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Not knowing what to do

AlexandraM

AlexandraM

New Born Pup
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Nov 28, 2019
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Location
Norfolk, England
Hello all,

We lost a guinea pig Betty about 3 months ago. Wilma her sister is still with us and lives indoors now, since Betty died.
That last few days Wilma hasn't been herself, she's normally very active and loud! But she has been very lazy/tired. Her eyes don't look as shiny as they used to be and you can see more of the whites/Grey's of her eye, not all black. She is still eating but not drinking. Every so often she has crazy moments and runs around the cage as though she is possessed!
She will let me stroke her but will run away if I try to pick her up.
She also keeps biting the side of the cage, it's not like she is hungry as she always has a bowl full of food and gets fed fresh stuff everyday.
I was wondering if anyone else has every experienced these behaviours with their own pigs and hoping someone can help me. She clearly not well I don't think.
Thank you in advance.
Alexandra
 
Hello and welcome.
I am sorry for your loss of Betty.
It would be a good idea to have a vet check done to ensure there aren’t any health issues brewing. However, I assume Wilma is now living alone. How old is she?
It is possible that a change in her behaviour is down to being lonely if she now doesn’t have another piggy to live with. Do consider getting her a new friend as she will be much happier. Cage biting can be to get attention and it is normal for piggies to not like being picked up (as prey animals being picked up cuts very close for them).
 
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Piggies&buns said:
Hello and welcome.
I am sorry for your loss of Betty.
It would be a good idea to have a vet check done to ensure there aren’t any health issues brewing. However, I assume she Wilma is now living alone. How old is she?
It is possible that a change in her behaviour is down to being lonely if she now doesn’t have another piggy to live with. Do consider getting her a new friend as she will be much happier. Cage biting can be to get attention and it is normal for piggies to not like being picked up (as prey animals being picked up cuts very close for them).
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Thank you for your reply.
Yes Wilma is on her own now and is 5. She has never been worried about being picked up, she has always been a really happy easy pig to have. My concern about getting another one, would be putting her through stress of introducing her to another one, also if she then goes, we will have the same problem again. Unfortunately my partner is allergic to them, so wouldn't be fair on him to get more. I had them at my parents and they came with me when I moved out.
Every time she bites the cage I go to her and give her a stroke on the nose which she loves. Will ring the vets tomorrow and see what they say to.
Thank you x
 
Do have her vet checked, a change in behaviour can sometimes be hormonal so having it checked is always wise.

I understand your concerns and the situation regarding your partners allergies. It is difficult with the piggy cycle if you want to end it. However, at five years old, while she isn’t young, she could still have two, three more years and while I understand you aren’t sure of putting her though the stress of an introduction, it is equally as stressful for her to live the rest of her life alone. Plenty of older piggies are successfully bonded again following the loss of their companion.
 
Perhaps if you dont intend to get any more piggies, especially if you are UK based, you might consider seeing if a rescue might take in your piggy and finding her a friend, many UK rescues take in older bereaved piggies and offer them a long term foster home where they can meet other bereaved oldies or just live nearby to other piggies for companionship. If you add your rough location (country, state or county, city or town) then we can advise you better x
 
All good ideas above. You could also see if you can find an o. A. P age neutered boar in rescue to live with your old ish sow. 5 is good but she could go on to 7 or 8.
 
Thank you all for your advise. Has been really helpful, will definitely speak to the vet and go from there.
Also I am in Norfolk (England)
 
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