Advice On An Older Piggy

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lauralucy

lauralucy

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Hello,

I have a piggy called Butter, she will be 7 in April, she currently lives with Nelly (male 5years old),Maria (3YO) and Dotty (nearly 2) up until a few weeks ago she also lived with Fluff (who I got at the same time as butter) and Toffee who would of been 6 in April, Unfortunately I lost both Fluff (28th Dec) and Toffee ( 11th Jan)

since then she has been quiet doesn't interact a lot with the others and is not eating as much veg as she should be (munches through the hay and nuggets) still drinks plenty.

just after some advice do I leave her with them and hope she starts to come round a bit? do I try and get her an older friend to add in to the group? separate her?

any advice is welcome. I just want her to be happy, but I know she is missing her friends.
 
It's a difficult one, but if your little lady seems sad in the group I dont really feel removing her entirely would help her much. You may find that she was always a bit of an outsider and had bonded better with her older friends. If she was mine I would personally give her a good few months just to see if she settles.
It may be that she was happier in a big group and is feeling a little exposed now their numbers are down.

If after a while you really think she is not coping then maybe start trying to find another older sow to join the group. Or if you have space an older friend she could live with sperately from the others.

It all very personal to your choice and your piggy who only you know. But that is what I would do :)
 
What about putting a little tebby bear in with her , thats what I did before I got another right guinea pig to go with my
 
I'm monitoring her for now. Think we shall go to the vet just to check her teeth (just in case) nelly curled up with her earlier.
 
So sorry for the loss of Fluff and Toffee.

While a vet check will not hurt it could be that she is simply grieving for her friends. Whether she understands what has happened or whether she just knows they are no longer there with her we do not know. Either way I guess like us 'hoomans' who all deal with grief differently and in our own time perhaps she needs to deal with this also.

I would personally leave her with the group if that is what she is used to but perhaps she needs some more love and TLC than normal at the moment from while she goes through this sad time.

Sending *hugs* to you both :hug:
 
thank you, we do have lots of mummy cuddles and we have some treats to :)
 
I had a similar thing happen last month with my group of 5. I lost Minky & Custard in the fortnight before Christmas. The 3 remaining piggies, Rhubard (5), Minnie (7) & Rex (5) were a bit subdued for first 2 or 3 weeks, leaving lots of their veggies. They're just getting back to normal now. I suppose piggies too go through a period of mourning for their departed cage mates. It will vary from one to another x
 
It sounds like she is very much mourning for her long time friends; if she was closer to them, then even the company of others won't keep her from grieving. She should hopefully come out of it after a while.

Until then, please monitor her weight and food intake as well as her general health a bit more closer than usual. Grieving can lower the immune system and can bring underlying issues to the fore, especially in older guinea pigs. It is always an anxious time for a loving owner, who has to cope with their own feelings of loss.
 
I just want her to know that she's not alone we all love her and she has me and the other piggies.
I worry that she isn't eating enough veggies to keep up her vitamin c level she'll only really eat lettuce and cucumber and possibly a few strands of parsley or coriander.
 
lauralucy said:
I just want her to know that she's not alone we all love her and she has me and the other piggies.
I worry that she isn't eating enough veggies to keep up her vitamin c level she'll only really eat lettuce and cucumber and possibly a few strands of parsley or coriander.
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If she is eating parsley and coriander plus her pellets, she is getting vitamin C. If in doubt, you can give 1/8 of a human vitamin C tablet, either directly or by dissolving in 1 ml of water and syringing directly - but not more, as she IS getting vitamin C.

Keep weighing her daily before her dinner to spot any gradual loss of weight over several days.
 
just an update, after a vet visit on Monday with a follow up next Monday, we have been back to the vets today, she stopped eating, wasn't pooping and had generally just given up. I tried syringe feeding, water and she wasn't having any of it, so she has today gone off to Rainbow bridge to join her old group. I hope they are all popcorning and eating lots of grass together. x
 
Oh that is sad :( sorry to hear that. I hope they are all having a lovely time around the Rainbow Bridge x
 
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