Can I Get A New Piggie?

[rinlalin]

hello all!

my piggie bootsy is in quarantine right now being cared for by staff for a URI. he's going to be there for at least another week. i was planning on getting new, dust free bedding, hides and some toys PLUS a new piggie for when he gets back.

can i get another piggie today? should i wait until bootsy is back from the vet? the reason i wanted to get him today is every baby i've got (two, so far) from this litter had a URI within 3-4 days. i was thinking if i wait until bootsy is back, and i get another one the same day, what if the new one has a URI from that litter and gives it back to him? then i have to take both of them to the vet. it sounds easier to get the new piggie now, make sure it's healthy, and take it to the vet if needed BEFORE bootsy is back in my care.

on the other hand, would that make it so the new piggie is aggressive towards bootsy? he's much younger (2 weeks younger at least), half the size of the piggie i want to get, and i'm afraid if this one is alone for a week, and i suddenly bring bootsy home to a new cage (we got rid of the other one) with a new piggie in it, he will be targeted by the other piggie because it might be territorial?

i wanted advice from you guys, can i do it today? should i wait? do i have to wait?

thanks in advance! much love.

 

[rinlalin]

hello all!

my piggie bootsy is in quarantine right now being cared for by staff for a URI. he's going to be there for at least another week. i was planning on getting new, dust free bedding, hides and some toys PLUS a new piggie for when he gets back.

can i get another piggie today? should i wait until bootsy is back from the vet? the reason i wanted to get him today is every baby i've got (two, so far) from this litter had a URI within 3-4 days. i was thinking if i wait until bootsy is back, and i get another one the same day, what if the new one has a URI from that litter and gives it back to him? then i have to take both of them to the vet. it sounds easier to get the new piggie now, make sure it's healthy, and take it to the vet if needed BEFORE bootsy is back in my care.

on the other hand, would that make it so the new piggie is aggressive towards bootsy? he's much younger (2 weeks younger at least), half the size of the piggie i want to get, and i'm afraid if this one is alone for a week, and i suddenly bring bootsy home to a new cage (we got rid of the other one) with a new piggie in it, he will be targeted by the other piggie because it might be territorial?

i wanted advice from you guys, can i do it today? should i wait? do i have to wait?

thanks in advance! much love.

i forgot to mention the first piggie i got from the same litter (they're all housed in the same cage) died from pnuemonia a week after i got him. and then this piggie, bootsy, has a URI. so both piggies i got have been sick.

 

[rinlalin]

hello all!

my piggie bootsy is in quarantine right now being cared for by staff for a URI. he's going to be there for at least another week. i was planning on getting new, dust free bedding, hides and some toys PLUS a new piggie for when he gets back.

can i get another piggie today? should i wait until bootsy is back from the vet? the reason i wanted to get him today is every baby i've got (two, so far) from this litter had a URI within 3-4 days. i was thinking if i wait until bootsy is back, and i get another one the same day, what if the new one has a URI from that litter and gives it back to him? then i have to take both of them to the vet. it sounds easier to get the new piggie now, make sure it's healthy, and take it to the vet if needed BEFORE bootsy is back in my care.

on the other hand, would that make it so the new piggie is aggressive towards bootsy? he's much younger (2 weeks younger at least), half the size of the piggie i want to get, and i'm afraid if this one is alone for a week, and i suddenly bring bootsy home to a new cage (we got rid of the other one) with a new piggie in it, he will be targeted by the other piggie because it might be territorial?

i wanted advice from you guys, can i do it today? should i wait? do i have to wait?

thanks in advance! much love.

if someone could reply ASAP, that would be great. thanks!

 

[HeatherRose]

I think it would be ok to get a new one now, then follow the advice on here on how to introduce them when Bootsy comes home. There is a lot of good information on bonding and introducing guinea pigs in the behavior and bonding section here. Is there any other place you can get a guinea pig from that they will be healthier? I see you are in Ohio, I live in Kentucky, I got my 2 from Petland, although I don’t recommend there because they don’t separate males and females and I ended up with a pregnant one (I kept them all and now I have 5). I have heard bad things about Petsmart with their treatment of animals and a lot of illnesses there. Unfortunately, I think the closest rescue is in Virginia.

 

[guineapigss]

Sorry for your first loss but I think a new piggy now sounds great!