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Have I Ruined My Pigs Chances Of Getting Along?

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Coco&Luna

Coco&Luna

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi, ive never used a forum before, so not even sure I'm posting this in the right place :/ Anyway, i was wondering if someone could help me.
I had two piggie sisters from babies, however one of my girls had to be put to sleep in January during her 2nd bladder stone surgery when a large tumor was found. I felt so awful for coco being left on her own i decided to find her a friend. I got Luna in late February. After quarantine & introductions (which went relatively smoothly), i placed them together in the cage with two of everything. However, coco was being very dominant of everything, constantly following Luna and chattering at her. Luna was very timid and frightened and would shriek and run. After two weeks of this i felt so bad i separated them. I have tried twice to reintroduce them with increased aggression each time. The last time resulted in a full blown fight with clumps of fur being torn out.
I feel awful and really regret my decision to separate them in the first place. At the time I just felt awful for Luna going through the stress, she had such an awful life before i got her and i just wanted her to be happy. Do you think I've destroyed their chances of being friends? Is there anything i can do?

Ty, Sorry this is so long.
 
Hi and welcome!

It doesn't sound like they were very happy together from the beginning, but I would not try again to see whether they will get on; they won't. Once piggies have made up their mind about somepig, they will hardly ever change it. It is a very gutting experience for a loving owner. :(

I would leave them living next to each other. Where in Scotland are you? There is a good rescue in Alyth in Perthshire that offers bonding at the rescue under expert supervision, so that your girls could each choose a suitable new mate. of their own liking. That way, you would come home only with a new mate if acceptance has happened, which by the sound of it never really did between Coco and Luna.
http://www.hutches-boarding-rescue.org.uk/
 
Aw, you have no idea how good it is to hear that ive done the right thing. I've spent months really feeling like a right witch, lol. right ok, ill accept defeat with this one, lol. I live in Glasgow. I actually thought about that, but when i was looking for a new pig, I asked the SPCA if i could bring coco down to meet one of the pigs, but they said no, so i just assumed it wasn't a thing rescues done. i'd also be worried that they might get along during introductions and then change their minds when they come home. That would be a complete disaster. :/
 
It is a shame they don't get along. But having them live side by side so they can see and smell each other will mean that they wont' feel like each is the only piggy in the world. We don't have pig dating here either, so I took a chance when I got a baby boy from the rescue to try and bond with my shop bought boy. It worked out but I was prepared to have them live side by side if they fell out.
 
Sadly, most branches of the SSPCA and RSPCA are not experienced enough to offer bonding at the rescue. We have listed those branches that are piggy savvy - unfortunately, they are all an awfully long way from you.

if you can make it a day out with your two girls, dating at a piggy savvy rescue with quarantine and pregnancy watch is the safest way forward and well worth the extra effort. You can look at either other sows or neutered boars for company. It can be that Coco will struggle with any other piggies, in which case she would be happiest as a live-along piggy, but being able to test her in a place where you only come back with new mates if there has been success, will give you a risk-free space under expert supervision to see what is going on.
 
I completely agree with Wiebke on this. The North-East Guinea Pig Rescue offers help with bonding and piggy dating and if things don't work out wil take a pig back and help you find a suitable friend for yours. They are based in North Shields, but I know they have sent pigs over the border, if there isn't another rescue more local to you.
 
Thanks so much for your help. yeah, I'm keeping them beside each other, I've just devided the cage with a couple of c&c cubes so they can still sniff at each other and have a wee chat, lol. I'm definitely gunna look into local rescue's first. The picture of Elwickcavies 4 piggies is making the prospect look much more inviting! haha. It's ashame more rescues don't have piggy dating, its a great idea. For now I've just been keeping an eye out for things to make their cages more exciting for them and stop them from getting bored while I'm out. Thanks again for you help. :)
 
Coco&Luna said:
Thanks so much for your help. yeah, I'm keeping them beside each other, I've just devided the cage with a couple of c&c cubes so they can still sniff at each other and have a wee chat, lol. I'm definitely gunna look into local rescue's first. The picture of Elwickcavies 4 piggies is making the prospect look much more inviting! haha. It's ashame more rescues don't have piggy dating, its a great idea. For now I've just been keeping an eye out for things to make their cages more exciting for them and stop them from getting bored while I'm out. Thanks again for you help. :)
Click to expand...

Please be aware that there are no rescues in the Glasgow area that we can recommend as good standard and piggy savvy. The rescues in Alyth and in South Shields are the closest where you will be in safe hands.
 
ah right ok. I dont have a car, so ill need to arrange a lift at some point. I dont feel there's any rush anyway, at least the old ladies have some form of company from each other for now. Thanks for your help girls. Think i love this forum.
 
Is the place you guys are talking about called
North east guinea pig boarding? at
30 Abbotside Close, Urpeth, County Durham DH2 1, United Kingdom?
 
Coco&Luna said:
Is the place you guys are talking about called
North east guinea pig boarding? at
30 Abbotside Close, Urpeth, County Durham DH2 1, United Kingdom?
Click to expand...

No, North East Guinea Pig Rescue is based in South Shields. You can find the contacts in our recommended good standard rescues locator on the top bar.
 
aw ok. Damn, that's a 4 and a half hour car journey away. I can't ask that big a favour from anyone. :( Gunna need to think of a new plan. Cheers wiebke.
 
ahhh, just figured out how to use it. The one in Alyth sounds great and just under 2 hours is an acceptable request to ask of someone. I'm gunna give them a phone in a few weeks and fingers crossed be able to sort it out before xmas! Sorry for being a pain in the butt, this site can still be confusing to me :| lol
 
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