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Bereavement?

nedajaffa

nedajaffa

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 27, 2013
Messages
220
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284
Points
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Location
West Berkshire
Hi all,
Looking for some advice. A week ago we lost our darling boy Rollie. So very sad for us both but most sad for Fozz who has been left behind. 😢 Since then, he has been very much out of sorts. He's not really eating for himself and is only picking at food. Initially we worried that he too was ill so he's been checked over by the vets with no real outcome. He has lost quite a bit of weight. We're stepping in with cc feeding and daily weigh ins.

I've read the article on here about bereavement and wonder whether he's pining? He and Rollie were together from birth. I always joked and called them "The Odd Couple".

I know that he should probably have a new companion but...

Are there any rescues that are doing boar dating during this time?
Are there any rescues that offer the temporary rehoming as the article mentioned? Our circumstances have changed and I'm reticent about getting trapped in a Guinea pig loop that I can't give my all to. Also, Fozzy is not a young piggy.

They already live inside and we've tried to keep things in there that smelt of Rollie, within reason. It just breaks my heart seeing him so unFozzy.

We're based in Newbury, Berkshire but would be willing to travel (we routinely travelled to Northampton to see Simon and Kim for Rollie's dental work)

Any advice or suggestions gratefully recieved.
 
I’m sorry for your loss. You are right in saying Fozz is likely still grieving.

With regards to breaking the loop, there are a few rescues that will foster out a companion for a single piggy. Once your piggy passes away then you ‘surrender’ the companion back to the rescue. So perhaps email round explaining your circumstances and see what they say.

Otherwise I don’t know that rescues are up and running as yet. I’d email some and let them know you’re looking for a companion. There are likely waiting lists already.

I hope you find a solution that works for both you and Fozz.
 
I’m so sorry you’ve lost Rollie, sending you big hugs at this sad time. I was reading that Debbie furryfriends offers a boar bonding service if you can find the right piggie. So sorry for Fozz, they really suffer when they are birth brothers, when my Bill died at five in February it hit Ted hard, he really is a shadow of his former self, it’s like somehow the deceased piggies takes with them part of the others character. Good luck in find a new friend for Fozz, the rescues are certainly adopting out again.
Sleep tight Gorgeous boy 🌈
 
Siikibam said:
I’m sorry for your loss. You are right in saying Fozz is likely still grieving.

With regards to breaking the loop, there are a few rescues that will foster out a companion for a single piggy. Once your piggy passes away then you ‘surrender’ the companion back to the rescue. So perhaps email round explaining your circumstances and see what they say.

Otherwise I don’t know that rescues are up and running as yet. I’d email some and let them know you’re looking for a companion. There are likely waiting lists already.

I hope you find a solution that works for both you and Fozz.
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Thank you so much. I've begun to email a few to see what the situation is. So tricky in the current climate too.
 
so sorry for your loss... I hope you find a solution for you and Fozz x
 
Hello and course I'm really sorry about Rollie.
Sounds like he and Fozz were best mates . .
He defo is pinning for his mate and you guys are ..
It's lovely you so wanting to help the little guy. . Coming on here reading about bereavement and asking for options.
Great advise being given and with luck you all get a good result.
Fozz you be a good piggie and eat some food. x
 
Bill & Ted said:
I’m so sorry you’ve lost Rollie, sending you big hugs at this sad time. I was reading that Debbie furryfriends offers a boar bonding service if you can find the right piggie. So sorry for Fozz, they really suffer when they are birth brothers, when my Bill died at five in February it hit Ted hard, he really is a shadow of his former self, it’s like somehow the deceased piggies takes with them part of the others character. Good luck in find a new friend for Fozz, the rescues are certainly adopting out again.
Sleep tight Gorgeous boy 🌈
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Thank you, and I'm so sorry to hear about Bill. I remember us talking (possibly this time last year) as we were both eagerly awaiting Kim and Simon returning from holiday. Is Ted living alone now or does he have a companion? I know what you mean about the deceased pig taking a part of their friend with them. Fozz is just so sad. I thought he'd be OK as the first few days he seemed perky. Think he just thought Rollie had gone to the vets....as soon as relatity hit in, Fozz became very depressed. It absolutely breaks your heart. 💔
So important to find the right piggy. Soany people have said to just get "another" but each pig is special and unique.
 
nedajaffa said:
Thank you, and I'm so sorry to hear about Bill. I remember us talking (possibly this time last year) as we were both eagerly awaiting Kim and Simon returning from holiday. Is Ted living alone now or does he have a companion? I know what you mean about the deceased pig taking a part of their friend with them. Fozz is just so sad. I thought he'd be OK as the first few days he seemed perky. Think he just thought Rollie had gone to the vets....as soon as relatity hit in, Fozz became very depressed. It absolutely breaks your heart. 💔
So important to find the right piggy. Soany people have said to just get "another" but each pig is special and unique.
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yes, it’s such a difficult situation with this Covid virus. Simon neutered Ted back in March and while he was waiting to be safe we got him two young ladies from a local rescue. Unfortunately around the time Ted was to be bonded with the girls his teeth deteriorated and he stopped eating completely, in desperation we took him for a dental with a local Exotic vet who made a complete mess. We then ended up going to see Debbie who kindly offered to board him so he could be near Simon. He is still there and is on twice monthly dentals. Simon is now away for 2 weeks holiday and then we will be bringing him back home after another dental (he had one today). We will then be sharing Journeys up to see Simon with another owner of a dental piggie from Devon. Hopefully he can then be bonded with the girls x (he has met them at sofa time, not totally interested in them but he was suffering with his teeth
Hoping you find a lovely little companion for Fozz soon x
Here’s a photo of a Posh and Ginger
 

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Bill & Ted said:
yes, it’s such a difficult situation with this Covid virus. Simon neutered Ted back in March and while he was waiting to be safe we got him two young ladies from a local rescue. Unfortunately around the time Ted was to be bonded with the girls his teeth deteriorated and he stopped eating completely, in desperation we took him for a dental with a local Exotic vet who made a complete mess. We then ended up going to see Debbie who kindly offered to board him so he could be near Simon. He is still there and is on twice monthly dentals. Simon is now away for 2 weeks holiday and then we will be bringing him back home after another dental (he had one today). We will then be sharing Journeys up to see Simon with another owner of a dental piggie from Devon. Hopefully he can then be bonded with the girls x (he has met them at sofa time, not totally interested in them but he was suffering with his teeth
Hoping you find a lovely little companion for Fozz soon x
Here’s a photo of a Posh and Ginger
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They are gorgeous! 😍 Hopefully he'll be ready to meet them soon... Darn teeth. It's awful what can happen with other vets... You'd think you'd be OK with an exotics. 🙄

Glad you've got a workable solution to getting to Northampton. Sounds like it'll benefit you both. I'm somewhat sad that we'll not be visiting them again for Rollie, they've done so much! We were going every 2-3 wks (got tricky in March as also went into labour during lockdown!) so have "seen" them more than we've seen our own family!

We've put a toy guinea in with Fozz rubbed with Rollie's scent. It's heartbreaking watching him cuddle up to it. 💔
 
Yes I feel like Simon’s an uncle or something too after all the years of rodent nashers! :doh:I’m so sorry you lost him. Poor you and Fozz, hope you can find him a friend very soon. My Jess went completely downhill after losing her cagemate of over 6 years and was so miserable, it breaks your heart to see them so sad! When you’re grieving yourself too, massive hugs from me and the piggies :hug: xx
 
alpacasqueak said:
Yes I feel like Simon’s an uncle or something too after all the years of rodent nashers! :doh:I’m so sorry you lost him. Poor you and Fozz, hope you can find him a friend very soon. My Jess went completely downhill after losing her cagemate of over 6 years and was so miserable, it breaks your heart to see them so sad! When you’re grieving yourself too, massive hugs from me and the piggies :hug: xx
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Thank you. How did Jess cope long term? We're seeing some tiny baby steps but his weight is still the lowest it's ever been and syringe feeding is a must.
 
nedajaffa said:
Thank you. How did Jess cope long term? We're seeing some tiny baby steps but his weight is still the lowest it's ever been and syringe feeding is a must.
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She did the same as him really, stopped eating, slept a lot etc and just wasn’t herself. So within a couple of weeks I’d contacted a rescue to find her a man, Luigi moved in a month after we lost Rupert but as he’d been neutered and it wasn’t safe yet he lived in a cage next door for a couple of weeks.
Tbh as soon as I got back home with him she was out of her bed, I put the blanket from the carrier he’d been in in the cage for her and she was all over it! But it took a while to bond when it was safe, she was a bit stuck in her ways and didn’t trust him for a while, same with her new cagemate Aliona in Jan. She’s the same as @Bill & Ted says really with Ted, she loved Rupert so much, never been the same without him but she’s powered on and has a different, still happy I think, life with the other two now. She’s obv 7years 4months, weighs 775g, has kidney issues now on top of all the others but these piggies are fighters! Sure Fozz is too! :hug: Xx
 
alpacasqueak said:
She did the same as him really, stopped eating, slept a lot etc and just wasn’t herself. So within a couple of weeks I’d contacted a rescue to find her a man, Luigi moved in a month after we lost Rupert but as he’d been neutered and it wasn’t safe yet he lived in a cage next door for a couple of weeks.
Tbh as soon as I got back home with him she was out of her bed, I put the blanket from the carrier he’d been in in the cage for her and she was all over it! But it took a while to bond when it was safe, she was a bit stuck in her ways and didn’t trust him for a while, same with her new cagemate Aliona in Jan. She’s the same as @Bill & Ted says really with Ted, she loved Rupert so much, never been the same without him but she’s powered on and has a different, still happy I think, life with the other two now. She’s obv 7years 4months, weighs 775g, has kidney issues now on top of all the others but these piggies are fighters! Sure Fozz is too! :hug: Xx
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That's good to hear. There's hope for him. I just worry that he'll give up before we can get him a companion. 😢 We went through this with Monty when Billy passed and I remembered how he perked up as soon as he smelt the (then) baby Rollie and Fozzy.
 
nedajaffa said:
That's good to hear. There's hope for him. I just worry that he'll give up before we can get him a companion. 😢 We went through this with Monty when Billy passed and I remembered how he perked up as soon as he smelt the (then) baby Rollie and Fozzy.
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Really hope he’ll be ok and you can find him a buddy as soon as possible, hugs from me and the pigs x
 
Hi all,

I really need your expert advice... A local rescue has offered to take Fozzy in. I'm heart broken as never thought we'd need to be without him... Always saw him and Rollie living out their days with us, however.... We can't currently meet his needs. He needs companionship and we're not in the position to provide that. I need some advice on whether this needs to happen for his own good, or whether in time he'll adjust and have just as happy life with myself and @Bendijim caring for him. Like I say, we're both heartbroken as never wanted to be in a position were we didn't have our piggy anymore but pragmatic to understand that he needs something different.

I've had no luck in finding a rescue that would foster out a piggy to us. Getting another piggy isn't really an option as we'll end up in the same position later on.

Are we being selfish?
 
nedajaffa said:
Yeah, we don't think it would be a wise idea to adopt. With Fozz how he is (his care is palative) and our current change in circumstance, we couldn't commit to adopting and starting all over again.
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We used to offer a piggy to foster but then no-one wanted to give them up, when their original piggy died, as by then they loved them as their own. I would then insist they have a new friend or be returned, so in every case they got a new friend and adopted the fostered one.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
We used to offer a piggy to foster but then no-one wanted to give them up, when their original piggy died, as by then they loved them as their own. I would then insist they have a new friend or be returned, so in every case they got a new friend and adopted the fostered one.
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This is my thought... I'm not sure if I'd feel any different about the fostered piggy as my own originals.. Once you care for an animal, they become part of your family.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
exactly! How old is Fozzy? You say he’s on palliative care? What is the longer term prognosis?
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He's 4 so not too old but he's arthritic and has lung issues.. Kim says that he has scaring on his lungs from his issues last year. He's on loxicom and has a nebuliser for his breathing (along with impaction from reduced movement) Before Rollie passed away, he was losing a little weight and Kim suggested this was to be expected as he aged and reduced his movements. His weight loss has really increased since Rollie has gone. In his heyday he was always a hefty pig at around 1300g. Now he's around 1004g. 😢
 
nedajaffa said:
He's 4 so not too old but he's arthritic and has lung issues.. Kim says that he has scaring on his lungs from his issues last year. He's on loxicom and has a nebuliser for his breathing (along with impaction from reduced movement) Before Rollie passed away, he was losing a little weight and Kim suggested this was to be expected as he aged and reduced his movements. His weight loss has really increased since Rollie has gone. In his heyday he was always a hefty pig at around 1300g. Now he's around 1004g. 😢
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Prognosis wise... We'd never been given a time frame but was told it was about keeping him comfortable for as long as possible. Last week I genuinely thought it was the end as he'd given up. He wasn't eating or moving and showed no interest in us. He's a little brighter now but still not eating enough for himself.
 
nedajaffa said:
Prognosis wise... We'd never been given a time frame but was told it was about keeping him comfortable for as long as possible. Last week I genuinely thought it was the end as he'd given up. He wasn't eating or moving and showed no interest in us. He's a little brighter now but still not eating enough for himself.
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As Nedajaffa has said, the Fozz has perked up a little and is responding to care but he seems glum.
I'm currently supporting his feeding with critical care and vit c plus and the occasional bit of fibreplex. He has through that, maintained his lower weight but has yet to show real positive signs of rebuilding some of his original size
He is sad and needs company he doesn't have
This is heartbreaking to see! He reallie misses his Rollie Pig 😭
 
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