Bereaved Piggy: what should I do next?

[ScruffandGizmo]

I need some advice following the loss of my sweet boy Gizmo this week.
My other piggie, Scruff is miserable and although he is now eating he's loosing weight - he can be up or down by 30g and overall now hes lost 55g (weighed alternate days)
Originally Scruff came from PAH adoption with the advice that he should be kept alone, after about 6 months he started crying for me in the night if he heard me moving around, after some research suggested loneliness I adopted Gizmo, they were going to live side by side, only it did not work out like that. They were constantly trying to get to each other and after careful consideration and under close observation I allowed them to, there was chattering of teeth and an occasional yawn on mornings at first (didn't bed them down together initially) but they got along just fine and Scruff became more relaxed following and copying Gizmo - they never did fight, Scruff nibbled Gizmo's coat a handful of times and occasional squabbles over vegggies.
Scruff is 4.5 years old I've had him almost 3 years, hes healthy having fully recovered from having a large cyst removed in October.
His behaviour changed as Gizmo's health declined he was stressed and nervous, I did allow him time with the body.
I feel I should find another companion for Scruff asap I don't know whether I should try him with a baby gp, adopt an older gp for side by side companionship or to try to adopt/find another gp cage mate.
Its the PAH original advice that concerns me the most, they said he was handed in for fighting with his brother. He was my first piggie, it took a long time to gain his trust. Id be devastated if he injured any piggy companion I introduced to him, I keep feeling that Gizmo was an exceptional gp and perfect companion for Scruff and that its just not realistic to hope that I can repeat that.

 

[ChiefJustice]

It's probably best to book a vet appointment for little Scruff just to make sure his weight loss is a result of stress/grieving as you've suggested and not the result of an underlying medical issue.

Hope all goes well for you!

 

[ScruffandGizmo]

It's probably best to book a vet appointment for little Scruff just to make sure his weight loss is a result of stress/grieving as you've suggested and not the result of an underlying medical issue.

Hope all goes well for you!

Thankyou, I am taking him to the vet shortly as I already have an appt that was booked for Gizmo and I do want him checking just in case, he was fine until 2 days before we lost G, its not just the weight loss but the change in his behaviour which is why I think keeping him as a single piggy really isnt an option

 

[ChiefJustice]

Awk, that's a shame for him. He must be really upset that his little friend is gone. That's great that you've got him booked in to see the vet - better to be safe than sorry and rule out any sort of medical cause.

Can't say I'm an expert on bonding but I always found with my old lot that neutered males tended to bond better with females than other males? If you're looking to bond him with a new little companion I'm sure there will be someone here that can help!

 

[Wiebke]

I need some advice following the loss of my sweet boy Gizmo this week.
My other piggie, Scruff is miserable and although he is now eating he's loosing weight - he can be up or down by 30g and overall now hes lost 55g (weighed alternate days)
Originally Scruff came from PAH adoption with the advice that he should be kept alone, after about 6 months he started crying for me in the night if he heard me moving around, after some research suggested loneliness I adopted Gizmo, they were going to live side by side, only it did not work out like that. They were constantly trying to get to each other and after careful consideration and under close observation I allowed them to, there was chattering of teeth and an occasional yawn on mornings at first (didn't bed them down together initially) but they got along just fine and Scruff became more relaxed following and copying Gizmo - they never did fight, Scruff nibbled Gizmo's coat a handful of times and occasional squabbles over vegggies.
Scruff is 4.5 years old I've had him almost 3 years, hes healthy having fully recovered from having a large cyst removed in October.
His behaviour changed as Gizmo's health declined he was stressed and nervous, I did allow him time with the body.
I feel I should find another companion for Scruff asap I don't know whether I should try him with a baby gp, adopt an older gp for side by side companionship or to try to adopt/find another gp cage mate.
Its the PAH original advice that concerns me the most, they said he was handed in for fighting with his brother. He was my first piggie, it took a long time to gain his trust. Id be devastated if he injured any piggy companion I introduced to him, I keep feeling that Gizmo was an exceptional gp and perfect companion for Scruff and that its just not realistic to hope that I can repeat that.

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss!

Can you get to one of these recommended good standard rescues here where you and Scruff will be in safe hands for allowing him to choose who he wants to get on with? By boar dating at a good rescue, you only come home with a new friend if acceptance has happened (mutual liking and character compatibility are key for a successful boar bond) and you also have the rescue to fall back on in case your bond is not working out for some reason. You can also be guaranteed that you only adopt a fully quarantined and properly sexed piggy. You can look at older boys as well as young ones. It very much depends on what the rescues have in at the time. For that reason, always contact all rescues you can get to.
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

Please be aware that shop baby boars that are not personality matched and that are all too often kept in far too small 'starter cages' (which are minimal for even a hamster!) are not a good mix when their testicles start descending and they experience huge testosterone spikes with no chance of getting away from each other. Fights are the result - and it is NOT the boys' fault!

The testosterone output is at its highest during the teenage months from 4-14 months. It starts settling down once they reach adulthood at around 15 months and then gradually decreases and eventually fizzles out completely at the age Scruff is now. Boars definitely mellow with age and are much easier to bond when they are older than when they are 6 months old and at an all-time hormone high!
Since Scruff has already bonded once at the most difficult age for bonding and is desperate for company at an age where the hormones are no longer impacting on him, I would think that you are in with a very good chance of finding him another friend.

 

[Wiebke]

PS: 30-40g is the daily variance between a full/empty tummy and bladder. The regular weight is usually not an absolute weight but a bandwidth in which the weight swings around in shorter intervals; it is usually about 30-50g wide. Only a weight loss over 50g is starting to be a concern, especially if it continues. But it is always a good idea to have a bereaved piggy vet checked to make sure that the lowered immune system is not bringing an underlying developing problem to the fore.

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[ScruffandGizmo]

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss!

Can you get to one of these recommended good standard rescues here where you and Scruff will be in safe hands for allowing him to choose who he wants to get on with? By boar dating at a good rescue, you only come home with a new friend if acceptance has happened (mutual liking and character compatibility are key for a successful boar bond) and you also have the rescue to fall back on in case your bond is not working out for some reason. You can also be guaranteed that you only adopt a fully quarantined and properly sexed piggy. You can look at older boys as well as young ones. It very much depends on what the rescues have in at the time. For that reason, always contact all rescues you can get to.
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

Please be aware that shop baby boars that are not personality matched and that they are all too often kept in far too small 'starter cages' (which are minimal for even a hamster!) are not a good mix when their testicles start descending and they experience huge testosterone spikes with no chance of getting away from each other. Fights are the result - and it is NOT the boys' fault!

The testosterone output is at its all time highest during the teenage months from 4-14 months. It starts settling down once they reach adulthood at around 15 months and then gradually settles down and eventually fizzles out completely at the age Scruff is now. Boars definitely mellow with age and are much easier to bond when they are older than when they are 6 months old and at an all-time hormone high!
Since Scruff has already bonded once at the most difficult age for bonding and is desperate for company at an age where the hormones are no longer impacting on him, I would think that you are in with a very good chance of finding him another friend.

Thank you, this is encouraging information :-) I found a rescue on here an hour from me that I wasn't aware of. I will be contacting them tomorrow. I really wasn't sure about obtaining a baby piggie not just because Scruff is stressed but when so many older guineas are needing homes, I was told that Gizmo was the same age as Scruff but found out that he was at least 6 so maybe that's why he was such a calm boy.
Scruff had stopped eating his hay and pellets for a day or so and he's not as enthusiastic about veggies so I have been keeping an eye on his weight, the vets appt is 2 weeks away and as Scruff is rather *ahem* well upholstered I am not too worried about the weight loss as long as it doesn't continue. He is so withdrawn, he even had a nap on me this morning which is a first. I hope to move things forward for him asap.

 

[ScruffandGizmo]

Awk, that's a shame for him. He must be really upset that his little friend is gone. That's great that you've got him booked in to see the vet - better to be safe than sorry and rule out any sort of medical cause.

Can't say I'm an expert on bonding but I always found with my old lot that neutered males tended to bond better with females than other males? If you're looking to bond him with a new little companion I'm sure there will be someone here that can help!

 

[ScruffandGizmo]

Awk, that's a shame for him. He must be really upset that his little friend is gone. That's great that you've got him booked in to see the vet - better to be safe than sorry and rule out any sort of medical cause.

Can't say I'm an expert on bonding but I always found with my old lot that neutered males tended to bond better with females than other males? If you're looking to bond him with a new little companion I'm sure there will be someone here that can help!

Scruff isn't neutered and he was a bit touch and go with GA when he had his op so I wouldn't consider neutering, I now have a number of a gp rescue in the next town so I'm going to follow that up tomorrow. Hoping for the best for my boy, thanks

 

[Betsy]

Really hope Scruff finds a new friend. He sounds a lovely but lonely boy.

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry you lost Gizmo x Hoping Scruff can find a new friend to cheer him up x

 

[ScruffandGizmo]

Thank you all for your replies. I've been phoning around but only been able to find much younger boars for rehoming, however I contacted the nearest Guinea Pig Rescue yesterday, and they may have some boars aged 3+ after quarantine in a few weeks. I would take Scruff 'dating' in the hope that there's a good match for him. I really hope he's on his best behaviour - he can be a bit of a diva when he's being his usual self. I am doing my best to keep him happy and healthy until then.