Lonely Piggie

fern · Jun 3, 2016

One of my guinea pigs died last Friday, leaving his companion all by himself. He is five and a bit and they lived together since they were babies. The problem I have now is what to do next. I would like my remaining guinea pig to have companionship, and not live out his days lonely and unhappy. Maybe pining and dying sooner than he otherwise would have. But if I get another one I will have the same problem again in a few months or so....
So what should I do? How do I do the right thing for him without ending up with another lonely pig and the same problem?

Julie M · Jun 3, 2016

So sorry for your loss. It all depends if you want to continue keeping Guinea pigs. If you do you could always get him a new friend from a rescue. Or a pair of friends to live next to him.

tabelmabel · Jun 4, 2016

Hi fern

I was in the same situation when stan died on Monday. I was left with benson who is un neutered but at 4 yrs old i thought the best option was to put a baby boy with him. He seemed pretty sad when stan went. Stan died monday and i put a baby in with him Wednesday. Best thing for him, he is transformed into a lively vocal pig again.

There aren't any rescues near me in scotland that do boar dating and i didn't want to go to a pet shop. Stan came from a small breeder that breeds for her hobby of showing. It was pure luck that she had a 5 week old boy that she was willing to let me try. He didn't need quarantining (she said!)

My idea is to get this new addition neutered in time and then he can live with sows.

Or i might get another boar pair to live by the side. When Benson dies, at least then there will be others close.

another possibility would be to get another older pig from a rescue that is willing to take a lonely pig back once you no longer wish to look after pigs.

Or you can lavish lots of attention on your remaining pig and get him a toy to snuggle with.

It's not an easy position to be in, especially when you are still grieving too. i wonder if you know of anyone with a lone pig that would be willing to set up side by side cages for the benefit of both pigs? As your boy is older, maybe a baby boar might be too much for your old boy.
There's lots of useful info about bereaved boars in the stickys on this forum. I found them so helpful.

i will be interested to see what you do. If you click on my avatar (crap pic i know) you can see benson with little mike)

It's been good for Benson but he only just turning 4.

I am sorry for your loss, they do get into your heart and leave big holes when they go xx

fern · Jun 4, 2016

Thankyou Tabelmabel. That is a very sensitive response. I do like the idea of matching him up with another boar, but I wonder if the travelling etc would be stressful for him? And what if he doesn't like the result? trying a few potential partners might give him a heart attack? I hate thinking that his life is "a few months" of solitary confinement. Before Zig died I felt confident that they both had a happy life in a five foot long hutch, they were very companionable and sat side by side.Now he sits in the same spot. But he is still interested iin his food and runs off with the choicest bits to eat by himself, because Zig used to pinch his food if he didn't grab it and run.

I will read the threads and sort something out. I feel like a jailor at the moment.

Maddy · Jun 4, 2016

So sorry for your loss
Hope you can sort something out that suits both your situations...

tabelmabel · Jun 4, 2016

there's no easy answer.hopefully someone with much more experience than i have can give some expert advice on your situation as the whole bonding process could be stressful. I'm sure i read somewhere on this forum (or possibly on the potteries website) that pigs of all ages can be matched but it's so hard when you maybe don't have a bonding rescue nearby.

I didn't move Benson (not out of the house anyway!) It sounds like benson was behaving like your piggy. He was eating but spending his entire day sadly in his box, just coming out for food now and again.
I got the baby (which the breeder thought was a laid back kind of piggy) and brought it home. Benson didn't need to travel except to a neutral space. When we introduced them they chased round and round for ages and at one point benson keeled onto his side with exhaustion. I thought he had had a heart attack! He was up doing it all again after a few mins.

The next day he had settled right down.

I think if i couldn't have found a baby, i would have put a boar pair in a separate cage next to benson. Could that be an option or are you not wanting to keep piggies long term?

fern · Jun 4, 2016

I can't decide. I've kept gps for 12 years, since my children were small. And so I have had several generations, and fluctuating numbers. But this pair came about because I renamed an older bereaved boar, and got Zig as a companion. Older boar died after 2 weeks , oops, so I paired the baby up with another youngster and that was just over 5 years ago. I can't decide if I want to keep it going any longer or whether to stop

tabelmabel · Jun 4, 2016

Lol sorry it's this phone! Posts keep loading before I've finished them! I've edited it now.

It's all looking good with benson and mike though it'll take me a while to get used to mike. Stan was a huge cuddly gray rex. Mike is a Dutch funny looking thing with sticky out ears and pointy face. Unfortunately the breeder didn't have any suitable baby rex.

I hope you find the right solution for yourself and your lonely boy xx

fern · Jun 4, 2016

I kind of do want to keep going.... but not entirely sure.... I have been aware this would one day happen... but not prepared and not decisive. I need to find a rescue in my area. If I could bond him safely without causing stress or ending up with two incompatible single pigs...

fern · Jun 4, 2016

tabelmabel said:
Lol sorry it's this phone! Posts keep loading before I've finished them! I've edited it now.

It's all looking good with benson and mike though it'll take me a while to get used to mike. Stan was a huge cuddly gray rex. Mike is a Dutch funny looking thing with sticky out ears and pointy face. Unfortunately the breeder didn't have any suitable baby rex.

I hope you find the right solution for yourself and your lonely boy xx

The pointy face will be because he's a baby... he'll a double chin eventually.! Glad it seems to have worked out. Maybe I should just do the same. Though i think boar dating and finding an older buddy would be the best route, it is so much harder! Thanks for your replies. x

tabelmabel · Jun 4, 2016

I'm sure mike will grow into his looks. He's a great character and seems to be a quick learner. He is skittish of course but he already knows to go to the same corner of the cage when i want to pick him up. He just waits there!

Maybe consult the rest of your family. See what they think. With lots of attention your lone boar could live out his life happily. Good luck with your decision and let us know how it goes xx

Sue and Smartie · Jun 4, 2016

My boar was left alone earlier this year, and while he was OK, he wasn't great, being alone.
I was worried about travelling him any distance (he is also 5) and about how he would react to being away from his familiar environment. I got some very good advice from this forum and decided to take him to be matched up. It was an hour and a half journey, and poor Panda was very subdued, but once we arrived he could smell & hear the other guineas and his little nose came up for a sniff. I knew then that he would be fine.
He came home having been paired with two young sows (he is neutered so there won't be babies

) and they have been living happily together since then.
Having younger friends has given him a new lease of life. He has lost weight, having been a Very Fat GP, and is moving around more. It really was the best thing possible, but at the time was a bit daunting.
I hope you can come to a decision that works for you and your pig, and I'm very sorry for your loss.

fern · Jun 4, 2016

Sue and Smartie said:
My boar was left alone earlier this year, and while he was OK, he wasn't great, being alone.
I was worried about travelling him any distance (he is also 5) and about how he would react to being away from his familiar environment. I got some very good advice from this forum and decided to take him to be matched up. It was an hour and a half journey, and poor Panda was very subdued, but once we arrived he could smell & hear the other guineas and his little nose came up for a sniff. I knew then that he would be fine.
He came home having been paired with two young sows (he is neutered so there won't be babies ) and they have been living happily together since then.
Having younger friends has given him a new lease of life. He has lost weight, having been a Very Fat GP, and is moving around more. It really was the best thing possible, but at the time was a bit daunting.
I hope you can come to a decision that works for you and your pig, and I'm very sorry for your loss.

Thanks
I think I will try and take him to a rescue to see if he will find a new friend. Even if it is for a short time only, and even if it is a risk... the current situation is not ideal.. :-( Glad it worked for you. He'd probably love a girlfriend but has not had the op so that is definitely not on the cards!

Lonely Piggie

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