I'm So Scared And Sad... Mixed Emotions

[meggles1410]

its been a very long time since ive posted about 4-3 years ago when i got my pig Maisie and adopted Teddy.
well teddy passed over the rainbow bridge last month aged 6-7 we believe due to a massive tumor.
this has left me heart broken and Maisie more so as she never left his side!
her depression has got worse, she comes out to eat her greens (what little she does) and hides away all day she hasn't week'd for weeks...
i know I'm right in getting her a new mate but it has taken me ages to convince mum, and tomorrow is the day i go and pick up the baby.
my concern is bonding correctly and that being a baby should i house inside until bonded as Maisie is in a hutch out side (with tones on hey, a piggie safe hot water bottle and weather protector)
I'm so nervous as Maisie took to teddy like a duck to water..
actually might cry i miss my teddy so much... not that i let my family know

 

[TheCavySlave]

Take a deep, deep breath sweetie. I'm so sorry for your loss, he lived a long and, I'm sure, happy life.
Why don't you talk to your family? Talking through your feelings with friend or relative often helps. This will sound odd, but if you can, please do cry. Imagine your feelings as a well inside you, and sometimes it gets too full and you have to empty some out through tears.
Housing inside may be a good idea for a young piggy, I'm not entirely sure; it's not my area of expertise. But if the hutch is perfectly warm, I don't see why they can't stay outside.
You could try talking to Maisie, let her hide away, but just talk to her about how you feel, she may be comforted by the sound of your voice and you may feel better too. With a bit of luck, she'll get on well with the new pig and will start to feel better.
I wish you luck, and remember, there's a whole forum here to support, comfort and advise you xoxox

 

[GPTV]

Sorry to hear of the loss of Teddy, sounds like he had a long life with you & Maisie.

Try not to upset yourself over what the other members of your family think of you, these little furballs wrap us round their paws & take bits of us with them when they leave us. some people just don't understand the strong bond that some members & their piggies have or had, it's an individual thing & it's all part of the grieving process, anger, guilt, despair, sadness can all be part of the process- it an emotional rollercoaster - have a good cry if you feel you need to, it will help release any pent up emotions &hopefully make it easier for you to come to terms with.

It's great that you are trying to help maisie overcome her loss by finding her a friend i have found that big age differences between guineas have all bonded quite well, generally with fewer problems,
I've only ever had girls & only ever had 2 that didn't get on at all in all the years that i've had them (those two were of a similar age to the paired piggy &were definitely not compatible )

could you try them indoors in a large cage/pen/run for one or two nights then when you're sure they like each other then move them back out again into a nice clean hutch (no maisie only scent)?

hopefully Maisie will take on the maternal approach with a baby & it will all go well.
- if you do put her outside make sure she's warm enough if used to being inside though, at least until she's acclimatised.
let them meet in a neutral area & maybe just leave her in a carrier for an hour or so to meet Maisie through the safety of the carrier sides at first.

i used to feel awful getting new guineas as i felt i was betraying my lost guinea - but now i try & think of it as passing the "baton of life" over to the new guinea & letting them reap the benefit of the experiences of my past piggies, i never replace my rainbow bridge guineas - i just have additional ones

Good luck with your new baby. let us know how you get on. xx

 

[3Tyger]

So sorry for your loss of Teddy x

 

[3Tyger]

i used to feel awful getting new guineas as i felt i was betraying my lost guinea - but now i try & think of it as passing the "baton of life" over to the new guinea & letting them reap the benefit of the experiences of my past piggies, i never replace my rainbow bridge guineas - i just have additional ones

I think this is a lovely way of looking at it.

 

[Freela]

I'm really sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose a pet you've loved. I've often gotten a new pig very soon after losing one... mainly because I wanted my remaining guinea pig to have companionship. Honestly, it was hard for me to bond to the new pig at first because I wasn't emotionally ready. I just wanted the pig I lost back. But eventually I got to know them and grew to love them too. They never replaced a pig that I lost... no one could replace them. But I love them now just as much.

There's a short paragraph that I love called A Dog's Last Will and Testament, in which a dog about to pass away thanks the owner for their love and wills that place to another dog who needs the same love. I think the same holds true for guinea pigs, for any pet. They still have our love when they go, but they leave a lap that is open for a new love, and one doesn't take away from the other.

 

[Wiebke]

its been a very long time since ive posted about 4-3 years ago when i got my pig Maisie and adopted Teddy.
well teddy passed over the rainbow bridge last month aged 6-7 we believe due to a massive tumor.
this has left me heart broken and Maisie more so as she never left his side!
her depression has got worse, she comes out to eat her greens (what little she does) and hides away all day she hasn't week'd for weeks...
i know I'm right in getting her a new mate but it has taken me ages to convince mum, and tomorrow is the day i go and pick up the baby.
my concern is bonding correctly and that being a baby should i house inside until bonded as Maisie is in a hutch out side (with tones on hey, a piggie safe hot water bottle and weather protector)
I'm so nervous as Maisie took to teddy like a duck to water..
actually might cry i miss my teddy so much... not that i let my family know

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss. You are welcome to post a tribute to your Teddy in our Rainbow Bridge section if or whenever it feels right for you. It is there for all those who would like to post a memorial to their beloved piggy, but it is not a must.

Here are is our list of recommended rescues; if you can get to one of them, you may be able to let maisie have a say in who she wants to live with. Most of our recommended rescues offer dating at the rescue with acceptance/bonding under expert supervision, so you come only home with a new mate that is a success, quarantined/healthy, properly sexed and guaranteed not pregnant. You will also have the rescue to fall back on if there are troubles during the life of their adopted piggies. Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator

Bonding a pining newly bereaved guinea pig when you still are totally raw from your loss is one of the worst times for any loving owner, but one of the most precious gifts you can give them. It is always a big jump into the unknown.
You may find these links here helpful:
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics