Night night George - need advice

[squeakly]

Hello everybody reading. Excuse me as it's taken a while for me to get on here and write this.
My 5 year old boar, George, passed away on Wednesday. He lived with his twin brother, Toby, in a small cage although we let them roam the garden safely and under supervision as much as possible. I never saw him before he was buried as I was away to try and have a break from my own current mental issues however it actually made me worse, but what I have been told from my family is that he wasn't out to play much the day before his passing, had a bubbly stomach, and then Wednesday morning he was found with his head in the nugget bowl and wouldn't wake up, so it could have been anything really. This has hit me hard as I grew through my teenage years with George, and I have had no chance to close that door as I haven't seen him, he was just there one minute and the next it was only Toby. Because of this, I've been too upset to spend any time with Toby and instead I've been in bed the past 2 days although I keep checking on him. He's not doing great, he's eating but he won't spend much time out in the garden, he just goes back in after 10 minutes, and he's not really doing much, just sitting in the corner and teeth chattering. I can tell he's anxious and lonely without the presence of his brother and I feel really bad for not spending enough time with him. I am now left with one un-neutered 5 year old boar and I don't really know what to do for him from here. Could somebody advise me on the future decisions I should make for Toby, such if a new housemate is a good idea, if so then what would be the best companion for his situation, and also what that would mean for the cage sizes.
Thank you so much

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Please do take care of yourself.


Yes a new friend for Toby will be needed. Provided he is eating and maintaining his weight (you will need to weigh him tech morning so you can monitor his hay intake more closely while he is grieving), then you have somewhere between 1 and 4 weeks to get him a friend.
If he is struggling or if he starts to lose weight, then he may need a new friend much sooner.

We would advise, where possible, that you contact a rescue centre to enlist their help in finding a new character compatible friend for him. This is to ensure they bond properly.
Older boars tend to just want company so as long as there is compatibility, and if you have the help of a rescue, he may accept another older bereaved boar quite happily. Equally he may prefer a younger friend. This is where a rescue is most helpful as toby can make his choice via dating.

If a rescue is not possible and you buy a new friend for him then it would be best if that new friend is a baby as it can make bonding easier - a baby won’t challenge for dominance at the point of bonding.
However it does mean you aren’t able to test for compatibility so it can mean a bit more of a risk.

Bonding is a specific process so you have to do it properly in neutral territory. You cannot just put a new piggy directly into Toby’s space as it will be seen as a territory invasion and can cause a fight from the beginning.

Cage sizes: Two boars need 180x60cm (so if outside then that means a 6ft hutch). Any run or free roam space does not count as it is not something they can use 24/7 and cannot be used year round (too cold and wet for piggies).
A rescue would not approve for you for adopting a friend if the cage is not big enough. But you also have to be aware that with the changing climate and it becoming harder to keep them safe outside, not all rescues will approve outdoor homes anyway.

I have added some guides below which detail everything further

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
Cage Size Guide

 

[squeakly]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Please do take care of yourself.


Yes a new friend for Toby will be needed. Provided he is eating and maintaining his weight (you will need to weigh him tech morning so you can monitor his hay intake more closely while he is grieving), then you have somewhere between 1 and 4 weeks to get him a friend.
If he is struggling or if he starts to lose weight, then he may need a new friend much sooner.

We would advise, where possible, that you contact a rescue centre to enlist their help in finding a new character compatible friend for him. This is to ensure they bond properly.
Older boars tend to just want company so as long as there is compatibility, and if you have the help of a rescue, he may accept another older bereaved boar quite happily. Equally he may prefer a younger friend. This is where a rescue is most helpful as toby can make his choice via dating.

If a rescue is not possible and you buy a new friend for him then it would be best if that new friend is a baby as it can make bonding easier - a baby won’t challenge for dominance at the point of bonding.
However it does mean you aren’t able to test for compatibility so it can mean a bit more of a risk.

Bonding is a specific process so you have to do it properly in neutral territory. You cannot just put a new piggy directly into Toby’s space as it will be seen as a territory invasion and can cause a fight from the beginning.

Cage sizes: Two boars need 180x60cm (so if outside then that means a 6ft hutch). Any run or free roam space does not count as it is not something they can use 24/7 and cannot be used year round (too cold and wet for piggies).
A rescue would not approve for you for adopting a friend if the cage is not big enough. But you also have to be aware that with the changing climate and it becoming harder to keep them safe outside, not all rescues will approve outdoor homes anyway.

I have added some guides below which detail everything further

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours
Cage Size Guide

Thank you for all your advice, I don't yet have any scales for weighing Toby, though it's maybe something I should have already had for the two of them. We do have cooking scales but I don't know how my family would feel about using it with Toby so I'll have to look into buying an electronic one. We always used to bring the hutch inside through temperatures deemed to be too cold/warm, but I don't know how easy that would be with a bigger cage so we would have to find a way around that or possibly get an indoor cage instead if we can't find a hutch practical enough. I know the standard variety of hutches marketed toward guinea pigs are often too small. I will try and look into rescues but I can't guarantee that I'd be able to do that as I have restricted options of travel etc. I will try to take as much consideration into your advice as I can for my future decisions. Thanks so much again, it means a lot.

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry for your loss. Severe Bloat or GI stasis can kill very quickly, even had he been raced to the vet; the bloating could have also happened in the process of his body shutting down naturally.
Try to take comfort that he hasn't suffered for long and that for him it was thankfully all over quickly, even if you couldn't be there and go through the agonies of fighting a losing battle with him.

We can never choose when and what from our beloved ones die. That is not in our control. Guinea pigs are unfortunately - and despite their huge personalities - only small animals with a much faster metabolism which can turn against him.

But you have clearly given George all your love and good care during a good life span. Guinea pigs measure their own lives in happy todays. As long as you give them those, you are not failing them. He has had quite obviously the best of piggy lives he could have wished for.
It is the shock and the inevitable feelings of guilt at the onset of the grieving process that you are currently struggling with. As humans we are wired to reflect everything back onto ourselves; an absences or other traumatic circumstances can enhance those feelings. Please see them as an expression of how deeply you love George because you would not have them if you didn't care. They are the other side of the same coin we call 'love'. But those feelings have nothing to do with any actual shortcomings in your care.

This guide here takes you through the stages and the weird mind loops that the grieving process can take you to and also contains some practical, simple tips as to what you can do for yourself: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
If you continue to struggle, the free pet bereavement service of the Blue Cross (UK-only animal charity) may be the next place to turn to as talking is generally the best thing you can do: Pet Loss Support

As to company for George, consider contacting rescues in your wider area to see whether they have older single boars who could come to be either a mate or a companion through the bars for mutual stimulation if they decide that they don't want to share a territory.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (contains a chapter on challenges with bereaved singles and end of the line considerations, as well as how to spot when Toby starts to transfer his social species needs onto you)

@Wheekallweek

 

[squeakly]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry for your loss. Severe Bloat or GI stasis can kill very quickly, even had he been raced to the vet; the bloating could have also happened in the process of his body shutting down naturally.
Try to take comfort that he hasn't suffered for long and that for him it was thankfully all over quickly, even if you couldn't be there and go through the agonies of fighting a losing battle with him.

We can never choose when and what from our beloved ones die. That is not in our control. Guinea pigs are unfortunately - and despite their huge personalities - only small animals with a much faster metabolism which can turn against him.

But you have clearly given George all your love and good care during a good life span. Guinea pigs measure their own lives in happy todays. As long as you give them those, you are not failing them. He has had quite obviously the best of piggy lives he could have wished for.
It is the shock and the inevitable feelings of guilt at the onset of the grieving process that you are currently struggling with. As humans we are wired to reflect everything back onto ourselves; an absences or other traumatic circumstances can enhance those feelings. Please see them as an expression of how deeply you love George because you would not have them if you didn't care. They are the other side of the same coin we call 'love'. But those feelings have nothing to do with any actual shortcomings in your care.

This guide here takes you through the stages and the weird mind loops that the grieving process can take you to and also contains some practical, simple tips as to what you can do for yourself: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
If you continue to struggle, the free pet bereavement service of the Blue Cross (UK-only animal charity) may be the next place to turn to as talking is generally the best thing you can do: Pet Loss Support

As to company for George, consider contacting rescues in your wider area to see whether they have older single boars who could come to be either a mate or a companion through the bars for mutual stimulation if they decide that they don't want to share a territory.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities (contains a chapter on challenges with bereaved singles and end of the line considerations, as well as how to spot when Toby starts to transfer his social species needs onto you)

@Wheekallweek

Thanks for your condolences and all your information and advice, it means a lot

 

[Wheekallweek]

Unfortunately we have no single boys at the minute, but there are few guinea pig rescues in this area so I'm sure one of them can help!