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Amysguineapigs

Amysguineapigs

Teenage Guinea Pig
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As you know we lost our beloved Snowball yesterday- still can't get over that his gone:( Miss his cuddles so much.

Cookie's missing him too. His eating fine, but he has stayed in his bed most of the morning. I can't stand going to the hutch tbh, he looks so lonely without no Snowball to cuddle up next too.

So we was wondering what is the next step for little Cookie? We don't want to see him living on his own for weeks on end. So how soon do we get another pig?

Cookie lived with Snowball for only 7 months:(

Cookie is 9 months old now, so would it be better to get him an older friend or a younger one?

Also i know theres a lot of organising with rescues so how long can it take?

I would love to have another long haired guinea pig, as Snowball was my hobby, i loved grooming him and i'm going to miss that so much. Nothing will ever replace my dopey Snowball, but we have to do this for Cookie.
 
It's hard to lose a piggy and equally as hard to see their buddy alone 8...
As Abi nurse suggested, boar dating may be the option to take here so Cookie will find the friend he needs and so many boys are waiting for their new homes in rescues.
I wouldn't hesitate tbh, Cookie needs company of his own and Snowball will be happy knowing he has someone to keep him warm whilst he's at The Bridge x>>
Keep us posted hun, hugs to you and Amy at this sad time :rose
 
Amysguineapigs said:
As you know we lost our beloved Snowball yesterday- still can't get over that his gone:( Miss his cuddles so much.

Cookie's missing him too. His eating fine, but he has stayed in his bed most of the morning. I can't stand going to the hutch tbh, he looks so lonely without no Snowball to cuddle up next too.

So we was wondering what is the next step for little Cookie? We don't want to see him living on his own for weeks on end. So how soon do we get another pig?

Cookie lived with Snowball for only 7 months:(

Cookie is 9 months old now, so would it be better to get him an older friend or a younger one?

Also i know theres a lot of organising with rescues so how long can it take?

I would love to have another long haired guinea pig, as Snowball was my hobby, i loved grooming him and i'm going to miss that so much. Nothing will ever replace my dopey Snowball, but we have to do this for Cookie.
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You'd be surprised with rescues: I lost Fudge on Monday and by Friday we had a piggie date set up with my local rescue - and I've never adopted from a rescue before! Provided your housing is OK sizewise, you shouldn't have many problems. You can have someone before you know it!
However, I would keep an eye on how Cookie is coping alone. Maybe introduce a new toy, switch things round in the hutch a bit. I found Treacle felt much more cheerful after cleaning the hutch out and getting a new hidey-hole for her.
I would try to get a friend as close to his age or a bit younger - that way there's much less chance of anyone being left alone again :(

So very sad to hear about Snowball, and I hope that Cookie will be just fine xoxoxoxo
 
Amysguineapigs said:
Thanks.
And we won't be able to travel:( x
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You're close to us, work permitting (OH has just started a new job) if we can assist, we'd be more than happy - don't forget the Piggy Bank as well who cover areas close to you, maybe a train could be organised for Cookie and slaves ?/
 
SapphireDreams said:
You'd be surprised with rescues: I lost Fudge on Monday and by Friday we had a piggie date set up with my local rescue - and I've never adopted from a rescue before! Provided your housing is OK sizewise, you shouldn't have many problems. You can have someone before you know it!
However, I would keep an eye on how Cookie is coping alone. Maybe introduce a new toy, switch things round in the hutch a bit. I found Treacle felt much more cheerful after cleaning the hutch out and getting a new hidey-hole for her.
I would try to get a friend as close to his age or a bit younger - that way there's much less chance of anyone being left alone again :(

So very sad to hear about Snowball, and I hope that Cookie will be just fine xoxoxoxo
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The hutch is 4ft X 2ft double story. I cleaned the hutch out yesterday and put a cuddly toy in there. As well as giving plenty of hugs. I also read changing times of the feeding routine can help, so i'll try that.
x
 
Is Cookie outside? An indoor pig will not be able to go out until April - May unless they are already outside, you would need an outdoor pig so the temperature change would not affect them.

Boar dating is the best options, as not all boars will be friends.

I wouldn't normally advise this but would neutering be an option, as it means Cookie could move inside and live with the girls of course neutering is not an option to be taken lightly.
 
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flintstones said:
Is Cookie outside? An indoor pig will not be able to go out until April - May unless they are already outside, you would need an outdoor pig so the temperature change would not affect them.

Boar dating is the best options, as not all boars will be friends.

I wouldn't normally advise this but would neutering be an option, as it means Cookie could move inside and perhaps live with the girls of course neutering is not an option to be taken lightly.
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Cookie is in the garden room, so not completely outside, but temperatures can still get pretty cold.
We thought of getting him neutered but we don't want him to be put through it unnecessarily.
 
Amysguineapigs said:
Cookie is in the garden room, so not completely outside, but temperatures can still get pretty cold.
We thought of getting him neutered but we don't want him to be put through it unnecessarily.
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Perhaps a shed pig would be a good idea then, I have three pairs of pigs boys/girls all in my bedroom. As long as you assess all the risks and find the best vet, it could be the best option for Cookie - of course it's not a decision to jump into but at times pairing loan boars can be difficult if you are unable to travel to a reputable rescue and allow him to choose his own companion.

I have previously bonded an adult male and baby boar myself as at the time I lived in Northern Ireland and there was no reputable rescues with any boars available sadly they fell out and as I had to commute on Ferry, buses and trains between Glasgow and Belfast keeping them separate was not an option. A decision I have always regretted as it meant rehoming the baby, he did go on to have a lovely life but it was heartbreaking and something I will never do again. Which is why I always advise letting the male pig choose, unfortunately at the time I was new to piggy ownership and didn't clearly understand that it wasn't as simple as just getting another male pig, I learnt the hard way.
 
Amysguineapigs said:
Cookie is in the garden room, so not completely outside, but temperatures can still get pretty cold.
We thought of getting him neutered but we don't want him to be put through it unnecessarily.
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If you do decide to have Cookie neutered, I would recommend Sally Potter at Shelfield - she is absolutely brilliant, the staff are really nice and caring.

http://www.vets4pets.com/find-a-practice/vets4pets-shelfield/

Sally neutered my two boys and rang with updates, she operated on my boy who had a bladder stone, he was extremely poorly - again, called with updates and advised post op care. I was in bits but knew I could trust her 100%, her whole persona makes you feel more relaxed when you're thinking nobody understands how you feel :(
Really cannot fault these guys and wish they were closer to us - our piggies are registered with her but we use a closer practise for 'less' emergencies but have regretted it tbh.
If you had him 'done', not saying he would bond with your girls so still think boar dating is a better choice :) but just a recommendation for a great vet if you need one.
 
Guinea pig slave said:
If you do decide to have Cookie neutered, I would recommend Sally Potter at Shelfield - she is absolutely brilliant, the staff are really nice and caring.

http://www.vets4pets.com/find-a-practice/vets4pets-shelfield/

Sally neutered my two boys and rang with updates, she operated on my boy who had a bladder stone, he was extremely poorly - again, called with updates and advised post op care. I was in bits but knew I could trust her 100%, her whole persona makes you feel more relaxed when you're thinking nobody understands how you feel :(
Really cannot fault these guys and wish they were closer to us - our piggies are registered with her but we use a closer practise for 'less' emergencies but have regretted it tbh.
If you had him 'done', not saying he would bond with your girls so still think boar dating is a better choice :) but just a recommendation for a great vet if you need one.
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We've just gave it a think and decided we don't want to put Cookie through it, especially if theres not a 100% guarantee that he'll bond with the girls. Plus their cage isn't big enough for three pigs.

I've just emailed about a guinea pig needing a home in Cheshire. As hes been needing a home for 6 months! I know i said we wouldn't travel but it looks like we might have to. Don't want to travel too far though. http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/moreinfo.asp?GpigID=7305
 
This is the thread Amanda was thinking of, it gives a fuller picture of that rescue.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=57891

By adopting/buying from somewhere that has poor policies you are giving your approval and nothing will change for the pigs that will inevitably fill the empty cage. There are very good rescues which deserve support and will give you far better advice/support and healthier pigs.

http://www.rspca-walsall.org.uk/page7a.html

Bramleys and Potteries GPR too
 
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While you are deciding what is best for him in the long-term, have you considered moving his cage so he is next to the girls? Being able to see and hear other guinea pigs would probably help him right now.
 
The girls are indoors. But the garden room is next door to the room their in. So he can hear them squeal and wheek still.
 
Amysguineapigs said:
The girls are indoors. But the garden room is next door to the room their in. So he can hear them squeal and wheek still.
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If he was my pig, I'd move him into the same room as the girls and push the cages next to each other.
 
I can reccomend The Potteries in stoke on trent, I'm in Nuneaton and I think it took me an hour and a quarter? If you need any help getting there just give us a shout, I know it well.
Helen is quite full at the mo so if you're interested I'd give her a shout, she will probably be able to help. I took my eldest for a date there last june and Tyler came home with us the same day :)
www.thepotteriesguineapigrescue.co.uk
 
Fantastic, good luck & I hope cookie gets a new friend :)
Helen is lovely, full of brill advice and it's like piggy heaven at her place, I've been twice :))
 
So glad that you've chosen the Potteries!

Hope Cookie finds a new companion soon :)
 
I would also recommend The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue, I'm glad you've emailed them. Helen is great and knows her stuff, she's had a lot of experience with bonding.
We went there with Wally Whiskers after Mr M went over the bridge and he made friends with Rocket and just last week we had to take our recently bereaved Moonpig ( r.i.p Yoshi 8... ) to find a friend and came home with Moonpig and Olivia ( also recently bereaved) who is now Moonpig's little white shadow, bless her.
Good luck hun, I know how difficult all of this can be at the moment when you're still very raw from Snowball's loss. (((((hugs)))))
 
awwwwwww poor Cookie :(
You're doing the right thing in letting Cookie go boar dating..... whee look forward to hearing some lovely news soon for Cookie and you all XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
 
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