Death of my daughters guinea pig

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Francine atkinson

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Hello, I'm new to the forum.
My daughter's much loved guinea pig "billy" died last night, which has really upset her. We are now worried about her remaining guinea pig "jack", he is eating and drinking well.
My daughter cannot bring herself to think of getting another pig as advised by different people.
I really would like to know what would be best for Jack, and advice is much appreciated.
Thank you.
 
Francine atkinson said:
Hello, I'm new to the forum.
My daughter's much loved guinea pig "billy" died last night, which has really upset her. We are now worried about her remaining guinea pig "jack", he is eating and drinking well.
My daughter cannot bring herself to think of getting another pig as advised by different people.
I really would like to know what would be best for Jack, and advice is much appreciated.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss!

Please give your daughter time to digest what has happened before you push for a companion as long as Jack is OK in himself and is eating and drinking. Right now she is not yet open for what feels to her like replacing a broken toy with another one. A pet is always a unique relationship and should be honoured as such. Children feel that very acutely. A sudden death and loss are very frightening experiences, especially the first encounter with them!

She will hopefully be more open once this special relationship has been honoured and she has worked through the worst of her grief to eventually consent that Jack is very sad and needs a new friend for himself and not for her sake, and that she is not required to love or care for any new friend of Jack's but that she is welcome to be involved in the process of finding Jack a new friend of his own liking as much as she wishes to. But that is for some weeks down the line.

You are welcome to post a tribute to Billy in our Rainbow Bridge section if you feel that this would help your daughter at some point.

Here are our tips for what you can do for bereaved and single piggies as well as how you can support your daughter through the grieving process. The grieving guide contains a chapter on how you can best support your daughter with links to further resources.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Considerations for when the time has come find a new friend for Jack: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

I hope that these links will help you.
 
So very sorry for your loss.
I can’t add to what has already been said but want you to know that you and your daughter are held in my heart
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss!

Please give your daughter time to digest what has happened before you push for a companion as long as Jack is OK in himself and is eating and drinking. Right now she is not yet open for what feels to her like replacing a broken toy with another one. A pet is always a unique relationship and should be honoured as such. Children feel that very acutely. A sudden death and loss are very frightening experiences, especially the first encounter with them!

She will hopefully be more open once this special relationship has been honoured and she has worked through the worst of her grief to eventually consent that Jack is very sad and needs a new friend for himself and not for her sake, and that she is not required to love or care for any new friend of Jack's but that she is welcome to be involved in the process of finding Jack a new friend of his own liking as much as she wishes to. But that is for some weeks down the line.

You are welcome to post a tribute to Billy in our Rainbow Bridge section if you feel that this would help your daughter at some point.

Here are our tips for what you can do for bereaved and single piggies as well as how you can support your daughter through the grieving process. The grieving guide contains a chapter on how you can best support your daughter with links to further resources.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Considerations for when the time has come find a new friend for Jack: A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

I hope that these links will help you.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice, it's really appreciated.
 
I'm really sorry for your loss (and your daughter's loss.) I have kids do... going through the death of a pet with them has been hard at a variety of ages, so I feel for you there. You have two competing interests right now- doing what is best for Jack (which ideally is to find a friend) and allowing your daughter the space to grieve. The fact that Jack is still eating and drinking buys you some time, as he is not acutely pining away. Take the time to let your daughter grieve, to memorialize Billy in some way, whether with a funeral, with putting up a picture, etc. Emphasize that he was special, unique, loved, and not to be forgotten. After that you can discuss the idea that Jack will be happier with a new companion and that a new pet is not a replacement for a lost relationship, but a whole new family member to get to know on their own merits. There's a poem out there called A Dog's Last Will and Testament that sums this idea up... that your animal, if they were able to talk, would want to give their place with you to another animal in need so that they too could lead the happy life that they are leaving behind. And stress that even if they are not ready to get attached to a new guinea pig right now, that in time they will come to love a new addition in a way separate from the way they loved Billy. Remind her that you aren't replacing Billy, and maybe honor him in some way (when we got our first set of pigs, my kids gave them first and middle names under the rationale that people often have middle names, so guinea pigs can have them to. We have since been passing down those middle names onto our third generation of guinea pigs, so each has the same middle name as their immediate predecessor, as a way of honoring their memory. It's kind of nice.)

Again, so sorry for your loss. ((HUGS)) to you and your daughter.
 
I’m so sorry that you have joined under such sad circumstances. How old is Jack?
 
Hi Francine,

I understand your concerns, I am so sorry for your loss of Billy..speaking from experience, my daughter is 17 and still experiences grief, we all are it is very recent the death of our young Chara..our Roz that was the left behind piggy was eating and drinking as usual, but I was planning for a worse outcome as our poorly piggy had been seeing the vet for months for her URI..I just remind ourselves we had done all we could and she died a peaceful death in her cage next to her friend..I am still angry at being at work that day and missing my daughters calls, but luckily she took herself and her younger sister (10) to her grannies..

I gave it about two weeks, but I was expecting a poor outcome as I had taken Chara to the vets myself on the last visit, and got another round of antibiotics..they said we could book an x ray or pts on the next visit..awful as she started wheeking by then..throaty wheeks.

If your daughter is very young, you could say getting an adopted piggy would be a good thing because humans don't really speak piggy and like you and your daughter need someone to hug, or chat to..same goes for piggies?

Hugs to you all it's difficult x
 
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