Death Of One Guinea

[Anna Day]

I have had 2 guineas for just over 3 years. One, Snowy, was disabled and had a crooked front foot with too many toes but she still managed to run about and have fun! Tonight I have arrived home from work to find her passed away. I thought something was not quite right this morning as greens had not been touched. The other guinea, Suzy, is very jumpy and stressed. I won't be getting another guinea pig so just wondering how to make the remaining guinea happy and stress free without her friend. So sad and dreading telling my 9 year old of the passing as she is away this weekend. Snowy was her favourite!

 

[chesca_27]

I am very sorry for your loss . She sounds like a lovely, well-cared for guinea pig.

Please monitor Suzy for acute pining, which can be fatal. Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig This thread should help with what to do currently and what symptoms to watch out for with acute pining.

I strongly recommend bonding Suzy with another guinea pig or at least have her live next door to other guinea pigs. When my Toffee died, I was very much in the same mindset about not bonding him and my family were unwilling to adopt another piggie, but I am so glad we did. My piggie Oreo is so much happier and it is the best decision I ever made.

Suzy is only around three (I am assuming) which means she can still have a very long life, which she really does need companionship for. Guinea pigs are naturally very social animals, so it is unfair keeping them on their own. Imagine being kept in a room without any other humans while dogs ruled you and only came to see you for a bit each day. You wouldn't enjoy that, so why subject Suzy to it.

If you aren't able to commit to more guinea pigs long term (after Suzy) then try long-term fostering. It means you look after a piggie for Suzy's benefit for the rest of her life, then give the piggie back to the rescue to be rehomed.

I would look at local forum recommended rescues and I believe most of them should offer long term fostering. Otherwise, Guinea Lynx has a few suggested rescues. If you are based in London, I can PM you an excellent rescue who isn't on the forum recommendations but deals with a lot of bonding and offers long term fostering. I have personally used them.

 

[Anna Day]

Thank your advice. I shall look at the 'Looking after bereaved guinea thread'. I see what you are saying but am so conscious that if we get another guinea they won't bond as well. I will have to think about what to do for the best for Suzy. I like the idea of fostering so will look into it. Am just worried about the stress of introducing a new guinea to Suzys life. Do you think Suzy should come into the house instead of being outdoors?
Finding comfort int he fact that Snowy had a lovely life despite being 'the runt'. It was only 3 days ago they had fun on the grass on a rare sunny day. My daughter bonded so well with her , funnily enough embracing the disabled aspect!
Any tips on breaking the news to my daughter? We will be burying Snowy tomorrow in the garden when my daughter is home.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank your advice. I shall look at the 'Looking after bereaved guinea thread'. I see what you are saying but am so conscious that if we get another guinea they won't bond as well. I will have to think about what to do for the best for Suzy. I like the idea of fostering so will look into it. Am just worried about the stress of introducing a new guinea to Suzys life. Do you think Suzy should come into the house instead of being outdoors?
Finding comfort int he fact that Snowy had a lovely life despite being 'the runt'. It was only 3 days ago they had fun on the grass on a rare sunny day. My daughter bonded so well with her , funnily enough embracing the disabled aspect!
Any tips on breaking the news to my daughter? We will be burying Snowy tomorrow in the garden when my daughter is home.

Hi! I am very sorry about your loss. You are welcome to post a tribute to your girl in our Rainbow Bridge section if or whenever it feels right for you and for your daughter.

I like to think of my passed away guinea pigs as little furry guardian angels looking out for my current guinea pigs. They still have a firm place in my heart and have taught me what I am passing on now...
But if you find the idea of the Rainbow Bridge helpful where all pets go, then that may help you, too?
There are some very lovely poems and stories suitable for a child in this thread here: Permament Thread for Rainbow Bridge Poems

If you can, please consider ringing up any good rescues within your reach and ask them for similar aged or older guinea pigs that you could date Suzy with, so she can make the decision who she wants to live with. This can be a sow or a neutered boar. it is going to be a different, but not necessarily less loving relationship. Each bond is unique, but the ability to love doesn't just stop; it simply finds a new channel. Suzy is only about halfway through an average life span.
I have gone down this route several times with bereaved sows of mine of the same age as Suzy (and some after very close companionships indeed), but have always come back with another happy bond, whether that was a same-aged
bereaved sow or a neutered boar. Age is much less important than mutual liking, by the way. Even a 7 year old can be very happy indeed with a "toy boar" of mere 3 years old, as my Ffraid proved! (Said toy boar is now happily lording it over a harem of younger sows, aged 5 years and still going strong.)

Please take the time to read our guide. You may find it helpful.

 

[LilyandGeorge]

So sorry you are going through this. I am in a similar situation, having just lost our beloved George. I dreaded telling my kids (7 and 9) the news and they were very sad. They are taking it in their stride though. My 9 year old daughter in particular is helping me to monitor Lily for signs of pining. She was delighted that she heard the first post-George wheek yesterday. Lily is doing really well, eating and starting to explore again. She is an indoor pig, but was upstairs. I have started bringing her downstairs to roam around (or hide/snooze) in the evening so she has at least some company, even if it's just humans.

If you can bring your other piggie indoors I expect she would feel less lonely. Lily perks up when she hears our voices. I think it would be worth looking into fostering. I would love to be able to do this but am having no luck finding any rescues here. (I started separate thread - see behaviour section). I feel terrible about it. I am trying to make Lily's life as interesting and comfortable as possible while I keep searching.

 

[Freela]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's always hard to tell kids that a pet has passed one, I've been there myself recently and I feel for you. ((HUGS)) to you and your daughter both. As for your remaining piggie, guinea pigs really are happier with other guinea pigs, so if there's any chance of finding a friend, it's worth considering. In my experience, guinea pigs who have lost a friend are very able to bond with a different guinea pig in the future. Both times that we matched up a surviving pig with a new friend, they were thrilled to have company again. I'm hoping it goes as well the next time around. However, in the event that it's not feasible to find a friend for her, try to give your remaining guinea pigs as much time with the humans as possible. They really do get lonely. I would move her inside if it's feasible so she has more contact with the people. Keep an eye on her to make sure she is eating and drinking normally. Some guinea pigs do actively pine for a lost friend and can be quite distressed, while others carry on very well after a loss.

 

[Rochester Piggy]

Hugs to you and your daughter. The people above gave really good advice. I lost one in December and got a new one for my other girl last week!