Loss Of Companion

[*Elizabeth*LLGF*]

Hi all, this is my first post and I am desperately seeking some advice. I had 4 pigs (2 boar brothers in one cage, 2 sows in another) until yesterday when despite vet treatment one of my boars passed away after suffering a twisted gut. I am now unsure of what to do with his brother. Although he doesn't seem too depressed he has lost his playmate and does not seem as bubbly. I am trying to weigh up my options and what is safest. The girls are 3+ (exact age unknown as I rehomed them only a couple of months ago) and my remaining boar will be 2 next month. Thank you in advance!

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

You could get a new boar for him, from a rescue centre to determine if they will be friends, or you could neuter the boar and have him in with the girls.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss. You are most welcome to post a tribute for your passed boar in our Rainbow Bridge section and share your feelings with understanding people.

Here are our tips for dealing with a bereaved piggy: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/looking-after-a-bereaved-piggy.109674/

You have got two options for your boy:

You can either boar date your boy at one of our recommended rescues to find him a new mate of his liking. Character compatibility is key. Here in the Midlands, the RSPCA Walsall offers only boar-rescue baby dating; that is probably your closest good rescue. You can also try and ring up The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue or Honeybunnies by Fosse Park in Leicester (off junction M1/M69).

Your other option is neutering, so he can live with your two girls in the long term. He is not too old for the snip and if he can live next door to your two girls with interaction through the grids, they will hopefully accept him when he is ready to join after a 6 weeks post op wait when he is 100% safe (I have the baby from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar living with me, just to prove that particular point). We have got tips on how to best conduct intros. If they don't hit it off, you can look for both a boar or sow companion for your boy, so you have got a lot more possibilities.

If you can get as far as Northampton by car or by train, I would strongly recommend using Simon Maddock at the Cat&Rabbit Care clinic. He is the best neutering vet in the region with lots of practice and a track record that is as close to a 100% success rate as any surgeon or vet would like to get! The neutering option stands and falls with the quality and experience of the operating vet and his team; otherwise, the risk of especially post op complications can be sadly quite high, so it is well worth travelling a bit further. http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/html/contact_us.html

 

[*Elizabeth*LLGF*]

Thanks so much for your advice. He already 'lives next door' to the lady pigs, and to be honest he doesn't show too much interest other than the odd hello, he certainly isn't obsessed which I think is a good thing if I'm thinking about the neutering option? I would love them all to live together though I am concerned about the risks, especially with the very raw loss of his brother. I will speak to my vet, he is very honest and will advise me on whether he has the experience or can suggest another local vet who might. As I don't drive I would be concerned about travelling back from Northampton with a post-op pig!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks so much for your advice. He already 'lives next door' to the lady pigs, and to be honest he doesn't show too much interest other than the odd hello, he certainly isn't obsessed which I think is a good thing if I'm thinking about the neutering option? I would love them all to live together though I am concerned about the risks, especially with the very raw loss of his brother. I will speak to my vet, he is very honest and will advise me on whether he has the experience or can suggest another local vet who might. As I don't drive I would be concerned about travelling back from Northampton with a post-op pig!

I live in Coventry and have to use the train and a taxi to get to Northampton, but I have made the journey quite a few times back with freshly operated piggies, including twice with my 5 year old tiny Cariad after a bladder op and an emergency spay, which are both much bigger and invasive operations than neutering. Both times, she's bounced straight back. You wouldn't know that boars have been neutered when Simon does the op; they just pick up where they have left!
However, if you wish, you could contact Debbie at The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary/Little Badger Pet in Northampton for you if she would board your boy for a night or two. She runs a sanctuary for dental piggies and has plenty of experience with ill and freshly operated piggies. She's also had some of the companion boars neutered, so she knows how to look after a freshly operated one. http://www.littlebadgerspetcare.com/