Bereaved Question

[fueloficarus]

Hello all. New here. Yes, I read the above threads, but as you all know when this happens you still have to ask.

So, we lost a pig yesterday. Truffles. He died very quickly, as did his brother (actual brother, from the same litter, who passed away about 4 months ago). They were bought from a pet store, as none of the local breeders were expecting anything for months when we started looking. Truffles died within a space of ten minutes. I fed him hay, and he started popcorning, then I came upstairs and found him just laying on his side. I was in shock, he was vibrant and healthy. He was surly, but lovable. Our oldest and longest lap-sitter.

We had two bonded pairs, Truffles/Cam in the top cage and Hermes/Stu in the lower (big-ish cages, at 14sq feet). They all intermingled a bit, but Truffles/Cam really never liked Hermes, and Truffles and Hermes had a bad spat when they first got together, wherein Hermes was pretty badly cut on the nose and behind the ear. After that Hermes was outcast, so we got Stu, who Hermes loves immensely and who is getting huge (he may take over as leader, unless he remains docile and fearful). Now, after a while Truffles actually started tolerating Hermes if they happened to be out for a few moments together (cage cleaning, sometimes they jump the small unfolding cages we keep them in when we gut everything). Cam never seemed to care either way.

Well Cam is destroying his cage since Truffles. He IS eating, not much drinking (it's hard , and pooping. But he's definitely searching. I sometimes see him laying with his head down in the spot Truffles died. I know it's only been a day, but I want to be prepared. Before it was just "Yeah, we're going to get him some new friends." Now, I'm out of work due to injury. I'm receiving insurance checks, but I'm waiting on a procedure to go back to work. Buying or adopting another is impossible right now.

Now, here's the rub, and I'm sorry this has gone on so long, but Hermes' cage mate Stu and Cam love each other. They chirp at each other through the cages, and when on the floor always play. But if Hermes isn't there too he's squeaking his head off, like he's worried he'll lose his friend. So putting Stu up to comfort Cam for a bit seems to be traumatic for Hermes, but Cam alone is clearly freaking out. He NEVER tore up the cage before.

In summary: I need to know just how long Cam should and can be alone, and just how much damage I can cause to Hermes/Stu's relationship if I let Stu see Cam once in a while.

And I need a tissue. Also one of those.

 

[DM030819]

*hands you a tissue* I lost my boar on Monday so I have a big supply of tissues.

Stu seeing Cam will very likely mess up his relationship with Hermes so I probably wouldn't recommend it, but you know your boys better than I so go ahead if you think it's best.

The options I would think over are:
1) try going for a trio. But you run the risk then of Stu and Hermes falling out.
2) swap Stu in to live with Cam. But then Hermes will be alone, would he deal with being alone for a while okay

I've had pigs grieve for upto a week, searching for their friend. Keep an eye on him and weigh him often to make sure he's eating.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello all. New here. Yes, I read the above threads, but as you all know when this happens you still have to ask.

So, we lost a pig yesterday. Truffles. He died very quickly, as did his brother (actual brother, from the same litter, who passed away about 4 months ago). They were bought from a pet store, as none of the local breeders were expecting anything for months when we started looking. Truffles died within a space of ten minutes. I fed him hay, and he started popcorning, then I came upstairs and found him just laying on his side. I was in shock, he was vibrant and healthy. He was surly, but lovable. Our oldest and longest lap-sitter.

We had two bonded pairs, Truffles/Cam in the top cage and Hermes/Stu in the lower (big-ish cages, at 14sq feet). They all intermingled a bit, but Truffles/Cam really never liked Hermes, and Truffles and Hermes had a bad spat when they first got together, wherein Hermes was pretty badly cut on the nose and behind the ear. After that Hermes was outcast, so we got Stu, who Hermes loves immensely and who is getting huge (he may take over as leader, unless he remains docile and fearful). Now, after a while Truffles actually started tolerating Hermes if they happened to be out for a few moments together (cage cleaning, sometimes they jump the small unfolding cages we keep them in when we gut everything). Cam never seemed to care either way.

Well Cam is destroying his cage since Truffles. He IS eating, not much drinking (it's hard , and pooping. But he's definitely searching. I sometimes see him laying with his head down in the spot Truffles died. I know it's only been a day, but I want to be prepared. Before it was just "Yeah, we're going to get him some new friends." Now, I'm out of work due to injury. I'm receiving insurance checks, but I'm waiting on a procedure to go back to work. Buying or adopting another is impossible right now.

Now, here's the rub, and I'm sorry this has gone on so long, but Hermes' cage mate Stu and Cam love each other. They chirp at each other through the cages, and when on the floor always play. But if Hermes isn't there too he's squeaking his head off, like he's worried he'll lose his friend. So putting Stu up to comfort Cam for a bit seems to be traumatic for Hermes, but Cam alone is clearly freaking out. He NEVER tore up the cage before.

In summary: I need to know just how long Cam should and can be alone, and just how much damage I can cause to Hermes/Stu's relationship if I let Stu see Cam once in a while.

And I need a tissue. Also one of those.

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss. it sounds like a stroke or heart attack, which can happen out of the blue at any time in the life to seemingly health guinea pigs.

Please try to find Cam a new little boarfriend and leave your well bonded pair alone. For the time being, rather push the two cage next to each other to give Cam company and stimulation. A sudden death can really upset the companions; like humans, they can react very differently. let Cam see his dead friend and take his leave from him if that is still possible.

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can help you most efficiently. We have got members from all world; our recommendations can vary quite enormously accordingly. Click on your username on the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear below your username in every post you make. Thank you!

 

[fueloficarus]

The cages are stacked, so that's not possible, but we let them run a lot and he can see the others when he's on the floor (they're on the bottom cage). I had a feeling trying for a trio wasn't going to work, and it's very clearly not going to. Stu and Cam love each other, but it's horrible for Hermes. I think I'm just going to have to wait a few days and try to rescue another boar. He's not drinking much, if anything, but he is eating vegetables I give him. Not so much on the solid food. I'm weighing him and recording the weight in a little book, I'll do it at the same time every day. If he hasn't drank anything by this evening I intend to give him water with the syringes we have just for this (we keep meds and supplies on hand, just in case, as any pet owner should do IMHO).

Thank you so much for the reply, and I'm Stateside actually. Southeastern North Carolina.


OH! AS I'm typing this he's going to his food bowl :-D Omg that brings tears to my eyes...