Keeping guinea pig alone?

mls18

mls18

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hey, I was wondering if someone could give me some advice on whether or not my guinea pig could be kept as a single guinea pig. I currently have an almost 3 and a half year old guinea pig. His cagemate just died a couple of months ago, however I haven't been able to get another guinea pig as I am leaving to a out of state grad school next year. I don't think that I can commit to taking care of a new guinea pig when I'm not going to be at home most of the time. I was planning on keeping both of them, as when I adopted them I didn't know I wouldn't be staying home. However, after an unexpected death I'm not sure what to do as I know I can't commit to adopting again. I could keep my current guinea pig however I'm not sure I'll be able to keep him company as much as I'de like to. I have people who can feed him and clean his cage, however I'll only be back once every couple weeks and breaks to take him out of his cage. I'm torn between not wanting to give him up, and not wanting to keep him alone. I know it's a big thing to not keep guinea pigs alone, however he never really did well with other guinea pigs as he was given to the shelter because he was bullied by his previous cagemate. My other guinea pig also used to bully him, and he's generally a lot more active now that he's by himself. I would hate to give him up, plus he's already on the older side and would have a harder time adjusting so I'm not sure what to do. If anyone has an advice that would be great!
 
My honest opinion given the situation and everything youve said would be to surrender him to a rescue to be rebonded and rehomed.
I know that it is such a hard thing to do but the chances are he will be bonded again. Even for him to be able to live side by side for interaction with another piggy is better than never seeing another piggy again.

At 3 years old, he isn’t really on the older side, he has too much life left ahead of him (potentially up to another five or so years), too long to spend alone without a new companion.
Plus if you aren’t going to be there and it sounds like he’ll be more in a pet sitter situation, I sadly don’t think it’s a fulfilling life.
If he was 6 years old I’d perhaps be thinking differently but he is still rather young to be in a single and solitary situation for the next several years.

Bullying is a properly bond breaking so if he was bullied by your previous piggy then they wouldn’t have been able to live in the same cage at all (there would either have been physical fights or he would have got so depressed with being bullied that he would have lost weight, and become incredibly withdrawn - you would have had to step in and separate them)
 
Sorry you find yourself in a difficult situation and it’s good that you really want to do what’s best for your boy.
I do have to agree with @Piggies&buns though.
He would be better with piggy company and so rehoming him would be the best option, although hard on you.

My boy Micah was badly bullied and the pet shop had him labelled as having to live alone so I rescued’ him, had him neutered and he lived happily with my sows until the end of his life.
It’s just finding the right companion that matters.
 
Piggies&buns said:
My honest opinion given the situation and everything youve said would be to surrender him to a rescue to be rebonded and rehomed.
I know that it is such a hard thing to do but the chances are he will be bonded again. Even for him to be able to live side by side for interaction with another piggy is better than never seeing another piggy again.

At 3 years old, he isn’t really on the older side, he has too much life left ahead of him (potentially up to another five or so years), too long to spend alone without a new companion.
Plus if you aren’t going to be there and it sounds like he’ll be more in a pet sitter situation, I sadly don’t think it’s a fulfilling life.
If he was 6 years old I’d perhaps be thinking differently but he is still rather young to be in a single and solitary situation for the next several years.

Bullying is a properly bond breaking so if he was bullied by your previous piggy then they wouldn’t have been able to live in the same cage at all (there would either have been physical fights or he would have got so depressed with being bullied that he would have lost weight, and become incredibly withdrawn - you would have had to step in and separate them)
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Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. After reading your post I agree with you, I was hoping that I wouldn't have to give him away but I do agree that it is what is best for him. Thank you!
 
Merab's Slave said:
Sorry you find yourself in a difficult situation and it’s good that you really want to do what’s best for your boy.
I do have to agree with @Piggies&buns though.
He would be better with piggy company and so rehoming him would be the best option, although hard on you.

My boy Micah was badly bullied and the pet shop had him labelled as having to live alone so I rescued’ him, had him neutered and he lived happily with my sows until the end of his life.
It’s just finding the right companion that matters.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much, I really hope that he also finds the right companion like Micah did.
 
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