Getting new Guinea after death ?

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Babs30

We lost one of our guineas a few weeks ago to death and it has really affected us, I am still devastated and I have been spoiling our remaining guinea and trying to make a huge fuss of him, he is eating well and drinking, he seemed very depressed at first, not allowing me near him and then came around and seemed to be back to normal, now from yesterday he is very quiet, he is not wheeking, no sounds at all, lies really still and frightens the life out us, we have had to nudge him a few times. I guessed he was depressed still and I went to look at a possible friend for him but the minute I saw other guinea pigs I just started crying, I'm grown mother of 2 children and I stood there crying like a baby, all I kept thinking about was the guinea we lost and I had to leave it, I'm now wondering is it really terrible of me that I can't possibly think of another guinea ? is my other little boy suffering because he is missing his brother ? what should I do ?
 
Only you can decide when its right for you to find your guinea a new friend. But they are very sociable creatures, and he will be lonely. Maybe you could find your local rescue and see if they have a baby boar to be friends with him?

Its obviously still very raw for you, but seeing your piggy perk up and get back to his old self with a new friend will probably do you the power of good. It doesn't mean you've forgotten his brother, just that you want the best for your surviving piggy. Good luck whatever you decide. x
 
I know how you feel. It's a hard decision to make.

What you mustn't do is; Look at getting another piggy as a replacement. You need to look at it as expanding the family.
You're going to be saving another piggy and giving him a loving home and on top of that, you're going to give your other Guinea the company he needs.

But don't rush. Just have a look at some other piggies. Even just a browse online, you might cry again but if you have a little look and have yourself a good cry, you might feel a little better and a little more confident about getting another piggy.
As Rosie said; Maybe you could find your local rescue and see if they have a friend for your piggy.
You need to do what's right for you, as well as your piggy but getting him a friend will perk him up and once you see him happy, you might feel so much better.

With your piggy being depressed, it's likely making you feel the same way.

As I said, don't look at it as a replacement. You can never replace piggies that have passed on. They always stay with you.

You never know, you might see a piggy that's a real heart melter.
It seems impossible right now, believe me...I honestly understand and I'm sure that almost everyone here does, too.
 
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After following your story on the H&I I feel for you, what a horrid time it's been for you, your remaining piggie and your family.

I would just echo what the other two posts have said very well - try to not look at it as a replacement for the boy you lost, he will never, ever be forgotten, but your remaining piggie is likely to change right before your eyes as soon as you find him a friend.

When we lost our first ever pig Scampy, Blaze, his dad (the pig in my avatar, and former cagemate) looked utterly lost, constantly trying to find him, wheeking softly for his lost son and just looked miserable. It was heartbreaking. We knew that we had to find him another friend. We took him to the rescue we got him from and they has some baby boars that they said would go well with his personality - we tried him with a few and he was happy as Larry, strutting around etc. When he chose his friend, we got them home, and he was a different pig. Chasing, popcorning and devouring his food. We knew that we had done the right thing, despite feeling awful about the loss of our piggie.

Only you can decide what to do and are amongst people who honestly do understand your feelings at your loss, despite other non piggie people who may not. When we lost our Scampy those couple of years ago, we were shocked and devastated, it was completely out of the blue and unexpected. (Sadly Blaze died shortly after). It affected us really badly (and we are a married couple in our 30s) and our families who are not piggie people just couldn't understand why we were so cut up about it. It was thanks to the forum members on here that we were able to express how we felt about it, because our families here simply just did not understand our sense of loss over "just a guinea pig".

We will all be thinking of you whatever you decide.

Julie x
 
I am so sorry to hear that you lost your piggy. It is devestating as you build such a bond with these little animals that I certainly was not prepared for when I first entered the wonderful world of guinea pigs. I have lost two piggies over the last couple of years and the sense of grief that I felt was overwhelming. I had to think very carefully as to whether or not to get another piggy as a companion for the lone piggy and face the heartbreak again when another was lost. Each piggy is so uniquely different that I dont consider that the new piggies I got were 'replacements' but rather a new individual piggie with its own character. I will never forget Farquhar and Bob but having been smitten by the Guinea Pig bug, I just want to help as many of these captivating animals as I possibly can and therefore adopted other girls that were in need of a good home. It takes time to come to a decision and whats right for one person may not be for another. Whatever your decision, know that you have given your animals a wonderful life and that everyone on the forum who has lost a piggy knows what a hard time you are going through at the moment. Thinking of you and your family..
 
when my domino died i had to go with out a guinea for three months! it was torcher! i hated it, i was nearly forced to get a dog, but i then pasted a pet shop and i just stoped, i was just remembering domino! and i just sat there saying i need a guinea pig! lol! it worked and they said only one! lol! sitting here now with FOUR yes FOUR guinea pigs! lol! my parents do that alot!
 
Hi Babs,

So sorry for your loss. When we lost our little lad Cuzzy I went out the same day to get a friend for Eccles. I had to think of his welfare, he was only 4 weeks old at the time and I didn't want him to become withdrawn.

Cuzzy was a special pig and like you I'm a mum of two and I cried for 3 days solid over him so don't feel silly about it. I also had my eldest to think of who was heartbroken but when we got Pudsey from Pets at Home adoption he brought much joy to our lives.

You aren't replacing your lost guinea pig but I do believe the sooner you get a friend for your lone pig the better. It is personal choice though.

Hope you are feeling better today,

Louise
 
Hi,

I had two guinea pigs together but Blossom died last year. To be honest I think Buttercup always preferred to be alone and we didn't get her another friend and she has been absolutely fine (although she is ill at the moment). She always seemed to be really independent and didn't really like sharing with Blossom although they didn't fight, I just think Blossom annoyed her lol. I also have another guinea, Robby who I got from the Pets at Home adoption service, I saw him in the shop looking all sad and adopted him straight away and he is such a lovely boy, he has such a wonderful personality and he is absolutely great by himself. The choice is really up to you hun, I personally find it easier to get another guinea straight away, not to replace the one you have lost, you can never replace them as they are all so different, but I find it helps to give me something to think about rather than the loss of your dear little guinea pig, you will never forget but I find it does ease the pain a little. And just think about the new guinea, he/she will have a great friend in your remaining piggy.

Take time and see how you feel in a few days.

Joy xx
 
When my Minx died, I wasn't really ready for a new guinea pig, but Dizzy was very depressed. I let HER choose her new companion; unfortunately for me, she went for a neutered boy that was quite similarly marked to my Minx. As he was extremely shy into the bargain, it took me weeks until I was ready to bond with him, but over time we have done so, and now I love him to bits!

You may want to give Snowy a friend; but don't force yourself on the bonding bit; let it develop in its own time and don't beat yourself up, if you find it difficult. Just treat the new one as "Snowy's mate" and leave it at that! You will know when the time is right for you.
 
Thank you all for your replies and for sharing your stories with me, thank you for not making me feel like a fool for been the way I am, I have spoken to so many people here between family, friends and neighbours and like you all said people don't understand unless they have had piggies, I had one response that cut me hard "well a dog is harder to get over as they are practically human" people just don't understand. I've never been cut up over a pet as I am now, it may have a lot to do with how he died ? thank you to those who followed my story on H&I and offered me advice there as well as here.

If I can be honest (because it's the only place I can be) I do feel like it's replacing Bart, I just can't get that thought out of my head. I do wonder if Snowy will accept someone else ? will he be upset that I have put someone else with him ?

I have looked into the rescue homes the nearest one is quite a distance but I would be willing to do it rather than shop bought, I looked in the pet shop the other day and didn't like how they were all housed and on top of each other, so I did a bit of research and was surprised that it takes weeks for them to be introduced, it is advisable to keep them separate and just have play time until the time is right to put them together, is this all true ? Snowy is still suffering bad with the mite, he was treated with Ivermectin (sp) and his cuts are starting to heal, I'd hate for another piggy to come in and they not get on and have all that fighting and dominance and separation. Maybe I'm looking for excuses ? still not sure what to do.
 
If you are adopting a rescue guinea pig for the first time, it may take some time, as you will have to go through a home check (just for the guinea pig housing, mind you!). If you can, let Snowy make the choice!

You will find that a new guinea pig is usually a completely different personality. As soon as you meet him, any thoughts of replacing Bart will fly out of the window! Because they are not true. Bart was unique, and so was his bond to you. A new guinea pig will create a different bond with you, and you will love him for other reasons.

At the moment, you are feeling very guilty about what happened to poor Bart; you can't help it, it is the other side of loving a pet and taking responsibility for its wellbeing - never mind what kind of pet!

I lost my Dizzy about two weeks ago; what I did was sponsor two unrehomeable satin girls in her memory, as one of them is called Daisy, which was Dizzy's original name when she lived with a very ill satin companion, before she came to me. Perhaps that might be a way for you to go? I think if you could find a way to carry the love you felt for Bart forward and turn it into something positive, it might free up your emotions about Snowy.

PS: What does your son think about a new friend for Snowy?

Love Wiebke xx
 
thanks for that, I asked my son if he would be happy if we got a new friend for snowy and he said " No, because if the (new) guinea pig died he would be sad again" I told him that it would be unlikely to happen the guinea dying but he is still really sad too and often comes to me and puts his head on my lap and cries that he misses Bart and he wants to tell him he loves him. Sorry getting too upset to type will be back later.
 
Sorry to upset you! It will take time to get over a trauma as bad as yours...

BIG HUG
 
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