Advice needed

  • Thread starter Thread starter rolacolacube
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rolacolacube

Hi everyone

Hope someone can help me.

I bought 2 gorgeous guinea pigs in January this year. They were 8-10 weeks old when I got them.

For a couple of weeks after I bought them, they were fighting and the larger guinea pig, Maisy, was kicking the smaller one, Missy, out of the shelter. After talking to a friend of mine who has experience with guinea pigs, she suggested buying a seperate little shelter to go in the cage so they can sleep seperately although in the same cage. This worked fantastically and after a week or so, I could tell the difference already. They were getting on so well, so much so that although I left the other shelter in, they both shared a shelter.

Unfortunately, my little girl, Missy, passed away last week. I had only had her for 5 weeks but I was and am devastated. I am unsure what happened exactly but when I got her out of the cage to move her whilst I was cleaning out the cage, she was cold and although she was moving, I knew something wasn't right. I telephoned the vet's who were shut and then an emergency service but they were engaged. Within 20 minutes, she had passed away.

I took my other girl, Maisy, to the vet's yesterday to make sure she was ok and he said she was healthy apart from a few sneezes which he said may have been down to the bedding I was using, which I have now changed.

I asked the vet if he thought the best thing for Maisy was to get her a friend and he said yes. The problem now is that I am worried that if i introduce another girl, they will fight. If she fought with her 'sister', is she going to get on with a 'stranger'?.

I am sorry for such a huge post.

Thank you for reading.

Many thanks.

Nikki
 
make sure you introduce them in neutral territory ie: on your lap or in run / playpen is ideal. If this is not possible then scrub the cage to get rid of the smells of the previous piggies and maybe do some furniture adjustment so the old piggie isn't too used to it. Make sure as well as two houses you have two bowls and two drinking bottles and a few toys so they are not fighting over the same ones.

There may be grumbles at the beginning and could even take them a couple of weeks to settle down but hopefully it should all be ok! :)

Good luck :)
 
Thank you so much for your advice.

Do you think it is best for Maisy to have company? Although I don't want to replace Missy, I want the best for Maisy.

Thanks for your help.
 
yes I thought george was happy on his own until I got him a friend as he seemed happy and did jump / popcorn around etc...

It is only now after him spending a couple of weeks with my newboy tiger I realise that he was missing out as they seem to love chattering away to each other and playing and it was only when george met tiger that he started to become cheeky and shout for veg etc.. which is really cute to hear!
 
yea piggies do need company, my piggie Tallulah is on her own at the mo and is quite terratorial, so I'm not sure when i introduce her to a new friend if she will accept her.

Some piggies just wont accept new piggies, but mostly its about finding the right one.

Is there a rescue near you that could help with the bonding and pickking out a newby?
 
Hi I'm sorry to hear about you losing your piggy and so young too!:( Are your pigs kept outside, did they get too cold?

Nearly all pigs prefer company and i would definately try to get her a friend or she could be lonely. It is a good idea to find a rescue as they should help with the bonding and if it doesn't work out with one pig they will try another.

whereabouts are you? then i'm sure someone will tell you where your nearest rescue is!

Good luck and i hope it all works out x
 
Hi everyone

Thanks very much for all the replies. Its all really appreciated.

My girlies are indoor guinea pigs.

I think Missy may have choked on something to be honest. She couldn't close her mouth and kept jerking her head. It was so awful. It happened so quick. I miss her.

The vet said it could have been septicaemia (blood poisioning) which apparently is common in guinea pigs.

I live in Birmingham. I have researched to find some rescue/adoption centres but apart from the RSPCA centre in Walsall, I can't seem to find many.

It is best to get a younger or older companion for Maisy?

Thanks for all your help everyone x
 
To be honest, I wouldn't mind if it was a girl or a neutered boy, as long as they got along ok. Am very open to getting one from a rescue/adoption centre x
 
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