Depression

[Julia Rafferty]

I was not sure where to post this... but I feel like this is the best place. Just recently, my hamster died and this hamster had a very strong bond with my guinea pig Franklin. They did everything together. Most of all, my hamster would curl up under Franklin and they would sleep together. Well... we got the hamster creamates and gave Franklin all of his stuff since he loved him so much. We gave Franklin the hamster’s blanket, some of his bedding that he slept in, and some of the toilet paper that he used to nest in just before he passed. Franklin got everything including weekly visits to the hamster’s urn and his old cage. This keeps Franklin going for a bit but I sense that he is a bit depressed. He only played with the hamster so he stopped running around and popcorning. He hardly moves from his house where he sleeps on all of the hamsters old things. When he visits the urn, he sits next to it and make a yelling sound. What should I do?

 

[Freela]

I'm sorry for your loss. I'm surprised that your guinea pig and hamster were able to form such a bond... I'm pretty sure our hamsters would kick our guinea pigs' butts! The only time they accidentally came nose to nose, we had a nipped nose and a sad guinea pig!

Guinea pigs are social animals and will mourn the loss of a friend. Would you consider adopting a second guinea pig for him? I would think that another piggie might be a more sure match, since a lot of hamsters may not be anywhere near as keen to make friends! Depending on where you are, there may be rescues that would allow your pig to meet and 'date' other guinea pigs to see who he is likely to accept as a companion.

 

[Julia Rafferty]

I'm sorry for your loss. I'm surprised that your guinea pig and hamster were able to form such a bond... I'm pretty sure our hamsters would kick our guinea pigs' butts! The only time they accidentally came nose to nose, we had a nipped nose and a sad guinea pig!

Guinea pigs are social animals and will mourn the loss of a friend. Would you consider adopting a second guinea pig for him? I would think that another piggie might be a more sure match, since a lot of hamsters may not be anywhere near as keen to make friends! Depending on where you are, there may be rescues that would allow your pig to meet and 'date' other guinea pigs to see who he is likely to accept as a companion.

I do have another pig that he lives with, his name is Abraham, and sometimes he cuddles with Franklin. But most of the time he just eats and sleeps and they hardly look at each other unless they decide to play. He seems a bit better today. He did a mixture of a rumble strut and a popcorn but he still seems a bit sad.

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.

Perhaps with the loss of his hamster friend Franklin will develop a closer bond with Abraham