Guinea pig died

mls18

mls18

Teenage Guinea Pig
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My guinea pig just died before his vet appointment today, I left his body in the cage for my other guinea pig to smell but he seems really scared. I don't think I would be able to adopt another guinea pig after this however I don't feel like it's right to leave my current guinea pig alone. I just adopted my guinea pig less than a year ago so that my deceased guinea pig wouldn't be alone after his cagemate died so I feel like it would be wrong to have him move around again but I don't know what else to do. My current guinea pig never really did amazingly with other guinea pigs as he used to be bullied, and would get bullied by my deceased one as well. I would keep just him but I'm not sure it would be right to keep him by himself. Do guinea pigs who are bullied do fine on their own, or would it be better to give him up so he can be with another guinea pig? Could anyone give me any advice? If I do adopt him out, how long do I wait to let him greive? I don't want to stress him out after he just lost his cagemate but I also don't want to leave him alone. Any advice would be great!
 
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Keep an eye on him for the next couple of weeks and then consider your options - a piggy who is still eating is usually ok between 1 and 4 weeks on their on. Weigh him daily while he is grieving, the guides weepweeps has linked in will help you.

What I would say is that you use the word bullying but bullying is a specific set of behaviours which mean a bond is not functioning at all and under pig becomes depressed and loses weight, never comes out of their hide through fear of aggression, and the two piggies should not be in the same cage together. Was he actually being bullied to this extent?
 
Piggies&buns said:
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Keep an eye on him for the next couple of weeks and then consider your options - a piggy who is still eating is usually ok between 1 and 4 weeks on their on. Weigh him daily while he is grieving, the guides weepweeps has linked in will help you.

What I would say is that you use the word bullying but bullying is a specific set of behaviours which mean a bond is not functioning at all and under pig becomes depressed and loses weight, never comes out of their hide through fear of aggression, and the two piggies should not be in the same cage together. Was he actually being bullied to this extent?
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Thank you, I will do that. No, he wasn't bullied to that extent, but he has a shy temperament and gets pushed around a lot. Whenever I had to separate them due to medical issues my deceased guinea pig would always be distressed and biting his way through the divider, however, my other guinea pig didn't seem to mind it.
 
mls18 said:
My guinea pig just died before his vet appointment today, I left his body in the cage for my other guinea pig to smell but he seems really scared. I don't think I would be able to adopt another guinea pig after this however I don't feel like it's right to leave my current guinea pig alone. I just adopted my guinea pig less than a year ago so that my deceased guinea pig wouldn't be alone after his cagemate died so I feel like it would be wrong to have him move around again but I don't know what else to do. My current guinea pig never really did amazingly with other guinea pigs as he used to be bullied, and would get bullied by my deceased one as well. I would keep just him but I'm not sure it would be right to keep him by himself. Do guinea pigs who are bullied do fine on their own, or would it be better to give him up so he can be with another guinea pig? Could anyone give me any advice? If I do adopt him out, how long do I wait to let him greive? I don't want to stress him out after he just lost his cagemate but I also don't want to leave him alone. Any advice would be great!
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😢
 
mls18 said:
Thank you, I will do that. No, he wasn't bullied to that extent, but he has a shy temperament and gets pushed around a lot. Whenever I had to separate them due to medical issues my deceased guinea pig would always be distressed and biting his way through the divider, however, my other guinea pig didn't seem to mind it.
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Being 'pushed around' is most likely just dominance. Nothing to have worried about and certainly doesnt mean he was being bullied so dont let that worry you about him being bonded with another piggy in the future.

Just so you know if you do continue with piggy keeping, we never recommend separating for medical issues as it can ruin a bond.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Being 'pushed around' is most likely just dominance. Nothing to have worried about and certainly doesnt mean he was being bullied so dont let that worry you about him being bonded with another piggy in the future.

Just so you know if you do continue with piggy keeping, we never recommend separating for medical issues as it can ruin a bond.
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Ok, thank you so much!
 
So sorry you lost one of your piggies today. If your boy is eating ok just keep a keen eye on him. if in doubt weigh him every few days to make sure he is maintaining his weight. give yourself the time to grieve before making any decisions. Do you have a good rescue near you?
 
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