Bereaved Guinea Pig Sow

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clsmell

clsmell

Junior Guinea Pig
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Unfortunately one of my sows died last night. She had been ill and I found her dead in the middle of the night. Her cage mate, Candy was on the other side of the cage ignoring her.
The reason I am posting is because I want to know how best to help Candy. She was always the most skittish guinea pig I have but today she has been hiding at the back of her cage all day and hasn't eaten her veg as quickly as usual. At the moment her cage is near an un-neutered boars cage. I had been planning to get him neutered after the new year but I am going to try and get him done next week so that him and Candy can be placed together sooner (obviously I will wait the full 6 weeks to put them together). Is there anything else I can do to help her in this time? I am working all weekend but my Mum will be home to keep an eye on Candy and give her any extra attention she needs.
 
clsmell said:
Unfortunately one of my sows died last night. She had been ill and I found her dead in the middle of the night. Her cage mate, Candy was on the other side of the cage ignoring her.
The reason I am posting is because I want to know how best to help Candy. She was always the most skittish guinea pig I have but today she has been hiding at the back of her cage all day and hasn't eaten her veg as quickly as usual. At the moment her cage is near an un-neutered boars cage. I had been planning to get him neutered after the new year but I am going to try and get him done next week so that him and Candy can be placed together sooner (obviously I will wait the full 6 weeks to put them together). Is there anything else I can do to help her in this time? I am working all weekend but my Mum will be home to keep an eye on Candy and give her any extra attention she needs.
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Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss. You are welcome to post a tribute to your girl in our Rainbow Bridge section whenever or if at all you would like to. We all grieve differently, so it has to feel right for you whether or when you'd like to post.

Candy is currently grieving; she'd taken her leave already when you arrived. That is a normal reaction. As long as she is still eating (if only reluctantly), she is thankfully not in danger of giving up, so you can breathe a sigh of relief on that score. She should come out of deep mourning in a few days and pick up life again, if somewhat subdued.
If you are very worried, weigh her daily at the same time and if necessary, offer her some syringe feed. That can kick start the appetite again if she is not eating properly. Otherwise, respect her withdrawal, as hard as that is for you.

You have done the best that you can do by letting your two remaining piggies interact through the bars until he is ready for bonding. That will provide her with company until then and will hopefully help the two make friends during that time.
 
Thanks for the reply. I have weighed Candy every day for the last 3 days and she is actually putting on weight. Would this be because Peppa was the dominant one so now Candy has full access to all the food?
Piglet is booked to be neutered on Tuesday so he should be OK to go in with her mid-January. If she is still grieving before this should I get another sow to go with her to cuddle up with or will being able to have contact through the bars of their cages be OK?
 
clsmell said:
Thanks for the reply. I have weighed Candy every day for the last 3 days and she is actually putting on weight. Would this be because Peppa was the dominant one so now Candy has full access to all the food?
Piglet is booked to be neutered on Tuesday so he should be OK to go in with her mid-January. If she is still grieving before this should I get another sow to go with her to cuddle up with or will being able to have contact through the bars of their cages be OK?
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It is a very good sign that Candy is eating normally and that she is not acutely pining. It can well be that she enjoys the full benefit of the food on offer! Most guinea pigs come out of deep mourning after ca. 3-4 days to pick up their normal life again. This doesn't mean that they are not missing a friend, it just means that guinea pigs have their own strong survival imperatives.

As to another sow companion, you will have to see. I would however not get a companion unless you can date to see whether the two like each other. If possible and unless Candy remains very depressed, I would rather recommend to plump for a pair.
It is very easy to get a Trio that ends up with an outsider problem of some sort; even with a cross gender trio. Two sows+a husboar trios are fine if both sows are best frriends and they both have accepted the boar with open paws, otherwise you will find that two will get on happily, but the third is shut out.
We have got a recommended UK rescues locator on the top bar and can provide a link to a list of recommended rescues in some other countries, if wished.
 
clsmell said:
Unfortunately one of my sows died last night. She had been ill and I found her dead in the middle of the night. Her cage mate, Candy was on the other side of the cage ignoring her.
The reason I am posting is because I want to know how best to help Candy. She was always the most skittish guinea pig I have but today she has been hiding at the back of her cage all day and hasn't eaten her veg as quickly as usual. At the moment her cage is near an un-neutered boars cage. I had been planning to get him neutered after the new year but I am going to try and get him done next week so that him and Candy can be placed together sooner (obviously I will wait the full 6 weeks to put them together). Is there anything else I can do to help her in this time? I am working all weekend but my Mum will be home to keep an eye on Candy and give her any extra attention she needs.
Click to expand...
 
We too lost our baby girl last night and feel for you. It's devastating and worrying for their cage mate adds to the despair. We are keeping a close eye on Marshy and giving extra attention but it's such a worry. Marshy has always been the skittish one like yours so I am worried if she needs a new friend that she won't accept it. Sending hugs to you and hoping they are together in a happy place. Miss my girl so much
 
Thanks it has been horrible without Peppa. Candy seems a lot better now though because I have my boar Piglet housed next to her. He was neutered last week so should be ready to live with her mid January. They already lay next to each other all the time and when Piglet goes to the vet for his check ups Candy hides in her tunnel and refuses to come out. I hope yours can find a friend soon.
 
Aw how sweet that Candy misses Peppa when he goes to the vets. Hope their bond goes really well when the time comes.
 
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