Unusual behaviour after a bereavement

HillH

HillH

Junior Guinea Pig
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Our 3 remaining piggies are acting out of character since our Smiggy passed away about 10 days ago. We gave them a new pod each and they’ve started eating them and we find them flung around the hutch when we go see them. It’s like they’re telling us they don’t want the new furniture in their home. They’re all still quieter than usual since their loss... one of them is particularly quiet... they barely purr when we stroke/cuddle them, but they are eating and drinking well. We have been giving them loads of cuddles all together and being super loving with them... but I’m worried that eating the fabric of the pods will give them health issues.... or cause them emotional distress that their home isn’t how they want it to be
 
When I had my very dominant Velvet PTS at that end of September, it took her friends Christian and Meg about 4 weeks to get back to normal again. 10 days isn't very long. As long as they are eating, drinking and pooping that is all you need to worry about atm. They will finish grieving in their own time.

Sorry for your loss and look after yourself as you grieve.
 
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Betsy said:
When I had my very dominant Velvet PTS at that end of September, it took her friends Christian and Meg about 4 weeks to get back to normal again. 10 days isn't very long. As long as they are eating, drinking and pooping that is all you need to worry about arm. They will finish grieving in their own time.

Sorry for your loss and look after yourself as you grieve.
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Thank you betsy
 
Thank you Betsy sorry for your loss too. It really was quite something to see them grieving after smiggy passed away. I knew they were all close. I feel for them so much. I’m wondering if I should remove the pods. They never eaten any furniture before x
 
My boys have a cuddle pod/cup which they don’t like - they push it around to get around it, don’t ever go into it and chew threads out of it. It’s the only thing they do it to - I don’t bother giving it to them now due to their clear dislike of it.
 
Bless them. It must be their way of telling us. Mine have always love their cozy pods and blankets but these ones are definitely getting the paws down from them. Maybe it’s because Smiggy’s scent isn’t on them, or they’re trying to get to her scent underneath the pods as her blanket along with theirs, are still there x
 
Betsy said:
When I had my very dominant Velvet PTS at that end of September, it took her friends Christian and Meg about 4 weeks to get back to normal again. 10 days isn't very long. As long as they are eating, drinking and pooping that is all you need to worry about atm. They will finish grieving in their own time.

Sorry for your loss and look after yourself as you grieve.
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I pushed post too quick... I’ve replied in more detail separately x
 
We put the pods downstairs in their hutch. When I went out to see them later today they were all on Smiggy’s blanket which has been under the pods. Bless them. My grieving piggies. Giving them all extra love at the moment as it’s obvious their grief is deep 😞
 
Very sad to hear about poor Smiggy and your Guineas grieving. Animals do grieve very differently to us and some cope better than others. We often put our human emotions on to them as a way to try to understand and help them.

What you may also be seeing is herd dynamics changing. It may be that they all wanted to have Smiggy’s blanket but Smiggy would not let them and now they can have access to it they are using it. This may also be why they are not fussed about the pods ..they prefer the blanket. In many cases I have seen the whole layout of cages, preferences, herd dominance change massively especially if a top piggy dies. Just something to bear in mind as you try to understand them.

You sound like lovely, caring Guinea slaves x
 
Ah that would make perfect sense... although I do believe they miss her terribly as they’re still not purring and squealing much when we go to see them. Smiggy was the smallest but she was definitely the alpha. Our little shy long haired one misses her the most we are sure... she’s taken to curling up on our laps for a cuddle and dropping off which is super cute. We are total guinea slaves. They’re the cutest little creatures 🥰🥰
 
It does take time for a herd to settle.
When Merab died it took the other 3 a few weeks to settle properly.
Yours will settle in time but the relationships and working of the herd will be slightly different.
Every piggy has its own personality which is lost to the herd.
Smiggy sounds as if she was a big personality and the herd is readjusting.
Don’t forget to look after yourself as well.
 
Thank you for your sound advice. Much appreciated. Smiggy was a biggy, even though she was so tiny. She had the loudest squeal and the longest and loudest purr. I think we timed her morning purr once at about 18 seconds nonstop and she would also vibrate with happiness. Bless their little hearts. I miss her sweetness and cheekiness. Weirdly, when we had them all out, whoever’s lap she was on, she would pole vault over to mine 😂😂
 
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