Is she lonely?

Gemm24

Gemm24

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi

I have a2.5 year old sow who lost her friend nearly 4 weeks ago. She struggles with her sight and has a permanent head tilt. She isn’t that steady on herfeet but is full of character.
She is eating as normal, seems more active since her friend died and seems happy (except she bites on the bars everytime I walk past her cage). I really don’t want her to be lonely or sad but I don’t want her to struggle/stress with a young and active guinea pig because of her health issues. so I am in two minds whether to get her a friend. I have three other guinea pigs and tried to introduce her but it ended in a fight.
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!
 
Maybe consider the possibility of finding an older sow from a rescue?

Are the cages side by side so she has piggy companionship without the fighting?
 
Gemm said:
Hi

I have a2.5 year old sow who lost her friend nearly 4 weeks ago. She struggles with her sight and has a permanent head tilt. She isn’t that steady on herfeet but is full of character.
She is eating as normal, seems more active since her friend died and seems happy (except she bites on the bars everytime I walk past her cage). I really don’t want her to be lonely or sad but I don’t want her to struggle/stress with a young and active guinea pig because of her health issues. so I am in two minds whether to get her a friend. I have three other guinea pigs and tried to introduce her but it ended in a fight.
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!
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Hi!

Why not contact The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue to see whether you can rescue date her with possible companions (sows as well as neutered boars). Much more important than age or gender is personality compatibility and mutual liking; some more submissive youngsters can be ever so caring and devoted carer companions.

It is very much a matter of trying. By rescue dating you can ensure that you come home only with a companion where acceptance has happened.

Blindness (which is the weakest of the senses) and a head tilt don't mean that she is unbondable but you want to leave the choice of who she is happy with to her. ;)

@VickiA @The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue

@pig in the city - do you have any suitable companions in Sheffield?
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Why not contact The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue to see whether you can rescue date her with possible companions (sows as well as neutered boars). Much more important than age or gender is personality compatibility and mutual liking; some more submissive youngsters can be ever so caring and devoted carer companions.

It is very much a matter of trying. By rescue dating you can ensure that you come home only with a companion where acceptance has happened.

Blindness (which is the weakest of the senses) and a head tilt don't mean that she is unbondable but you want to leave the choice of who she is happy with to her. ;)

@VickiA @The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue

@pig in the city - do you have any suitable companions in Sheffield?
Click to expand...
No l am afraid not. Only the babies at the moment
 
Thank you for all your replies. I really appreciate it.
I am having a bit of a low moment just now. I have two choices, give tiger up for adoption or find her a friend. I can’t have a lone guinea pig because she doesn’t deserve that. I would love to get her a friend or two but everyone one of my family and friends says she will be fine on her own and I can’t get another one. (I have 4 in total now). I hate how they believe they are the authority on guinea pigs all of a sudden. I am an adult, have my own place (my mother lives with me because her marriage broke down) and am financially stable. So there is no reason not to get her a friend however I just feel I can not face their condescending judgement of them saying “ you got ANOTHER one!” As if it’s the worst thing that I could possibly ever do. I don’t feel strong enough to face it. I feel so alone in this. I am still grieving for my guinea pig that died and am I constantly worrying about tiger being lonely. Things are just getting too much. I know this probably sounds petty and people have real problems but my guinea pigs mean the world to me.
If you have any words of support I would be extremely grateful just to know I am not alone in this.
Thank you.
 
Gemm said:
Thank you for all your replies. I really appreciate it.
I am having a bit of a low moment just now. I have two choices, give tiger up for adoption or find her a friend. I can’t have a lone guinea pig because she doesn’t deserve that. I would love to get her a friend or two but everyone one of my family and friends says she will be fine on her own and I can’t get another one. (I have 4 in total now). I hate how they believe they are the authority on guinea pigs all of a sudden. I am an adult, have my own place (my mother lives with me because her marriage broke down) and am financially stable. So there is no reason not to get her a friend however I just feel I can not face their condescending judgement of them saying “ you got ANOTHER one!” As if it’s the worst thing that I could possibly ever do. I don’t feel strong enough to face it. I feel so alone in this. I am still grieving for my guinea pig that died and am I constantly worrying about tiger being lonely. Things are just getting too much. I know this probably sounds petty and people have real problems but my guinea pigs mean the world to me.
If you have any words of support I would be extremely grateful just to know I am not alone in this.
Thank you.
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BIG Hugs, loosing a pet is heartbreaking and no easier than loosing a human family member, they are our family! 💖 So very sorry for your loss! There's a section on the forum entitled human bereavement it might be worth having a read of!
For the sow rescue dating would be a brilliant idea and you can be pretty sure the friend she brings home will be a friend for life, it can feel incredibly daunting adopting a new forever pet when you've just lost one, my piggys fell out spectacularly days after my cat passed away and finding new friends was very daunting while grieving but I love their new companions very much and wouldn't change them for the world, I can't imagine life without them and god forbid they ever fell out I'd find them new companions too. They brought a whole new level of happiness I didn't know was possible💖
As for family and friends they can be difficult but at the end of the day your an adult and they are your babies so it's your decision and nobody else's! My mother in law (who may I add I do love very much) didn't 'get it' at first, we sign piggy names on family cards and she thought I was barking mad and didn't understand how we could love them as much as she loves her dog and we love our children but over time she grew to understand and now doesn't bat an eyelid to piggy names on cards or new arrivals. It can be very rough when your having to explain that you can't come to something because your rushing a piggy to the vets or syringe feeding etc but over time they grow to understand. Never apologise or feel its petty to love your piggys so much, they are our babies and i for one love them like children it just shows how much of a brilliant piggy mum you are.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do, take some time to grieve and neighbour her with your other piggys if you need to, and when you feel up to it reach out to a rescue and they'll help you find a friend for your girl 💕 sending lots of love and hugs and please know you are not alone and have a whole forum of support.
 
Sending you my very best wishes, I hope you feel better soon. I really can't add to the brilliant post above.
 
I’m sorry you’re going throughout difficult time at the moment ❣️

Are your other four piggies female, male or mix?

It’s tough but sometimes you just have to do what you feel is right for you/why you want. If you’re the one financially and emotionally looking after your piggies then they don’t get a say. I know it’s difficult but I would say every time they comment, count to five while you think of your piggies (that should surely bring a smile to your face), and either change the subject and pretend you didn’t hear them. Or simply stare silently at them and then move away and talk about something else. Hopefully they would get the message eventually.

I’m the youngest in the family. I’m married it’s kids but still feel...scared to mention things when I’ve done something or bought myself something. Good luck deciding. Do what’s best for your piggy and you, not your family 💕
 
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