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What's the best for my last piggie? Long post PLEASE read

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lisaberry
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Lisaberry

Hi

I'm new on here as the forum I normally go to when I need advice does not appear to be working so I hope one of you lovely people will be able to help me.

Over the last week I have had this funny feeling everytime I go to see my 2 girls. Puddin' had a cyst but the vet asured me that it was nothing serious and to leave it be. She had had it for over a year and it had not grown or change so I was not really worried but yet, as I said I have felt something hasn't been right for a week or so. Everytime I have gone in my girls have been fine so I had just put it down to my weird pregnancy hormones playing tricks.

My husband went to get the pigs out to put them in the run just a minute ago and found Puddin' dead. I cant believe it and now feel like I killed her for trusting the vet as I'm guessing she got blood poisoning or something (well, she certainly hadn't got thin or lost any hair or had any other signs that she is poorly like I have seen in my other beautiful pigs before they passed to rainbow bridge).

Anyway, Puddin' is not the reason I am posting, its my one remaining piggie Little 'Un that I am worried about.
My husband will def not let me get any more pigs so there is no way I can get her a new companion. She is not quite 4 and I am terribly concerned over her spending the rest of her days alone.
My husband banished my pigs to the shed in the garden and refuses to let them inside plus I work, have a toddler, a dog and another baby on the way so dont have anywhere near as much time to spend with her as I did in my pre child days when my piggies still lived indoors.

What I want to know is will she be ok or do I need to think about rehoming her? The thought tears me apart but obviously I want the best for her.

If I do need to rehome her how on earth would I do it? I dont know any piggie people and couldn't consider giving her to some random family who might not take care of her.

Please can someone give me some advice....I'm in floods over losing Puddin' and looking at the run is so weird, I can only see one nose.

I haven't got over losing my boy Squeaker last July yet, I still make 3 piles of fresh food sometimes, I just dont know what to do

Sorry, really rambled!
 
Hi Lisa, I am really sorry for your loss, it is horrible to lose a piggy. The advice given on the forum generally is that it is not good to keep a piggy on its own, as they are naturally pack animals and like to have pals. However, piggies have sometimes been kept on their own for various reasons, but often indoors and a real part of the family, so even though no piggy friends, lots of family interaction. It sounds as though, sadly, this isnt going to be the case for your little piggy due to home circumstances, so what you probably have is a very lonely piggy, and very sad at having lost her pal. My advice would be to consider rehoming yourself through this forum on the rescue thread, or asking, again through the rescue thread if there is a guinea pig rescue near to you who would take your piggy and find a lovely new home for her. This must be really hard for you, but thanks for caring about your piggy enough to come on and ask for advice. We have too many piggies just dumped when circumstances change and the owner no longer finds they can keep them (or want them sadly). Good Luck x
p.s. where abouts are you?
 
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Thanks for your response.

I really hope noone on here thinks I am a neglectful piggy owner. All of my friends know me as the girl who loves guinea pigs, its a part of who I am. I love all my pigs to pieces...I originally had 2 boys that wouldn't get along together...I even started a petition as my husband initially refused to let me get them neutered and get girlfriends for them...I won in the end and it was brilliant. I had 2 massive cages indoors with 2 piggies in each. It was so perfect and I fought so hard for my husband to let me keep them indoors but he wouldn't do it.
I spent loads of money buying the biggest double hutch I could find and also a nice big shed to keep them warm in the winter but now I feel such a failure.

I will do as you said and will post on the other board but incase anyone reads this, I live in Poole, Dorset...if you can help, or know anyone that can then please post.

Thanks


RIP Puddin', Squeaker and Pig.
 
Oh I'm so sorry to hear about Puddin' :( Don't blame yourself x>>

I think that you're probably right to rehome your last piggie if you can't possibly get a companion. If you do decide to do it, maybe you could pop a post on this forum in The Rescue Centre with the piggie's details such as age etc and a picture. I'm sure people will make suggestions for rehoming.

Charlotte x
 
I am so sorry to hear about your lost Piggies Squeaker and Puddin :( RIP Little ones. Please do not think that you are a failure as you are not. Also, please do not blame yourself for the death of Puddin.
Is there no way that your husband will let you have Little Un indoors as she would be far happier interacting with the rest of the family than being left on her own? I really do feel for you as you have such a difficult decision to make. I have to say that I agree with Nutmeg and Charlotte that if your remaining piggy can not live indoors, it may be kinder to find her a loving home where she can live with another guinea pig.
Good luck with what ever you decide and please keep us updated x
 
Please be assured Lisa, no one on here will think you are a bad piggy mum. You are incredibly responsible by looking to find the best options for your piggy. You will find a lot of sympathy for your situation and support for you too. x
 
Thanks

I have just posted on the rehoming board.

We just buried Puddin'. My 2 year old was really sweet and gave me a big hug as I was crying. He even handed me his trowel so I could help cover the box back over.

My little boy is so good with the pigs as he has been around them since birth. Its been such a good thing him growing up with pets, I think it really benefits children, especially as he has had to learn he can play games with our labrador but must be gentle and quiet around the pigs. He loves helping feed the pigs, think he will miss them nearly as much as me.
 
I do feel for you and your situation and fingers crossed that your little sow finds a home within a group of piggies x
 
Lisa, nobody in this forum is going to blame you, or think you are a bad piggie-mum. In fact, what you are considering (re-homing) is extremely brave because you love her so much, and it will be hard. But like others have said, it seems this may be the best option for her, if your OH isn't keen to have any more piggies, or even for you to bring her indoors.

I saw on the other thread that you have had an offer already from Cavylover, and that would be a lovely home for her, with other piggies and a very loving mum.

You are understandably grieving for Puddin' just now, but it's wonderful that at the same time, you are doing the right thing for Little 'Un.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about Pudding. Please be assured that no one thinks you are neglectful. I know that the general advice is to keep piggies together but I had two sows living together, who got on fine. I was like you and worried about how the other would cope when her cagemate died, but to my amazement she completely came out of herself. She was more confident and certainly more cheeky. I hope this is the case for your piggie. Another option could be putting a small cuddly toy in with her to snuggle up to if another piggie is out of the question :)
 
Thanks everyone for your support.

I have just spoken to Anna - who was absolutely lovely. Poor lady quite happily let me ramble on about my piggies, past and present. It was so nice to be physically speaking to someone who actually understands what it is like to have a thing about guinea pigs. Most people think that at my age (I'm only 28 btw) I should only be interested in 'proper' pets like dogs. PAH!

Anyway, I am taking Little 'Un up on Friday morning to meet all her new friends. Anna told me I can come and visit her and as I live about an hour away if I send her an email she will get back to me with updates on how she is. That is a massive comfort for me as I'd hate to lose touch completely.

As I said to Anna, going in to the shed to see Little 'Un today really brought it home to me that I am doing the right thing. She has always been the shyest pig that I have owned but she already seems more nervous and withdrawn.

Thanks again for your messages of support, you have been a real help to me.
 
That is wonderful news! Little `un will be a very happy girl and although it is sad for you, it is best for her and that is an unselfish thing for you to do xx
 
I think you're very brave and unselfish because I'm certain you'll miss Little 'Un. Best of luck to her in her new home and I hope you get to visit her with her new piggie friends often.

Sarah x
 
Sorry to hear about puddin don't blame yourself these things happen I have one with a cyst here and she is fine usually ini the cases of sudden death it is a heart problem or stroke. I had one like this at Christmas, Elora. I felt she wasn't right but she was ok but she wasn't ill. It sounds daft, it was just a feeling I had.

Anyway...don't think you are neglectful, you are thinking iof your last pig. I hope you find a loving home for her, perhaps you could homecheck to make sure she is going to a lovely home. :)

Good luck

Louise
:)
 
wow if i had to rehome my pigs i'd be heartbroken
you should be proud that you're giving her a chance at a life where she won't be lonely, you must love her very much <3
 
Is there a possibility that you can keep in touch with Little Un's new owner if they won't mind?

Most rehomers are reluctant; but I know that in cases like yours, where you're putting your pig's happiness before your own, it helps a lot to be kept informed. I'm still doing this for Dizzy's previous lady owner who had to make the same decision as you. She's bought a little album where she can put the pics and letters she's getting from me about twice a year.

My thoughts are with you!

With a big hug
Vicky
 
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