Is It Fair To Keep A Lone Piggie?

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Cute_Guineapigs

Cute_Guineapigs

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I had 2 boars who had been together all their lives. Louis died last week, leaving Elmo on his own. They would talk to each other, but they never groomed each other or snuggled together. After Louis' death, Elmo is a bit quieter and is more cuddly. I'm getting him out of his cage for lap time as much as possible and he loves it, whereas before, he didn't like lap time at all. He lives in a home office so has someone talking near him all day.

I don't really want any more piggies, but if Elmo needed it, then I'd do what's best for him. Is it fair to keep a lone piggie?

I don't have any more space for an additional cage if I did try to bond him to another piggie and it didn't work out, which worries me with an entire boar. I don't want to neuter him as Louis died after surgery and I don't want Elmo to die because I chose to neuter him. But I've heard that once baby boars grow up, they can fight and need separation from an older boar. So I'm completely stuck on what's best for Elmo. Please advise and help.
 
Cute_Guineapigs said:
I had 2 boars who had been together all their lives. Louis died last week, leaving Elmo on his own. They would talk to each other, but they never groomed each other or snuggled together. After Louis' death, Elmo is a bit quieter and is more cuddly. I'm getting him out of his cage for lap time as much as possible and he loves it, whereas before, he didn't like lap time at all. He lives in a home office so has someone talking near him all day.

I don't really want any more piggies, but if Elmo needed it, then I'd do what's best for him. Is it fair to keep a lone piggie?

I don't have any more space for an additional cage if I did try to bond him to another piggie and it didn't work out, which worries me with an entire boar. I don't want to neuter him as Louis died after surgery and I don't want Elmo to die because I chose to neuter him. But I've heard that once baby boars grow up, they can fight and need separation from an older boar. So I'm completely stuck on what's best for Elmo. Please advise and help.
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It's really nice that Elmo ' s needs and welfare are your priority. Personally, I wouldn't want to keep a lone guinea pig -but the fact that you can give him so much company is a plus.

Have you thought about contacting your local rescue ? It may be that you could foster a companion.
 
Cute_Guineapigs said:
I had 2 boars who had been together all their lives. Louis died last week, leaving Elmo on his own. They would talk to each other, but they never groomed each other or snuggled together. After Louis' death, Elmo is a bit quieter and is more cuddly. I'm getting him out of his cage for lap time as much as possible and he loves it, whereas before, he didn't like lap time at all. He lives in a home office so has someone talking near him all day.

I don't really want any more piggies, but if Elmo needed it, then I'd do what's best for him. Is it fair to keep a lone piggie?

I don't have any more space for an additional cage if I did try to bond him to another piggie and it didn't work out, which worries me with an entire boar. I don't want to neuter him as Louis died after surgery and I don't want Elmo to die because I chose to neuter him. But I've heard that once baby boars grow up, they can fight and need separation from an older boar. So I'm completely stuck on what's best for Elmo. Please advise and help.
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I am very sorry for your loss!

It is great that you are taking Elmo's needs into account and are putting him first, as he is clearly missing his mate even though they were not sharing a territory. There are a couple of rescues in the wider London area that offer residential/full boar dating at the rescue. In this way, boars of any age can be bonded together and the resulting bond is usually as stable as a sow bond. It is very time consuming, so only very few rescues offer this service. I can warmly recommend either rescue. You come home with a companion only if there has been success and you will always have the rescue to fall back on throughout the whole life of one of their piggies. How old is Elmo?
Best contact both rescues, as they are small ones and there may be a waiting list.
St Albans: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hazelcroft-Guinea-Pig-Rescue/257052794457368
East Peckham: https://www.facebook.com/eastpeckhamguineapigrescuepage
 
So sorry you lost Louis. It is very good that you can devote so much time to Elmo, who obviously appreciates it! I would contact a rescue and look into maybe finding Elmo a suitable cage buddy. If it doesn't go to plan, at least you will have tried. All best wishes and good luck with any introductions with Elmo.
 
Sorry for your loss.

On the issue of keeping guineas alone, I have four girls who share a cage & always have done (they are family) BUT, I also had 2 boars (Shambo & Bubbles RIP) who both lived on their own. Shambo lived in the same room as the girls but in a separate cage. Bubbles (who I tried to bond with Shambo, who was his Dad) also lived on his own in a separate room.
Rillo (who I lost recently at 6 1/2 years) also lived in a cage on her own in the busiest room in the house. She absolutely LOVED the 'hustle & bustle' & would regularly chip in with whatever was happening. In all fairness, she was a very spoilt little girl who had the run of the house anyway & would wander back to the side of her cage & wheek loudly when she wanted to go back in.
All guineas were handled regularly (although the four girls that live together can be quite 'skitty', but I think that's because they don't RELY on human contact) as well as all having regular 'guinea' time with each other.
Rillo didn't like the other girls & vice versa but she got on with the boys (who seemed to prefer her over the other girls).
As I only worked part-time before I was medically retired 4 years ago, the guineas were never alone in the house for very long at a time.
I would speak to them constantly during the day & they would always have plenty of 'floor' & 'run' time.
Rillo generally came out each evening (whether it was watching a film on our laps or just roaming around the house). The boys would generally either be out with the kids in their rooms or downstairs having a roam around the house.

I think it depends on the piggy, they all have different personalities & some do seem to prefer being on their own as long as they have enough human interaction & contact. I know this goes against what many people recommend but this is from my own personal experience, with my particular guineas.

If they are USED to living in a pair (or a group) & lose a cage mate, I must admit I would get a new cage mate for them, as that is what they are used to.
 
It really depends on how the pig is doing by himself and the ages of the guinea pigs. When one of our boars died they were 6 years old so we never got him a companion due to his age. If you get him a younger friend and then the older pig dies then you have the problem of a lone piggy again. It kinds of ends up in a cycle. It only worked not getting another companion because he was really outgoing and chatty. If he is quite a reserved pig then it might be worth looking at boar dating at a rescue centre. There is of course the matter of your current guinea pig not getting on with anyone as boar dating can be tricky.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
 
Hank288 said:
It really depends on how the pig is doing by himself and the ages of the guinea pigs. When one of our boars died they were 6 years old so we never got him a companion due to his age. If you get him a younger friend and then the older pig dies then you have the problem of a lone piggy again. It kinds of ends up in a cycle. It only worked not getting another companion because he was really outgoing and chatty. If he is quite a reserved pig then it might be worth looking at boar dating at a rescue centre. There is of course the matter of your current guinea pig not getting on with anyone as boar dating can be tricky.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
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^^^^ - I agree.

Whilst I totally endorse the sentiment that every piggie should start out their journey in life with a companion, from the piggie's welfare point of view and my own experience I have found that not every bereaved elderly boar will appreciate being subject to the stress (and risk of injury) of boar dating....especially if they have developed a long term interactive relationship with their "hooman" piggies (who they may have come to view as "part of their herd")

It really does depend upon the pigsonality of the pig.

(Another alternative is to get a pair of bonded piggies in an adjacent cage. A lone elderly boy may be quite happy......possibly relieved...... having his cage all to himself providing he has other piggies to talk to through the bars....and if it's a pair of females then he will definitely perk up!)
 
I have a lone piggy who is now very cuddly and talkative after his friend passed away in the week.He is eating and skittering about more than before and I am unsure whether or not to get a new companion for the little chap, he was a rescue piggy to start with so we are not sure of his age (possible 2 1/2 or 3?) . Any ideas or advice welcome! Thanks!
 
Sir squeaksalot said:
I have a lone piggy who is now very cuddly and talkative after his friend passed away in the week.He is eating and skittering about more than before and I am unsure whether or not to get a new companion for the little chap, he was a rescue piggy to start with so we are not sure of his age (possible 2 1/2 or 3?) . Any ideas or advice welcome! Thanks!
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:wel: to the forum . Guinea pigs are social animals so we always find they are happier with a companion. We have members from all over the world so it would be useful if you could tell us whether you are in the US/UK or elsewhere.
 
Hi and :wel: @Sir squeaksalot!

As mentioned before please add your country.:tu:
I would go to a rescue and take your boar on boar dating to find a friend who he gets on with.
If this doesn't work you could get him neutered and get him a wife pig.

I hope this helps! :D
 
PiggyOwner said:
:wel: to the forum .t Guinea pigs are social animals so we always find they are happier with a companion. We have members from all over the world so it would be useful if you could tell us whether you are in the US/UK or elsewhere.
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Hi thanks ! he has lots of people around him and he gets cuddles all the time in the evenings he is not lonely and lawn time every day. He is always been a bossy little pig so I am worried he might not like another piggy in his patch!
 
Sir squeaksalot said:
Hi thanks ! he has lots of people around him and he gets cuddles all the time in the evenings he is not lonely and lawn time every day. He is always been a bossy little pig so I am worried he might not like another piggy in his patch!
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I'm sure you're looking after him very well - but you can't be there all the time !

If you change your mind and you are in the UK - there a several rescues that will help you find a compatible companion for your guinea pig. We often refer to this as boar dating . There is a rescue locator on the top tool bar if you want to find some websites.
 
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