What would be the best for my guinea pig

[guineapig9]

Hi. I have had 2 female guinea pigs for just over 2 years now (mother 4, daughter 2) Sadly the mother has passed away yesterday and now the younger guinea pig is left alone. It has a very big cage and I used to get them out into a huge indoor run every weekday. Now I am feeling that it is going to get lonley and I have heard guinea pigs can actually get depressed when alone. It is a very active and happy guinea pig and I would hate for that to change.
My question is what should I do for the now lone guinea pig? Thanks any advice is appreciated

 

[Mystic_corgi]

Hi. I have had 2 female guinea pigs for just over 2 years now (mother 4, daughter 2) Sadly the mother has passed away yesterday and now the younger guinea pig is left alone. It has a very big cage and I used to get them out into a huge indoor run every weekday. Now I am feeling that it is going to get lonley and I have heard guinea pigs can actually get depressed when alone. It is a very active and happy guinea pig and I would hate for that to change.
My question is what should I do for the now lone guinea pig? Thanks any advice is appreciated

I would recommend finding them a new pig to be with! If you have a rescue around they often let you see which pigs your piggy gets alone with (guinea pig dating) or just finding them a friend on your own. If you arent wanting to own guinea pigs anymore after her I am not too sure what to do there...

 

[Wiebke]

Hi. I have had 2 female guinea pigs for just over 2 years now (mother 4, daughter 2) Sadly the mother has passed away yesterday and now the younger guinea pig is left alone. It has a very big cage and I used to get them out into a huge indoor run every weekday. Now I am feeling that it is going to get lonley and I have heard guinea pigs can actually get depressed when alone. It is a very active and happy guinea pig and I would hate for that to change.
My question is what should I do for the now lone guinea pig? Thanks any advice is appreciated

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss.

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to location in your account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar); this makes it appear with every post you make and will allow us to tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and relevant where you are. We have members and enquiries from quite literally all over the world and from very different conditions, vet and rescue access, climates, medical brands etc., not helped this year by the ever changing pandemic conditions and limitations that vary considerably. Otherwise you will just get out general basic advice that is valid everywhere.

Please take the time to read these guide links here; you should find them very helpful:
- Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig (what you can do in the immediate to medium term for a bereaved piggy)
- Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (includes a chapter on the special challenges you face with a bereaved single as well as a chapter on companionship options and how lack of species interaction can come out when social needs are transferred onto you)
- Rescue Locator (link to recommended good welfare standard rescues in some other countries below UK map)
- Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

You can look at sows or neutered boars of any age - the crucial bit is mutual liking and character compatibility so if you can allow your daughter to have a say in who she wants to be with (like in rescue dating), it is well worth the wait. Otherwise you have to have a plan B ready to implement in case acceptance of your own chosen partner doesn't come off (neighbouring cage with interaction through the bars).

PS: Here is some support for your own grieving process: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[Rivervixen]

I’m so sorry for your loss xx

 

[guineapig9]

I would recommend finding them a new pig to be with! If you have a rescue around they often let you see which pigs your piggy gets alone with (guinea pig dating) or just finding them a friend on your own. If you arent wanting to own guinea pigs anymore after her I am not too sure what to do there...

I think what would be best would be another female guinea pig so it can have a friend but I don't know how to go about it. I rescued both of them and they came together and have been together their entire lives. Can I just get another the same age and put them together, do they need to like each other or is there a chance they wont etc.. I don't know much

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss.

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to location in your account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar); this makes it appear with every post you make and will allow us to tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and relevant where you are. We have members and enquiries from quite literally all over the world and from very different conditions, vet and rescue access, climates, medical brands etc., not helped this year by the ever changing pandemic conditions and limitations that vary considerably. Otherwise you will just get out general basic advice that is valid everywhere.

Please take the time to read these guide links here; you should find them very helpful:
- Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig (what you can do in the immediate to medium term for a bereaved piggy)
- Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (includes a chapter on the special challenges you face with a bereaved single as well as a chapter on companionship options and how lack of species interaction can come out when social needs are transferred onto you)
- Rescue Locator (link to recommended good welfare standard rescues in some other countries below UK map)
- Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

You can look at sows or neutered boars of any age - the crucial bit is mutual liking and character compatibility so if you can allow your daughter to have a say in who she wants to be with (like in rescue dating), it is well worth the wait. Otherwise you have to have a plan B ready to implement in case acceptance of your own chosen partner doesn't come off (neighbouring cage with interaction through the bars).

PS: Here is some support for your own grieving process: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I have added it thanks

 

[Siikibam]

They need to like each other to get along. If you decide to go down a route other than rescues, then you should have a Plan B in case they don’t like each other.

I would contact rescues (even though they’re likely not doing any dating due to lockdown) and get on their waiting lists. Hopefully some pig may come up who may bond with your girl.

I’m sorry for your loss

 

[guineapig9]

They need to like each other to get along. If you decide to go down a route other than rescues, then you should have a Plan B in case they don’t like each other.

I would contact rescues (even though they’re likely not doing any dating due to lockdown) and get on their waiting lists. Hopefully some pig may come up who may bond with your girl.

I’m sorry for your loss ❤

Hi thanks for the reply. How do I know that they will like each other, if there even is a way to tell that? They are rex guinea pigs so if I rescued another rex female guinea pig around the same age that would be fine? As you can probably tell I don't know lots but I just want the best for them now.

The original plan was to just let it be on it's own as we knew her mother would pass away sooner as it's 2 years older, but we definately didn't expect it to happen this soon and sudden. This means the guinea pig would have around 2-4 years on it's own every day and imagining that seems quite sad as they were together every day and did everything together since she was born.

I have a huge indoor run and used to get them out daily which they loved and would dart around like crazy in. I would also put extendable tunnels and tubes for them to run around in. Now with just one it seems like it could do with a friend possibly.

 

[Siikibam]

You can’t know whether they’ll get on until you bond them. Being of the same breed and age isn’t a guarantee they’ll like each other. It comes down to character compatibility only. Age and breed don’t play a factor at all.

Guinea pigs are highly social and need companionship of their own kind. No amount of human interaction can be enough. And to be honest we can’t speak their ‘language’ - at least not to the extent they would need. So it’s good you’re planning to get her a friend.

We’d love to see some photos. Does she have a name?

 

[Piggies&buns]

as explained above, the best thing is to speak to a rescue centre and get booked in for dating as they can help find a character compatible friend for your piggy. She may need to be tried with several different piggies until she finds her perfect friend. It’s not something you can predict, she just has to find one she likes and age and breed have no bearing on things. With current lockdown restrictions, there may be a wait (although travel for animal welfare purposes is permitted), so do speak to a rescue centre as soon as you can go minimise there time your piggy is alone.

 

[guineapig9]

You can’t know whether they’ll get on until you bond them. Being of the same breed and age isn’t a guarantee they’ll like each other. It comes down to character compatibility only. Age and breed don’t play a factor at all.

Guinea pigs are highly social and need companionship of their own kind. No amount of human interaction can be enough. And to be honest we can’t speak their ‘language’ - at least not to the extent they would need. So it’s good you’re planning to get her a friend.

We’d love to see some photos. Does she have a name?

as explained above, the best thing is to speak to a rescue centre and get booked in for dating as they can help find a character compatible friend for your piggy. She may need to be tried with several different piggies until she finds her perfect friend. It’s not something you can predict, she just has to find one she likes and age and breed have no bearing on things. With current lockdown restrictions, there may be a wait (although travel for animal welfare purposes is permitted), so do speak to a rescue centre as soon as you can go minimise there time your piggy is alone.

Thanks a lot for the advice. So you don't suggest leaving it on it's own for a while to see how it does? Because obviously we can't tell how it's feeling and I don't want it to be lonley as it's been with another guinea pig it's entire life every day.
I would be looking for another female guinea pig for it to get along with
And yes she is called florence and the other was called poppy.

https://imgur.com/kw0Vs6q

Here they are together eating

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks a lot for the advice. So you don't suggest leaving it on it's own for a while to see how it does? Because obviously we can't tell how it's feeling and I don't want it to be lonley as it's been with another guinea pig it's entire life every day.
And yes she is called florence and the other was called poppy.

https://imgur.com/kw0Vs6q

Here they are together eating

Guinea pigs are not meant to be alone. She will, sooner or later, become lonely. They tend to just get on with life because they have no choice but that isn’t the same thing as being properly happy.
She will have a period of grieving, that is normal, but she will ready for a new friend within the next few weeks.
Now unfortunately the lockdown restrictions we are under is making things harder when it comes to dating. Rescue centres may still be rehoming but they are unlikely to be offering dating so finding her a new friend will be slightly trickier. All we can suggest you do is contact rescue centres straight away and start the process of finding a new friend as may take a few weeks to find a piggy. You may have to carry out the bonding process yourself at home but we can guide you and there are lots of useful guides on the forum which can help you

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry you lost Poppy, hope you can find a little friend for Florence very soon, ring around all the local rescues, they don’t often advertise single piggies for bonding so you might be lucky x

 

[guineapig9]

I’m so sorry you lost Poppy, hope you can find a little friend for Florence very soon, ring around all the local rescues, they don’t often advertise single piggies for bonding so you might be lucky x

Would I wait to do this like give her some time on her own before? Also some others mentioned having to find one that they like. What would I do if I rescued another and they didn't like each other? Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Would I wait to do this like give her some time on her own before? Also some others mentioned having to find one that they like. What would I do if I rescued another and they didn't like each other? Thanks

You need to let her guide you for how long she can tolerate being alone. This is still very new for you, but she will likely be ready for a new friend within a few weeks.
As explained, if you can get in touch with rescue centres then they can help find a suitable friend for your piggy.
If a bonding failed and they didn’t get on, then a rescue centre would possibly be able to take the piggy back and try a another one with your girl. If you were to buy a piggy from a pet shop, then you don’t know if your piggy and the new one will get on. If that happened and they didn’t like each other, then you would have to keep them in separate but side by side cages so they can have interaction through the bars to prevent loneliness.