Rant/reassurance needed

Dwarfpotato

Dwarfpotato

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 19, 2021
Messages
161
Reaction score
544
Points
420
Location
Cambridgeshire
I'm not sure what I hope to get from this, but maybe just some reassurance or at least words from fellow pig owners...

I adopted Jyn and Tico back in March. They were 1-2 years old apparently. Shortly after they arrived Tico started doing bloody wees. After two courses of antibiotics, an x-ray and a urinalysis, it's been concluded she has IC. Since giving her glucosamine daily it's sorted itself right out. However it seems giving her grass is a trigger, but we only realised this after I spent three days making them a beautiful run for the lawn.

Next, Jyn died very suddenly. Since she died I've been told by several people that it sounds like she had some undiagnosed heart problem. She never showed any signs of being ill until right at the end.

I contacted a rescue that does dating and arranged to take Tico to find a new friend. Just a few days before she was due in I spotted she had lice. They weren't bad and I can only think she got them when she had her x-ray because she hasn't been in contact with any other pigs. Another vet trip and some ivermectin and it all cleared up.

Off Tico goes to the rescue. It wasn't clear if she would or wouldn't get on with the pair and due to the rescue owner going on holiday, I offered to foster the new pair and continue bonding. Back at home Tico got in a fight with one so they were separated. Living side by side for a few weeks did a world of good for Tico. She put on 40g! One of the others got the squishy poops (no idea why as they all had the same diet) but that cleared up with some poop soup and a few days off veg.

One day I picked up Tico to give her a cuddle and noticed she had a bulging tear duct. Off to the vet for some antibiotic eyedrops... It got better then got worse again, exactly as the vet predicted, but after several weeks of drops it looks good as new.

Last week I took the fosters back to the rescue, and Tico stayed for another week to meet some new friends. After almost a full day of getting on brilliantly, they had a fight when the rescue owner's back was turned, so of course had to be separated.

Tico was so much better with neighbours so she's definitely not a singleton pig. I'd love to find a housemate for her because then they can have a lovely 3x4 run with lots of scope for new layouts etc.

I just feel I need someone to tell me it will get better. Pigs are my first pets and it just seems to be a continuous battle with a stream of illnesses from all sides, plus her difficulty bonding. I just want her to be happy and healthy, and she makes my life infinitely better, but right now she's a struggle.
 
I'm so very sorry to hear that you are having a difficult time. My heart goes out to you. I have been where you are now (and I'm almost certain most of us forum members have).

When I was nursing Odin for almost a year last year (plus a total of £8000 spent on his vet bills), I also had a poorly Loki and poorly Rocket at the same time. So I was exhausted caring for and nursing all three. I lost Loki, then Rocket and then eventually Odin at the end of the year (all unrelated problems/illnesses). The saying 'it never rains, it pours' is all so true with animals. It's the same with my horses over the years, they all seem to get injured/ill at once! I remember asking similar questions to yourself on here, I was turning to forum members for support and asking is it worth it anymore? I was asking if things will get better or even contemplating whether or not to keep guinea pigs anymore? Please do talk to people on here as much as you can. I only made it through last year thanks to the support of the wonderful people on this forum.

I can't promise you that things will get better, and I can't promise you that nothing else will go wrong (I wish I could promise myself that)! But I now have 5 lovely piggies, as well as my dog and horse and all I can say is that brighter days do come. Enjoy every moment with your animals and try not to over think the 'what-ifs' (trust me - I'm pro at the over-thinking part)!

Remember how much you love your girl and that all you are doing for her is a representation of that. These animals really do tug at our heart strings and test our patience (and bank balance) a lot of the time.

Please do remember to look after you. When I was nursing a very poorly Odin last year I barely left the house, didn't eat, didn't sleep and was getting up at all hours in the night to feed him. I didn't want to socialise or attend any events etc. It was only thanks to lockdown that I was working from home and could care for him around the clock. But I was exhausted (mentally, emotionally and physically). So I know what you are going through. All I can say, is please please do look after yourself too.

If there's one thing these tough times are good for, it's educating us. I learnt so much from all of my ups and downs with my piggies; and it's given me so much knowledge and confidence going forward as a piggy owner. I want to be able to put this knowledge and experience to good use and care for my now piggies to the highest standards I can. So try to take something from the negative experiences (as hard as that is right now).

Remember, keep talking on here. Everyone understands how you feel.

I hope things start to get brighter for you. Thinking of you and sending love 💗
 
Thinking of you and Tico. Keep us updated on her quest for a cagemate. Its tough repeatedly getting your hopes up and then having it not work out. :hug:
 
I ca only echo what has already been said.
Take care of yourself as well - it sounds as if this has been tough on you.
Holding you in my thoughts
 
Today I contacted another rescue. They aren't a recommended one on here but they seem good on first inspection and a coworker said she got hers from there. Hopefully I can find a nice calm husboar soon. Tico had some floor time with her (human) uncle while I changed her fleece and she was so brave, doing big exploration peeps and demanding more veg and nuggets. It was lovely seeing her not hiding in her box for once!
 
Wishing you and Tico all the luck, you’ve had some worries and sadness but I’m sure Tico will find a little friend very soon x
 
On Sunday, Tico and I are off to meet an 18 month old neutered boar! She's very funny about anyone going near her bum (used to fire pee at Jyn all the time) so I'm a bit nervous but hopefully a single boar will be better than a pair of ladies? Unfortunately with this rescue I have to do the bonding myself. I'm terrified!
 
Gosh very exciting! Will you bring the boar home for the bonding session or do it on site?
 
I've read the guides cover to cover multiple times and I'm still worried! I think Tico is fear aggressive (she's VERY teeth chattery and initiated one fight that I've seen). The rescue suggested we put them together and if there isn't an immediate fight I can take them home and carry on bonding here. The rescue is happy to take the boar back if it fails. It seems an expensive way to do it for me, but nowhere else has anyone at all.

I'm on holiday for a few days soon (pig sitter is lined up ready). My plan was to have them live side by side until after I'm back, so I can start a gradual bonding then. Does anyone more experienced think this is a good idea?
 
I'm sorry you have had a hard time.i would ask the rescue ,if the bond had difficulties and you wanted to return try another boar/sow that you would have the option.i sure hope all goes well.in my experience neutered boar sows work best.i know not everyone has same thoughts.all the best,you are doing well. :hug:
 
I'm just starting out on a similar journey, looking for a new friend for my bereaved piggy. None of the local rescues have any pigs at all for rehoming, and I am looking at a 2-3 hour journey to any places who offer piggy-dating. With getting fuel a bit iffy at the moment this is not really practical.
I have been assured though that even if it takes weeks and weeks to find her a new friend, as long as she is eating & drinking she will survive her solitude.
I will keep my fingers crossed that Tico meets her soul mate x
 
Sue and Smartie said:
I'm just starting out on a similar journey, looking for a new friend for my bereaved piggy. None of the local rescues have any pigs at all for rehoming, and I am looking at a 2-3 hour journey to any places who offer piggy-dating. With getting fuel a bit iffy at the moment this is not really practical.
I have been assured though that even if it takes weeks and weeks to find her a new friend, as long as she is eating & drinking she will survive her solitude.
I will keep my fingers crossed that Tico meets her soul mate x
Click to expand...
So sorry to hear about your loss. Tico has been on her own since June now, and while she was sad for a little while she's doing well at surviving. I hope you find a wonderful new friend for your girl when things are a little more normal! It's only an hour each way to the rescue for me, but I'm still anxious about fuel :(
 
Cookie has arrived! We let them talk at the rescue and as predicted Tico was in full defence mode. I've brought them both home and they have two weeks (minimum) of living side by side before I try introducing them again. He's a sweetheart and a chonky boy! There's been some rumbling from him and teeth chattering/yawning from Tico so I've added an extra thickness of bars between them so they cannot make contact, just while they're settling in and getting used to each other.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20211003_151525523.webp
    IMG_20211003_151525523.webp
    88.6 KB · Views: 13
Cookie is a very timid boy and didn't leave his box all morning today. I put a fleece over his half of the cage and now he's a very happy boy again. He's pretty talkative when he's walking around so I can hear what he's up to even if I can't see it! After some initial yawning and chattering from Tico yesterday, she seems to have accepted her new neighbour. Right now she's chomping on the divider between them. Does that mean anything?
 
I wouldn’t read too much into chomping on the divider, keep an open mind. My girls used to groom my young boar through the bars but bonding was a total fail. Sorry that sounds rather negative, but I was convinced they would love him.
Good luck I hope the bonding goes really well for them both 😊
 
They've been living alongside for three weeks so we just had our first bonding session. I lost my nerve and separated them because it was getting a bit tense. Tico wasn't doing any of her fear aggressive behaviours (no yawning, rearing, lunging) and she ate some hay with Cookie around. After about 5 minutes she did a bit of a teeth chatter and after 10 minutes he did a little chatter back, at which point I lost my nerve.

Now they're back in their (divided) cage and both are bar biting.

I've read the guides over and over but I'm still not confident. How much teeth chattering is too much? Is it a bad sign that Tico was raising her hackles, or is it just because she's so nervous?
received_352755373272367.webp
 
Is it possible to cover a bit of the bonding pen for security if Tico might need that, but with still being able to get in there quickly?

I've tried 4 bondings, 3 of them it was quite easy to see what the piggies wanted, recent one however I abandoned because of teeth chattering, I didn't feel able to read the signs enough on whether a major attack was about to happen. It's a nerve wracking business.
 
Bonding is very stressful for us slaves.
Holding your nerve is very important.
I had the bonding guides open the whole time I was bonding 2 pairs of sows, plus numerous pleas for help on the forum.
We did. have some lunging, chin-offs, nipping and fur pulling between Priscilla and Jemimah, the 2 middle ranking piggies.
After about 2 weeks they decided they were the best of friends and maintainEd a strong bond until Jemimah’s death.

Hold your nerve and know there’s a lot of support for you here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top