Bereaved piggy - keep single?

[Snickers Mom]

I'm an experienced piggie mom, but new to the forum and I need some advice. I've always rescued my piggies, so I don't usually know their ages. I rescued a bonded pair of sows over seven years ago. Pebbles died last New Years, and I rescued Snickers from the Humane Society near me. She had been left out in a cardboard box in the cold. She's a rex piggie, and she and Patches bonded almost immediately. Now, after a year and a half, Patches went to piggy heaven. For three days, Snickers wouldn't eat or drink, pee or poop. She's beginning to act herself now, and since I have no idea how old she is, I hesitate to adopt another piggy and go through this all over again. I've never had a single piggy, but want to do the right thing. Any thoughts or advice?

 

[Wiebke]

I'm an experienced piggie mom, but new to the forum and I need some advice. I've always rescued my piggies, so I don't usually know their ages. I rescued a bonded pair of sows over seven years ago. Pebbles died last New Years, and I rescued Snickers from the Humane Society near me. She had been left out in a cardboard box in the cold. She's a rex piggie, and she and Patches bonded almost immediately. Now, after a year and a half, Patches went to piggy heaven. For three days, Snickers wouldn't eat or drink, pee or poop. She's beginning to act herself now, and since I have no idea how old she is, I hesitate to adopt another piggy and go through this all over again. I've never had a single piggy, but want to do the right thing. Any thoughts or advice?

Hi and welcome

BIG HUGS

What an upsetting time for you!

The last standing piggy problem is a big unresolved thorn in most owners' lives because it is difficult to address it. In the USA, it is often even trickier.

I am glad that Snickers has survived her acute bereavement (which is actually a sign that she is heavily emotionally dependent on piggy company). I hope that you have stepped in with feeding and watering support asap.


Our helpful forum guides provide more practical how-to advice and in-depth discussion of the subject in question that we cannot type out in full in every post:

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (includes a chapter on the challenges for bereaved singles as well as a chapter on to how to spot when a guinea pig transfers their full social companionship needs onto you)

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

I'm sorry Patches got the call to piggy heaven. Emotional-healing vibes to Snickers so that she starts eating properly again and keeps doing her piggy things.

 

[Snickers Mom]

Hi and welcome

BIG HUGS

What an upsetting time for you!

The last standing piggy problem is a big unresolved thorn in most owners' lives because it is difficult to address it. In the USA, it is often even trickier.

I am glad that Snickers has survived her acute bereavement (which is actually a sign that she is heavily emotionally dependent on piggy company). I hope that you have stepped in with feeding and watering support asap.


Our helpful forum guides provide more practical how-to advice and in-depth discussion of the subject in question that we cannot type out in full in every post:

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (includes a chapter on the challenges for bereaved singles as well as a chapter on to how to spot when a guinea pig transfers their full social companionship needs onto you)

Thanks so much for your replies and info. Snickers seems to be doing OK, but a little more background is in order. She obviously was mistreated in her previous home. After all, what kind of person would leave an innocent animal out in the cold for four days. This was New Year's holiday. It took a while for her to trust me. I got quite a few nips at first, but now she seems happy and eats out of my hand. But she definitely became the Alpha piggy in short order. I'm concerned that she won't bond with a new friend. Have any of you gone through this?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks so much for your replies and info. Snickers seems to be doing OK, but a little more background is in order. She obviously was mistreated in her previous home. After all, what kind of person would leave an innocent animal out in the cold for four days. This was New Year's holiday. It took a while for her to trust me. I got quite a few nips at first, but now she seems happy and eats out of my hand. But she definitely became the Alpha piggy in short order. I'm concerned that she won't bond with a new friend. Have any of you gone through this?

I have ended up with several bereaved old ladies who would not accept a new companion later in life but others I didn't would, have found new happiness because they were more relaxed and feeling less challenged (fear-aggression).
But then, I always had the option to allow my own piggies to live next to others for stimulation and interaction through the bars.

Guinea Pig Behaviours in their Context