Going To Be Left With A Lone Guinea Pig With Underlying Health Issues...companionship?

[LozzyBee]

I feel bad for even posting this as Elvis is still here bless him, but as of Monday it's highly likely he'll be PTS

Barlo will be left alone, and was rubbish on his own when he lost his last companion - hence why he found new friend in Elvis.

I know many people will have been here before...I love the piggies, but I do want to stop the cycle. So, my options are to see if I can effectively 'foster' a piggie from a rescue for the rest of Barlo's life (will get in touch with the rescue that matched him with Elvis to enquire), or to give him up completely. For obvious reasons, I very much don't want to do this. Aside from us being hugely attached to him, Barlo has health issues we've not got to the bottom of yet and giving away a piggie with health problems feels wrong in my eyes. He squeaks when he poops (saw 3x vets, had 2 X-rays, found nothing), high protein level in urine which apparently indicates kidney issues (?) but blood tests were ok, arthritis, lump the size of a grape on his neck not causing him any problems at the moment, but keeping an eye on. He originally came from a rescue of 88 guinea pigs, so we presume these issues are down to being poorly bred. Looking at him you wouldn't know he has any of this going on bless him!

I think having him neutered and matching him with a couple of sows is out of the question as my vet is very reluctant to operate on him again unless absolutely necessary as he hasn't done well post-op on the two op's he had last year.

Feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place! I want to do what's best for him but I genuinely have no idea what that is! If we can 'foster' a piggie that would be great, but if not I'm just not sure.

I can't be the only one who's been in this position? Would love to hear some stories/opinions to help me make up my mind xx

 

[piggieminder]

Sending you hugs, this is such a hard position to be in.
I think in your position I would start talking to rescues and see what they say, they must come across this all the time. I know this is a situation that occurs frequently with members on the forum.

 

[LozzyBee]

Sending you hugs, this is such a hard position to be in.
I think in your position I would start talking to rescues and see what they say, they must come across this all the time. I know this is a situation that occurs frequently with members on the forum.

Thank you, that does seem to be the most sensible option. I think I'll deal with the next few days and then get in touch with them.

 

[Pawz]

Another option if you can’t bare to part with him but are not allowed to foster one specifically for Barlo, is if you happen to have a spare cage and you don’t mind a little extra work you could become a “Foster home” for a while to help out a rescue and place the foster pair next to his cage so he has company but not right in with him. That way he will still have indirect piggy contact ( which is not ideal but better than none) and you won’t have to worry about what to do when he goes.

You might end up helping the rescue rehome quite a number of fostered piggies before Barlo passes.

 

[VickiA]

I feel for you really. Succession planning is so difficult, especially if you don’t want to continue the cycle. I’d agree that it would be a good idea to speak to your local rescues and see if they can help,you with a solution.