Grieving Piggy

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*Nibbles&Nugget*

*Nibbles&Nugget*

Adult Guinea Pig
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I have dealt with grieving piggies before. Reluctantly eating, lying down and looking miserable, not squeaking that much. I know to give the a pet safe cuddle toy, to spend lots of time with them, clean out and bath them if needs be to remove scents of the one they are missing and I know ultimately they will probably need another friend.

However I have never had someone quite like Nacho, bearing in mind he is only five months. He stopped eating yesterday when Nutty wouldn't and just cuddled him instead. Now today, with no Nutty here, he is not eating or moving around or squeaking. I honestly thought he was ill so took him to the vets first thing. He has had a through check and is perfectly healthy. Maybe I am being a little jumpy but I had to be on the safe side.

He will take food if I hand feed him on my lap but it's terrifying how switched off this bouncy young baby pig is now. My other two piggies are very hormonal at the moment and their relationship is quite fragile so I can't risk putting him too near them. They are nearby so I think he can hear them at least.

I have no idea what to do. None of my other grieved so deeply or so quickly.

Please help

Amy
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Hi Amy, I'm so sorry for this to happen after your sad loss. It is essential to make sure that Nacho gets enough food even if you have to resort to syringe feeding. It would be best to weigh him daily as this is the only true indicator of whether he's getting enough. He may go back to eating normally after a few days but please make sure his eats enough food. If he has favourites maybe give him more of them. I hope he's back to normal eating soon, then it may be time to find him a new companion.
 
Hi there Amy, it is so sad when a piggie reacts in this way,

when you mention grieving to anybody they seem unable to understand that a Guinea pig is capable of this,

but like you I know only too well that some piggies respond very badly to the loss of a cage mate.

Personally I would never bathe them as you are not only removing the smell of the dead cage mate you are also removing the grieving piggies "own smell",( its identity if you like)

and a piggie that is already down on the dumps, I would imagine this would be quite traumatic, as their smell(identity) is one of their most important senses ! And losing this to my way of thinking will be adding to the problem

If your other piggies are hormonal and likely to too much for Nacho to handle, then I would strongly suggest that you put him in A divided cage cage (a wire partition down the centre) so that he can see and smell the others, while being safely on the other side of the divide!

This technique has saved a couple of my piggies that for one reason or another were not suitable to "immediately" put with another mate.

I really hope it works for poor Nacho
 
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I have selective science syringe food and critical care from Nutty. I've put it on a spoon and he is reluctantly eating it. I weigh them every other day but as I'm concerned I will be weighing him every day now.

I am praying he will perk up soon. I don't know if I am ready for another guinea pig just yet. If he needs it soon, I will find him a friend but I need some time to process.

Amy
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When you are ready to get him a friend, try a rescue that will allow you to take him in to date prospective companions. It's much better than buying one or adopting one & finding out they don't get on.
 
Someone handed in a grieving piggy to me on sunday, he was off his food and lethargic and quiet, they didn't want to get another piggy so contacted me. He had been like it a few days but within half an hour of being here and hearing other guinea pigs he had perked up, so I think gizzy is right regards putting Nacho near the other boys even if he can't see them but can hear them, it will let him know he is not on his own :)
 
I've got my brother to help me move the piggies. Basil is rumbling at the bars nearest Nacho and being a bit grumpy already. I'm hoping he'll settle down. Nacho isn't responding to them just yet.

Amy
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I agree with all the above advice and if you can give him more lap time with nibbles I'm sure he will come round.
 
Dindypig said:
I agree with all the above advice and if you can give him more lap time with nibbles I'm sure he will come round.
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Nibbles passed away 3 months ago. Which is partly why I believe Nutty was so fragile. Two piggies in a short space of time, I'm heartbroken.

Amy
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You were right to take him to the vet Amy, especially as Nutty died from a respiratory infection. I agree that he needs to be near other pigs but he needs a time of quarantine before being introduced to a new friend to ensure that he doesn't develop the same symptoms. Hopefully now he can hear the others he will perk up in time but you may need to carry on with the syringe feeding in the meantime. If you think he needs a boost give him some Metatone tonic, you can get it in the supermarket (human vitamin shelf) and it perks up run down pigs and helps stimulate their appetite. Dose is 0.5ml once a day for the first week and 0.3ml once a day for the second week. I would also give him lots of attention and cuddles.
 
I know how you feel it's awful to lose them and so hard to make the right decisions for the little one you have left.

Although they grieve deeply, piggies do recover from it quicker than us and are often ready for or would benefit from a new friend well before us hoomans feel able to do that for them. It makes it really hard. Suilven was frantic on Saturday when Donald died but has settled down over the past few days although he's very quiet. He's been spending most of the evening with us each day and will continue to do so until he has a new buddy again. At least he has the downstairs boys to chat with until then.

You are doing everything right, it just takes time and love and it may be that your little guy will benefit from a new friend even though you don't feel ready for it. It won't replace Nutty but it can make it easier for both of you to carry on.....
 
helen105281 said:
You were right to take him to the vet Amy, especially as Nutty died from a respiratory infection. I agree that he needs to be near other pigs but he needs a time of quarantine before being introduced to a new friend to ensure that he doesn't develop the same symptoms. Hopefully now he can hear the others he will perk up in time but you may need to carry on with the syringe feeding in the meantime. If you think he needs a boost give him some Metatone tonic, you can get it in the supermarket (human vitamin shelf) and it perks up run down pigs and helps stimulate their appetite. Dose is 0.5ml once a day for the first week and 0.3ml once a day for the second week. I would also give him lots of attention and cuddles.
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I am going to be quarantining him. I have everyone washing hands and keeping separate between the two cages, as they were with Nutty, and I'm doing a full big disinfect of every toy etc later. I actually have metatone tonic, I have no idea why, I'll definitely consider giving him some if he hasn't perked up in a few days.

Amy
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Hi there Amy, ? Nacho,s partner died of a respiratory infection,?

I didn't realize this, if this is the case then it would be wise to quarantine him

if I'm right in assuming your other to pig's are boars, then maybe if you know somebody who has a sow ,

this may sound a little bit strange mallethead

but ask them if you can have some of the sow's soiled bedding, (not to soiled lol) and sit Nacho, on it , the smell could pick up his spirits, as smell is a powerful motivator in the Guinea pig world
 
Poor little boy! His world has broken down!

I agree with Merrypip; hopefully, you can find him a new friend as soon as his quarantine is up. You will be amazed at the immediate change in him as soon as he has got company again!
 
I plan to quarantine him for around 2 weeks. Does anyone know the time a URI can lay dormant for? I am watching him like a hawk.

Amy
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Two weeks seems reasonable. I think most things would have shown themselves by then if they were going to. The fact he's been seen by the vet and that he has shown no symptoms so far is promising so just keep a close eye but probably nothing much will happen. Better safe than sorry though!
 
Two weeks should do the trick; he most likely won't have got it. URI is one of those opportunistic illnesses that healthy piggies can usually fight off on their own, but that thrive when the immune system is lowered for some reason.
 
*Nibbles&Nugget* said:
I plan to quarantine him for around 2 weeks. Does anyone know the time a URI can lay dormant for? I am watching him like a hawk.

Amy
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Click to expand...

Hi there Amy, it really depends on what was responsible for the Respiratory infection, URI is just a generalization, though 2 week sounds good

I'm just thinking out loud here, as it is so important that Nacho is introduced to fellow piggies asap ,

Right at the moment he is Asymptomatic, which is a great sign, but he could possibly be carrying whatever bacteria/virus was responsible for his cage mates death.

But maybe if you ask your vet if he could test the urine sample to determine whether there any pathogens presence http://jcp.bmj.com/content/46/9/817.full.pdf

He could do a nose swab, but that would be highly un advisable, as it needs to be done under GA or a very least a whiff of gas, and in is present condition but I don't think that would be wise,

but if your vet considers he may be able to determine on a wee sample, then it may be worthwhile trying it to speed up Nacho reintroduction to a new mate.

Like l said I'm just thinking out loud as I don't know whether it is viable are not ?

NB Wee sample, just put him on clean surface, wait for him to wee , draw it up into a syringe, and give it to your vet
 
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