I need advice about my Guinea pig

[Vickz1990]

I've never done this before but I need some advice about one of my Guinea pigs. He has come from a bad background and I took him in. Sadly he had a brother who was the favourite and because of this the brother was taken from him. I have many Guinea pigs and I have introduced them to him but sadly they don't like him and I'm not sure why.
Since I've had him he hates being on his own despite other Guinea pigs around him he squeaks all night so the only way to stop was to take his cage up to bed with me and cuddle him until I turn out the lights and he seems happier but I need advice on what I can do to help him. I've had Guinea pigs for 27 years but never a lonely one. I will be grateful for any advice I receive

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.
So, you have tried him with other single boars you have? or did you try him with already bonded pairs - doing that is not likely to work.
Of course any bond comes down to character compatibility and not all piggies will gel. You say the others haven’t liked him - what did occur when you tried a neutral territory bonding?

Are you sure his squeaking at night is not simply him communicating with the others? Single piggies do really need to be kept alongside other piggies so they can interact through the bars.

 

[Wiebke]

I've never done this before but I need some advice about one of my Guinea pigs. He has come from a bad background and I took him in. Sadly he had a brother who was the favourite and because of this the brother was taken from him. I have many Guinea pigs and I have introduced them to him but sadly they don't like him and I'm not sure why.
Since I've had him he hates being on his own despite other Guinea pigs around him he squeaks all night so the only way to stop was to take his cage up to bed with me and cuddle him until I turn out the lights and he seems happier but I need advice on what I can do to help him. I've had Guinea pigs for 27 years but never a lonely one. I will be grateful for any advice I receive

Hi and welcome

Have your tried your boy with a laid-back baby? Perhaps you could contact Maria's Animal Shelter in Probus in Mid-Cornwall and see whether she has got any babies in pipeline once the rescue re-opens in the new year for a date with a baby. I would recommend trying this as a rescue date as a baby can scare some adults literally stiff, as I know from my dumped ex-single Beryn so you do not want to end up with more piggies as a result. The rescue guinea pigs are all quarantined and properly sexed on arrival and won't be rehomed until they are fully healthy.

Alternatively, he could be a human-orientated single that lacks the the necessary socialisation to get on with other piggies and may not even see himself as a piggy anymore. Or he can be one of these piggies that is sending just the wrong signals and doesn't fit in. It can happen.

Working out what is exactly the matter can be very difficult; but it doesn't mean that he doesn't have the sam social needs as other piggies and has obviously transferred them onto you.
You may find these guides here interesting and helpful as they look at various aspects that play into looking after singles, companionship problems, the transfer of socialisation and how you can use his own social language to communicate with him on his own level ('guinea pig whispering').
I have had the odd piggy with real bonding issues or shortcomings myself over the years. It is sometimes anything but straight forward, nor has finding a solution easy.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips

This is by far the best guinea pig rescue in Cornwall. Like all good rescues they will be closed over the holidays to prevent impulse adoptions since rescues are dealing with the sharp end of the big post-Christmas dump every year.
Website: https://mariasanimalshelter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariasAnimalShelter/

I hope that the various links can help you further in tackling your boy's issues.

 

[Vickz1990]

Thank you very much for the information I very much appreciate it. I just want to help him and I'll do anything I'm not really sure what happened between him and his brother but I think he was wrongly taken away from him. I will give Maria's animal shelter a call after Christmas and new year. I just don't want to bring another Guinea pig home unless I'm certain he will get on with him/her

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you very much for the information I very much appreciate it. I just want to help him and I'll do anything I'm not really sure what happened between him and his brother but I think he was wrongly taken away from him. I will give Maria's animal shelter a call after Christmas and new year. I just don't want to bring another Guinea pig home unless I'm certain he will get on with him/her

That is what rescue dating is for. Adoption also means that you have the rescue to turn to if a bond doesn't work out some time down the line.

This guide here also contains information about rescue dating and what happens: Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

 

[PigglePuggle]

Have you thought of having him neutered so he can try meet a lady after the 6 week post-op wait?
Our Ollie pig was a rescue separated from his brother after his previous owner thought he was a girl, and he failed to rebond with his brother and rejected all male companions after that... but after neutering he could date ladies and we took our lone skinny pig girl (only 5 months old but already a veteran failed bonder who attacked all female pigs!) to date Ollie and they fell in love instantly and have been happily married almost 3 years now. There is some pig out there for most pigs, and neutering could expand his horizons- younger females often love a hunky fella even if his social skills need some work!

 

[Vickz1990]

That is what rescue dating is for. Adoption also means that you have the rescue to turn to if a bond doesn't work out some time down the line.

This guide here also contains information about rescue dating and what happens: Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

Thank you very much. You have all been so helpful it's definetly something I will consider. When I read through about rescue dating does that mean I will have to leave him at the rescue centre until a match has been found?

 

[Vickz1990]

Have you thought of having him neutered so he can try meet a lady after the 6 week post-op wait?
Our Ollie pig was a rescue separated from his brother after his previous owner thought he was a girl, and he failed to rebond with his brother and rejected all male companions after that... but after neutering he could date ladies and we took our lone skinny pig girl (only 5 months old but already a veteran failed bonder who attacked all female pigs!) to date Ollie and they fell in love instantly and have been happily married almost 3 years now. There is some pig out there for most pigs, and neutering could expand his horizons- younger females often love a hunky fella even if his social skills need some work!

I have considered that. I do have my girl spayed as she had cysts in her overies after she got done and her wounds healed she has become bad Tempered and attacks all Guinea pigs male and female as she doesn't like being mounted when they don't mount her she's fine with them. But I'm definitely thinking of getting my little boy neutered. Thank you for the advice I really appreciate it

 

[Merab]

Hope you do find a good solution for your boy.

 

[Vickz1990]

Thank you. At the moment I'm taking everyone's advice into consideration with Christmas so close I will keep the options open until after the holidays. Pets at home told me to try stuffing a sock with Hay or use a mirror so he can see himself but sadly I don't have a mirror but I'm trying the sock stuffed with Hay at the moment he doesn't seem interested it's been in there for 3 hours so far. The problem is he wants to make friends but it's my other Guinea pigs I have one Guinea pig when my lonely boy has floor time my other Guinea pig bangs his nose on the bars when he is near like he's head butting but my lonely boy tries to be friends but the others are not interested in him and just grind their teeth and try to fight him and as my lonely boy gets scared he runs off. Its a very upsetting sight to see.

 

[Vickz1990]

I’m sorry to hear this.
So, you have tried him with other single boars you have? or did you try him with already bonded pairs - doing that is not likely to work.
Of course any bond comes down to character compatibility and not all piggies will gel. You say the others haven’t liked him - what did occur when you tried a neutral territory bonding?

Are you sure his squeaking at night is not simply him communicating with the others? Single piggies do really need to be kept alongside other piggies so they can interact through the bars.

No. Basically as soon as I get ready for bed he starts and he tries to climb up his bars and when I switch off the light and close the door to keep the room warm he gets louder and louder when I switch on the light to see him he wants cuddles I give him his cuddle for half hour put him back he starts again.

 

[weepweeps]

Piggies are very clever at getting what they want. He may have trained you into giving him extra cuddles when he asks. I know it sounds hard but maybe you could ignore him for a couple of nights and see if he calms down.

 

[Vickz1990]

Yes I think he has. He has me wrapped round his little paw. OK I will try that tonight and see how he gets on. Thank you for your advice it's very much appreciated. He hates it when I go out too he knows when I go out as its routine the day I do go out. My mum says that when I'm gone he hides but when I get home and he hears my voice he runs out of his bed and squeaks the house down.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you very much. You have all been so helpful it's definetly something I will consider. When I read through about rescue dating does that mean I will have to leave him at the rescue centre until a match has been found?

It depends on whether the rescue offers residential bonding or just speed dating. In the first case, you are kind of holiday boarding him with the rescue but your boy would only come home with a new friend if the bond is solid and working.
In the second case, you come home with a friend if acceptance has happened but the rest of the bonding process is still to go through; but you can take a mate back to the rescue if the bond fails at home.

I don't know what Maria is offering.

 

[Vickz1990]

I did ask her and she said that she has room for him and that it sounded like he doesn't get on with others. But i don't want him adopted. I just wanted advice

 

[Siikibam]

Maybe speak to her again to be clear whether she’s taking him in permanently or going to try and bond him with another boar.

 

[Vickz1990]

I will try again tomorrow. But giving him up for adoption is not an option for me. I did tell her that and heard nothing back

 

[Siikibam]

Hopefully it was a case of crossed wires if not, are you able to travel to a rescue a little further afield, from the list?