Recently bereaved boar

[Fluffypig123]

Hello,

Unfortunately we recently lost our make guinea pig Kenny and his cage mate Mint wasn't able to see his body due to the heat we had here and that he didnt pass at home.

Mins t is eating, but hes not as active as he should be with the heat and i think hes grieving.

We have made a house downstairs for him so when we are home, hes around us.

But his poops have become a little smaller with the tails on some of them. I cant be home all day to monitor him as I have to be at work and have issues with them atm and I cant take time off.

What else can I do to support him?

He has pepper, cucumber ar some point during the day. He gets some grass a couple/three times a day. He has ice packs in bed areas and fans on in the room.

I dont know what else I can do to support him and I'm just a huge anxiety mess at the moment about him.x

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry for your loss

I added the bereaved piggy guide on to your other thread but I will add it again here now.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

It would be a good idea for you to switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily (each morning) so you can more closely monitor hay intake.

Smaller and pointed poops can suggest a reduction in hay intake which can cause gut imbalance (too much veg to fibre).
Weigh him daily so you can monitor hay intake.
Prepare to step in with support feeding if he loses weight.
You may also need to remove all veg and grass from his diet if his poops go soft.
I have added the guides explaining this below also.

If you become concerned about him, his poops deteriorate or if he loses weight then do see a vet

Wiebke's Guide to Poops
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels

I hope he is ok

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you in my heart

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry you have lost Kenny.

Sending hugs

 

[Fluffypig123]

I’m sorry for your loss

I added the bereaved piggy guide on to your other thread but I will add it again here now.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

It would be a good idea for you to switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him daily (each morning) so you can more closely monitor hay intake.

Smaller and pointed poops can suggest a reduction in hay intake which can cause gut imbalance (too much veg to fibre).
Weigh him daily so you can monitor hay intake.
Prepare to step in with support feeding if he loses weight.
You may also need to remove all veg and grass from his diet if his poops go soft.
I have added the guides explaining this below also.

If you become concerned about him, his poops deteriorate or if he loses weight then do see a vet

Wiebke's Guide to Poops
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels

I hope he is ok

Thank you for your help.

His poops seem smaller when hes left alone for a while, like overnight or when we arent home. As soon as we come home and encourage him, they improve.

I havent seen any soft poops yet. The grass seems to be keeping him interested.

I'm getting so stressed our as I have to work next week so I cant be home with him and I'm worried he will stop eating or i wont be able to syringe feed him. He hates the critical care stuff so it stresses him out.

None of our local rescues seem to have any single male boars at the moment. Mints not castrated so he cant go in with a female unless spayed.

 

[Fluffypig123]

I’m so sorry you have lost Kenny.

Sending hugs

We miss him so much. He was such a beautiful soul. We rescued him from being dumped at the shelter in a box.

He was always so keen for a chin scratch and he put up with Mints attitude and being karate kicked by Mint.

We didnt expect to have to make that decision on Wednesday

Now the stress is just tenfold as we worry about Mint.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Has his weight been stable?
That is your key piece of information and the only one which tells you whether he is eating enough hay.
If his weight is stable (or within 30-40g which is normal daily fluctuation) then he is eating enough.

Poop output is actually 1-2 days behind food intake; so for example if he was not eating enough today then you won’t see small poops as a result of it until tomorrow or Monday. Meaning that the information poops provide is out of date.

Would you consider getting him neutered? I can’t remember from your other thread how old he is.
Finding a spayed sow in rescue is rather uncommon I’m afraid.
Sometimes, if a piggy is really struggling to be alone, it means you may need to consider taking on a baby from a shop. Rescue is the preferred method, but it all depends on how mint is coping and sometimes buying ends up being better than waiting for a rescue to have a compatible single boar

 

[weepweeps]

We miss him so much. He was such a beautiful soul. We rescued him from being dumped at the shelter in a box.

He was always so keen for a chin scratch and he put up with Mints attitude and being karate kicked by Mint.

We didnt expect to have to make that decision on Wednesday

Now the stress is just tenfold as we worry about Mint.

I totally know how you feel. I had to help my Pebble over the bridge recently.

He’s had a wonderful home with you and Mint.