Bereavement

MunchMummy

MunchMummy

Junior Guinea Pig
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Isle of Wight, UK
Hi all,

I am in pieces. Overnight we lost one of our girls, Penny. She had been full of beans on Tues and then off her food and hiding on Weds. Got her straight to the vet who prescribed meds and we've been fighting for a few days doing all we could but sadly it wasn't enough. I'm utterly devastated.

She lived with her feisty sister Amy who we think is 18months - 2 years (they were certainly babies when we adopted them from RSPCA). Their c&c is joined to that of my 2 older girls so they know each other through the bars.

Amy knows Penny is gone and is having lots of cuddles and veg treats as we speak. My question is though, what would be our best next step and on what timescale? We have more than enough space to open up the C&C to have her live with the older 2 as a trio. But would we be better to try and adopt another mate for her instead and keep them as pairs? I want to do the very best for her and make sure she is happy now her sister has passed.

Many thanks for your help.

I attach a picture of our Penny. Heart broken. 😢
 

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Oh what a beauty! I’m so sorry you’ve lost Penny despite all your love and care, sending hugs x
Sleep tight little lady 🌈

It’s really up to you and personal choice, I would try bond her with your other two girls first, if it doesn’t work out then you can seek to find her a new little friend x
Have a good read at these guides they will help you through Behaviour, Bonding & Bereavement Guides
 
I’m so sorry for your loss :(

Sleep tight Penny xx Personally I’d at least try her with your older sows and then if it doesn’t work out, you could look for a friend and have two pairs
 
Hi,
I am sorry for your loss Penny was beautiful. It is clear that you have looked after her so well and she had a very lovely time living with you. Be gentle with yourself at this hard time.

Personally I think I would try to group her with the older girls as she already knows them. You just need to bear it in mind that with trios you so sometimes get a piggy left out so you will just need to keep an eye out. If this doesn't work out then you can consider getting another piggy.

In terms of how long you should wait, I would start to introduce then on neutral territory asap. Remember that you need to clean out their cage before she goes in their cage and make sure the older girls havent left any scent otherwise they may territorial.

RIP Penny x♡
 
Thank you. Husband is braving pet shop (thank goodness it's an essential shop at the moment!) and getting new igloos, pet safe cleaning bits, new water bottles etc! All spare cosies and fleeces and towels being laundered as we speak! Amy seems fine to be honest. Eating her vitamins and hay and veg from my hand. I'm nervous as one of older girls is 3.5 and a bit cantankerous! 😕
 
So sorry for your loss. Penny was so gorgeous.
I echo the advice you have already been given.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
 
Thank you everyone. Spent most of the day in tears along with stressing about Amy and making sure she is ok. I've lost piggies before but she was a really special and unique little piggy. Will be so missed I have a lovely 6 year old daughter who being very grown up and giving me lots of cuddles! 🥰
 
So so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace beautiful girl 💕
 
Soo sorry for your loss 😔 sending you all hugs and comfort 💖
Your daughter sounds like a lovely special little one who loves you dearly 🥰
Sleep tight Penny 🌈 mummy will make sure Amy is looked after for you 💜💖💜
 
MunchMummy said:
Thank you everyone. Spent most of the day in tears along with stressing about Amy and making sure she is ok. I've lost piggies before but she was a really special and unique little piggy. Will be so missed I have a lovely 6 year old daughter who being very grown up and giving me lots of cuddles! 🥰
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aw, I’m so sorry, your daughter sounds such a caring little angel, how lovely ☺️
 
Hi all,

A little update for you. Sadly bonding with the older girls didn't go well. Bernadette was fine with Amy but I think our oldest girl Sheldon (now 4.5) is a bit cantankerous and long in the tooth to accept change and she made it very clear Amy was not welcome.

So we were left with the challenge of finding a new friend for Amy during a lockdown! We went to all the places we know locally to adopt and after a hitting a good few walls (and cuddling Amy ALOT...she was beginning to just hide in her Penny-scented cosy most of the time) we finally found a pair of baby girls (we think between 8 and 10 weeks old) who needed a home. We didn't want Amy to spend any more time alone so home my husband trotted after a carefully socially distanced adoption, with 2 little ladies!

The good news is that all 3 piggies got on immediately. Amy was always the dominant pig in her previous partnership so she is loving being boss to these two little ones who follow her around like she is their Queen! They are so happy, Amy is popcorning and showing them what the sound of the fridge opening means and happily sharing her space with her new friends.

It still feels odd...we miss Penny so much...but it is eased by watching the utter cuteness of Amy and her little entourage!

Thanks for the advice and care. A happy ending from a sad beginning. Meet Dolly (crested) and Jolene (looks like a degu with no tail according to my husband...he's very taken with her!).
 

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MunchMummy said:
Hi all,

A little update for you. Sadly bonding with the older girls didn't go well. Bernadette was fine with Amy but I think our oldest girl Sheldon (now 4.5) is a bit cantankerous and long in the tooth to accept change and she made it very clear Amy was not welcome.

So we were left with the challenge of finding a new friend for Amy during a lockdown! We went to all the places we know locally to adopt and after a hitting a good few walls (and cuddling Amy ALOT...she was beginning to just hide in her Penny-scented cosy most of the time) we finally found a pair of baby girls (we think between 8 and 10 weeks old) who needed a home. We didn't want Amy to spend any more time alone so home my husband trotted after a carefully socially distanced adoption, with 2 little ladies!

The good news is that all 3 piggies got on immediately. Amy was always the dominant pig in her previous partnership so she is loving being boss to these two little ones who follow her around like she is their Queen! They are so happy, Amy is popcorning and showing them what the sound of the fridge opening means and happily sharing her space with her new friends.

It still feels odd...we miss Penny so much...but it is eased by watching the utter cuteness of Amy and her little entourage!

Thanks for the advice and care. A happy ending from a sad beginning. Meet Dolly (crested) and Jolene (looks like a degu with no tail according to my husband...he's very taken with her!).
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Sorry...should point out that we contacted places on the phone and hubby only went out to get new pig supplies and then the new pigs! And that was done masked, gloved and distanced! And for our Amy's sake, it was an essential journey.
 
I’m so glad she has found herself some lovely new friends!
Her happiness is important and animal welfare is classed as essential travel.
 
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