LucyP
Forum Donator 2024/25
Hi all
As some of you know, we very sadly and unexpectedly lost our deeply loved piggy Betty on Sunday night, the whole thing was very traumatic and we are still inconsolable and feeling terrible about that. At the same time we need to think of Winnie who is now a single pig. She has not been eating normally and is definitely not herself. We're coaxing her with whatever hay, forage, nuggets or veg she can manage (she has interest momentarily, but not as sustained as normal) and we are syringe feeding her every 3-4 hours including in the night. She's just about maintaining weight but is clearly not happy. When we found Betty collapsed on Sunday morning we rushed her to the vets and we are not sure exactly how aware Winnie was of how ill Betty had become. Winnie has been alone ever since, so we are now on day 4 of Winnie being alone. I'm not sure at what point she realises that Betty isn't coming back and how that feels for her, we're worried she's anxious as she did rely on Betty as the confident one when times are tough. It's so sad seeing her alone and quiet.
I've contacted lots of rescues in the last couple of days. Ideally we want one who can help us with dating, esp as some of them are not local and the idea of bringing one back that doesn't work out and taking them back and forth doesn't sound great for the pigs. But we just want to find her the right friend. I've read all the guides and I think/hope that Winnie is not quite as bad as 'acute pining' but at what point should we be worried and step up from our current mission with the rescues, to just trying to find her an immediate friend from anywhere? We really don't want to go down the pet shop route as we are pro rescue for all the usual reasons but mostly we just don't want her to go downhill. Maybe this is still too early to panic? It's hard to think straight at the moment.
Many thanks
Lucy
As some of you know, we very sadly and unexpectedly lost our deeply loved piggy Betty on Sunday night, the whole thing was very traumatic and we are still inconsolable and feeling terrible about that. At the same time we need to think of Winnie who is now a single pig. She has not been eating normally and is definitely not herself. We're coaxing her with whatever hay, forage, nuggets or veg she can manage (she has interest momentarily, but not as sustained as normal) and we are syringe feeding her every 3-4 hours including in the night. She's just about maintaining weight but is clearly not happy. When we found Betty collapsed on Sunday morning we rushed her to the vets and we are not sure exactly how aware Winnie was of how ill Betty had become. Winnie has been alone ever since, so we are now on day 4 of Winnie being alone. I'm not sure at what point she realises that Betty isn't coming back and how that feels for her, we're worried she's anxious as she did rely on Betty as the confident one when times are tough. It's so sad seeing her alone and quiet.
I've contacted lots of rescues in the last couple of days. Ideally we want one who can help us with dating, esp as some of them are not local and the idea of bringing one back that doesn't work out and taking them back and forth doesn't sound great for the pigs. But we just want to find her the right friend. I've read all the guides and I think/hope that Winnie is not quite as bad as 'acute pining' but at what point should we be worried and step up from our current mission with the rescues, to just trying to find her an immediate friend from anywhere? We really don't want to go down the pet shop route as we are pro rescue for all the usual reasons but mostly we just don't want her to go downhill. Maybe this is still too early to panic? It's hard to think straight at the moment.
Many thanks
Lucy