New Piggy Partner Help

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Piggymomma19

New Born Pup
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Dec 3, 2020
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Hello! I am brand new to the forum because of a very unfortunate circumstance.

Yesterday, one of my two guinea pigs of three years passed away from age (we adopted them from a rescue as adults, so it was expected that one would die before the other, we were just unsure when). My other boar is now alone, though has been eating, drinking, and sleeping all the same it seems. I have been doing my research after this devastating incident, and am in the process of looking into a new partner for him. A few sources have told me to wait until he is done grieving, then go through with bonding, though I cannot tell exactly what grieving looks like in a guinea pig.

He is about four years old, perhaps more, and also wondered if getting a similarly aged boar would cause issues with temperament and dominance, or if it would work well? The only piggy at a rescue nearby is four years old, and I was planning to call and ask about him soon to figure out the specifics there. Meetups to do a bonding are not possible right now given the current situation, but I also don't want to risk having them get in a spat and have to set them up in separate cages.
I also feel awful about going to a chain pet store to purchase a guinea pig, as I am all for pro-rescue and love giving animals a second chance when I can, but if a younger piggy works best for my boar, that might have to be the case.

Please, any suggestions about when and what I should do so that my little guy isn't alone for too long would be extremely appreciated. (I have done research on bonding and such, but would love to get help for my situation in particular)
Thank you so much!
 
I’m sorry for your loss.
I’ll add in a guide below which covers grieving for your piggy and what to do,

in terms of finding him a new friend, age is largely irrelevant. What does matter is character compatibility, so it is not possible to say whether an older or baby boar would be best - he could reject or accept either just the same if they aren’t compatible.
it is harder if you can’t date but due to not being able to date, if you do take on a new piggy, then you will risk a failure in bonding. If you rescue though, perhaps the rescue centre would accept the boar back if it doesn’t work out.

Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry for your loss.
I’ll add in a guide below which covers grieving for your piggy and what to do,

in terms of finding him a new friend, age is largely irrelevant. What does matter is character compatibility, so it is not possible to say whether an older or baby boar would be best - he could reject or accept either just the same if they aren’t compatible.
it is harder if you can’t date but due to not being able to date, if you do take on a new piggy, then you will risk a failure in bonding. If you rescue though, perhaps the rescue centre would accept the boar back if it doesn’t work out.

Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
Click to expand...
Thank you <3
I was concerned about age because a few sources claimed that younger pigs were better suited, while others stated otherwise, but your clarification makes the most sense. I will check with the rescue about a possible date, but I will have to see about their policies and such

Thank you for your help :)
 
I was just thinking that @Piggies&buns - do rescue centres take them back in if it doesn't work out where you are in the US? Maybe even if they don't normally they might make a covid exception... if these two mature guys can get on so much the better for them both. If they didn't and he could be returned both boars would be glad to see the back of each other! You can try a little guy but it depends on your long term plans for future guinea-pigs... and little ones grow into big ones which might challenge for dominance - eventually. And shops don't take them back!

My boar grieved his cage-mate intensely for about a week although he didn't look for her as she had gotten more unwell so I think he had an idea what had happened. He was quiet and his head was down, even his ears were down. He also got the beginnings of impaction - which luckily did not progress. He picked up after about a week and he just lived a different life - mainly hiding because he is nervous. It was my cue to start handling him more and we tried to have some lap-time (under a blanket) (I mean him, not me!) every day at roughly the same time. A few veggie treats and some quiet time together helped him know he wasn't all alone even if I am a poor substitute for a piggy. A hot water bottle outside his cage at night to provide somewhere warm to snuggle up to was always welcomed. A daily routine so he knew what was happening and when. He's an indoor pig so I started to sit next to the cage with my breakfast and we ate together... something I never bothered with before he was alone.

We have been able to get sows because he is neutered but even this was not the smooth ride I'd expected and he quickly rejected the first young lady in a very definite way! It has taken 2 months but we have just re-homed a pair and I'm perhaps taking a gamble by keeping them as barrier-neighbours for a while as he is super-nervous and I was sure he'd freak out at being pitched in with strangers. My reasoning is that once they've fought they'd have to live as stressed-out neighbours whereas at the mo they're interested in each other and he's found a reason to rumble again.
 
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