Bereaved Boar

[Katpiggy]

Hi there,

I am looking for some advice.

My 4year old Barney recently passed. He was the dominant one of my pair and although they never had massive fights, the two didn't really care that much for one another.

Now my boar Ted has been left behind. He is roughly 4years old also (I got him from a rescue) He seems perfectly fine in himself and lives in a huge cage indoors.

I am wondering if anyone has advice on if it would be wise to get him a new piggy friend.

I'm not sure how the dominance thing works with a young boar and an old boar and if it would pose an issue for Ted. (I must add Ted is not neutered)

 

[KathT]

Your best bet would be to take him boar dating at a rescue, then he can find a suitable companion. I rescued a very young boar pup to place with my bereaved boar (he too was sub-dominant) and that went well too, though they did meet as a boar date just to make sure. Boar dating saves getting a boar that yours doesn’t get on with.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I am sorry for your loss.
It would absolutely be the best thing for Ted to be bonded with another piggy. Boar dating at a rescue is a good way to do this. Age is not as important a factor when it comes to finding a friend - it is character compatibility that counts and with boar dating, ted will be able to choose his own friend resulting in a good bond. If you were to go out and just buy a new piggy then you have no way of knowing whether the two will like each other and then there is the risk of ending up with two single piggies.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there,

I am looking for some advice.

My 4year old Barney recently passed. He was the dominant one of my pair and although they never had massive fights, the two didn't really care that much for one another.

Now my boar Ted has been left behind. He is roughly 4years old also (I got him from a rescue) He seems perfectly fine in himself and lives in a huge cage indoors.

I am wondering if anyone has advice on if it would be wise to get him a new piggy friend.

I'm not sure how the dominance thing works with a young boar and an old boar and if it would pose an issue for Ted. (I must add Ted is not neutered)

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss!

The best way forward is to rescue your boy at a good rescue under expert supervision. Age comes long behind mutual liking and character compatibility, so you can look both at similar aged boars and not just youngsters.
Rescue dating means that you come home with a fully quarantined/vet cared companion only after acceptance has happened and you have the rescue to fall back on in case the bond is running into trouble. This way you neatly avoid all the usual pitfalls if you have to find a companion yourself without allowing your boy to have a say who he wants to be with.
Many of the rescues are increasingly sensitive to the dilemmas faced by loving owners wanting their bereaved no longer quite young piggies to have companionship but not wanting to continue the see-saw of owning piggies. There is also a number of bereaved piggies fetching up in rescue, so it is worth contacting any good standard rescues you can get to for suitable companions to try your boy with.

Keep in mind that as boars age, their testosterone output gradually fizzles out; dominant boars tend to mellow in old age and become a lot easier to live with.

These are the rescues we can vouch for: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (has information about the ages and companionship options)