Bereaved piggy

AlohaAmy

AlohaAmy

New Born Pup
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Hi, new member here.
Sadly my piggie had to be put to sleep last Tuesday and she leaves behind a solo friend. They weren’t from the same litter but had lived together for three years (2 of those with a 3rd female)
Getting a new/adopted guinea pig is not an option, but I want to make sure my remaining pig is healthy and happy for the rest of her days.
So my question is ... I have moved my solo pig into a smaller cage with the intention to make her feel more secure and so I can interact with her more, but I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do. She hasn’t eaten her greens tonight (she did eat her cucumber earlier) and I’m panicking that moving her into a smaller cage was the wrong move and that she would be happier in the very large cage she shared with the other two.
Is anyone able to offer any insights or advice?
Thanks in advance
 
Piggies&buns said:
I am sorry for your loss.

Any cage still needs to meet size requirements so it depends on what size the smaller cage is as to whether it is suitable in any event.

How old is she?

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Click to expand...
Thank you, it was really hard to make the decision to put Stimpy to sleep, but it was the right one. Rainbow is 3yrs old and the small cage I’ve transferred her too is 60x100cm (and 120cm high). The old cage that she was in with the other two is huge: 130cm wide, top layer 60cm deep, bottom layer 80cm deep. I can put her back in the big cage (it’s indoors and custom built by my husband for the spare room) I just worried about her rattling around in there all by herself.
Honestly don’t know what to do for the best and I’m an experienced guinea pig owner.
I think I’m still in shock of losing Stimpy and being overly cautious about Rainbow.
 
AlohaAmy said:
Thank you, it was really hard to make the decision to put Stimpy to sleep, but it was the right one. Rainbow is 3yrs old and the small cage I’ve transferred her too is 60x100cm (and 120cm high). The old cage that she was in with the other two is huge: 130cm wide, top layer 60cm deep, bottom layer 80cm deep. I can put her back in the big cage (it’s indoors and custom built by my husband for the spare room) I just worried about her rattling around in there all by herself.
Honestly don’t know what to do for the best and I’m an experienced guinea pig owner.
I think I’m still in shock of losing Stimpy and being overly cautious about Rainbow.
Click to expand...

The 100cm is a bit on the small side even for one piggy. We’d consider it to be a hospital cage rather than a suitable permanent home.

Can I ask why another piggy is not an option?
It’s just that at 3 years old, she is very young to be considering spending the rest of her life alone. However what you shouldn’t do is make any decisions while you are grieving, this is all so new and raw and both you and her need time to grieve.
 
AlohaAmy said:
Thank you, it was really hard to make the decision to put Stimpy to sleep, but it was the right one. Rainbow is 3yrs old and the small cage I’ve transferred her too is 60x100cm (and 120cm high). The old cage that she was in with the other two is huge: 130cm wide, top layer 60cm deep, bottom layer 80cm deep. I can put her back in the big cage (it’s indoors and custom built by my husband for the spare room) I just worried about her rattling around in there all by herself.
Honestly don’t know what to do for the best and I’m an experienced guinea pig owner.
I think I’m still in shock of losing Stimpy and being overly cautious about Rainbow.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am ever so sorry for your loss!

Please leave a bereaved piggy in their familiar surroundings for as much as possible. You are unfortunately adding only more stress right now since guinea pigs are territorial and need all the space they can get as they are a ground roaming group species (ideally with company of their kind). Please put her back and see whether she is eating again on her own or not.
At three years of age, your girl is currently at the peak of her life. The average life span of a health guinea pig is 5-7 years. Unfortunately human and guinea pig needs are never further apart than after the loss of a companion.

Any piggy that is not eating needs syringe feeding support and needs a vet check (see chapter on acute pining in the Looking after a bereaved guinea pig link).
Here is our emergency care link that gives you access to all the necessary information on how to support a guinea pig that has stopped eating. Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Please take the time to also read this guide here for yourself; it will hopefully help you in the next few days and weeks: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
I'm so sorry! Maybe for the time being you can make sure she has all the comforts and a lot of interaction with humans. It sounds like she is sitting in a separate room away from where you generally live? I do agree with the others that 3 is a bit young to be a forever single guinea pig. All the guides on this forum about bereaved guineas (and what to do with your own feelings of grief) have helped me a lot and I highly recommend them. It might feel really soon to get a new guinea pig, but it's also important to think from your guinea pig's best interest. Isn't there any way to get her a companion?
 
@AlohaAmy Hello and welcome on here.
Sorry about your piggie and you and you're single piggie will be missing the lost one.
I know I'm late answering but you really need to give her time to adjust and grief losing her mate. . . She need her comfort and ok logical giving her a small home as not to rattle around on her own. . But you can never give a piggie enough room only as too often happens too little. .
Being in lockdown has taught me ROOM is needed.
Not sure you still with us but why you not wanting to get her a friend. :hmm:
 
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