Advice for keeping a lone guinea pig entertained?

[fblue254]

I lost my boy Graham today, and now have Gregory on his own. I've already started searching for a suitable buddy but until then, he'll be on his own.

What sort of things can I do to keep him entertained now he doesn't have a mate? I spend very long hours out the house and am not able to socialise with him for hours and hours, but he's never been a sociable guinea pig anyway! He's a bit of a shy lad.


I've been thinking of making his veggies difficult to get to, hiding them in toilet paper rolls and things like that. Any ideas along those lines that will keep him busy are so appreciated!

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

The guides below will help further but yes, anything that keeps his mind occupied such as foraging for food is always good. We recommend not using food bowls and instead hiding the veg and the daily one tablespoon of pellets in large piles of loose hay, paper bags with handles cut off, toilet rolls, cardboard boxes etc. Things which make then use their natural foraging skills.

If you see if any of the rescues on our list - Guinea Pig Forum recommended rescues are near you and contact them, they can hopefully help you with dating to find a suitable friend. I hope you can find a friend for Gregory soon.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

 

[fblue254]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

The guides below will help further but yes, anything that keeps his mind occupied such as foraging for food is always good. We recommend not using food bowls and instead hiding the veg and the daily one tablespoon of pellets in large piles of loose hay, paper bags with handles cut off, toilet rolls, cardboard boxes etc. Things which make then use their natural foraging skills.

If you see if any of the rescues on our list - https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/ are near you and contact them, they can hopefully help you with dating to find a suitable friend. I hope you can find a friend for Gregory soon.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Thank you

I've looked at the rescue list prior to posing and unfortunately there aren't any near me. The animal rescues I know of near me are all without guinea pigs for once! When I've looked for other animals there's only ever pigs, and now I'm on the search for a pig they've every other animal imaginable! Typical!
I'll definitely start hiding veg. I usually share it between the 4 different bowls in their pen but I think he'll need something more stimulating now.

 

[Siikibam]

Are any of them within public transport distance, if you can’t drive? The other thing is that sometimes a piggy train can be arranged. Do consider contacting them to see how you’d be able to get a piggy to you. Or perhaps try the RSPCA. Good luck.

 

[Wiebke]

I lost my boy Graham today, and now have Gregory on his own. I've already started searching for a suitable buddy but until then, he'll be on his own.

What sort of things can I do to keep him entertained now he doesn't have a mate? I spend very long hours out the house and am not able to socialise with him for hours and hours, but he's never been a sociable guinea pig anyway! He's a bit of a shy lad.


I've been thinking of making his veggies difficult to get to, hiding them in toilet paper rolls and things like that. Any ideas along those lines that will keep him busy are so appreciated!

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss.

Please be aware that guinea pigs grieve no loss deeply than humans; they just have a stronger survival instinct to pick up their lives. As long as Gregory is eating and drinking, please allow him those initial days of mourning, as hard as it is to see a bereaved piggy being withdrawn. He will come out of it after a few days (average is in my own experience about four days). If you try to push him too much too soon, it will be a rather distressing exercise for both sides. If he is carrying on as normal (as some piggies - and humans - do; it doesn't mean that they are not grieving or feeling the loss), then enrichment is not a bad idea.

You can find some ideas for different levels of interaction and enrichment in this guide here: Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

You may also find this guide here helpful; it contains chapters on challenges with bereaved guinea pigs and how you can spot when they start showing signs that they are missing the stimulation of their own kind: Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Here are our practical tips for looking after bereaved piggies and what you can do for yourself and any children of yours as you grieve: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

All the best for your search for a new friend!

 

[fblue254]

Are any of them within public transport distance, if you can’t drive? The other thing is that sometimes a piggy train can be arranged. Do consider contacting them to see how you’d be able to get a piggy to you. Or perhaps try the RSPCA. Good luck.

Unfortunately not! Nothing nearby, and the local RSPCA has no guinea pigs which is very unusual (but a good thing!).

I'm keeping an eye out on classifieds as, ideally, I'd get an older piggy. I'm (hoping) to be off to uni in a year, so a baby piggy wouldn't be the most convenient. I'd love to take in an older guy, anyway as, as I've only ever had older adult and elderly pigs.

It's only been a day yet. I'm sure something will show up that works for our Greg in the coming week or two.

 

[fblue254]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss.

Please be aware that guinea pigs grieve no loss deeply than humans; they just have a stronger survival instinct to pick up their lives. As long as Gregory is eating and drinking, please allow him those initial days of mourning, as hard as it is to see a bereaved piggy being withdrawn. He will come out of it after a few days (average is in my own experience about four days). If you try to push him too much too soon, it will be a rather distressing exercise for both sides. If he is carrying on as normal (as some piggies - and humans - do; it doesn't mean that they are not grieving or feeling the loss), then enrichment is not a bad idea.

You can find some ideas for different levels of interaction and enrichment in this guide here: Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

You may also find this guide here helpful; it contains chapters on challenges with bereaved guinea pigs and how you can spot when they start showing signs that they are missing the stimulation of their own kind: Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Here are our practical tips for looking after bereaved piggies and what you can do for yourself and any children of yours as you grieve: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

All the best for your search for a new friend!

Thank you so much! That's so much help. Fortunately, Greg's taken the change quite well. He was able to see Graham's body after he'd died which was a massive help. Graham started deteriorating overnight, and he'd taken himself off to be alone to pass, so I think Greg was able to make peace with the loss during that time, bless them. He got lots of fuss this morning in the form of a veggie scavenger hunt and he's perked up so much.

It's just me being the wuss now! It never does get easier, no matter how many pets I've lost.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much! That's so much help. Fortunately, Greg's taken the change quite well. He was able to see Graham's body after he'd died which was a massive help. Graham started deteriorating overnight, and he'd taken himself off to be alone to pass, so I think Greg was able to make peace with the loss during that time, bless them. He got lots of fuss this morning in the form of a veggie scavenger hunt and he's perked up so much.

It's just me being the wuss now! It never does get easier, no matter how many pets I've lost.

All the best!

Here are some other very helpful guides if you get a new companion on spec. Make sure that you have a plan B at the ready in the case the two boys do not gel (i.e. two adjoining cages/one divided large carge). Plan on a quarantine and making sure that you double check the gender beforehand; we see plenty of mis-sexing cases on here.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter on companionship)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Here is the acess link to our full information collection, which you may bookmark. All the guide links in this thread are included in it but we cover many more topics: Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

 

[Siikibam]

As above, please be extra careful when getting via classified ads. Owners will lie to ‘get rid’ of a piggy so be prepared for undisclosed illnesses and other things.

Will you be able to take them with you to uni?

 

[Tnoz]

As above, please be extra careful when getting via classified ads. Owners will lie to ‘get rid’ of a piggy so be prepared for undisclosed illnesses and other things.

Will you be able to take them with you to uni?

Agreed

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[fblue254]

As above, please be extra careful when getting via classified ads. Owners will lie to ‘get rid’ of a piggy so be prepared for undisclosed illnesses and other things.

Will you be able to take them with you to uni?

I usually wouldn't go for an online sale piggy, but with rescues not having any available, I think it's the best bet. I'll definitely be careful, and I don't much mind if they do end up being ill (though of course I'd rather them be healthy!). As long as I'm able to keep them happy and comfy I've got a fair few animals and a good relationship with a couple of exotics vets which is a massive, massive help with my little zoo.

I won't be able to take them to uni, which is the main reason I want an oldie. I have friends that would happily take pigs off of me, but I wouldn't want to plan to offload a long term commitment on them. Of course, if needs must, I'm sure I could rehome, but I would much rather a pig thats enjoying the last year or so of their life so I don't have to stress about finding a new home, nor for them to have the stress of another relocation.

 

[fblue254]

All the best!

Here are some other very helpful guides if you get a new companion on spec. Make sure that you have a plan B at the ready in the case the two boys do not gel (i.e. two adjoining cages/one divided large carge). Plan on a quarantine and making sure that you double check the gender beforehand; we see plenty of mis-sexing cases on here.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter on companionship)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Here is the acess link to our full information collection, which you may bookmark. All the guide links in this thread are included in it but we cover many more topics: Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

That is a big worry of mine, ie. the boys not getting along. I'm already a little bit tight on space, and there would likely have to be a period of the two boys having less than ideal floorspace during intros whilst they're separated. If needs be I'll dismantle my bed and kip in the garden so the pigs can have a run
Quarantine is something I'd forgotten about! I've only ever introduced rats before so I do need to read up on the protocol for pigs. Fingers crossed my luck with rat intros also applies to pigs

Thank you so much again for all the info, so, so helpful

 

[Siikibam]

When introducing its an all or nothing. As in you can’t put them together then separate for the night.

Wishing you all the best in your search.