Grieving guinea pig?

[jocelynclarke]

I wrote a post on Wednesday that one of my guinea pigs sadly passed due to cancer.

We had two boys which has left us with one (both males) and at first my guinea pig was fine. He was a little bit jittery but he has been interacting and eating normally.

I took him to the vets yesterday for a check up which they said he was fine and perfectly healthy and I have also been keeping an eye on his food but now he seems to be withdrawing from eating and hiding away.

After the vets I did buy some toys and redid his cage just to make it more fun for him so he wouldn’t be so bored.

We are looking to get another guinea pig but want to do our research before it as we are first time oweners - any tips on how we can cheer our little guinea pig up in the mean time?

 

[Lady Kelly]

Aww bless him it does sound like he is starting to grieve more now. You need to keep a close eye on him because if he starts to eat less then your need to find him a companion will become more urgent. I hope he continues to do well

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry you lost one of your piggies x He really needs a new companion, you could enquire about boar dating service at one of the rescues. Here is a link of recommend rescues, I don’t know if you live near any but that way he can choose a friend. There will be lots of piggies looking for a forever home, especially after Christmas
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

 

[Wiebke]

I wrote a post on Wednesday that one of my guinea pigs sadly passed due to cancer.

We had two boys which has left us with one (both males) and at first my guinea pig was fine. He was a little bit jittery but he has been interacting and eating normally.

I took him to the vets yesterday for a check up which they said he was fine and perfectly healthy and I have also been keeping an eye on his food but now he seems to be withdrawing from eating and hiding away.

After the vets I did buy some toys and redid his cage just to make it more fun for him so he wouldn’t be so bored.

We are looking to get another guinea pig but want to do our research before it as we are first time oweners - any tips on how we can cheer our little guinea pig up in the mean time?

Hi!

The best way to find a character compatible companion of your boy's own choice is by setting up a rescue date at one of our recommended high standard as soon as possible; most of them offer boar dating for single, fallen-out and bereaved boars. Ideally you contact all rescues you have within your reach, as it very much depends on what piggies they have in rescue at the time.
Our recommended rescues all have a mandatory quarantine/vet care so you can be assured that you adopt a healthy and properly sexed boar and avoid all the usual pitfalls.

Unfortunately for you, you have the bad luck that you have a piggy that is not coping well on their own. With an acutely depressed boy, you do not have the luxury of waiting for long. It is the situation when your own desires and your piggy's needs are as far away from each other as they will ever be. Toys and extra attention etc. cannot replace the round the clock company and stimulation that he so badly misses.

Our bereavement guide tells you what you can do. It also contains lists of recommended rescues for several countries.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

If you decide to rescue privately or from a place without quarantining/vet care and without dating, then you have to have a plan B at the ready in case the boys don't click (i.e. a living alongside set-up with full body interaction though the bars) and you have to heed the tips in this guide here, as there are no guarantees as what else with and in which state the new piggies arrives: What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

 

[jocelynclarke]

Thanks everyone - unfortunately we aren’t close to any of these rescues which are listed, we would like to bring him to meet our New Guinea pig before we take him home though - can this not be done in say the adoption part of pets at home or something?I would really like to adopt one.

As for Cookie’s behaviour. He has always been quite dominant with his physical behaviour so I was weary that if we introduce him to a smaller guinea pig that he might be a little aggressive? And if we got an older one he would put up a fight to be dominant, he’s a great piggy but loves to be in charge!