Does my guinea pig need a new companion?

Cittycat

Cittycat

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So I guess I know the answer to this question, but I don't know what to do. 😟

One of my girls, Primrose, had to be PTS last week after a short illness. We think something neurological; it started as a head tilt and progressed to temporary paralysis and finally violent seizures. It was pretty horrible. In the end I had to drive to her the vets on my own while she was fitting beside me in the car. This came after nine months of Hazel, my other guinea pig, being constantly unwell - numerous tests and investigations, pneumonia, enlarged heart, severe infection that required two weeks of daily penicillin injections to cure it. Those would be the highlights.

Previously, I'd never questioned that I would get a replacement companion for whichever of my guinea pigs survived the other, but the last nine months have been so emotionally and, to be blunt, financially draining that I don't know if I can do it again. In the first few days after Primrose passed away Hazel didn't even seem to notice. She was literally no different in any of her behaviour. The last couple of days however, I've noticed she's not finishing all her veggies (unheard of!) and she just seems to have lost a bit of her sparkle.

My friends think I'm projecting. After the shock of losing Prim, it's seeing Hazel without her best friend that makes me the most sad, but I don't think I'm up for this never ending cycle of heartbreak. Hazel's six now and (obviously) not in the best of health, but everything I read tells me I'm wrong to keep her alone.

Do rescues ever loan guinea pigs? I could maybe see myself taking one on for the rest of Hazel's life, although no one who knows me believes I would be able to return it. Saying that, the closest recommended rescues to me on here would be in Bristol and I don't know if Hazel could travel that far with her bad heart.

I'm so torn over what to do for the best. 😟
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. 💛💛💛 That sounds awful.

I have heard of "loaner" guinea pigs, I hope you are able to find an arrangement like that locally. Often they will be a young companion who can then be returned to the rescue and move on to a more permanent home once the older piggy passes.

Perhaps if Hazel can't travel safely, they would let you bring home a potential friend and return them if the bonding doesn't work out.

There is nothing wrong with "borrowing" a piggy just for a short while in circumstances like yours. They will still have a long life ahead of them once you return them.
 
Thank you for your kind words @Featheryfriend and @Merab's Slave 💛

I'm leaning more and more towards trying to get Hazel a friend and have made some local(ish) inquiries, but had no responses yet.

Can anyone recommend anywhere in particular they think I should try to contact?
 
Have a look at the rescue locator link I’ll put below. You should try not to limit how far you’re willing to travel.
@Betsy which rescue did you get Pretty Patsy from?

Rescue Locator
 
Thanks @Siikibam I don't mind travelling, but Hazel is less keen... there aren't any recommended rescues within 100 miles of us, however I have started with the closest - Little Wheekers in Bristol.
 
I’m sorry for your loss. I hope
you find a friend for Hazel. ❤️
 
Siikibam said:
Have a look at the rescue locator link I’ll put below. You should try not to limit how far you’re willing to travel.
@Betsy which rescue did you get Pretty Patsy from?

Cittycat said:
Thanks @Siikibam I don't mind travelling, but Hazel is less keen... there aren't any recommended rescues within 100 miles of us, however I have started with the closest - Little Wheekers in Bristol.
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I got Pretty Patsy from Little Wheekers. Lesley is lovely. She is pretty strict on which set up you have, where it's located, how you keep your piggies warm in winter, how often you clean them out, poop pick, what you feed them on, how often etc. When I'd finished the "interview" telephone call I felt really exhausted! Still she's only checking that the piggies will have a lovely home as the previous owners have cared enough about their piggies to surrender them and are trusting that their piggies will have a nice home to go to.

Good luck with finding your next piggy! Contact the Rescue direct as they often don't have all the piggies on their website/Facebok.
 
I’m in a very similar position. I have a nearly 6 year old girl who’s lost her two sisters in the last 6months. One was sudden and one after a few months of illness. I don’t want to continue the cycle after her and found two girls I could foster but she didn’t get on with them once they were home and in the cage :-( it was really horrible and she was a bit traumatised and I don’t want to do that to her again but I also don’t want her to be lonely.
I’m also looking for a ‘lone’ pig until she passes too, but she seems quite content by her self at the moment, now she knows the other pigs have gone!
 
Betsy said:
I got Pretty Patsy from Little Wheekers. Lesley is lovely. She is pretty strict on which set up you have, where it's located, how you keep your piggies warm in winter, how often you clean them out, poop pick, what you feed them on, how often etc. When I'd finished the "interview" telephone call I felt really exhausted! Still she's only checking that the piggies will have a lovely home as the previous owners have cared enough about their piggies to surrender them and are trusting that their piggies will have a nice home to go to.

Good luck with finding your next piggy! Contact the Rescue direct as they often don't have all the piggies on their website/Facebok.
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Thank you @Betsy that was really encouraging to hear! I have just had a message back from Lesley, who sounded lovely, via Facebook. It seems they don't have anyone suitable at the moment, but I've asked if they would be able to keep Hazel in mind and will keep my fingers crossed.
 
Guineapigfeet said:
I’m in a very similar position. I have a nearly 6 year old girl who’s lost her two sisters in the last 6months. One was sudden and one after a few months of illness. I don’t want to continue the cycle after her and found two girls I could foster but she didn’t get on with them once they were home and in the cage :-( it was really horrible and she was a bit traumatised and I don’t want to do that to her again but I also don’t want her to be lonely.
I’m also looking for a ‘lone’ pig until she passes too, but she seems quite content by her self at the moment, now she knows the other pigs have gone!
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I'm so sorry to hear about your experience! It's such a tough situation to be in, isn't it?

Good luck with your search for a lone pig! I'm glad your girl is doing okay on her own at the moment. 🙂
 
Cittycat said:
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience! It's such a tough situation to be in, isn't it?

Good luck with your search for a lone pig! I'm glad your girl is doing okay on her own at the moment. 🙂
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It’s horrible!
I hope you find someone for yours too/ that she continues to be OK by her self
 
I'm still looking for a friend for Hazel. I've been keeping my options open, but I did sort of have the notion in my head that she would do better with another girl. One of the rescues that I've been keeping an eye on has just updated their website with a number of recently neautured boys though. Would a little old lady guinea pig of six be happy with a new younger male or would he be too much for her? I know it ultimately comes down to personality, but I've never had boys before and just wondered if there was any sort of general rule?
 
She could be happy or she couldn’t. You won’t know unless you try. Does the rescue offer dating?
 
Siikibam said:
She could be happy or she couldn’t. You won’t know unless you try. Does the rescue offer dating?
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I'm not sure, but I've emailed them this morning to enquire. They had previously said they would be open to the idea of me fostering a piggie (but didn't have anyone suitable at the time), which is particularly what I've been hoping to do.
 
I have an almost 8 year old girl Violet living with her long-term friend Daisy and newly (a couple of months ago) introduced neutered male Oscar. They get along really well. I think it just comes down to both of their personalities. Oscar is a very gentle boar, so he doesn't hump her very often, and Violet is very laid back and submissive. Hope all goes well and you can find Hazel a new friend 🥰👍
 
My Piggies said:
I have an almost 8 year old girl Violet living with her long-term friend Daisy and newly (a couple of months ago) introduced neutered male Oscar. They get along really well. I think it just comes down to both of their personalities. Oscar is a very gentle boar, so he doesn't hump her very often, and Violet is very laid back and submissive. Hope all goes well and you can find Hazel a new friend 🥰👍
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Forgot to mention that Oscar is almost 4, so isn't necessarily a young piggie, but still has a lot more energy than Violet does.
 
My Piggies said:
Forgot to mention that Oscar is almost 4, so isn't necessarily a young piggie, but still has a lot more energy than Violet does.
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Thank you so much! I love the sound of your little herd and I'm so glad they're all happy together. 😍 When I hear about other piggies living such long lives like your Violet it makes me more determined then ever to find Hazel a friend.
 
I really think it depends on the personality of the neutered boar. Some are really humpy and dominant (like my Ralph) Some are really laid back and don’t bother with excessive humping (like my Boris) and are happy to be the under pig. So until you try, you won’t know. It could be love at first sight.
 
Two days after bringing home a foster piggie to be her new friend, Hazel passed away peacefully in her sleep.

I am just heartbroken beyond belief.
 
What a sad turn of events. I’m sorry for your loss ♥️
 
I am so sorry to hear this, but glad that she passed peacefully and at home.

I have just found this thread and was so impressed with your efforts and determination to find your girl a new companion.
She was clearly a very loved guinea pig who had a wonderful life with you.
 
Thank you so so much everyone for all your kind words - they made me rather teary, but they gave me a lot of comfort. ❤️

I was doing a little bit better today and then had quite a moment on the drive home from work, remembering Hazel wasn't going to be here shouting for her veggies when I got through the front door.

I've got my foster boy for just a little while longer though. I think it's helping to have him because he's keeping me in a routine. He's such a lovely bouncy guinea pig, I feel awful things didn't work out as planned for him too.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss and how this has happened after all your efforts. It's lovely that your bouncy lad is helping you as well as he helped Hazel.
I do think it's a positive for piggies to meet several others during their lifetime, even if it doesn't turn into their forever home. I imagine it lets them know that the world is full of unexpected piggy friendship and keeps them hopeful that, if they are alone for a while, there are others out there waiting to meet them x
 
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