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My Little Fur Buddy Lost His Cage Mate Today

G

guineapigmama79

New Born Pup
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
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Location
Oneida, NY USA
My precious duo is now an uno. :-( Dean and Sam where three months when I got them, a neighbor was going to just release them in her back yard. I took them in knowing NOTHING about piggy's. They were about 6 mos. old at the time, and their second birthdays are in February. I learned about them very quickly as Dean came down with a respiratory virus that nearly killed him. I have grown to be a very big piggy lover and they are like my children. Dean came down with a case of the weird poops last week. I made him an appointment for a week away, but this morning after morning snuggles, he just went down hill. Took him to the emergency vet and had to unfortunately put him down. I cried for hours. I can't believe how these little fur balls have wrapped their little paws around my heart. NOW, I am so worried for Sammy. They weren't the best of friends, didn't really play much together, and had what I call "married tifts" over their veggies most the time. They challenged each other often for dominance, but Dean usually nipped it in the bud lol. But, they always greeted each other when put back in the cage and slept together most nights. I wonder what to watch for with Sammy now. I can't get another guinea pig to be with him, my hubby is actually allergic and tolerated these two because he knew I was not going to turn them away. I wonder if I should find him a home with a new mate (would crush me as I love him sooo much). How much time should I give him to "grieve" before I make that call that he may be ok as a singular piggy? Any advice to help my fuz ball grieve and recover would be great! Thanks all.
 
I am really sorry for the loss of your piggy. Guinea pig s are prey animals and hide illness well hence they go down so fast often too fast before we can get help and intervene, often there is nothing we can do.

I understand you predicament that you are facing. it will go one of two ways and be evident quite quickly.

Piggies grieve no less than we do, but they have huge survival instinct. Please make sure Sammy is eating, it will be normal for him to be a little quiet without his friend but if he stops eating then you have an issue. When we have lost our girls i the past our first piggy coped fine as a single pig(due to issues, we couldn't rebond) and she lived a year on her own and was very happy. Another piggy we had had to be found a friend quickly as she struggled on her own. Each pig is different.

i know it is hard but you'll need to think as i am sure you will what is best for Sammy, if he is young it is a long time to stay on his own without company of his own kind if you are not able to get him a new buddy to be with. Some rescues offer boar dating in the UK if you are US based i am not really sure on the rescue set up over there.

Give it a few days and see how he is doing and give yourself time to grieve also before making decisions on the future.

Once again very sorry for you loss.

Could you add your location to your profile also as that does aid us in giving advice

We also have a rainbow bridge section of the forum you can leave a memorial to Dean in

Lee
 
I just added my location, I am in the US. I just read the Rainbow Bridge section and it was very helpful. I am a bit torn because there is inconsistent info from the vet and the woman I saved them from. The original owner told me they were 3mos. old when she bought them. That would make them 2 years old this February. However, Dean's symptoms were "diagnosable". The vet said he was exhibiting signs of old age. If the lady misheard the pet shop employee and they were actually 3 years old and not mos.,this would make sense....and I would not feel so bad keeping Sammy (as long as he does well) for the remainder of his life as a single piggy. BUT, if he is in fact, not 5years old and only 2....I don't want him lonely for the next few years. I only have three vets in an 80 mile radius that specialize in Cavy's around me, and I have seen two already over the course of the last year to find the one I like best....neither seem to be able to "age" them. Is there a way that I can try to figure that out without a vet?
 
No sorry, piggies cant be aged. What does he weigh in grams? That may give a little indication, it looks there is very little between a 2 year old and a 5yr old i am afraid. Don't rush into decisions, Sammy is safe and obviously loved with you.
 
guineapigmama79 said:
I just added my location, I am in the US. I just read the Rainbow Bridge section and it was very helpful. I am a bit torn because there is inconsistent info from the vet and the woman I saved them from. The original owner told me they were 3mos. old when she bought them. That would make them 2 years old this February. However, Dean's symptoms were "diagnosable". The vet said he was exhibiting signs of old age. If the lady misheard the pet shop employee and they were actually 3 years old and not mos.,this would make sense....and I would not feel so bad keeping Sammy (as long as he does well) for the remainder of his life as a single piggy. BUT, if he is in fact, not 5years old and only 2....I don't want him lonely for the next few years. I only have three vets in an 80 mile radius that specialize in Cavy's around me, and I have seen two already over the course of the last year to find the one I like best....neither seem to be able to "age" them. Is there a way that I can try to figure that out without a vet?
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I think only a real expert could give you even a rough idea of age. I know my vet told me my two new boys could be about a year, the shop assistant said 6 months, however I suspect they are significantly older than that as they are quite bony along their tops compared to my boys who I know are around 10 months, although they are a good weight and healthy.
I think it was @Wiebke who gave a bit of a guide based on nails and bonyness, but I can't find the thread, and even she said it was difficult to tell. If I remember rightly it was under about a year, young adult, and older adult was about as far as you could tell.
 
I am very sorry for your loss and your dilemma!

Here are our tipss for looking after bereaved guinea pigs: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

There are a number of decent rescues with guinea pigs in upstate NY. Perhaps one of the listed rescues can give you more local recommendations if you can't get to the closest that is listed as recommended.
Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations

You could discuss these options:
- dating and adopting a single rescue boar of any age that is character compatible
- surrendering your boy so he has got company and will only go to home checked good home with a new companion
- adopting a companion (boar or de-sexed sow) for the lifetime of your boy that reverts to the rescue after the death of your boy if the rescue is happy with that. this may be the best compromise between your husband and your boy's needs.
 
Thank you so much! I am not very computer savvy. Registering on this site, was a half of a morning lol. Finding the rescue sites for me is a major help! Having local people to talk to in person about the care of my fuz ball is so important to me. What do you mean by "dating"? I have a neighbor with only one boar (always been on his own), and I was thinking about setting up "play dates" with them lol. I know it sounds silly for me to set up a play date for a guinea pig, but if it helps his health......Is it worse for me to let him play and take him away? I have learned the piggy's love schedule, so maybe if it is on the same day of the week every week?
 
guineapigmama79 said:
Thank you so much! I am not very computer savvy. Registering on this site, was a half of a morning lol. Finding the rescue sites for me is a major help! Having local people to talk to in person about the care of my fuz ball is so important to me. What do you mean by "dating"? I have a neighbor with only one boar (always been on his own), and I was thinking about setting up "play dates" with them lol. I know it sounds silly for me to set up a play date for a guinea pig, but if it helps his health......Is it worse for me to let him play and take him away? I have learned the piggy's love schedule, so maybe if it is on the same day of the week every week?
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Rescue dating means bonding under expert supervision at the rescue with respect for character compatibility. Not every piggy clicks with every piggy. By going to down the rescue dating route means that you come home with a new mate only if acceptance has happened and you have the rescue's support for the life time of their adopted piggy if you run into trouble along the way. It means that you maximise your chances and minimise any risks of ending up with two boars that do not get on.

Unfortunately for you, guinea pigs don't to 'play dates' - for them, each meeting is a bonding session and each separation is totally frustrating. Guinea pigs also do not just need a once weekly date; they are group animals that need company/stimulation of their own kind all the time.
 
Thanks guys for all of this info! So far, today, Sammy has eaten like normal, squeeked for his apple, and had his floor time with no difference. I'm waiting for tomorrow for it to set in. I did leave Dean's "blankie" that he slept on in the cage for him. I see he is spending some time on it this afternoon, not like him. We shall see. If he gets to where I feel lt's not ideal for him to be alone and he seems as though he is unhappy after a few weeks. I may start looking at rehoming him....maybe somewhere I can visit him often and check on his health and happiness. Am I crazy for worrying so much about a guinea pig? My hubby and my daughter think I've lost my biscuits. I would gladly give him to a new home with a buddy he can be with for his happiness, but so many people don't realize how much maintenance a piggy can be! They need attending to and need someone who notices the little things. I would worry he would go to a home not good enough for him. Ugggg, i'm a mess. I should really just stop thinking and just snuggle him for a bit.
 
guineapigmama79 said:
Thanks guys for all of this info! So far, today, Sammy has eaten like normal, squeeked for his apple, and had his floor time with no difference. I'm waiting for tomorrow for it to set in. I did leave Dean's "blankie" that he slept on in the cage for him. I see he is spending some time on it this afternoon, not like him. We shall see. If he gets to where I feel lt's not ideal for him to be alone and he seems as though he is unhappy after a few weeks. I may start looking at rehoming him....maybe somewhere I can visit him often and check on his health and happiness. Am I crazy for worrying so much about a guinea pig? My hubby and my daughter think I've lost my biscuits. I would gladly give him to a new home with a buddy he can be with for his happiness, but so many people don't realize how much maintenance a piggy can be! They need attending to and need someone who notices the little things. I would worry he would go to a home not good enough for him. Ugggg, i'm a mess. I should really just stop thinking and just snuggle him for a bit.
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HUGS!
You are a proper piggy mummy. They are such interactive, feeling animals that have bigger personalities than the space they occupy. People who are not into pet don't realise what being able to love unconditionally means and how rich it makes your life - and what a price you have to pay when they leave. Grieving is the other side of the love you share.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. ((HUGS.))
 
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