guinea pig death

[alixscreaturecrew]

Hey everyone,
last night i noticed that my guinea pig Blaze wasnt doing so well and i knew it was time, he passed away at some point in the night. I believe he just died from old age, he was slowing down, loosing weight and going grey over the past few weeks.
I still have a boar (unneutered) Pippin, he's a rescue so i don't know his actual age, according to the rescue he would be around 6 now (I've had him for 4 years along with Blaze) but judging by his condition and what he looked like when i got him, i believe he is only 4 and 1/2 give or take.
I most likely will not be able to get another guineapig/s because i will be going off to uni within 3 years and my parents do not want to be stuck with them.

My question is, what would be best for my guinea pig, he seems to be getting on alright, if a bit quiet but obviously i am worried that if he is as young as i believe he is, that he will be stuck alone.
I do suffer with some quite serious panic attacks and panic disorders. My guinea pigs are/were my unofficial esa's so i am definetly hesitant to give my current boy up because of my own health issues.

I do have a few options:
I give him to someone else:
Option 1: a lone boar (unneutered) where i go to school, but he is aggressive sometimes and I'm not confident in their standard of care
Option 2: I give him to a young girl i know ( 14/15 ) and her pair of boars (unneutered) however, i am worried not to see him.
Option 3: He lives out the rest of his life with me (with a possibility but not likely to have a friend)

I do practise very good care, ie free ranging, so giving him to someone with worse care but another guinea pig might not be what is best for him

Thank you everyone for your responses in advance, i will be online later

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm sorry for your loss.

What you do needs to be your decision, but Guinea Pigs are social animals and do really need to be kept with another piggy so they dont get lonely. Dont make any rushed decisions while you are grieving though - take some time to think through your options
If you do decide to give him up, then surrendering him to a rescue centre so he can be bonded with another piggy and rehomed would be best.

Option 2 - you can only give your piggy to your friend as long as he is never put in the same cage with her boars. Trying to keep three boars together almost always fails and ends in fights, injuries and broken bonds. Boars should only be kept in pairs.

 

[Black piggies]

Sorry for your loss. You've had Blaze a long time. No rush to decide, but if you decided to give Pippin to a rescue, he should end up with someone looking after him well, as he's used to with you. Going somewhere you're not sure about the care, wouldn't be ideal.

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry you lost Blaze, sending hugs x
I think I would wait and decide once you have got over Blaze and then think about what’s best for Pippin. Ideally he needs a little boar friend going into the future. rescues often have single chilled out older boars and it would be worth taking him boar dating to find a compatable friend.
I don’t think either of those other options sit well with you

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss xx