Pairing a baby guinea pig with my 9month

O

Oreoboy

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I recently had 2 boars that were around 9 months old, sadly one of them died.
I have been advised by my vet to get a baby or maybe 2 as new companions.
I have done research regarding bonding ect and I know this takes time. But I have only found this for one.
After reading a lot of info I'm unsure if Oreo will be ok with a baby or 2 as I cant find info on pairing younger guinea pigs. And beginning to doubt my vets advice.
Oreo is around 9 months old and was already the dominant one out the pair before we sadly lost Fudge, but they were always together, sharing food, pop corning ect
Oreo weights 1100g and I'm not sure if he classed now as still a teeneger or an Adult.
He misses his friend so much and we just want whats best for him, any advice is gratefully appreciated, if this is possible or if we should wait until Oreo is a lot older.
 
Hi and welcome to our friendly forum.

I wouldn't pair Oreo with 2 other boars as boar trios are notorious for not working out. Oreo does need a friend. You have 2 options as far as I can see. The first is to bond him with another boar. Do you have a rescue near you that offers boar dating? If so you can let Oreo choose his own friend. Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues or you can get Oreo neutered, wait 6 weeks and then bond him with a sow. Whereabouts are you? We have members from all over the world. If you go to your name at the top of the page and click on it you can put in your location. This will then appear in every post you make.
 
Oreoboy said:
I recently had 2 boars that were around 9 months old, sadly one of them died.
I have been advised by my vet to get a baby or maybe 2 as new companions.
I have done research regarding bonding ect and I know this takes time. But I have only found this for one.
After reading a lot of info I'm unsure if Oreo will be ok with a baby or 2 as I cant find info on pairing younger guinea pigs. And beginning to doubt my vets advice.
Oreo is around 9 months old and was already the dominant one out the pair before we sadly lost Fudge, but they were always together, sharing food, pop corning ect
Oreo weights 1100g and I'm not sure if he classed now as still a teeneger or an Adult.
He misses his friend so much and we just want whats best for him, any advice is gratefully appreciated, if this is possible or if we should wait until Oreo is a lot older.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss. You are welcome to post a tribute to the boy you have lost in our Rainbow Bridge section if you wish to.

The by far safest way of bonding bereaved guinea pigs of all ages and genders is by dating them under expert supervision at a good rescue; this means that the piggies decide who they want to get on with. You maximise to the chances of finding 'Mr Right' before you commit and minimise the risk of coming home with a piggy that is not accepted by Oreo. ;)
By making the extra effort to adopt from a rescue with mandatory quarantine and medical care, you can be assured that any piggy is the right gender and healthy upon adoption and does not come with some unplanned issues in its luggage. You also have the rescue to support you during the settling in period and if there is a fall-out during the whole life time of one of their adoptees. That is a lot more service and security than you would get from a shop.

You can bond Oreo with a baby boar (please double check the gender upon arrival) if you wish to, but you have to be aware that not all baby boys are accepted as many people expect. If you do the bonding at home and bring home a piggy on spec then you have to always have a plan at the ready.
There is no difference in bonding babies than to any boar-boar bonding at any age, apart from the fact that the baby cannot challenge the hierarchy; that comes when the testicles start decending around 4 months of age. Only then it decides whether the boys are character compatible or not.

What does NOT work is boar trios; sub-adult boar trios have about a fall-out rate of 90% during the teenage months (4-14 months); they are the worst possible combination, only surpassed by boar quartets in instability.


Alternatively (and only if you have access to a good vet with experience in guinea pig neutering or small furries operations that you trust) you can of course think about neutering to allow Oreo to live with a sow after the obligatory 6 weeks post-op wait. Cross gender pairings are the most stable of all guinea pig pairings.

Please take the time to read these guides here; you will hopefully find them helpful for you to make an informed decision. You can find links to recommended rescues we can guarantee that you are in safe and knwoledgeable hands in several countries in the bereavement guide and lists for recommended vets in the neutering guide.

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
(Our extensive bonding guide includes all stages from the preparation, typical behaviours and dynamics, special aspects of various gender combinations, and also includes the dominance phase, which lasts around 2 weeks after the introduction)

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts

Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county so we can tailor any advice always straight away to what is available and relevant where you are and help you with recommendations as much as possible. Your options depend largely on your local rescue and vet access. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and speeds up things. Thank you!
 
Betsy said:
Hi and welcome to our friendly forum.

I wouldn't pair Oreo with 2 other boars as boar trios are notorious for not working out. Oreo does need a friend. You have 2 options as far as I can see. The first is to bond him with another boar. Do you have a rescue near you that offers boar dating? If so you can let Oreo choose his own friend. Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues or you can get Oreo neutered, wait 6 weeks and then bond him with a sow. Whereabouts are you? We have members from all over the world. If you go to your name at the top of the page and click on it you can put in your location. This will then appear in every post you make.
Click to expand...


Thankyou so mush for your advice, we have decided to go for just one boar, we will try and find out of any rescues are near us, I have updated my location now, thankyou for your help.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your loss. You are welcome to post a tribute to the boy you have lost in our Rainbow Bridge section if you wish to.

The by far safest way of bonding bereaved guinea pigs of all ages and genders is by dating them under expert supervision at a good rescue; this means that the piggies decide who they want to get on with. You maximise to the chances of finding 'Mr Right' before you commit and minimise the risk of coming home with a piggy that is not accepted by Oreo. ;)
By making the extra effort to adopt from a rescue with mandatory quarantine and medical care, you can be assured that any piggy is the right gender and healthy upon adoption and does not come with some unplanned issues in its luggage. You also have the rescue to support you during the settling in period and if there is a fall-out during the whole life time of one of their adoptees. That is a lot more service and security than you would get from a shop.

You can bond Oreo with a baby boar (please double check the gender upon arrival) if you wish to, but you have to be aware that not all baby boys are accepted as many people expect. If you do the bonding at home and bring home a piggy on spec then you have to always have a plan at the ready.
There is no difference in bonding babies than to any boar-boar bonding at any age, apart from the fact that the baby cannot challenge the hierarchy; that comes when the testicles start decending around 4 months of age. Only then it decides whether the boys are character compatible or not.

What does NOT work is boar trios; sub-adult boar trios have about a fall-out rate of 90% during the teenage months (4-14 months); they are the worst possible combination, only surpassed by boar quartets in instability.


Alternatively (and only if you have access to a good vet with experience in guinea pig neutering or small furries operations that you trust) you can of course think about neutering to allow Oreo to live with a sow after the obligatory 6 weeks post-op wait. Cross gender pairings are the most stable of all guinea pig pairings.

Please take the time to read these guides here; you will hopefully find them helpful for you to make an informed decision. You can find links to recommended rescues we can guarantee that you are in safe and knwoledgeable hands in several countries in the bereavement guide and lists for recommended vets in the neutering guide.

Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
(Our extensive bonding guide includes all stages from the preparation, typical behaviours and dynamics, special aspects of various gender combinations, and also includes the dominance phase, which lasts around 2 weeks after the introduction)

Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts

Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county so we can tailor any advice always straight away to what is available and relevant where you are and help you with recommendations as much as possible. Your options depend largely on your local rescue and vet access. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and speeds up things. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your amazing advice, this has all been so helpfull, I will see if there is any rescues near us that can help us, after reading all your info, we had took your advice and just get Oreo 1 friend x
 
Oreoboy said:
Thankyou for your amazing advice, this has all been so helpfull, I will see if there is any rescues near us that can help us, after reading all your info, we had took your advice and just get Oreo 1 friend x
Click to expand...

The SSCPA in Edinburgh is your closest local rescue with a certain standard. Several forum members have adopted from there. However, the RSPCA/SSPCA as a whole don't offer boar dating to my knowledge and may not be willing to rehome boars of theirs with another boar.

Not sure whether North East Guinea Pig Rescue in South Shields/Newcastle-upon-Tyne will rehome as far as you. I know that they have a fosterer in the borders who is willing to do home checks within a reasonable range of them, but they are your closest dating rescue and worth a day trip with Oreo if your request is accepted. Please brace yourself that they are not very good at answering quickly; they prefer to be contacted by email.
But they are a very experienced rescue that is willing to re-bond bereaved piggies of all genders and they are on our list of recommended rescues. In fact, my Carwyn is a bounced back into rescue neutered boar of theirs.

Scotland is unfortunately a desert when it comes to good standard guinea pig rescues. :(
It may be worth looking at neutering if any boar bonding is not coming off, as there are a couple of good vets in the Edinburgh area. The SSCPA has likely a boar neutering policy and therefore an experienced neutering vet.
As I have mentioned in my first post, your local availabilities often determine which way you go in the end. ;)

Good luck!

PS: Could you please change your account details to 'Edinburgh area' to make it easier for us to give you local recommendations without having to google? Thank you!
 
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Hi after everyones information and great long discussions with some rescues over the phone today, who none of them do bonding or dates, the outcome is we now have a little boy called Trio around 2-3 months old. We know they may never bond but willing to try and take things slow with both of them. They are both separate but Oreo knows there is a friend near and for the 1st time in a good few weeks hes like his old self. Hes up and about being inquisitive again. I understand things may not work out and some might not approve of our new boy being from a shop, but any bonding help won't fall on deaf ears. I hope you lovely people will still help us x thank you to everyone who helped including the rescues who helped us decide today along with all the amazing info from all of you x x
 
Oreoboy said:
Hi after everyones information and great long discussions with some rescues over the phone today, who none of them do bonding or dates, the outcome is we now have a little boy called Trio around 2-3 months old. We know they may never bond but willing to try and take things slow with both of them. They are both separate but Oreo knows there is a friend near and for the 1st time in a good few weeks hes like his old self. Hes up and about being inquisitive again. I understand things may not work out and some might not approve of our new boy being from a shop, but any bonding help won't fall on deaf ears. I hope you lovely people will still help us x thank you to everyone who helped including the rescues who helped us decide today along with all the amazing info from all of you x x
Click to expand...

Please make sure that you bond soon; babies at that age are desperate for company!

Please also be aware that once you have committed, you have to sit through an introduction until the end. You can't bond guinea pigs in little 'play dates' - for them, each meeting is a full-on bonding that is cut short and means that they have to start all over the again the next time.
Take the time to read this guide here; it is very detailed and contains plenty of pictures and a few videos. Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Best of luck! With a baby of this age, you also have to waive a quarantine and have to be prepared to have both boys seeing the vet.
 
Wiebke said:
Please make sure that you bond soon; babies at that age are desperate for company!

Please also be aware that once you have committed, you have to sit through an introduction until the end. You can't bond guinea pigs in little 'play dates' - for them, each meeting is a full-on bonding that is cut short and means that they have to start all over the again the next time.
Take the time to read this guide here; it is very detailed and contains plenty of pictures and a few videos. Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Best of luck! With a baby of this age, you also have to waive a quarantine and have to be prepared to have both boys seeing the vet.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. My homework for tonight. Oreo is registered at the Dick Vet in Edinburgh. So I will be calling 1st thing for an appointment for Little trio. You information is so helpful x thank you for your support x
 
It is good that you are giving Trio a vet check to make sure he is well and everything is in order.
 
Betsy said:
Pleased you've found a potential friend for Oreo
Be aware bonding is not for the faint hearted!

Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs

When I bonded my 5 together there was wee spraying, teeth chattering, humping and all sorts. The hierarchy was sorted out though and now everyone lives peacefully together.
Click to expand...
Thank so much for your help. These are my homework for tonight. Your support has been so valuable. I'm dreading this but know it can only be fixed out between them them both x
 
Oreoboy said:
Thank you so much. My homework for tonight. Oreo is registered at the Dick Vet in Edinburgh. So I will be calling 1st thing for an appointment for Little trio. You information is so helpful x thank you for your support x
Click to expand...

Please be aware that the current most pet shop problem is ringworm. The period between infection and acute outbreak is 10-14 days, so you may not see anything straight away if there is a problem. See a vet promptly if you notice bare/scaly patches typically in the face or on the ears. We have got very detailed practical tips on how to get on top of it if needed. As they are adjacent, you will have to treat both boys anyway. ;)

Mange mites and URI have become less common since p@h have obviously started with new breeding stock/a new commercial provider.
 
Wiebke said:
Please be aware that the current most pet shop problem is ringworm. The period between infection and acute outbreak is 10-14 days, so you may not see anything straight away if there is a problem. See a vet promptly if you notice bare/scaly patches typically in the face or on the ears. We have got very detailed practical tips on how to get on top of it if needed. As they are adjacent, you will have to treat both boys anyway. ;)

Mange mites and URI have become less common since p@h have obviously started with new breeding stock/a new commercial provider.
Click to expand...
Thank you I will keep a close eye on him and if anything I will be here for advice. You have all been amazing x
 
Just a little update. We have followed your advice and today was the day we have both Oreo and our new Trio together in the bathroom. Oreo cage has been completely stripped Down ect they have both had a play ate lots of veg and hay. They have been together in the bathroom for 2 hours now and we are waiting on my neice coming in from work to check that all is OK and safe for them both to have there first cage together. ( My neice is use to bonding rats at her work)No fighting so far I'm glad to say. Just lots of bum sniffing Oreo seems to be dealing with his new friend OK do far and i woukd say is the boss. Fingers crossed they have a nap together and wake up just as happy x
 
fingers crossed the bond is good with them both and they can live happily ever after
 
Thank you so much.after a day of bonding both are now together in there cage. We have even treated then to a 2x5 C&C cage to give them plenty of room. I couldn't have done all this without all the amazing advice from everyone on this thread x
 
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