• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Should I get another piggy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tenibo
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tenibo

For an annivesrary present, I adopted 2 albino male guinea pigs, Timmy & Butters, who have been spoiled rotten from the word go. Yesterday morning, they both seemed completley happy but last night my wife noticed one had diarreoah. We quickly took him to the emergency vet who said his temperature was low, so gave him some antibiotics and said to keep him in a warm warm over night and take him to our local vets today. Unfortunately, when my wife went to check on them this morning, Timmy had died, aged just 7 months. My wife is absolutely heart broken but not as much, i'm guessing, as butters. I've heard about piggies getting depressed when they lose their buddy's and was wondering if I should get a new piggy so that butters has some company. The only thing is that I've also heard that introducing a new pig could result in bullying from whichever is larger. What should I do?
 
It doesnt have much to do with size its personality so if you get a baby boar you should be fine,it is recommended to get a friend as they get lonely quickly on there own,rescues will help pair your pig with another properly,if you want to place a wanted add in the adoption section.
Can i ask what sort of antibiotics Timmy was on? as thats a rather sudden death from only one symptom,i also ask as you said it was emergency vet not a pig vet.
I'm sorry for the loss of Timmy xx

P.S what you would have is a PEW(pink eyed white) albino piggies dont exist x
 
I am very sorry for your loss. It must have been such a shock for you! Diarrhea CAN kill, and quickly.

You could contact your nearest rescues to ask whether they might have a little companion for Butters; ideally a very young boar, so that Butters can be past the hormonal stage when his new friends hits his.
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk

You can also put a post in the "rescue wanted" section. Please state your area, and a member with connections to a rescue that operates a bit further afield and has something suitable may contact you!
 
Sorry to read of your loss. Unfortunately there is a severe and fatal form of enteritis which is fatal, irrespective of how soon you treat it and with whatever drugs.
The low temperature would indicate heart failure resulting from septic shock.
I have lost a number of pigs this way over the years. The most recent was a few weeks ago, he was 2 years old. He was in the house when he was struck down, I gave treatment straight away but he died 4 hours later.
You did all you could, if it is any consolation.
Certainly you need to get another pig. The best way is to find a rescue centre, take Butters along and let him choose a new companion.
 
Thanks for the sympathy and the advice on getting another piggy. Not too sure what antibiotics the vet gave him, but its was a vet that specialises in small animals and rodents. But Timmy was a lot less active last night and looked very ill. Also his breathing seemed shallow and laboured. Didn't realise that they weren't albino, just thought they were because the pet shop were we adopted them from said they were albino.
 
If it was a vet that specialises in small animals, he wouldn't have given him the wrong kind of antibiotic.

Sadly, like alcesterpigs says, there is a vicious, virulent form of diarrhea that kills despite the best of care. I am very sorry that Timmy has come down with it; it is always so gutting when you feel so helpless!

Please ring around your local rescues and ask whether they had any suitable boars and if you could bring Butters along to make his choice! Don't be put off if you do not get an answer immediately; rescue people tend to be very busy.

I wish you the best of luck!
 
tenibo said:
Thanks for the sympathy and the advice on getting another piggy. Not too sure what antibiotics the vet gave him, but its was a vet that specialises in small animals and rodents. But Timmy was a lot less active last night and looked very ill. Also his breathing seemed shallow and laboured. Didn't realise that they weren't albino, just thought they were because the pet shop were we adopted them from said they were albino.
Click to expand...

I agree with AP about the heart issues.
Petshops sadly sell many pigs who are bred very badly,mis sexed/pregnant and sick so the best way is a rescue as there pigs are healthy when adopted;),petshops dont know much thats why most on here dont go to them;)
 
Hi tenibo, welcome to the forum. I am very sorry for the sudden loss of Timmy, you did all you could for him.

I wish you luck in finding Butters a new friend. There can be dominance issues but it is perfectly possible to pair him up with another boar or - if you are lucky enough to find one - a spayed sow.

There are a couple of links to useful reference threads, if it's of any use:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37654
 
Thanks again everyone. Just contacted the rspca and they have asked me to bring butters down on saturday to meet potential new buddy's. Fingers crossed, he'll take to one straight away and get back to being happy old butters
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
I agree with AP about the heart issues.
Petshops sadly sell many pigs who are bred very badly,mis sexed/pregnant and sick so the best way is a rescue as there pigs are healthy when adopted;),petshops dont know much thats why most on here dont go to them;)
Click to expand...

When we adopted the piggies, we were told they were bred for show and the lady that bred them, gives them away if they are not perfect. Timmy & Butters both had little bald spots on their crowns
 
I hope that Butters will find a new friend soon!

PS: We have a Rainbow Bridge section where we can post tributes to the beloved pets we have lost.
 
No.
Doubtful. In over 20 years experience I have never come across multiple cases from one source.
 
Butters didn't eat much yesterday so we put a spider pig stuffed toy in the cage as it's the same size as a piggy, and he seems to be coming out from under his log and eating more
 
tenibo said:
Thanks again everyone. Just contacted the rspca and they have asked me to bring butters down on saturday to meet potential new buddy's. Fingers crossed, he'll take to one straight away and get back to being happy old butters
Click to expand...

Good Luck! :))
 
Allow Butters time to grieve. Hopefully, towards the weekend, he'll come out of deep mourning and is ready to face life again.
 
i am sorry for your loss :0

hopefully butters will be his former happy self with a new friend to play with. x
 
its always haert breaking losing a piggie
it does sound like Butters needs a cage mate diff take him with you when you go to choose his new friend that way they can have a good sniff i hope you get lucky & get a great reaction with lots of popcorning when Butter's finds a new friend x>>
 
I'm so sorry to read your story. I hope Butters isn't too sad and you manage to find him a new friend soon. Fingers crossed for Saturday
 
Just a quick update on butters. Unfortunately we haven't found him a little buddy yet but the other day he started popcorning again xx>>> . He keeps beating up the stuffed spider pig in his cage mallethead so we think he likes the fact that he's the dominant one now 6) .
 
just caught up with this thread, i'm glad to hear he's feeling better :) and good luck finding him a new play mate
 
still not found butters a buddy but then this week we noticed he wasn't eating much :... . took him to the vets and they've had to trim his back teeth because it was growing into the side of his mouth :( so now we'll have to wait until he has fully recovered before we find him a friend
 
sorry to hear Butters is having problems, hope he feels better soon. Hopefully then he'll be able to find a new friend.
 
I am sorry that Butters has tooth trouble.

Please make sure that he is eating and not losing weight while his mouth is still sore.

If necessary try daktarin oral gel from the pharmacy and syringe mushed up pellets and pureed veg or Critical Care.
 
Unfortunately, Butters died last night. He had been under weight and could not even take the critical care by syringe no matter how much we tried because of the pain. I guess the little guy never really got over the death of his brother and just gave up the fight to be with him. As soon as my wife gets home, we are going to bury him next Timmy at the bottom of our garden. Thanks to everyone who gave their support
 
I'm so sorry Butters din't make it, my sincerest condolences hun. RIP wee Butters go popcorn with your chum over the bridge.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top