Considering Getting A Mate....

[animal-lover85]

Hello everyone

I have a male guinea pig about 6 months and when I got him at 3 months his was shy and scared as to be expected, but we got to the stage where we could watch tv together for a couple of hours and it was lovely time.

Then when he was about 4 month he got ear mites and an ear infection at the same time so I didn't want to over crowed him so didn't handle him as much till he got better, then I got a bad cold so didn't want to spread it and it was on a couple off week altogether but new I find it hard to handle him, I'm lucky if we make 15 minutes. I try this several times a day but he bites my clothes and rages then and often catches my skin.

I went to the vets today to get his nails cliped for the first time as I've tried and all I get is bitten and ask the nurse about his biting and she recomends I get him a friend, I don't think he's lonely he popcorn so all over the place and doesn't show signs he,s depressed. I did consider getting 2 when I got him, I'm worried if I got another one he would bite him too.

Sorry for the long post.

Donna

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone

I have a male guinea pig about 6 months and when I got him at 3 months his was shy and scared as to be expected, but we got to the stage where we could watch tv together for a couple of hours and it was lovely time.

Then when he was about 4 month he got ear mites and an ear infection at the same time so I didn't want to over crowed him so didn't handle him as much till he got better, then I got a bad cold so didn't want to spread it and it was on a couple off week altogether but new I find it hard to handle him, I'm lucky if we make 15 minutes. I try this several times a day but he bites my clothes and rages then and often catches my skin.

I went to the vets today to get his nails cliped for the first time as I've tried and all I get is bitten and ask the nurse about his biting and she recomends I get him a friend, I don't think he's lonely he popcorn so all over the place and doesn't show signs he,s depressed. I did consider getting 2 when I got him, I'm worried if I got another one he would bite him too.

Sorry for the long post.

Donna

Any guinea pig should have the choice to decide by itself whether it wants a companion or not. Very few guinea pigs are actually unbondable; even the vast majority of those will enjoy nextdoor piggy company. As a human with your own life, you simply cannot give your piggy the constant social stimulation for the 4-7 years that are the normal life expectancy of a healty guinea pig and he has to spend a lot of his time on his own in - what amounts to him - isolation. Getting a friend doesn't mean that your bond will be broken, but you will gain a lot of joy in watching the vocal interaction that makes guinea pigs so unique.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/companionship.37654/
As to the biting, you may find this thread here interesting. Your boy has likely bitten in defense, feeling very threatened in a place and a situation he was not familiar with.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/
Please contact Milhaven Guinea Pig rescue in Keighley. They offer boar dating under expert supervision at the rescue, so you and your boy come home only with a boarmate if there has been success at minimal risk for you of ending up with two boars that don't get on and the rescue to fall back for the whole life of their piggies.
The key to any successful boar bond is character compatibility. You cannot achieve that by just buying him a companion and expecting the two to get on. I can personally recommend Milhaven most warmly; I have adopted three piggies from there and have visited myself, despite the distance. It is one of the best run small rescues in the country by somebody who cares a lot and knows what they are doing. A number of forum members have successfully found a new boarmate for their own bereaved or fallen out boars there.
Our recommended good standard guinea pig rescue locator: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/

Alternatively, you could consider neutering with a good vet, so he could live with a girl or two; he is now old enough for that operation. You would have to factor in a full 6 weeks post op wait until he is 100% safe to go with girls - again, dating at the rescue will ensure that the choice of mates will be his choice for the sake of a happier companionship.
Cross gender bonds are the most stable of all piggy bondings, so it is worth thinking things through. The key is in finding a piggy savvy with either lots of experience in guinea pig neutering or an exotics vet with lots of practice in operating on small furries to minimise any risk of complications.
Here is our UK piggy savvy vet locator: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

 

[animal-lover85]

Thank you for your reply I think I will defiantly look into adopting, I have emailed the rescue centre you recommend about boar dating,

Thank again
Donna

 

[Wiebke]

Best of luck!

 

[rosie and bramble]

Great that you have come for advice and are taking it on board. You will be surprised at how lonely your guinea is with him showing it. He will be so much happier once he has a friend.

It is even better that you are willing to rescue too, not only to find a healthy and well bonded friend for your piggy but you are also giving a forever home to another piggy who never asked to be unwanted, it is very rewarding

Good luck