Poorly Pig

[Hannah1982]

We sadly lost a pig overnight, I'm concerned about the other one, they are inside at the moment (garage) i made sure it was warm enough as the temp has dropped plently of hay an old fleecy throw on floor and a box inside the bedding area for insulation and athinck throw over the top at night so I'm sure they arent cold, anyway i found honey dead in the bedding part this am. There were a lot of much paler stools around the cage, is this a sign off illness? Do people find that one pig left is ok (i cant afford another one nr christmas!) and how cqn I be sure whatever one died off the other hasnt got? They come out a fair bit to play and seemed really happy little pigs, sad (dreading telling mt little girl Xx

 

[Wiebke]

We sadly lost a pig overnight, I'm concerned about the other one, they are inside at the moment (garage) i made sure it was warm enough as the temp has dropped plently of hay an old fleecy throw on floor and a box inside the bedding area for insulation and athinck throw over the top at night so I'm sure they arent cold, anyway i found honey dead in the bedding part this am. There were a lot of much paler stools around the cage, is this a sign off illness? Do people find that one pig left is ok (i cant afford another one nr christmas!) and how cqn I be sure whatever one died off the other hasnt got? They come out a fair bit to play and seemed really happy little pigs, sad (dreading telling mt little girl Xx

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry about your loss!

Please have your remaining guinea pig vet checked if you don't know what your guinea pig has died from.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator

Guinea pig mourn no less deeply than we humans and tend to be withdrawn for some days, but they will generally pick up - unhappily - life sooner than us humans, as the need to survive is greater. Please get him/her a companion as soon as you can afford to once your grieving piggy comes out of deep mourning. If possible, contact a good rescue for dating, once your survivor has been given the all clear by the vet. Many rescues will make exceptions to their non-adoption policy over the holidays for pining piggies. Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator

There is one condition where you need to get a new companion above any other consideration. it is called "acute pining" where a bereaved piggy is basically just stopping to eat and giving up. In this case, a new companion can be a life saver.

Please weigh your remaining guinea pig once daily at the same time instead of just the regular weekly check to keep an eye on the food intake and its health. If necessary (over 50g loss of weight in a very short period) step in with syringe feeding to keep the guts going. The change of poo colour would indicate a change in the food uptake.
Our detailed illustrated syringe feeding guide tells you exactly how to, including what you can do with you have got at home or very easily available in an emergency: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

There is one condition

 

[Hannah1982]

Thanks thats helpful ill look into adoption - do they become happy alone is there anyway I can help? Are they best left to grieve or shall I give more attention than normal?

 

[sport_billy]

So sorry you have lost your piggy. It is impossible to tell what has caused the death I am afraid, piggies are very good at hiding their illnesses. The paler stools would point to an issue.

I would clean the cage out. Please make sure your remaining piggy is eating and drinking. Have a read of this thread here on looking after a bereaved piggy Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

Once again so sorry for your loss.

 

[sport_billy]

Thanks thats helpful ill look into adoption - do they become happy alone is there anyway I can help? Are they best left to grieve or shall I give more attention than normal?

We have had a lone piggy due to medical reasons, some pigs are fine on their own but some do not cope well at all. Putt was an indoor pig so had us around her all the time, outdoor piggies wouldn't be around you as much. No human can be a substitute for a friend of the same species we are not part of their herd and viewed differently. Pigs are herd animals

 

[Hannah1982]

I think there must of been sometbing else as she was very young still, they were happy and healthy and kept in the garage (insulated and not used for a car obvs!) but I'm still blaming myself x

 

[Merrypigs Sanctuary]

I think there must of been sometbing else as she was very young still, they were happy and healthy and kept in the garage (insulated and not used for a car obvs!) but I'm still blaming myself x

Don't blame yourself! These things happen. Alot of the time they only show very subtle symptoms until it's too late

 

[Hannah1982]

Theres no signs on the other one poor thing... got the other out for a cuddle shes clearly sad... not eaten anything today i think ill just have to give her special attention now shes very nervous hopefully it doesnt last x

 

[Gem789]

Theres no signs on the other one poor thing... got the other out for a cuddle shes clearly sad... not eaten anything today i think ill just have to give her special attention now shes very nervous hopefully it doesnt last x

Keep an eye on her food intake, if she's not eating at all then she is severely mourning the death of her friend and will need a new friend asap x

 

[3Tyger]

Good advice above.

I'm so sorry for your loss

Hope your remaining piggie gets the all-clear from the vets and a new friend as soon as possible

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope your other piggy remains well.

 

[Adelle]

IT is vital that a Guinea pig eats to keep their guts moving- if she isn't eating she needs syringe feeding asap.

I'm sorry for your loss x

 

[Hannah1982]

Shes nibbled a bit n ive had her in doning room today to be around us - I'm uber paranoid can someone help me feel reassured, so in garage they r in hutch, bed area has paper sawdust and stuffed full of hay to top, theres a box on its side withblank n tube where they sleep, downstairs has fleecy floors n i throw a blanket over the bedroom at night.... is this enough? We do bring them in for cuddles but hadnt been in the day she died I'm worried nowthechange in temp killedher? Inside then into garage? I'm worried sick n feelawful if i have? Theothers on today what if ithappens again(for info she was snuggled in bed when she died) x

 

[Merrypigs Sanctuary]

Shes nibbled a bit n ive had her in doning room today to be around us - I'm uber paranoid can someone help me feel reassured, so in garage they r in hutch, bed area has paper sawdust and stuffed full of hay to top, theres a box on its side withblank n tube where they sleep, downstairs has fleecy floors n i throw a blanket over the bedroom at night.... is this enough? We do bring them in for cuddles but hadnt been in the day she died I'm worried nowthechange in temp killedher? Inside then into garage? I'm worried sick n feelawful if i have? Theothers on today what if ithappens again(for info she was snuggled in bed when she died) x

Please don't beat yourself up too hard! I'm sure what happened was no fault of yours. It might be worth bringing your remaining pig indoors so you can keep a close eye on her and spot if she is feeling poorly. She'll be grieving so you might find she stops eating - you've got to syringe feed her if she does to prevent stasis. Hopefully if she's indoors and has your company she might be boosted up a bit x

 

[3Tyger]

I hope everything is going better for you all now

 

[Hannah1982]

Hello all she perked up loads and we adopted a new little girl today - same age and shes very chilled out, shes from a rehoming centre, ive had them out to get to know each other today and they have seemed ok... the original pig seems a bit wary which i understand and newbie is up in the bedding area. They are seperate and I hope jellybean stops sulking soon and excepts her and goes to bed, I dont want her down there all night even if she is inside, may set a bedding area downstairs as well just in case... nervous for them xx

 

[3Tyger]

I'm SO glad she perked up loads, and has a new friend already!

I've done lots of guinea pig introductions and it can take 1-2 wks for them to settle down together, so don't worry too much if it doesn't happen instantly (it rarely happens instantly in my experience, as they go through a process of setting boundaries with each other).

It's a good idea to have 2 bedded areas for them, it will help them both feel more comfortable.

This may be a useful read...

Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Feel free to post any questions, there's lots of support available here, and i know introducing new piggies can be a bit nerve-wracking! I find it quite stressful as well and i've done it loads of times, but it's hard not to worry.

In my experience it has nearly always worked out, i've only ever had 1 introduction fail and that was when a young boy attacked 1 of my older girls.

I think with girls you're probably less likely to get any full-on fighting, but you need to monitor for bullying as they can be quite subtle with it. I think that is more common in groups of girls, but there are always exceptions so good to be aware of it and monitor.

Just remember we're here if you need us

Best of luck, i hope your girls settle down well together soon

 

[Hannah1982]

Thanks so much! Well i set up a tube and covered in hay downstairs for our original one cos newbies hogging the bed! They arnt fighting and did some swueaking and sniffing earlier which was nice snd we cuddled rhem as a pair, they seem ok just hope jellybean accepts her and that they share the bedroom in the end cos its much more snug upstairs for them together xx

 

[3Tyger]

Awww, bless them!

Sounds to me like its going ok so far, it's still very early days yet