Bereaved piggie

[munchmonster]

We had to say good bye to Millie early yesterday and since then Wilf has been hiding under the vetbed and only coming out for certain food, He will eat his hay but he hasn't drunk any water. I've read the bereaved piggie guides on the forum and do understand he is grieving and am giving him cucumber and little gem lettuce in the hope of getting some hydration into him. He has never been one to drink loads of water, but I'm now getting paranoid about his health. Should I watch and wait or start giving him water by syringe? Any suggestions very welcome

 

[Wiebke]

We had to say good bye to Millie early yesterday and since then Wilf has been hiding under the vetbed and only coming out for certain food, He will eat his hay but he hasn't drunk any water. I've read the bereaved piggie guides on the forum and do understand he is grieving and am giving him cucumber and little gem lettuce in the hope of getting some hydration into him. He has never been one to drink loads of water, but I'm now getting paranoid about his health. Should I watch and wait or start giving him water by syringe? Any suggestions very welcome

Hi!

If he is eating hay, he will also drink on his own as much as he needs. Just don't panic and overfeed. The water intake can vary enormously on an individual basis but he is not in any danger of dehydrating as the need to drink comes actually before the need to eat. An eating piggy is also always a drinking piggy, whether they get their fluid mostly from veg or from the water bottle.

Just try to take a step back until your own jittery nerves are settling down and brace yourself for a big adrenaline hangover low when that eventually happens. Wilf will keep. He is NOT acutely pining and while he will be low, he will keep until you are over the very worst.

Take good care of yourself.

 

[munchmonster]

Thanks Wiebke, that's helped loads. Including the many vet visits it's been a terrible few days.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Wiebke, that's helped loads. Including the many vet visits it's been a terrible few days.

Here is our grieving guide. You may find it helpful for yourself in making sense of what you are currently experiencing and what you'll go through in the coming days and weeks. Being jittery in the wake of a serious illness or loss is a very common reaction. I do suffer from it myself.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry you’ve lost Millie, I hope Wilf comes round soon x

 

[Jerry Tom]

I ordered for our Tom little fluffy plush friend, he looks very similar to Jerry. Not sure it’s helping but worth to try.

 

[munchmonster]

Ahhh thats cute I will give that a try. Tom looks like the male version of Millie, she was ginger with a soft, shiny coat

 

[Wiebke]

Ahhh thats cute I will give that a try. Tom looks like the male version of Millie, she was ginger with a soft, shiny coat

I have found it much more effective and conforting if you provide something to snuggle into that still retains the scent of the passed away comrade. In my experience it is the scent that is much more important - it is a much weaker sense in humans than in guinea pigs so we tend to overlook just how scent driven piggies are. Soft toys that don't have a guinea pig scent tend to ignored, like most other toys.