Getting A New Pig Or Not

[hartleyhare]

Hooper is around 5 at best guess - difficult to be sure as previous owner was somewhat vague as to how long she had actually owned a pig. He was living with another rescue male pig, who has since passed away. Currently Hoops is living with Theo, a very elderly, very gentle neutered rabbit, who was also bereaved around the same time. I am aware that this is not a good combination under normal circumstances but Hoops is very attached to Theo and they both benefit from each other's company. Hoops is very devoted to Theo.

However, Theo has a lot of health problems and will not be able to carry on much longer. Which means that Hoops will then be bereaved twice. Wondering if I should look for a spayed female or neutered male or just wait and see how he copes on his own with support from me. Do pigs bully baby pigs?

 

[VickiA]

Hello. Sounds like Hooper and Theo have strong bond. While we wouldn't normally recommend housing piggies and bunnies together there are obvious exceptions and this seems to be just one of them. Many years ago I had a house bun and a pair of piggies who all lived together (their choice as they were free roaming) . You are obviously very caring, planning for the future when Hopper will be alone again. Hooper would benefit from having someone of his own kind who speaks his language. Not all piggies get along so the usual recommendation is to try boar dating at an approved rescue to find a suitable match for him. There is an approved rescues locator at the top of the page.

 

[Wiebke]

Hooper is around 5 at best guess - difficult to be sure as previous owner was somewhat vague as to how long she had actually owned a pig. He was living with another rescue male pig, who has since passed away. Currently Hoops is living with Theo, a very elderly, very gentle neutered rabbit, who was also bereaved around the same time. I am aware that this is not a good combination under normal circumstances but Hoops is very attached to Theo and they both benefit from each other's company. Hoops is very devoted to Theo.

However, Theo has a lot of health problems and will not be able to carry on much longer. Which means that Hoops will then be bereaved twice. Wondering if I should look for a spayed female or neutered male or just wait and see how he copes on his own with support from me. Do pigs bully baby pigs?

Please leave them together. Separating them at this late stage would do more harm than good for either.

It is possible that Hooper has lost the ability to identify himself as a guinea pig if he has not been around other guinea pigs since a very young age, so you would have to ideally rescue date him anyway rather than getting him a shop piggy. Spayed sows are unfortunately about as rare as gold dust...

Your closest good rescue with bunnies and piggies is the RSPCA Bryn-y-Maen in the Colwyn Bay area. The Anglesey branch concentrates mainly on larger animals.
Our member @AuntyC fosters guinea pigs and helps looking after them for Bryn-y-Maen whenever they have got any in.

 

[hartleyhare]

I did not say I was going to separate them but the time is coming when I will have to let Theo go. He's 10 1/2, which is good age for bun.

Hooper used to live with another guinea pig as mentioned but Dougal was already 7 when they met and died just under a year later. I don't think Hoops has any identity issues but I am not a pig behaviour expert. He seemed to know how to behave when he was ' dating ' Dougal. The previous owner bought him as a baby and kept him alone.

I visited PAH to buy Pro C earlier and in the rehoming section was a female pig, whose card informed me tha0 the owner had abandoned her. Card said there were 2 pigs but only 1 in cage. I would prefer Hoops to choose for himself. Finding a vet capable of spaying a guinea up here will be a challenge I imagine too

 

[sport_billy]

I did not say I was going to separate them but the time is coming when I will have to let Theo go. He's 10 1/2, which is good age for bun.

Hooper used to live with another guinea pig as mentioned but Dougal was already 7 when they met and died just under a year later. I don't think Hoops has any identity issues but I am not a pig behaviour expert. He seemed to know how to behave when he was ' dating ' Dougal. The previous owner bought him as a baby and kept him alone.

I visited PAH to buy Pro C earlier and in the rehoming section was a female pig, whose card informed me tha0 the owner had abandoned her. Card said there were 2 pigs but only 1 in cage. I would prefer Hoops to choose for himself. Finding a vet capable of spaying a guinea up here will be a challenge I imagine too

Well lets hope that Theo has a good amount of time left with you and his buddy yet.

I would cross the bridge when you come to it. Maybe a baby boy piggy when the time comes, Hooper should then stay the 'boss' till hormones kick in for the little one. the baby should drop to the bottom of pig hierarchy at first.

 

[Wiebke]

I did not say I was going to separate them but the time is coming when I will have to let Theo go. He's 10 1/2, which is good age for bun.

Hooper used to live with another guinea pig as mentioned but Dougal was already 7 when they met and died just under a year later. I don't think Hoops has any identity issues but I am not a pig behaviour expert. He seemed to know how to behave when he was ' dating ' Dougal. The previous owner bought him as a baby and kept him alone.

I visited PAH to buy Pro C earlier and in the rehoming section was a female pig, whose card informed me tha0 the owner had abandoned her. Card said there were 2 pigs but only 1 in cage. I would prefer Hoops to choose for himself. Finding a vet capable of spaying a guinea up here will be a challenge I imagine too

I have listed your closest good rescue that you could contact in my previous post.

 

[hartleyhare]

Unfortunately Theo is not going to go for much longer no matter how much I want him to. He's only here now because of sheer force of will - his not mine.

Conwy is not to far from here so it could be an option for Hooper. I think he knows Theo isn't going to be here much longer as he seems more attentive, keeping watch whilst Theo is sleeping, washing him more frequently, etc. Poor little Hoops he hasn't had much luck

It occurred to me to wonder if Hoops dental probjem could be a result of stress over Theo? Hoops is quite a caring sensitive little soul, he always seem to know when I'm down too.