Any suggestions?

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Mabel

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Hi all. I'm new here so hope this is in the right place.

My rabbit, Murphy just died last night and very sad. Murphy lived with Mabel the guinea pig. (i know some believe pigs and rabbits shouldn't really be together, as different feeding etc etc. but they were actually happy together)
Now i'm left with a lone pig, 8 months old, black rex called Mabel.

I just wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions.

Amy xx
 
I'm sure having been used to company Mabel will feel lonely, perhaps you could get another sow to keep her company
 
You need to get her another piggie friend! Girls are really easy to bond thankfully :) If you contact a local rescue they will probably help you with bonding etc too and you get to give a forever home to a needy pig.
 
mabel

so sorry for your lost of murphy:0:0:0 as mabel was kept with a bunny i would quarentine her for at least 4 weeks as bunnys are carriers of diseases that can kill piggies. i would scrub out their cage too, perhaps give her a teddy to cuddle up to or bring her inside so she has you for company. then after quarentine i would take her to a rescue and let her pick out a friend. hugs to mabel and you:rose:rose:rose and know murphy is at peace bickying in the clouds chasing critters around and he is watching over you and mabel:(:( welcome to the forums from me and the girls from oz. have fun, make heaps of friends and learn lots.
 
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thanks guys

thanks guys,
i've already brought her inside. I'll keep an eye on her i think, for the next few weeks to see how she gets on. you might be right- she might be better off with some company we'll have to see.
I doubt there'll be another companion to replace the one she/we lost in Murphy tho. :(
He will be sadly missed. 8...
 
very sorry to hear of the loss of murphy.

I would perhaps wait a couple of weeks, then get Mabel a friend. Guineas thrive on company (of their own kind!)
 
Sorry to hear about Murphy....

Yes, I reckon Mabel would need another friend. Have a look in the local rescue if you can pick up a sow for Mabel....take her with you to make a friend. She'll be sad for a while having lost Murphy but a new friend will enlighten her and make her feel happy again.
 
definately look at the local rescues for a guinea pig friend for mabel. rabbits and guinea pigs really don't make suitable pairings,even though they do form very strong bonds with each other. their dietary needs differ, there are medical implications and safty reasons also. Anyway I'm really sorry for your loss, its never easy when a little one passes over. :laluot_29:
 
i think you will probably need to get her a friend as people have already mentioned piggies love company of there own kind.
Good Luck and sorry to hear about your loss. xx
 
I am very sorry for your loss 8...
Poor Mabel will be lonely so yes, I agree with the others about a sow to befriend her. Your local rescue can help :)

Welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy it here.
 
Thanks everyone,

update:

Well Mabel has eaten something today though not much, but better than nothing. :) She's eaten (pinched) a grape, a slice of carrot and a couple of pieces of her dried food. I got some timothy hay with added dandelion and herbs which she is munching on. I had to remove her tunnel though, before she would eat anything!
I have had to clip nails too 2day, caught one of them too. so out came the frozen sweetcorn, and cornflour! It bled quite a lot, felt awful. mallethead :... I've never caught them before. It seems to have stopped now though. She's back in the cage now, and i'll check on her later. All her nails are black, bar one clear nail on her front foot. So difficult to see. She's so good though, she doesn't mind being handled. Anyway she lets you know when she's had enough! lol.

since my last post I have been on the phone to my local RSPCA (though not a lover of the RSPCA really) and a few other RSPCA places in the region to see about getting a new guinea. They dont have many. closest RSPCA had a couple of sows when i phoned but they are bonded and wasn't sure about a pair as Mabel may feel left out. :{ What do you think?
I'm not really sure where my local rescue for guineas is! (I rescued my dog from pembrokeshire (8hrs away!), and rabbit from work. Mabel had been bred at work (planned) and homes etc sorted before they were born!)
I'm in chorley/preston area (lancs).

Looks like i'm off dogwalking in the rain now! what a week!:aJFBQ00142070108C:

Amy x
 
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i've heard about that one yeah, but it's still a little too far for me. it's over the other side of manchester i think. :\
I might go have a peek at pets at home - i hate how they are kept in many pet shops tho! :{
 
yeah i noticed some ppl mention that in other posts. may be easier to seek out a lone/single sow this way.
I'll let you all know how i get on. :)
 
Mabel now has a new cage mate! She had been on her own for a week, but looked like she was giving up to be honest and she'd only eaten 1 slice of carrot, 2 grapes and few pellets of food in that time!
I have been trying to let them get used to each other through the cages before putting them into the neutral cage/territory. I let them both in the cage last night (after a few hours) for around an hour. They seemed ok, both fairly quiet and not talking! I separated them during the night (but so they could see each other) just in case! I didnt want to come down to skin and hair flying this morning!
Anyway I've had them together for a couple of hours this morning again. Mabel definitely has improved since - she has actually had a few drinks - without any prompting and she's even eaten a small amount of food. I have noticed though that she likes to boss the new piggy about! She keeps almost nipping, the new piggy on the bum and pushes her out of the way. Is this normal? The poor new piggy squeaks like mad when she's doing this! For the last 20-30 mins or so they have been very quiet in the cage, and mabel hasn't been chasing her about.
I really want them to get along. Do you think this is normal behaviour? I think when she was with Murphy he may have kept her in check so to speak. He was the more dominant one. Could this be what Mabel is trying to do?

Spike know's something is up, he's fascinated bless him - but he knows to stay clear of them! lol.

I'll have a try at uploading some pics if anyone would like to see some!

Amy x
 
Got some pics!

This is Mabel
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And this is the new piggy,

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d175151a2925464c1a6528b8319bb29f.JPG


I think thy're cute! :)
 
i think its also a good idea to swap cages. so mabel goes in new guys cage and vice versa. they get used to being covered in the other pigs smell then.

d175151a2925464c1a6528b8319bb29f.JPG

what big teeth you've got!
 
I think they seem ok now. but still going to separate them again into seperate sleeping quarters tonight! 'Just in case' - i dont want to push it.
They've been together for 8 hours now, and been outside together. Mabel is still pushing the little one around a bit, but not as much - I think the little one is learning that Mabel is boss perhaps?!

New piggy has not got a name yet. It will have to be something to go with Mabel!

JML
I think that's a good idea, and will do that tonight when they go to bed. That way they can each get used to each others smells etc.
And yeah that's the first thing i noticed when i saw her! It does look like she has a couple of teeth/pegs showing doesn't it! But it's the bottom of her nose! hee hee!
Perhaps in that case Peggy would be good name?! lol.

Maybe I'll start a thread asking for name suggestions or start a poll :))rolleyes lol!
 
I think she looks like a "miss chief"! Pronounced Mischief! Or maybe Ettie? I thought Ettie when I saw her! Or maybe Sable? x
 
Two years on....

Just thought I'd add an update! not been online for donkeys!
Well two years on and Peggy has grown into a lovely pig. But unfortunately is a lone pig once more. Sadly Mabel died almost a year ago, just before Christmas. Coming up to the 1year anniversary now. :( So Peggy came inside and has been inside all year! It's hard to believe that Peg's now a 2 year old! She seems happy on her own and gets cuddles & attention all to herself now.
Does anyone else have lone pigs that seem happier on their own? I know they're meant to be sociable animals.
 
Hiya it's good to see you back. Really sorry about Mabel. Peggy sounds lovely. I think the same thing applies to her as did Mabel, some company to cuddle up to. Usually the only lone pigs are those that have had numerous failed bondings. I'm sure she is loving your cuddles though whilst you consider options. x
 
Hiya, Sorry to hear you lost Mabel.
I believe Peggy would love a mate to interact and snuggle up with. You could try Logiebear, I don't think she's too far away from you.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Sorry to hear about Mabel.

I had a lone boar called Basil for nearly 4 years and the whole time he lived on his own as he was very aggressive towards anything else. He was always extremely happy and was probably my only 'mummys pig' as he used to come up to me and stand on his back legs wanting a hug. Even when I had him put down he ran over to me for a hug :( :)
 
hi sorry about mabel. Peggy would definitely love a friend. Try Becklen rescue they're in Lancs and would be able to help with finding a friend for Peggy. Don't resort to pets at home! X
 
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