A friend for Dippy

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cherryredcutie

cherryredcutie

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all,

I think it is time for Dippy to get a guinea pig friend. He used to live with my rabbit (yes I now know they shouldn't live together) and got bitten so I seperated them, I took him straight to the vets and the bite healed nicely.

He's 1 1/2 now and very placid and a little shy. I was thinking about getting him neutered to get him a girlfriend from a rescue but there is always a risk with anaesthesia. I have had a quote from my vet and it would be about £40.

I have read that you can bond two boars but there is a chance of them not getting along and fighting and I have no experience with bonding guinea pigs yet.

Are there any rescues in the West Midlands that have guinea pigs and that might be able to help with bonding?

Thanks for reading!
Anne
 
There is also Hopperhaven in Redditch they currently have over 60 piggies looking for new homes.
 
Hopper Haven have an open day this weekend dont they? Have a look on the rescue thread, it gives details there xx
 
Yes, that's him, but he is a lot bigger now :). Just posted some newer pics of him in the photo gallery (in the "Your piggies =)" thread).
 
Good luck in your search for a friend for Dippy - he looks a really handsome chap :)

I would think it should be possible to maybe bond him wth a baby or very young boar.

Teresa x
 
We're having the same problem with Crazy. Keep us updated with your progress!
 
Good luck love......it's such a hard decision to make.....is it possible to take him to a rescue tho and let him choose his friend x)
Oh his pigture in your avatar is gorgeous xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Yes, it's not an easy decision to make, you are right.

I had a look at the hopperhaven website and they don't seem to rehome or bond boars with boars, at least it says so in their rehoming policy. They neuter all boars so they can go with females. RSPCA Walsall do/say the same.
 
Good luck in your search!
I was very wary at first like yourself re neutering and the risk. so we decided to try Winston with a baby boar, we went to Brinsley animal rescue and Beth very kindly helped bond winston with a baby boar called beaniex)
I would try speaking to the rescues you;ve mentioned, there may be a baby boar just come in whom you can pair up with Dippy.

Good luck
x
 
I would def recommend him picking his friend as unfortunately george doesn't seem to like the male friend I picked for him :( Now I am possibly going to have to get them both neutered anyway if I can't reunite them any other way. Plenty of boy pairs are very happy together though. I think I just had bad luck.

I am looking on the bright side if all else fails I may have to get a couple of girlys for them :)) (dunno how I will convince my boyfriend though)
 
I am happy to rehome you a very placid boar to match up with your little boy. I would also be on the end of the phone if you had any worries. I am in Bristol. Is that too far for you?

Check out my website www.cavyrescueandretreat.org.uk my adoption policies are on there.
 
Hello Anne

I remember meeting Dippy................!

Do you remember when I brought Colin round to visit?
Ha! Funny to see you on this forum.

I'm sorry to hear he got bitten... naughty rabbit.

I hope you can find Dippy a friend. If you want to take up the offer above me (Bristol), I can always help with transport as I quite often come back to K'ford to visit family.

Or if you do end up going to Bristol, you must pop in and visit Colin and the gang :)

Sarah x
 
@fi.cantillon: I sent you a pm :)

Hi Sarah,

how funny that you are on the forum as well :)). Sure, I remember Colin, the finger nibbler :)).

Yes, he is a naughty rabbit, but he is poorly, he has got a jaw abscess at the moment and we're trying to get rid of it, hard work!

We definately have to come visit Colin and the gang sometime, that should be fun! Thanks for offering help with the transport.

Markus says wheek wheek :)).

Anne x
 
Hi

Am in similar situation. Took on a rabbit and guinea for owner who could no longer care for them and though they generally seem OK together, all the advice I've had is to split them.

Had both neutered this week, doing well and am looking to find a male rabbit to live with Ruby the rabbit and I was hoping for a little harem of girlies to live with Gordon the piggie, once he's ready (vets say about 2 months) and the new play house etc is set up.

Question: How many guineas could I feasibly try to match with him in one go? The playhouse will be 5ft x 3ft with a 2nd level built in and a 4 x 3 run attached. I'd ideally like to have a trio or foursome. Is bonding guineas similar to bonding rabbits? If I found just one girl - would I be able to add more girls to the group?

Thanks :)

Roz
 
Most sows will accept a boar but there are exceptions. The space you will have is huge & is definitely big enough for 4 piggies. Bonding of any number is done on neutral ground with "distractions" (food, hay, veggies). I'd say it's easier to bond the group together than to bond a pair & add to it as each piggy you add will upset the pecking order which will have to be re-established & this is where you *can* end up with fights. :)
 
Hi Gordy,

That is one huge space. You could even have a large herd in there. In our shed and run we have upto 12 piggies at any one time and it is a similar size to yours. Herds are fab as they behave like a herd. It is great to watch them all following each other in line around their home.

Kind regards

Fi
 
Update

Hiya,

just wanted to let you all know that Dippy now has a friend! His name is Yoshi and we adopted him last Friday from the Cavy Rescue and Retreat in Bristol.

I introduced them the same day, I built a little run for them in the living room and after getting used to where they were and me taking their house away where they had been cuddled up for 20 minutes without moving they started to check each other out. Yoshi was mounting and rumblestrutting around Dippy for about 15 minutes then they settled down and ate carrot together :)). Dippy told Yoshi his whole life story, I have never heard him talk so much :)). In the evening I put them together in Dippy's cleaned out cage and they were very active, chasing each other, Dippy trying to mount Yoshi for a couple of minutes, but after a while they settled down.

The next day I noticed that Dippy had some fur missing on his back so Yoshi must have pulled some out in the night and there was some teeth chattering between the two (on and off), I think Dippy wasn't happy about all the mounting that was still going on. I gave them both a bath later which they didn't like lol and then they dried of in the conservatory together.

Today they were really happy about the paperbag I gave them and popcorning lol now they are quiet and sleeping after all the excitement :)).

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:

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Regards from Anne, Dippy and Yoshi
 
Oh, what sweet little harlequin he is! And already making himself quite at home!

Dippy must be quite happy.I hope that you are enjoying the fun!
 
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