Bit Worried About My New Guinea Pig :s

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kitrat

kitrat

Junior Guinea Pig
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S.Wales
Hello everyone :)

To cut a long story short I have taken on my mother's guinea pig, I've experienced them before but only really as a child and hearing about them from my Mum and now I have a lot of questions!

Her name is Nutmeg and she's roughly 4yrs old, her companion of several years has recently died (a few weeks ago) and I need to find her a friend.

My most urgent question right now is I have just cleaned out her cage for the first time and now I've put her back in she is turning the place upside down aggressively bopping everything with her nose. My mum says she has done this once since her friend died, this was after cleaning out her cage too. Is she looking for her dead friend? Or have I caused her stress and is she upset? It's a bit sad to watch :( I'd love to believe she was excitedly investigating but it just seems so frantic and aggressive. It's been 15 mins and I can still hear her bumping around.

I also have further questions about finding her a friend. I was going to get a baby female in the hope that they would get along well enough since Nutmeg will obviously be the dominant one and they will work out their hierarchy more easily, is this ok? The staff at Pets at Home don't react well when I say I have an older piggy and have suggested I adopt an older one but this has also bought it's own difficulties in the past. I don't get the impression any of the staff I've spoken to have actually owned guinea pigs, though I'm sure their advice is well intentioned.

As for bedding, I've read the sticky about bedding in the other section. Do those of you who use absorbent granule type stuff (Back to Nature was one I think?) scatter it all over the base of the cage/hutch and then have something else for their hidey sleeping box? Hay or something else in here?

Thanks for any help! Sorry it's a bit rushed, I'm just a bit worried about her current behaviour.
 
I can't offer loads of advice, but I was told when we bought our new pigs home that we shouldn't clean their entire cage at once for a while. We should always leave a small amount of the old bedding (not the dirty or obviously wet parts) so it still smelt of them. Maybe you could try this with Nutmeg, and see if it is less upsetting for her? It does sound like she is still missing her companion, and maybe this is just her way of venting her frustration that her friend is missing? Does she know she died? Did she get to see the body before it was removed, so she can understand what happened?

I don't know much about bonding, but I think you plan sounds like a good one. I am sure others with more experience will be along to offer advice about that though.

And for what it is worth, you sound like you will be able to offer this upset piggie a wonderful and loving home.
 
Thanks so much for your advice :) I did wonder that afterwards maybe I should have kept some smelly stuff for her, I'll do that next time.

Yes she did get to see the body, my Mum said she left the body their whilst my Dad dug a little grave for her so I imagine she had a bit of time to see. I'm told Nutmeg nudged her a bit so I hope she got the idea, maybe not though.
 
It sounds like she did understand, and it is great she got to see the body.
Now she is just angry and sad which is understandable, but hopefully a new friend will help lift her spirits.
 
Can you update your profile to give us a rough idea of where you are in the UK? Preferably you will get a better chance of her getting on with a friend of her own choosing, take a look at the top of the page & "Recommended rescues" they will bond your girl to a friend she will get on with, buying a piggy is always risky in case they fall out later on :)
 
I use Back 2 Nature. I line the whole base of the cage, and then put hay all over the floor. They love it as they can burrow underneath or just eat the hay.
 
They process things by smell, so she may checking out the place aggressively believing it is 'new,' depending on how thoroughly you cleaned the cage. My pigs HATE when I clean out the cage, to the point that they won't leave if they suspect I'm cleaning, so maybe it's a big stressful when things are different!

Others can probably give better advice on where is best to find a friend for her, since I'm in a different country. Don't assume that a baby will automatically be the subordinate pig... was she the boss in her previous friendship? Some pigs don't want to be the boss and will happily be second fiddle to a younger pig (we introduced 4-year-old Sundae to baby Hadley and Sundae, who is very submissive, was happy to be subordinate to a little pipsqueak half her size!) Temperament is more important than age in how the hierarchy works out.
 
Are you anywhere neat Glyneath? My geography is really bad so I have no idea where in Wales that is but there is a recommended rescue there who could bond your girl with a friend.
 
Thanks everyone. Glyneath is a bit of a treck for me, but I'll keep it in mind. I'm going to look at some little ones this evening, I had really hoped to get a young one tbh. I'll have to have a think. I think Nutmeg was the lowlier pig in her last pairing until the other piggy started to decline and it sounds like the roles reversed then.
 
kitrat said:
Hello everyone :)

To cut a long story short I have taken on my mother's guinea pig, I've experienced them before but only really as a child and hearing about them from my Mum and now I have a lot of questions!

Her name is Nutmeg and she's roughly 4yrs old, her companion of several years has recently died (a few weeks ago) and I need to find her a friend.

My most urgent question right now is I have just cleaned out her cage for the first time and now I've put her back in she is turning the place upside down aggressively bopping everything with her nose. My mum says she has done this once since her friend died, this was after cleaning out her cage too. Is she looking for her dead friend? Or have I caused her stress and is she upset? It's a bit sad to watch :( I'd love to believe she was excitedly investigating but it just seems so frantic and aggressive. It's been 15 mins and I can still hear her bumping around.

I also have further questions about finding her a friend. I was going to get a baby female in the hope that they would get along well enough since Nutmeg will obviously be the dominant one and they will work out their hierarchy more easily, is this ok? The staff at Pets at Home don't react well when I say I have an older piggy and have suggested I adopt an older one but this has also bought it's own difficulties in the past. I don't get the impression any of the staff I've spoken to have actually owned guinea pigs, though I'm sure their advice is well intentioned.

As for bedding, I've read the sticky about bedding in the other section. Do those of you who use absorbent granule type stuff (Back to Nature was one I think?) scatter it all over the base of the cage/hutch and then have something else for their hidey sleeping box? Hay or something else in here?

Thanks for any help! Sorry it's a bit rushed, I'm just a bit worried about her current behaviour.
Click to expand...

Hi! Nutmeg is not looking for her friend, but obviously arranging things the way She likes! You may just possibly not quite up to scratch, you know... :D

The best place to find a new friend for Nutmeg of her choosing is to contact Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue. They offer residential bonding under expert supervision, so Nutmeg only comes home with a companion if there has been success, but you do not have to worry about ending up with two cages and two guinea pig that don't get on.
Any piggies from that rescue are fully quarantined and have undergone a pregnancy watch in case they are female and have not been born to a pregnant incoming sow, you also don't have to worry about that aspect either! it isworth travelling that bit further and take a bit longer about for the safety and peace of mind it gives you.
Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue: Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue and Boarding 01639 721127 10am-4pm: Adoption Fees and Services

We have got lots of information at the top of our various Care sections, but you are welcome to ask any questions you may have in there.
For starters, you may find our starter kit helpful in getting to know Nutmeg and her foibles! A lot has changed in recent years in the guinea pig world. " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners
 
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