• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Old piggy has constipation

So sorry to hear that Lily has toddled off to The Rainbow Bridge. Sleep well Lily and have fun over the Rainbow.
 
HumanWithFurryPotats said:
, how should I deal with my other pig? I am going off to college and my parents will be taking care of her, and they refuse to get another pig. Will she be alright with the attention my family will give her?
Click to expand...

How old is your other piggy?
It’s always hard if you need to end the piggy cycle but I’m afraid for a piggy who may still have a lot of years left, no amount of attention from your family will replace the companionship and interaction of another piggy.
When a piggy is bereaved they are usually ok for a few weeks to grieve but they need a new friend within the next 1-4 weeks or so.
 
Piggies&buns said:
How old is your other piggy?
It’s always hard if you need to end the piggy cycle but I’m afraid for a piggy who may still have a lot of years left, no amount of attention from your family will replace the companionship and interaction of another piggy.
When a piggy is bereaved they are usually ok for a few weeks to grieve but they need a new friend within the next 1-4 weeks or so.
Click to expand...
She’s around 4 years old
 
Piggies&buns said:
So she could have several more years then. It would be too many for her to spend without another piggy
Click to expand...
I hoping that I could find a pig that’s around her age, I think my parents just can’t keep going through the piggy cycle
 
HumanWithFurryPotats said:
I hoping that I could find a pig that’s around her age, I think my parents just can’t keep going through the piggy cycle
Click to expand...

It’s going to be something that comes to us all when we want the cycle to end, It’s not an easy place to be, but for the moment you’ve got some time to grieve for Lily and thinks things over
 
HumanWithFurryPotats said:
My little lily has passed away. Thank you all for the support. She had a wonderful life, I am so glad to have rescued her.
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry that Lily's time had come. She couldn't have found a more loving home. It is always hard to let those go that we love but without them, our lives would be so much poorer.

Be kind to yourself as you grieve and give yourself as much time to rest as you can; it hits you harder after a prolonged battle, especially when physical exhaustion amplifies your emotions.

You have not failed Lily in any way; you have given her a life beyond any dreams. We tend to forget that guinea pigs are just small animals with a very fast metabolism because of their huge personalities and the impact they have on us. We can never choose when and in which form the end comes but as long as we try our best to make their lives happy and to minimise any unnecessary suffering under the circumstances we are finding ourselves in, then we do not have anything we can blame ourselves for. Don't fret over Lily not having made it as far as the vet; she has certainly been content to make her journey to the Rainbow Bridge on her own from her familiar home, carried by the wings of your love. ;)

As long as Lily's companion keeps eating and drinking, please allow her to do her own grieving in the coming days. Guinea pigs don't feel any less deeply but they can react in very different ways and have a much stronger survival wiring. Acute pining is thankfully very rare.
She'll hold a few weeks while you explore possible temporary/end of life companionship options you have or do not have available locally, including next door fostering company for a rescue. Not all oldies, especially old ladies, are accepting of new company in their own home but they still profit from companionship through the bars. Don't put yourself under too much time pressure about having to come up with a solution immediately. Allow one door to close before a new one will open.

Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (includes a chapter on challenges specific to bereaved singles and a chapter on how to spot signs that a guinea pig is transferring their own social needs onto you)
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour (how to spot the signs of depression)
 
Last edited:
HumanWithFurryPotats said:
I hoping that I could find a pig that’s around her age, I think my parents just can’t keep going through the piggy cycle
Click to expand...
If it helps in any way, you could always look into fostering/borrowing a guinea pig from a rescue, who you can give back when your other guinea pig dies. This way you don't get trapped in the piggy cycle, but your remaining guinea pig has a friend to live out the rest of her days with.

For now though I would just focus on looking after yourself and your remaining pig before thinking about the future when you are ready.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top