Lonesome pig

[Mumofboys]

Hi, I’m looking for some advice...

I had two boars who recently celebrated their first birthday. One of them hadn’t been well for a month and passed peacefully a few days later.

My remaining pig is eating and drinking ok but I would like to get him a companion. I have contacted rescue centres but they don’t have suitable pigs.

I have two options- a pets at home pig who is approximately 12 weeks or a pig from a breeder at 6 weeks.

my remaining pig is very chilled and was the submissive pig so I want to pick the less stressful option.

any tips or thoughts would be great

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Holding out for a rescue piggy and bonding would be best if at all possible but the welfare of your piggy needs to come first and if he has been alone for a while then getting him a friend sooner than later would be best.

Of those options, a pet shop piggy would be best in my eyes as you would then have some come back in terms of customer rights if there were any issues.

Ultimately any bonding comes down to character compatibility so nobody could say which one would be most likely result in a successful long term bond.

The important thing to note is that in either of these cases, is that going into the neutral territory bonding process as soon as you bring the new piggy home is important as piggies under four months of age need constant companionship

 

[Wiebke]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Holding out for a rescue piggy and bonding would be best if at all possible but the welfare of your piggy needs to come first and if he has been alone for a while then getting him a friend sooner than later would be best.

Of those options, a pet shop piggy would be best in my eyes as you would then have some come back in terms of customer rights if there were any issues.

Ultimately any bonding comes down to character compatibility so nobody could say which one would be most likely result in a successful long term bond bonding.

The important thing to note is that in either of these cases, is that going into the neutral territory bonding process as soon as you bring the new piggy home is important as piggies under four months of age need constant companionship

Hi!

Whichever piggy you get, you will have to introduce very quickly because they are still at the age where the need to belong and have guidance from an older piggy comes before the need to quarantine; you will have to treat your pair together.
Unfortunately, it all depends on how they click (or not) and whether they are a personality much when your newbie hits teenage. That is not something you can predict. We have had rescue dating bereaved boars refusing the first baby but falling head over heels for the second introduction...

Please take the time to read the advice in these links here:
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (includes information on pre-intro quarantine and has a chapter on boars as well as baby bonding with videos).
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

When losing a companion, it is always a balance between ideal and practicality. Unfortunately, UK rescues have been badly hampered by lockdown conditions over the past year.

 

[weepweeps]

From my own personal experience I got a younger piggy to bond with my bereaved boy. It worked out fine. Because he was so young he just really wanted another pig to help him grow up.

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss xx