Bonding with Bijou

[naguya]

After Bijou’s partner, Momo, passed away at the end of January, Bijou has been living side by side with Bode. Unfortunately, Bode and Bijou didn’t work out as a couple. Today, I decided to bring another guinea pig into our lives. I followed all the instructions, they are in a neutral enclosure now, fingers crossed it works out with Bijou!

He doesn't has a name yet so I am calling him "Little boy".

(Little boy came with very bad smegma and full of fur inside the penis, I removed it all. Also, I gave him a bath (no head) because he was extremely dirty.)

Little boy is walking funny, a bit curvy, I think because of the pain on the penis. Bijou is trying to befriend, communicating with him. He has already eaten hay and bell peppers, now he is sleeping.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Oh bless him!
Fingers crossed for their bonding.



The only caution I would add is that if he hasn’t been quarantined and is in a bad state, whether he has anything which could pass on to bijou. A vet check would be a good idea. (although, now you have bathed him any physical evidence of parasites or fungal etc would have unfortunately been wiped away).

 

[naguya]

Oh bless him!
Fingers crossed for their bonding.



The only caution I would add is that if he hasn’t been quarantined and is in a bad state, whether he has anything which could pass on to bijou. A vet check would be a good idea. (although, now you have bathed him any physical evidence of parasites or fungal etc would have unfortunately been wiped away).

I thought about it, but since we don't have "Boar dating" in my country, the seller only accepts his return within a maximum of 3 days if it does not work out with Bijou. That's why I couldn't quarantine and bathed him unfortunately, it is trial and error. But if it works with Bijou, I'll take him to the vet.

He seems in a good state, but I pulled a huge sperm rod and lots of fur out of him.

Bode is a very aggressive guinea pig, so I'm sure it wouldn't work with him.

So far no aggression, Bijou is keeping a close eye on him while he is sleeping.

 

[Wiebke]

After Bijou’s partner, Momo, passed away at the end of January, Bijou has been living side by side with Bode. Unfortunately, Bode and Bijou didn’t work out as a couple. Today, I decided to bring another guinea pig into our lives. I followed all the instructions, they are in a neutral enclosure now, fingers crossed it works out with Bijou!

He doesn't has a name yet so I am calling him "Little boy".

(Little boy came with very bad smegma and full of fur inside the penis, I removed it all. Also, I gave him a bath (no head) because he was extremely dirty.)

Little boy is walking funny, a bit curvy, I think because of the pain on the penis. Bijou is trying to befriend, communicating with him. He has already eaten hay and bell peppers, now he is sleeping.


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Fingers crossed for the bonding. It looks like Bijou is very welcoming and supportive.

Another one that is very lucky to find you. He is looking to grow into a real stunner of a pig!

 

[Merab]

Hope all goes well

 

[naguya]

Fingers crossed for the bonding. It looks like Bijou is very welcoming and supportive.

Another one that is very lucky to find you. He is looking to grow into a real stunner of a pig!

It seems like he and Bijou are getting along really well. Bijou appears to be very caring toward him, I saw Bijou licking his eye. Taking that into account, I brought him to the vet. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with gut stasis and is severely malnourished. He's now on Baytril, Metacam, vitamin C, and poo soup. The vet cleaned most of his penis, which was completely white (And he did a big cleaning inside the bags) and recommended bringing him back next week for another cleaning. Blood tests revealed severe anemia. The vet said that everything now depends on how he responds to treatment. For now, he’s just been sleeping all the time.

 

[Wiebke]

It seems like he and Bijou are getting along really well. Bijou appears to be very caring toward him, I saw Bijou licking his eye. Taking that into account, I brought him to the vet. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with gut stasis and is severely malnourished. He's now on Baytril, Metacam, vitamin C, and poo soup. The vet cleaned most of his penis, which was completely white (And he did a big cleaning inside the bags) and recommended bringing him back next week for another cleaning. Blood tests revealed severe anemia. The vet said that everything now depends on how he responds to treatment. For now, he’s just been sleeping all the time.

Please step in feeding support round the clock to make up for the missing hay intake. GI stasis proper is when the gut is falling eerily silent. Listen to Bijou first and then to your new little boy in comparison. Feeding support is crucial to help get the gut moving again and prevent the body from closing down. I thought he was looking very poorly indeed.

Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Fingers very firmly crossed!

 

[naguya]

Please step in feeding support round the clock to make up for the missing hay intake. GI stasis proper is when the gut is falling eerily silent. Listen to Bijou first and then to your new little boy in comparison. Feeding support is crucial to help get the gut moving again and prevent the body from closing down. I thought he was looking very poorly indeed.

Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Fingers very firmly crossed!

Thank you I will read the guides and hope for the best.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you I will read the guides and hope for the best.

Wishing your little angel all the best but it is unfortunately another battle for life and death that you are facing.

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my heart

 

[naguya]

He passed away just now...

 

[DavRz]

I'm so sorry to hear that terribly sad news...RIP Little Boy , you were loved.

 

[Wiebke]

He passed away just now...

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. Your little Angel Boy looked very ill and not very with it anymore in your pictures. I have been keeping my fingers very firmly crossed that your help would not come too late.

Please try to find consolation that you have made his end of life one filled with love and care; which was sadly all you could do in the circumstances. Thanks to Bijou and you, your little boy could make his journey to the Rainbow Bridge carried by your love. The two of you have made his little life count and not one of the many who go unnoticed. That really matters.

My thoughts are with you and Bijou at this extra sad time. I am sure that Momo will be waiting at the Bridge to take care of your little Angel Boy.

 

[naguya]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. Your little Angel looked very ill and not very with it anymore. I have been keeping my fingers firmly crossed that your help would not come too late.

Please try to find consolation that you have made the end of life one filled with love and care; which was sadly all you could do in the circumstances. Thanks to Bijou and you, your little boy could make his journey to the Rainbow Bridge carried by your love. The two of you have made his little life count and not one of the many who go unnoticed. That really matters.

My thoughts are with you and Bijou at this extra sad time. I am sure that Momo will be waiting at the Bridge to take care of your little Angel boy.

Thank you, Wiebke. Even though our time together was short, I cried a lot when he passed. I really do have such a soft heart. I named him Koki, and I made a proper burial to him.

I'm going to wait a little while before finding a new companion for Bijou, maybe sometime on next month.

Do you have any tips on how to tell if a guinea pig is relatively healthy when I am on the store? There are only two "decent" pet stores here that sell them, and by "decent", I mean they seem to have the healthiest-looking guinea pigs. Still, they’re kept in tiny cages without hay and only dry food. We don't have rescuers, unfortunately. My country treats them deplorably.

From what I observed, Bijou really liked him. Since losing Momo, Bijou had stopped “talking,” and now he had started again, lots of talking with the little one... He even did a lot of popcorning on his presence.

Is there a way to quickly assess whether a guinea pig is okay when choosing one? I’d really love to give Bijou a new companion. I feel like he truly needs it. Even though Bode is side by side with him, I feel like it's not enough to Bijou.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, Wiebke. Even though our time together was short, I cried a lot when he passed. I really do have such a soft heart. I named him Koki, and I made a proper burial to him.

I'm going to wait a little while before finding a new companion for Bijou, maybe sometime on next month.

Do you have any tips on how to tell if a guinea pig is relatively healthy when I am on the store? There are only two "decent" pet stores here that sell them, and by "decent", I mean they seem to have the healthiest-looking guinea pigs. Still, they’re kept in tiny cages without hay and only dry food. We don't have rescuers, unfortunately. My country treats them deplorably.

From what I observed, Bijou really liked him. Since losing Momo, Bijou had stopped “talking,” and now he had started again, lots of talking with the little one... He even did a lot of popcorning on his presence.

Is there a way to quickly assess whether a guinea pig is okay when choosing one? I’d really love to give Bijou a new companion. I feel like he truly needs it. Even though Bode is side by side with him, I feel like it's not enough to Bijou.

Take the time to watch them in the shop; if needed on several days. Look for one who is alert, is eating and drinking, is cleaning himself with a healthy looking coat and one who is not feeling so bony that you can feel every rib in his chest and the spine sticking out. And one who is hopefully not too dominant, either.

Don't go for looks but for health and how they are interacting with each other. Listen to the gut and breathing by holding your ear against his chest and belly. Listen first to Bijou so you know how a healthy piggy sounds. The gut should not be deadly silent (acute GI stasis) nor should it be overactive. There should not be any crackling, rasping or clicking in his chest. Eyes and nose should be free of mucus. There should be no vigorous itching and no crusty or bloody bare skin spots.

Double check the gender before introducing him to Bijou.

For Bijou's sake, I would not wait quite as long. Hopefully, seeing Bijou happy and vocal again will also help you over this tragedy. I really feel for you!

 

[Truffolo]

Sleep softly over the bridge little Koki, very sad to have lost you Saying goodbye so soon, despite all your new mom's hard work trying to save you is very sad.


I think seeing the piggies eat and move about with alertness and energy is a possible indication that they could be healthy. Looking round the shop and at the people for cleanliness and approachability. Are they fond of the animals and gentle with them? It's difficult to know for sure if a piggy is healthy as they tend to hide and you often can't see whether they are thin under their coats. Signs of mucous around the nose, sneezing and hunching could mean they have problems. I hope your new piggy, when you find him, is OK and happy and healthy. You could keep them in separate cages for a couple of weeks just to see if the new piggy is OK.

 

[naguya]

Take the time to watch them in the shop; if needed on several days. Look for one who is alert, is eating and drinking, is cleaning himself with a healthy looking coat and one who is not feeling so bony that you can feel every rib in his chest and the spine sticking out. And one who is hopefully not too dominant, either.

Don't go for looks but for health and how they are interacting with each other. Listen to the gut and breathing by holding your ear against his chest and belly. Listen first to Bijou so you know how a healthy piggy sounds. The gut should not be deadly silent (acute GI stasis) nor should it be overactive. There should not be any crackling, rasping or clicking in his chest. Eyes and nose should be free of mucus. There should be no vigorous itching and no crusty or bloody bare skin spots.

Double check the gender before introducing him to Bijou.

For Bijou's sake, I would not wait quite as long. Hopefully, seeing Bijou happy and vocal again will also help you over this tragedy. I really feel for you!

Thank you again, Wiebke. Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin monitoring both stores. The only issue is that in the first store, there’s only one male among seven females, and from what I saw, he’s extremely dominant, so I think i'll skip it for now. In the second store, there are several males of all ages along with females (about 20 guinea pigs together in a tiny wire cage), but three of them have visible skin issues, with raw areas exposed.

That’s why I mentioned waiting a bit longer, to see if any healthier options appear in either store. But I can always pass by and check each two days.

Bijou is quite a timid guinea pig. Do you think an older or a younger companion would be better fit for him?

I’ll definitely keep all your advice in mind. Thank you again, truly.

 

[naguya]

Sleep softly over the bridge little Koki, very sad to have lost you Saying goodbye so soon, despite all your new mom's hard work trying to save you is very sad.


I think seeing the piggies eat and move about with alertness and energy is a possible indication that they could be healthy. Looking round the shop and at the people for cleanliness and approachability. Are they fond of the animals and gentle with them? It's difficult to know for sure if a piggy is healthy as they tend to hide and you often can't see whether they are thin under their coats. Signs of mucous around the nose, sneezing and hunching could mean they have problems. I hope your new piggy, when you find him, is OK and happy and healthy. You could keep them in separate cages for a couple of weeks just to see if the new piggy is OK.

Thank you

Unfortunately, all the stores in my area treat guinea pigs extremely poorly, it is very hard to find a healthy one. They let me take the guinea pig and monitor him closely at the store, the only problem is that I need to introduce him to Bijou once at home without quarantine. Because I already have Bode living side by side with him, and I can't have a third cage side by side if it doesn't work out. They only accept returns within three days.

Before I buy one, I will spend a good amount of time monitoring him in the cage to see his behavior at the store.

 

[CTWC]

I am so sorry you lost you boy Koki his days with you were filled love

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you again, Wiebke. Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin monitoring both stores. The only issue is that in the first store, there’s only one male among seven females, and from what I saw, he’s extremely dominant, so I think i'll skip it for now. In the second store, there are several males of all ages along with females (about 20 guinea pigs together in a tiny wire cage), but three of them have visible skin issues, with raw areas exposed.

That’s why I mentioned waiting a bit longer, to see if any healthier options appear in either store. But I can always pass by and check each two days.

Bijou is quite a timid guinea pig. Do you think an older or a younger companion would be better fit for him?

I’ll definitely keep all your advice in mind. Thank you again, truly.

A younger, not too dominant companion would be best for Bijou. Just keep on monitoring; you are doing the right thing.

I would recommend that you step in with an anti-dandruff shampoo bath and ivermectin for both piggies on arrival in order to prevent an outbreak of mites or ringworm.

Don't ever be tempted to buy females - they will be pregnant; unless you have the space and the capacity for both more boars and sows in separate cages.

 

[naguya]

A younger, not too dominant companion would be best for Bijou. Just keep on monitoring; you are doing the right thing.

I would recommend that you step in with an anti-dandruff shampoo bath and ivermectin for both piggies on arrival in order to prevent an outbreak of mites or ringworm.

Don't ever be tempted to buy females - they will be pregnant; unless you have the space and the capacity for both more boars and sows in separate cages.

No, no! No females! That’s completely out of the question! I’d only consider sows if I didn’t already have Bijou and Bode.

I’ll definitely do that once I find a companion for Bijou. Thank you so much for your guidance and advice. I’ll start keeping an eye out for a potential friend for him starting tomorrow.

 

[Truffolo]

If Bijou can see and smell Bode, they are both getting some company and for some male piggies that is all they need. My boys can meet each other at the divider and seem happy enough with having another piggy around, but not in their cage. That would give you more time to find a compatible piggy for Bijou.

 

[Merab]

I am so very sorry for your loss.
You gave him so much love and care in the short time he was with you and guinea pigs live for today.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you in my heart

 

[naguya]

If Bijou can see and smell Bode, they are both getting some company and for some male piggies that is all they need. My boys can meet each other at the divider and seem happy enough with having another piggy around, but not in their cage. That would give you more time to find a compatible piggy for Bijou.

They are, but unfortunately I need to put a more reinforced grid where the cage divider is. Bode is very aggressive with any guinea pig and very dominant, if he sees Bijou standing on the grid he might pull his fur and hurt him. That's why I reinforced the side of the partition.

I know side by side is enough, but knowing Bijou, he was always happier with a company inside the cage. As you said, this gives me a little more time to find him a companion.

 

[naguya]

I am so very sorry for your loss.
You gave him so much love and care in the short time he was with you and guinea pigs live for today.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you in my heart

Thank you

Yesterday was really tough. Today has been a little easier as I’ve started to accept that I did everything I could for him. Even though our time together was incredibly short, it will stay in my heart forever.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

I also am so sorry for your loss. Really tough taking a little boy home who was so unhealthy to begin with and nobody was above board with that.
How horrible and neglected little Koki's life must have been till he came to you.

But then he felt your love and care and Bijou's love and care too. He passed surrounded by your and Bijou's love and care, and that counts big.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you

Yesterday was really tough. Today has been a little easier as I’ve started to accept that I did everything I could for him. Even though our time together was incredibly short, it will stay in my heart forever.

These are special piggies you never forget. I have my own who sadly didn't stay for long. But they are never forgotten because they found happiness and love in the short time with me.

Take pride in that you have done everything you could and have done all the right things for Koki. It is not your fault that you have sadly found him too late. Be sad - you have a right to that - but don't feel like you have failed your little one. Give yourself time to grieve after such a bad run.

PS: Don't compromise with a companion for Bijou; just keep an eye out and rather find him a good and gentle but hopefuly healthy new little friend. You'll know in your heart when this happens.

 

[naguya]

I also am so sorry for your loss. Really tough taking a little boy home who was so unhealthy to begin with and nobody was above board with that.
How horrible and neglected little Koki's life must have been till he came to you.

But then he felt your love and care and Bijou's love and care too. He passed surrounded by your and Bijou's love and care, and that counts big.

I thought he was healthy, although I didn't see him much in the store. I only asked for one male and he was the only one available, the other one was very dominant.

Bijou was very happy with his presence, I saw Bijou licking his eye and talking to him. I was so happy when I saw that.

Thank you for your kind words. Koki, although short, will always be remembered by us.

 

[Truffolo]

Bijou is very sweet, I hope you can find a friend for him

 

[naguya]

These are special piggies you never forget. I have my own who sadly didn't stay for long. But they are never forgotten and they found happiness and love in the short time with me.

Take pride in that you have done everything you could and have done all the right things for Koki. It is not your fault that you have sadly found him too late. Be sad - you have a right to that - but don't feel like you have failed your little one. Give yourself time to grieve after such a bad run.

PS: Don't compromise with a companion for Bijou; just keep an eye out and rather find him a good and gentle but hopefuly healthy new little friend. You'll know in your heart when this happens.

Thank you for your kind words I feel truly welcomed and understood by everyone in this forum.

It’s heartbreaking how these little beings are so often neglected. It’s deeply upsetting how they're treated. What makes me a little bit happier is that he got to know Bijou's affection, he was extremely kind and caring to him.

I’ll take my time finding the right companion for him. I’m sure it won’t be long before I’m posting a video here of Bijou, happy and thriving with his new friend.