Best new friend/s for recent singleton

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Boarworld

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello,

I had two gorgeous boys, until sadly I had to have put out to sleep today. We are all heartbroken. The boys were twins, only 18 months old and bar the odd teenage niggle we’re bonded and happy together.

So I now have a single, uncastrated boar who is 18m old who I will need to find company for. I am wondering what would be best for him, can anyone help? We have more than adequate cage space for two sows in with him, or a single boar.

I don’t know where to start - we got the boys together and they always rubbed along nicely. Any suggestions welcome, I don’t want my remaining boy to become sad and lonely!

Thanks.
 
I’m so sorry for your loss.

Either option is viable.
Of course, he would bees to be neutered and have the six week post op wait before you could find him some sows. This means potentially a long time alone before getting new friend. However if he is coping ok alone then this wait is perfectly doable.
If he isn’t ok by himself then that wait may be too much so finding a boar can obviously mean he can have a new friend much more quickly.

Either way, the best way to find a new friend (if either sex) is with the help of a rescue centre. They will help ensure compatibility (with the sows having to accept your boar, not the other way around) and a successful bond.
If a rescue centre isn’t an option and you have to buy piggies, then have a back up plan that if the bonding fails they would have to live side by side. Getting a boar or sow(s) younger than your boy has the best chance, not guaranteed) of success due to to them not being able to compete with your older for dominance.
 
Thank you.

Would I still need to have him neutered if the sows were spayed? I can have him neutered of course, however I’m thinking if I could find spayed sows in a rescue then it might be that they could be bonded sooner - or does it not work like that?

We will definitely look at adopting/rescuing over buying, it’s a big preference but will buy if we need to over leaving him too long and him potentially becoming sad. It’s only been a day so too early to judge how well he’s getting on but he is eating and drinking and having lots of attention and cuddles. Luckily the children break up from school today, so he will have more human company than usual over the next six weeks although obviously that doesn’t make up for a lack of a piggy friend.
 
He would not need to be neutered if sows were spayed but the chances of you finding spayed sows in a rescue are very low so not something you should hang your hopes on. You would do better to get him neutered asap and start the six week wait process if you are set on sows rather than a boar.
Sows are really only spayed if there has been a medical need to do so ie the sow has had ovarian cysts
 
Hi

I am ever so sorry for your loss. We have got a Rainbow Bridge section if it would help you with your grieving process to leave a tribute.
If you would like some personalised understanding community support for yourself, we do have an End of Life and Bereavement Support section.

As to your question: Either way is perfectly fine. Either has their distinct pros and cons. Ultimately it all hinges on the interpigsonal dynamics, which you can never predict, as well as your local 'on the ground' options re. access to an experienced piggy operating vet, the availability of (younger) sows or finding an ideally more laid-back/submissive boar companion.

While boars generally mellow with old age once the testosterone runs out, sows are actually becoming more difficult since their own high hormone output never throttles down.
If you want to go down the neutering route, it is worth keeping this in mind - acceptance is usually guaranteed from most sub-adult sows while their own biological urges are strongest but least with older sows past the natural pup-bearing age of around 3 years. Babies under 4 months have an overwhelming urge to 'belong' and to be looked after by an elder or a group.

You may find these guides here helpful in thinking things through:
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter about companionship)
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

Contains a chapter on challenges specific to bereaved piggies and also a chapter on how to spot when a single is conferring their own social species needs onto you:
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
 
Ah ok, gotcha! Thanks.

I’m not opposed to another boar, just trying to figure out options and what will be best/least likely to cause issues. I know there are no guarantees whichever we go for though. Argh.

The hunt begins!
 
Boarworld said:
Ah ok, gotcha! Thanks.

I’m not opposed to another boar, just trying to figure out options and what will be best/least likely to cause issues. I know there are no guarantees whichever we go for though. Argh.

The hunt begins!
Click to expand...

It is unfortunately not as easy as it looks and there is no right answer. Have a look around as to what your local options are and then consider which way may be best for you.

What looks perfect on paper may not work out in reality, as I have not rarely found myself.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

I am ever so sorry for your loss. We have got a Rainbow Bridge section if it would help you with your grieving process to leave a tribute.
If you would like some personalised understanding community support for yourself, we do have an End of Life and Bereavement Support section.

As to your question: Either way is perfectly fine. Either has their distinct pros and cons. Ultimately it all hinges on the interpigsonal dynamics, which you can never predict, as well as your local 'on the ground' options re. access to an experienced piggy operating vet, the availability of (younger) sows or finding an ideally more laid-back/submissive boar companion.

While boars generally mellow with old age once the testosterone runs out, sows are actually becoming more difficult since their own high hormone output never throttles down.
If you want to go down the neutering route, it is worth keeping this in mind - acceptance is usually guaranteed from most sub-adult sows while their own biological urges are strongest but least with older sows past the natural pup-bearing age of around 3 years. Babies under 4 months have an overwhelming urge to 'belong' and to be looked after by an elder or a group.

You may find these guides here helpful in thinking things through:
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter about companionship)
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

Contains a chapter on challenges specific to bereaved piggies and also a chapter on how to spot when a single is conferring their own social species needs onto you:
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Click to expand...

That’s so kind, thank you. We’re doing ok. The boys were my children’s (age 9 and 6) first pets and they were very much adored and doted on. Obviously I’m responsible for all actual care but it’s been very tough for them. Our vets has been super kind though, they’ve even sent us a little keepsake of his paw prints for them to keep and we’re having him cremated, so we will make a little area at home for him to ‘live’ once we get his ashes back.

The remaining chap is doing ok. He was always the more submissive/quiet pig but I am keeping a close eye on him as he’s never been alone before. Luckily it’s the school summer holidays now so we are all at home giving more opportunities for even cuddles and attention that usual. We keep them in the house so they’re very much part of the household/have lots of interaction anyway. Both pigs were/are very well handled, super tame and used to at least once daily lap time. Remaining boy is eating and drinking normally, and is actually hand feeding bits of cucumber every time from me and the children now, whereas before he’d turn his nose up a bit at most attempts to hand feed, preferring to eat in cage (whereas his more confident brother would happily hand feed reliably and then try to scoff the remaining bits too!) So I think he’s enjoying and comfortable with the extra snuggles and not showing any signs (as yet) of being too sad.

I have booked him in to be castrated next week in preparation for finding him some friends. I think we’ll try our luck with a pair of two baby girls, but will need to wait for him to be all clear on the baby-making front before allowing them direct contact. The cage is enormous (we’ve always given way more space that the minimum recommendations) and it’s a C&C one so in a few weeks we might be able to split the cage temporarily and start a gentle intro where they can see/smell each other but not directly interact until it’s safe for them to be actually together. If it doesn’t work for any reason we have an extra cage that we could move the newbies to.

Who’d have thought Guinea pigs could be complex!
 
Boarworld said:
That’s so kind, thank you. We’re doing ok. The boys were my children’s (age 9 and 6) first pets and they were very much adored and doted on. Obviously I’m responsible for all actual care but it’s been very tough for them. Our vets has been super kind though, they’ve even sent us a little keepsake of his paw prints for them to keep and we’re having him cremated, so we will make a little area at home for him to ‘live’ once we get his ashes back.

The remaining chap is doing ok. He was always the more submissive/quiet pig but I am keeping a close eye on him as he’s never been alone before. Luckily it’s the school summer holidays now so we are all at home giving more opportunities for even cuddles and attention that usual. We keep them in the house so they’re very much part of the household/have lots of interaction anyway. Both pigs were/are very well handled, super tame and used to at least once daily lap time. Remaining boy is eating and drinking normally, and is actually hand feeding bits of cucumber every time from me and the children now, whereas before he’d turn his nose up a bit at most attempts to hand feed, preferring to eat in cage (whereas his more confident brother would happily hand feed reliably and then try to scoff the remaining bits too!) So I think he’s enjoying and comfortable with the extra snuggles and not showing any signs (as yet) of being too sad.

I have booked him in to be castrated next week in preparation for finding him some friends. I think we’ll try our luck with a pair of two baby girls, but will need to wait for him to be all clear on the baby-making front before allowing them direct contact. The cage is enormous (we’ve always given way more space that the minimum recommendations) and it’s a C&C one so in a few weeks we might be able to split the cage temporarily and start a gentle intro where they can see/smell each other but not directly interact until it’s safe for them to be actually together. If it doesn’t work for any reason we have an extra cage that we could move the newbies to.

Who’d have thought Guinea pigs could be complex!
Click to expand...

Please be aware that we strongly recommend to wait a full 6 weeks post-op, following best RSPCA and Blue Cross practice. The little baby in avatar, my Tegan (2011-19) is the little surprise legacy of an over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine); just to provide first-hand proof that it can really happen as late as that.
Tegan's case has actually been the deciding factor in good welfare standard rescues opting for the 6 weeks wait instead of the then discussed 5 weeks. In the wake of her birth, I have been contacted over several other verifiable second-hand cases that also happened at over 5 weeks. But in the 14 years since her birth, there has never been a report of an over 6 weeks' pregnancy despite thousands of rescue boars neutered in the intervening time.

If your children struggle with the loss, we have got some helpful tips and age-related resources via this forum guide link here: Pet Death: How To Tell The Children? (Tips and Resources)

All the best. Your remaining boy has a greater need for stimulation and interaction.
Here is a link with ideas. Please stay off any of the outdoors activities with children (even with your constant supervision) and in a garden piggies can escape out of from wiggling underneath a fence. Most gardens have a small wildlife corridor of some sort - which is actually a good thing, but not with free-roaming piggies...
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

All the best. We are here for you for any questions and support pre- and post-neuter as well as bonding.
 
How interesting! Our vet has said to wait for a minimum of six weeks before allowing any direct interaction with sows, but ideally 6-8, so I’m pleased to hear that they’re advising what is best practice. We definitely don’t want any surprise babies. As much as I would love them, we don’t have space to adequately care for surprise litters into adulthood if we’ve already got three, and my children would be heartbroken to have to give any babies away.

What I’m hopeful that I can do though, once he’s had a couple of week to recover physically from his operation, is to begin a no physical contact smell/sight intro. I will have a good read of all the guides before then, and I’m sure I’ll be back with any questions. I’ve got to actually find his new friends first, which as I’d prefer to adopt and am quite specific in what I’m looking for, might take some time anyway. The lady who I got the boys from has a heavily pregnant sow, but there are no guarantees as to what her babies will be so we’ll need to wait and see.

Obviously I’ll rethink if he shows signs of becoming depressed in the interim.

I’m very lucky that I have a close family member who is a small animal vet/surgeon so I’ve got lots of help on hand/only a FaceTime call away for post-op care or any concerns.
 
Boarworld said:
What I’m hopeful that I can do though, once he’s had a couple of week to recover physically from his operation, is to begin a no physical contact smell/sight intro.
Click to expand...

In order to do this safely pre-six week wait with a c&c cage, you would have to ensure he cannot escape the cage. Boars can become very athletic when in the presence of ladies and can climb bars to escape their cage - so ensuring the cage is two grids high, no hides next to the bars or that the cage is lidded.
You would also need to be certain that, if you got baby sows from the lady you got the boys from, that they are unable to slip through your c&c grids and get into with him.
 
Sensible advice, thank you. We’re lidded already (they have a shallow ramp at each end with a ‘second’ floor for added room, so they always have one) and very secure. We’ve got a Kavee cage, and I can cable tie the grids temporarily on top of the standard clips to ensure that there is no slippage, or escaping. Can also increase the lip of the bases around the edges.

If it transpires that I get very young babies (I’m not sure what age they can safely and happily leave their Mummy pig, will double check) I will take extra precautions. I think Kavee cages are only suitable/safe from 6w +, from memory. If needs be, they could always be in one of our other cages temporarily, but placed next to our boar’s cage to give the sight/smell proximity with no risk of accidental bunk-ups! I could actually physically split the current cage in two, temporarily, thinking about it. I’d just need to buy an additional pack of grids.
 
Boarworld said:
How interesting! Our vet has said to wait for a minimum of six weeks before allowing any direct interaction with sows, but ideally 6-8, so I’m pleased to hear that they’re advising what is best practice. We definitely don’t want any surprise babies. As much as I would love them, we don’t have space to adequately care for surprise litters into adulthood if we’ve already got three, and my children would be heartbroken to have to give any babies away.

What I’m hopeful that I can do though, once he’s had a couple of week to recover physically from his operation, is to begin a no physical contact smell/sight intro. I will have a good read of all the guides before then, and I’m sure I’ll be back with any questions. I’ve got to actually find his new friends first, which as I’d prefer to adopt and am quite specific in what I’m looking for, might take some time anyway. The lady who I got the boys from has a heavily pregnant sow, but there are no guarantees as to what her babies will be so we’ll need to wait and see.

Obviously I’ll rethink if he shows signs of becoming depressed in the interim.

I’m very lucky that I have a close family member who is a small animal vet/surgeon so I’ve got lots of help on hand/only a FaceTime call away for post-op care or any concerns.
Click to expand...

As long as you cable tie any connecting grids and make sure that you don't put any furniture your can use for jumping/climbing over (we can help you with furnishing your layout if you wish to), I've repeatedly found that the living alongside method during recovery - where possible - has allowed me to bond some of my more difficult/unbondable stuck in rescue adoptees over the years and to eventually find them a companion they would accept.

It's however not a fail-proof method (in case somebody is searching this thread in the future); it still comes down to a personality match. And it still took several weeks in some cases to allow a severe fear-aggressive sow to work through her issues with the help of a very patient and understanding neighbour.

But it allows a newly neutered boar to get through his initial over-excitement and to start building up a relationship with the sows. It also starts the process of producing a calming chemical compound that boars living around sows do, which takes quite a few weeks to work fully. But it usually makes for somewhat less dramatic bonding intros in my own personal experience.
 
Good luck with finding the right combination for your bereaved boar. I had two young sows and added in a boar who lived next to them with a double thickness c and c grid between them.

They would regularly spend time at the divider and I would put a pile of grass into the enclosure right by it in order to give a positive association with the boar's presence.

Once the six weeks were up they pretty much ignored each other apart from some vigorous jets of wee sprayed onto him when he got a bit too amorous! It was as if he had always been with them.

I later added an elderly sow, another elderly sow and two baby sows. A fine herd. These days I just have two young sows.

How lovely that you have the space to be flexible. Hope all goes well and look forward to updates.
 
We’re very lucky to have lots of space. They live in the larger than needed (for two adult boars) C&C cage in a centrally heated conservatory/extension (it’s got a proper roof. It a greenhouse style one and opens fully too for cooling when it’s spring) in the cooler months. I move the c&c cage into our main house in summer when the conservatory is just too warm, they have a large, secure garden run on the grass in the shade when it’s dry and we also have a full size outdoor cage with lower run which I fill with hay too. Luckily I’ve never had any issues alternating between then depending on the weather! They go wherever is most suitable, depending on our very changeable UK weather/temperature.

I’m honestly haunted by having pet dwarf rabbits as a child (in the 90’s) that I know now as an adult, we’re absolutely not kept in optimum conditions or cages. I was a child and to be honest, advice of ‘the time’ was followed - but knowing better now I would never keep any animal/s in a smaller than ideal cage or not in the right conditions.
 
Oh my goodness we have had such a heartbreaking disaster.

Our beautiful, healthy 18m boar went in to be neutered last week in preparation for some baby lady friends to keep him company. He had a health check, all fine. He was a big lad at 1.5kg but in perfect health. Surgery went fine, they even gave him a nice clip and nail trim whilst he was asleep so he came home looking all smart.

I collected him, and he has quiet as you’d expect. Followed advice to monitor and between 5pm and 9pm he hadn’t moved, just slept, and he hadn’t eaten a thing. He had pooed at the vets but not at home. He’d had fluids after surgery and a syringe feed there but I rang and took vet advice. I gave him a 3-4ml of water by syringe to keep him hydrated and a small top up of metacam in case he was feeling uncomfortable. He still wouldn’t eat.

Put him back in the cage and he stayed still, but he did start pooing. I sat up with him until midnight and he seemed to be comfortable (he’d be stroked happily) and he was going to the toilet, so I thought he was ok to leave.

When I woke up at 6am to check on him, he had died overnight.

Even the vet who operated on him was upset! She said if there would’ve been any concerns she’d not have discharged him. They have no clue what went wrong, just perhaps his little body didn’t cope with the anaesthetic. They haven’t charged us to cremate him, which is kind.

So I now have two much loved but deceased boars, who were only 18m old, in the space of two weeks! Horrible. I feel awful as he was fine, but I neutered him so that he could have sows in with him and not be alone.
 
Oh I am so very sorry to hear this news.
I had a piggy die soon after successful surgery so I understand how devastating it is.
Sadly piggies can be fragile creatures and the stress of surgery can trigger a heart attack, or an adverse reaction to anaesthesia.

Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Hugs 🤗
 
I’m so sorry for your second loss in such a short period of time. I too have lost a piggy recovering from surgery, and it’s very devastating when you know they’ve survived the anaesthetic but still don’t quite pull through. Sending hugs to you all x
 
I am so, so sorry you lost your beautiful boys. So unlucky having a piggie die after neutering
 
I’m very sorry. My first boy pig also passed after neutering surgery. I was a child then and of course it was a very sad shock, but I’m forever grateful for that little darling as he started my love and devotion for all things piggy.

Holding you and your family in my thoughts. These things just happen sometimes, nothing we can do.

Rest easy, lovely boys. Together once more ❤️❤️
 
Thank you everyone your messages are very kind. They were my children first pets (and my first pigs, I had cats and rabbits as a child!) and as I said to them, they’re reunited now. We’re collecting their ashes this week and they’ve got two lovely paw print wooden boxes to be in, sitting under a pretty Peace Lily that I bought for them.

They had a lovely life with us, you’d struggle to find more cuddly, happy or friendly boys, so that’s a big comfort.

Our new baby girls (I’d already committed to having them as buddies for our boy) are teeny tiny, but settling in nicely and slowly starting to become a little more confident in their new home.
 
Boarworld said:
Oh my goodness we have had such a heartbreaking disaster.

Our beautiful, healthy 18m boar went in to be neutered last week in preparation for some baby lady friends to keep him company. He had a health check, all fine. He was a big lad at 1.5kg but in perfect health. Surgery went fine, they even gave him a nice clip and nail trim whilst he was asleep so he came home looking all smart.

I collected him, and he has quiet as you’d expect. Followed advice to monitor and between 5pm and 9pm he hadn’t moved, just slept, and he hadn’t eaten a thing. He had pooed at the vets but not at home. He’d had fluids after surgery and a syringe feed there but I rang and took vet advice. I gave him a 3-4ml of water by syringe to keep him hydrated and a small top up of metacam in case he was feeling uncomfortable. He still wouldn’t eat.

Put him back in the cage and he stayed still, but he did start pooing. I sat up with him until midnight and he seemed to be comfortable (he’d be stroked happily) and he was going to the toilet, so I thought he was ok to leave.

When I woke up at 6am to check on him, he had died overnight.

Even the vet who operated on him was upset! She said if there would’ve been any concerns she’d not have discharged him. They have no clue what went wrong, just perhaps his little body didn’t cope with the anaesthetic. They haven’t charged us to cremate him, which is kind.

So I now have two much loved but deceased boars, who were only 18m old, in the space of two weeks! Horrible. I feel awful as he was fine, but I neutered him so that he could have sows in with him and not be alone.
Click to expand...

HUGE HUGS

What a horrible shock. Such a strong immediate reaction is rare and it is totally upsetting for the medical personnel as well.

It's not your fault although the inevitable feelings of guilt at the onset of the grieving process are always much stronger after an elective procedure. We have to make our decisions always in good faith without knowing the outcome.

Please try to take consolation in that you wanted to give your boy the happiest of boar lives and that your two boys are now reunited at the Bridge - it's you that has been left alone. Try to picture them together and to mourn them together. That makes it that bit easier with losses in very close succession in my own experience.

Please also remember that piggies don't measure their lives in average life spans but in happy todays in good care. You have given them all your love and the best life they could wish for, and you have made their lives count. They are not ones who pass away early and unlamented as forgotten pets... That is the most precious gift you could give your two, and it is not devalued just because it hasn't translate into the kind of long life we humans tend to take for granted these days.

I know that this is a bit of a silly link but it is a real soother that works for all ages.
Rainbow bridge video I made, I hope it can bring some comfort to others
 
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