig, there are other options. We also didn't feel ready for another guinea pig but adopting Lily and Rosie has brought us back to life too. So even if Beans is ready for another friend but you're not, I'm sure that you will bond with another guinea pig over time.

No one can replace the guinea pigs that we lose but I'm sure that you have lots of love to give to a new friend for Beans.

I hope everything works out for you both
 
I am so sorry to hear that Beans is struggling.
I think you are doing an amazing job taking care of her and putting her interests first.

I also fully understand you not wanting to get another piggy so soon after loosing Toast, but remember you would in no way be replacing Toast.
Maybe an option would be to foster a piggy (or pair of piggies) for the rescue as companions for Beans.
Then you always have the option to return them at a later date if you feel you need to.
This is actually quite a common practice in Switzerland where you are able to take on 'loan' piggies to keep a singe one company, but when the older piggy passes you can return the loan piggy so you can have a break if you need to.
It means older piggies do not have to be alone, but owners are not forced to keep taking on young piggies.

Good luck sorting everything out.
Sending gentle hugs for you and Beans.
 
Thank you to everyone for all your ideas and advice, Beans is doing better this morning. When I got up I expected her to be sitting in a corner again but when I opened the cage door she shot out into the kitchen to sit by the fridge for her veg to "fall out", as was her and Toast's morning routine.

I think it may have been me changing the fleece on Saturday night that set her back. It obviously had to be done at some point but it was after that that she really was pining even more.

I'm still going to get her vet checked (hopefully for tomorrow) though just to be sure. I didn't want to get any more pigs so soon because losing Toast has absolutely broken me, I don't know how people with several pigs go through that, but if Beans doesn't seem to adjust then I will. She's an old pig who is slowing down but I don't want her to be lonely.
 
Well done guys you could have turned the corner a little. I wish I could help as you missing Toast so much You all are but I promise time mends. It hurts and always will but we learn to live with it. x Bless love the fall out veg. x
 
I really feel for you and your little furry, it's so hard when one is left on their own :(

I lost Tilly last October and Hettie was initially very quiet but still eating. As time went on, she seemed happy enough and I really couldn't face adopting another.

However, a few months ago I knew the time was right and we adopted Colin. Hettie is definately more piggie like now Colin is here!

Take it day by day before rushing into any decision. I do, however, agree that if she is going downhill, then adopting a piggie from anywhere would be absolutely fine. Sometimes a petshop is the only quick fix answer xx
 
*kate* said:
I really feel for you and your little furry, it's so hard when one is left on their own :(

I lost Tilly last October and Hettie was initially very quiet but still eating. As time went on, she seemed happy enough and I really couldn't face adopting another.

However, a few months ago I knew the time was right and we adopted Colin. Hettie is definately more piggie like now Colin is here!

Take it day by day before rushing into any decision. I do, however, agree that if she is going downhill, then adopting a piggie from anywhere would be absolutely fine. Sometimes a petshop is the only quick fix answer xx
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How old is Tilly? Beans is spayed so could go with a full boar, but she gets very stressed out being mounted- Toast used to try it. What made you think it was time to get another pig? X
 
Beans&Toast said:
How old is Tilly? Beans is spayed so could go with a full boar, but she gets very stressed out being mounted- Toast used to try it. What made you think it was time to get another pig? X
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It was Tilly I lost, Hettie is about 4. I decided to get another piggie as, although Hettie was fine, she just didn't do much. When Tilly was alive they would just mooch about doing piggie type things and I realised that Hettie would enjoy doing that again.

I was expecting Colin to mount Hettie, at least during the early days, but he has never once tried to!
 
I'm so sorry for your loss! It sounds like Beans is grieving... it can take some time and some pigs grieve harder than others. For my pairs, the less dominant pig seemed to take the losses harder. I know Sundae was really distressed when Linney passed. Some of my pigs were just quieter and less active than they had been, but I did see a change of behavior each time.
 
Beans had a check over at the vets today, her teeth are fine and no sign of any URI or anything like that. After 7 days of being "off" and not wanting to do anything she's back into herself - running about and munching, although she is more jumpy than she was before. Beans was always adventurous and self sufficient, shes a bit more cautious now that she's lost Toast.
Thanks to everyone for all your support and advice x
 
Oh beans. Kath and I are pls you gettin better. You more than most missing Toast and it's not easy little one. Keep well and show us piggie slaves how to get going. xx
 
oh our little piggies can be such a worry! So glad Beans is back to being herself, don't like to think of the poor little girl being lonely and sad x
 
So a couple of weeks on Beans is coping without Toast, but I'm so worried that she's bored or lonely. She walks about the cage munching but not as much as she used to with Toast.

She's about 6 so she's old and has bad arthritis so part of me thinks she may not be here for a lot longer (I know that sounds horrible) but then I'm also thinking she could very well live another year or so, I'd hate for her to be on her own that long as I'm sure if she had a choice she'd like some company.

The problem is, if I get another pig surely I'll just be stuck in a constant cycle of getting more pigs? Someone mentioned fostering but I know I'd end up getting attached and wouldn't be able to send any pigs back.

What does everyone do in these situations?
 
Hi. sorry my updates sometimes dont pop up. I know what you mean in cycle. I'm sure if you have a good look at Beans and together you make that choice. x Sorry if that's no help but you know more than anyone on planet earth what she needs and wants. x
 
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Succession planning is so hard. It depends what you want long term. If keeping piggies forever isn't in your plans, then I understand your reluctance. Keeping a pair is always a problem when one passes. A trio or larger makes it less of a problem. (I've currently bonded Mabel into a trio with Holly and Poppy). If you do plan to continue keep piggies then perhaps consider getting a pair, so that they will still have each other when Beans passes.
As for fostering, I'm not sure what rescues there are near to you. But most rescues have a provision in their adoption policy that if you decided not to keep a piggy for whatever reason that you return the piggy to that rescue. So if you were to adopt you would almost certainly be able to return that piggy to the rescue as and when Beans passes.
I'm not sure that's much help, but only you know how you feel, and what your future holds.
Hugs to you and Beans xx
 
VickiA said:
Succession planning is so hard. It depends what you want long term. If keeping piggies forever isn't in your plans, then I understand your reluctance. Keeping a pair is always a problem when one passes. A trio or larger makes it less of a problem. (I've currently bonded Mabel into a trio with Holly and Poppy). If you do plan to continue keep piggies then perhaps consider getting a pair, so that they will still have each other when Beans passes.
As for fostering, I'm not sure what rescues there are near to you. But most rescues have a provision in their adoption policy that if you decided not to keep a piggy for whatever reason that you return the piggy to that rescue. So if you were to adopt you would almost certainly be able to return that piggy to the rescue as and when Beans passes.
I'm not sure that's much help, but only you know how you feel, and what your future holds.
Hugs to you and Beans xx
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Yes that's what happens at Ayr's Guinea pig rescue. If you can no longer keep a guinea pig you've adopted then you return them to the centre.
Hope Beans is doing better.
 
Thanks again everyone.

Beans is managing on her own now, She's out and about and exploring during the day but she's just not been the same since losing Toast. I don't know how to describe it but she's just lost something.

I was reluctant to get more pigs because I'm still struggling myself to deal with losing Toast and I know this sounds silly but I don't want her to think I've replaced her.

I do think I'd like to get more pigs, especially for Beans to have company. She is managing on her own, doesn't act like she's lonely but I know she'd like friends.
 
It's the exact same problem as me when I lost Biscuit about 2 months ago I found it so hard Chippy still eats and comes up to me but he's not the same he doesn't play as much or come out of the bedroom area for more than a few minutes and if I go to touch him he runs into the bedroom area but come out again all sad and droopy its like he's lost his flare.
Lots of hugs
 
Hugs! I was reluctant to find Bramble a new friend too, she was doing ok and I didnt want to trigger her issues again with the stress of bonding but honestly, she has come out of herself, shes a new pig since Ebony came along. Luckily Bramble is still young although ive no guarentee on her life span with all her problems, but I dont plan to be without piggies for a long, long time so the cycle wouldnt be too much of an issue. That being said, it could also have gone awfully and ended up with an extra cage!
I hated feeling like I was replacing Blackberry..the way I looked at it was there was extra love needing to go somewhere, I'm sure the ones we've lost would prefer we spent our time loving another pig than being sad about their loss. Especially with so many piggers needing a good home.

I hope you manage to figure out what will work best for you and little Toast.
 
If you would still like piggies in the future then perhaps consider rehoming a young pair of girls so that you will be left with a pair the same age when your senior piggy passes on x
 
Misty said:
It's the exact same problem as me when I lost Biscuit about 2 months ago I found it so hard Chippy still eats and comes up to me but he's not the same he doesn't play as much or come out of the bedroom area for more than a few minutes and if I go to touch him he runs into the bedroom area but come out again all sad and droopy its like he's lost his flare.
Lots of hugs
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It's so horrible isn't it. Are you planning on getting more? X
 
Eriathwen said:
Hugs! I was reluctant to find Bramble a new friend too, she was doing ok and I didnt want to trigger her issues again with the stress of bonding but honestly, she has come out of herself, shes a new pig since Ebony came along. Luckily Bramble is still young although ive no guarentee on her life span with all her problems, but I dont plan to be without piggies for a long, long time so the cycle wouldnt be too much of an issue. That being said, it could also have gone awfully and ended up with an extra cage!
I hated feeling like I was replacing Blackberry..the way I looked at it was there was extra love needing to go somewhere, I'm sure the ones we've lost would prefer we spent our time loving another pig than being sad about their loss. Especially with so many piggers needing a good home.

I hope you manage to figure out what will work best for you and little Toast.
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Thank you so much. That's the way I'm trying to look at it - no matter how much I love Toast, I can still love more piggies and it doesn't take away from her.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
If you would still like piggies in the future then perhaps consider rehoming a young pair of girls so that you will be left with a pair the same age when your senior piggy passes on x
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I think that's what I'm going to do, get a pair from a rescue. I'm not sure about young ones though as Beans naps a lot and likes her sleep, I'm not sure if young pigs would stress her being so jumpy and active? X
 
Maybe, it's just that Beans would be the dominant pig straight off that way, but I would ask a Rescue what they think, or ask Wiebke later, as she is busy doing cakes for TEAs open day today so she might not be around much until tomorrow. Could you have a set up with Beans next to a pair instead, so she can see & hear them? xx
 
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