Cage mate loss

[Ilovemypigs123]

I’ve only ever had losses happen amongst herds, where they’ve had other friends apart from once.

I unexpectedly lost one of my male piggies tonight leaving my boy Dumbo alone, he’s been alone before after his previous cage mate passed and he became very sad and withdrawn so we got him his new friend ( the one that has unexpectedly passed) and now I’m worried that he’s going to be sad and withdrawn again, how long do I leave his friend in for I’m worried I did it wrong last time and that’s why he went like that? All advice would be much appreciated

Picture of my now lone boy Dumbo

 

[Wiebke]

I’ve only ever had losses happen amongst herds, where they’ve had other friends apart from once.

I unexpectedly lost one of my male piggies tonight leaving my boy Dumbo alone, he’s been alone before after his previous cage mate passed and he became very sad and withdrawn so we got him his new friend ( the one that has unexpectedly passed) and now I’m worried that he’s going to be sad and withdrawn again, how long do I leave his friend in for I’m worried I did it wrong last time and that’s why he went like that? All advice would be much appreciated

Picture of my now lone boy Dumbo

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss.

It depends on whether you have found the piggy dead or not (in which case the companions will have taken leave already if they are in a different part of the cage) and also whether the loss was expected or not. If it was expected and the companions are ignoring the body, then they have said their goodbyes already. If you had to put a piggy to sleep (pts) and are bringing them home, then see how the companion reacts and take it from there. Don't be upset if the body is getting ignored (leave has been taken) and be braced that some piggies can have a very strong reaction, which may not be what you expected in a human situation.
There is no given time and strict ritual; it depends on the bereaved piggy/piggies, the situation and their bond.

Some piggies are by personality not very good with being on their own while others just get on with their lives - similar to how we humans react. It is not something you have done wrong, it is just how Dumbo (what a cutie, by the way) is wired. He obviously needs company and will be very accepting of any newbie.

What you can for him is to please not clean out the cage, and especially not move any cosies etc. that are carrying his mate's scent so he can snuggle into it until it has naturally faded. For once it doesn't matter how smelly and yucky the cage is for up to 5-7 days, Dumbo's emotional comfort is more important. Poo patrol but leave the rest be. But you will hopefully find that Dumbo is that bit more braced this time. He is older and he has come through this situation before.

That is going to make a difference with most piggies (not quite all, as my Dizzy has shown when my my Minx had to be pts) we took Dizzy rescue dating, hiding under the grotty cosy carrying the remnants of Minx's scent Dizzy had been camping in. However, coming home with young Llelwelyn, Dizzy was a changed piggy and was not minded to share Llewi with me... no matter how randy he was; he was hers!

As long as Dumbo is eating and drinking, he won't be happy but he'll hang in there until you can find him a new friend.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[Ilovemypigs123]

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss.

It depends on whether you have found the piggy dead or not (in which case the companions will have taken leave already if they are in a different part of the cage) and also whether the loss was expected or not. If it was expected and the companions are ignoring the body, then they have said their goodbyes already. If you had to put a piggy to sleep (pts) and are bringing them home, then see how the companion reacts and take it from there. Don't be upset if the body is getting ignored (leave has been taken) and be braced that some piggies can have a very strong reaction, which may not be what you expected in a human situation.
There is no given time and strict ritual; it depends on the bereaved piggy/piggies, the situation and their bond.

Some piggies are by personality not very good with being on their own while others just get on with their lives - similar to how we humans react. It is not something you have done wrong, it is just how Dumbo (what a cutie, by the way) is wired. He obviously needs company and will be very accepting of any newbie.

What you can for him is to please not clean out the cage, and especially not move any cosies etc. that are carrying his mate's scent so he can snuggle into it until it has naturally faded. For once it doesn't matter how smelly and yucky the cage is for up to 5-7 days, Dumbo's emotional comfort is more important. Poo patrol but leave the rest be. But you will hopefully find that Dumbo is that bit more braced this time. He is older and he has come through this situation before.

That is going to make a difference with most piggies (not quite all, as my Dizzy has shown when my my Minx had to be pts) we took Dizzy rescue dating, hiding under the grotty cosy carrying the remnants of Minx's scent Dizzy had been camping in. However, coming home with young Llelwelyn, Dizzy was a changed piggy and was not minded to share Llewi with me... no matter how randy he was; he was hers!

As long as Dumbo is eating and drinking, he won't be happy but he'll hang in there until you can find him a new friend.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Glad things worked well for your babies

Thanks for replying too we have Mr Styles home today with a little keyring of his fur

Dumbos doing okay but he’s not eating as much as he normally would and just seems to be sitting under one of his houses looking a bit lost thinking about getting him neutered and putting him with his sister and cousin ‍♀ maybe

 

[Wiebke]

Glad things worked well for your babies

Thanks for replying too we have Mr Styles home today with a little keyring of his fur

Dumbos doing okay but he’s not eating as much as he normally would and just seems to be sitting under one of his houses looking a bit lost thinking about getting him neutered and putting him with his sister and cousin ‍♀ maybe

HUGS

Mr Styles will always live on in your heart and memories as well as his keyring.


You will need an experienced operating vet for the neutering operation but you can actually move Dumbo right next to his sister and cousin now. That should perk him up pretty instantly.

As long as he cannot get into the sow cage (make sure that all connecting grids are cable-tied and he has nothing he can use to climb or jump across; if needed peg a towel across the top of the divider on his side) a single boar is fine next to sows because he has nobody to fall out with; just to get high on the sow pheromones all on his own.

This should also give you time to see how it goes with him and the girls once the initial dust has settled. A single boar can live alongside any number of sows or even mixed pairs as long as he cannot get out of his cage. But even if neutering is not an option, having Dumbo living alongside the girls is a valid long term fall-back option.

This here is my unneutered ginger bereaved Merlin living in a divided cage next to highly fear-aggressive newly bereaved blonde lady Sulwen. It took a few months of living next to each other for Sulwen's super-nervous heart to melt but Merlin is now neutered and happily married to Sulwen (who is happily telling him what to do...).


Here is some helpful information on neutering: Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care