Do I Let Piggy See Her Dead Friend?

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SweetJo

SweetJo

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Hi, I haven't been on here for a while (sorry) but sadly we unexpectedly lost our five and a half month old girl Cookie tonight. She was put down at the vets and Peanut was there in the carrier. I brought Cookie home wrapped in a towel, in the box with Peanut. Peanut is now back in her cage.... do I let her see Cookie? They've been together since they were 6 weeks old and I'm worried for Peanut cause she won't know what's going on.
I've read the thread about looking after a bereaved pig but wasn't too sure about the letting her see Cookie part. And if I do how long do I leave them together for?
 
I remember reading posts by wiebke saying it is a good idea to let guinea see their departed cagemates. Apparently , they sometimes lick their eyes - a way of saying goodbye . I will try and find a link.

I am sorry for your loss
 
I have done this before but mostly they keep away from their passed away friend. I would leave Cookie in with Peanut for about 30 minutes just to let her realise that she's passed. I'm really sorry for you loss, it is heartbreaking when they die so young xx
 
Yes I have done this each time, and each pig has reacted differently. I have had two who nuzzled and licked, especially round the face, one who investigated, and one who took a look and ran off, but I think all understood, which is the most important thing. x

It's so sad to lose them. Sorry for little Cookie ad I hope that Peanut, and of course yourself, will be ok xx
 
I've let mine see their dead cage mates. Mr Ted nuzzled and washed Mrs Fudge for ages before he walked away, but when we lost Shirley Toffee just gave her a quick nuzzle then walked away. I do think it helps them to understand. So sorry for your loss x
 
Thank you everyone. I left her for half an hour in the cage. I didn't stay to watch what Peanut did, she's quite shy at the best of times.
I've had her out for an hour for cuddles, which is a record for her. Even after an hour she wasn't getting restless. After putting her home she was wheeking for her tea, which she hasn't done for ages. At least I'm hoping it was for her tea and not for Cookie. She stopped wheeking when food arrived and tucked straight in.
I've put one of the fleeces I used to hold Cookie in with Peanut so she can snuggle up to it if she wants to.
I really hope she copes ok until I find her a friend. When I was a kid (and an inexperienced piggy owner) I lost 2 pigs due to what I now suspect was grief so I don't want it to happen again.
 
You have done the right thing. Piggies grieve like we do, but they get on with surviving as instinct kicks in. By letting her see Cookie she will have known that her friend has unfortunately passed on. It is good news that she is eating, she may be a little quiet though over the next few days still. Have a read through of this link here.Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

I just want to say how sorry I am, you are a wonderful owner for putting Peanut first even through your own grief. Have a hug, we are all here for you

x
 
sport_billy said:
You have done the right thing. Piggies grieve like we do, but they get on with surviving as instinct kicks in. By letting her see Cookie she will have known that her friend has unfortunately passed on.

I just want to say how sorry I am, you are a wonderful owner for putting Peanut first even through your own grief. Have a hug, we are all here for you

x
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Thank you. All I wanted to do was get her home so I could log on here and find out what to do to help her. I can hear her mooching about as I type.
 
SweetJo said:
Thank you. All I wanted to do was get her home so I could log on here and find out what to do to help her. I can hear her mooching about as I type.
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We have panicked each time we lost one of our pairs. Luckily both times Putt & Cookie carried on eating. Cookie was quiet afterwards and a little withdrawn but she coped well until we managed to get her some new friends.

Just keep a close eye on Peanut and pay her some extra attention in evening as I am sure you will. x x
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. :( I did let my pigs see their dead companions... when Frenzy passed, she was in the cage with Linney and by the time I checked and found she had passed Linney had already moved the pigloo away. She did understand that her friend was gone, I think, because when Frenzy was back and forth to the vet all the time she was obviously looking for her, but after she passed she never did. When Linney passed, she was in my arms, and I let Sundae see her. She sniffed her and licked her face around her ears and eyes... totally broke my heart but I thought it was better than letting her wonder where the heck her friend went, as she seemed to know something was up and was agitated in the cage when we were holding Linney as she passed.

I've never had a pig stop eating after losing a friend, fortunately, but Sundae was quite distressed and refused to come out of the cage for free time and would wheek for us to come over and pat her (she normally wheeks when she thinks a treat is coming, but has never wheeked for us to pat her before.) She kept eating but was obviously distressed, so we did introduce a new friend quickly (after a 2-week quarantine period.) She was REALLY happy to have another pig and her behavior returned to usual at that point. When Frenzy passed, Linney was less upset, but was a lot more subdued and quieter and also perked up quickly once we got a new friend. Give Peanut lots of love and attention and hopefully she will come through her bereavement just fine and be ready to meet a new friend when the time is right.
 
Sometimes its not the best idea to let a piggie see its dead friend as it can traumatize them as well. Most of them seem to appreciate it but occasionally you will get a piggie quite freaked out by it.
Honestly its best to go by your gut instinct on what you think is best to do. I didn't let my guinea pig see his dead friend as they travelled together to the vet and he was standing protectively of his friend and I think he knew Gilbert was about to pass as he was pretty much gone by the time we got to the vet and the vet finished helped him pass to the bridge. He was fine at home afterwards, I'm 100% sure he knew so if they know I tend not to show them.
 
I think Peanut knows.... she had moved the fleece with Cookie's scent on out of their log house! She was running round their cage last night, I'm hoping it was because she was ok and not because she was trying to find Cookie. I got her out again before bed and again she sat for cuddles which is rare for her. She was making little squeaky noises when I stroked her. Similar to the ones she makes when moving around her cage, investigating stuff. Could that mean she was enjoying it? Or wondering where her friend was? She wasn't trying to get away from me.
 
It's hard to tell some times isn't it? But it sounds like she's very much appreciating your attention right now. Could be that she doesn't quite know what to do with herself too, but doesn't sound like she's really depressed, which is good.
 
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