When is it time to stop this guinea pig thing?

[hot fox]

So I'm just back from an emergency appointment with uncle Simon who has discovered one of my 14 ish month old baby sisters, Flump, has a mouth abscess! She's thus on zithromax and metacam/loxicom for four weeks, review in two. We're hopeful for a good outcome but we have been warned it can be hard to get on top of. I'm slightly soul destroyed, my girlie is so young! Especially as my elderly lady, Willow-Bee , is seeing auntie Kim on Friday with a potench spay option....it never rains it pours! I've only got five pigs!
So I was thinking to myself as I drove 30 miles home, I just spent £127, drove an hour there, through rush hour, waited ages.....do I want to continue this indefinitely? Maybe not!
I've never felt like this before!
Has anyone experience of winding down and giving up pigs, even if only temporarily, how hard it is? I'm extremely aware of how busy C&R are now, as are vets in general, and it's so much more expensive that a few years ago.
However, I don't begrudge the £££ as they're the best vets in the world. My baby girl has The Best Chance to recover. I just find it so hard when they're poorly. I get so anxious....
Anyhoo, enough rambling, I'd love to hear if there is an end, or do you never stop, once this obsessed? It's been 13 years for us....
There's a part of me that thinks maybe I always will have a pair.....?

See how incredible they are?

 

[Merab]

Sorry no answers from me.
I face the same decision in a few years.

 

[Julesie]

I've had that feeling. When I lost 3 in a week. I couldn't go on. My heart was so broken and I felt so tired...

But I know I will always have a pair. But bigger groups I don't plan on. Then I found a boar who was being given away on a billboard free and I couldn't bare leave him in danger with who knew the outcome. I tried so hard to find him a new home but nothing. I couldnt leave him alone and ended up adopting a friend for him. Now I have five again

I still plan to let them dwindle down to a pair but I could never give them up completely. They give too much happiness to me despite the sad times.

 

[Swissgreys]

Go with your heart.
We ave gone from 5 down to 1.
It has taken years to be in this position, but i know we are in the right place for our family right now.
I would adopt another pair in a heartbeat, but I can also see this wouldn't be the right thing for us.

It's ok to take a break (long or short) and whilst I loved having 5 piggies I also know I don't want to be back there anytime soon.

 

[VickiA]

You have to do what’s right for you. There’s no easy answers. I’ve currently got 6 piggies of my own but my financial circumstances have now changed and I’m not intending to replace any as and when they trot off to the Rainbow Bridge. But I know that is going to be fiendishly difficult as there’s always another pig somewhere desperately needing a new home.

 

[Claire W]

I have been wanting to take a break from piggies for a while now after I lost 3 in 6 months. I did have Ellen and Edward who were both roughly the same age and my plan was to take a break after they had both passed but then I fell in love with 1ish year old Elizabeth and was back up to 3 piggies. Ellen sadly crossed the bridge age 5 and then I was left with Edward and a then 2 year old Elizabeth. I was conscious of the age gap between Edward (who’s now nearly 6) and Elizabeth who’s now around 3 and didn’t want Elizabeth to be alone when Edward crosses the bridge so along came 2 year old Ella and 1 year old Esme and I have found myself back to having a group of 4 again. My plan is that Elizabeth, Ella and Esme will grow old together and I will eventually take that break but hopefully not anytime soon.

But as others have said, you have to do what feels right for you and your family

 

[piggieminder]

I have taken breaks in the past, not just piggies, I was once animal free for 6 years! I have been thinking about this again a lot recently. My boys take up most of my time and I'm not getting any younger. I'm not as agile as I used to be when cleaning out cages on the floor. I am finding the whole process of breavement and trying to find rescues that do boar bondings difficult and distressing. Having been very rudely treated by a rescue recently (suddenly dropped all communication without explanation) I am no longer prepared to even consider that route again. Pets at Home's new policy means I can no longer fall back on the last resort of a baby. Which really only leaves iffy private rehomings. Having been forced to keep Brillo on his own for 6 months until I lost Peanut and could bond him with Rusty makes me feel I am no longer enjoying having piggies like I used to and it's time to consider that in a few years as my current ones pass my piggie keeping days will come to an end.
Life has a way of never working out the way you think it will though, these days I never set any of my decisions in stone!

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

It's so hard, I don't have that experience yet with the piggies as we have 3 at a young age, although it was only going to be the 2 for my daughter but then Mr Pig came along and a new hutch and a shed etc, I'm lucky they are all well and healthy but know at some point in their lives we will have to make choices.
I am very much an animal person and have always had something, hamsters then my first dog when I left home, he was my first baby then came my witches cat! Unfortunately my boy had cancer and I lost him just after I found out I was pregnant with my son, timing and living in a town flat meant I couldn't have another, then we moved overseas for a few years and couldn't take my cat, she was old and then was so unhappy we felt the kindest thing was to have her pts, so I spent around 5 years without any animals in my life, now we have 2 troublesome terriers and the pigs and in a position that I couldn't imagine not having them, don't get me wrong there are days when I really don't want any of them, (like the children) but the reality is I'm a much happier person for having them.
By the time I start having to make choices the children will be older and potentially at college etc/left home maybe so maybe I'll feel differently but I think you just have to do what feels right.
There is no right or wrong, I personally feel that if I couldn't give the time,love or financial need then I shouldn't have them.
When the the me comes you'll make the right choice

 

[Lorcan]

I haven't had guinea pigs for over 3 years now, but I know the first chance I get, I'll hopefully be able to adopt a pair of boars again. I'm not planning anything more than a pair because financially I'd never be able to cover it, but at the same time that want, that wish for a pair, it's never gone. I had to give up my last pair in particularly...upsetting, I guess, circumstances. It was a situation completely out of my control and not one that I can guarantee will never happen again, but I can't ponder the "what ifs" and the "maybes" because if I did, if anyone did, nothing would get done, nobody would have pets.

But more than anything I don't want to be animal free. This isn't the first gap I've had between pets and every time I've had to sit down and think can I do this again? Will I do this again? And maybe the answer will come sometime that's a no. I've had to spend £140 a week when I was sectioned, so I could go home, feed them, check their health, and to buy them fresh food and refill the water bottles. £20 a day in taxi fares hurt but I never thought twice about it. Then there was the vet trip, and the tooth surgery, which I got done thanks to the help of some lovely people...and I figure the day I'm not prepared to do that any longer, that's the day I don't have more pets.

Everyone's got their own tipping points. I don't think any of us know what that point is til it happens.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Last year I definitely thought no more piglets, after losing my older cat Rosie and my elderly pig Jess so close together which totally broke my heart and brain. (After having chinchillas for 9 years and non-stop at vets with teeth issues, Pedro losing his eye and the year of my life revolving around him and flushing empty eye sockets before I lost him the year before. It had been so much work, so many pennies and obviously very stressful!)

But then I heard about Jasper the fuzzy pig and he moved in a month after I lost Jess! Who was in my town, alone in a hutch outside and turned out to be pretty neglected with his tiny size etc
So obviously then baby Cleo had to move in as a friend, who has been probably the most troublesome pig I’ve ever had with her health and behavioural issues!
So yep, that no more pigs thing didn’t work too well for me! 11 years keeping pigs now (I also had them growing up) and although sometimes with my health it can be a bit difficult, they get me out of bed in the morning and always cheer me up, it’s hard to imagine them not being around!
But as three of them are over 3 now I know I’m in for some fun in the future and may change my mind when I’m run ragged, skint and sad!

My four babies

 

[Pawz]

Go with your heart.
We ave gone from 5 down to 1.
It has taken years to be in this position, but i know we are in the right place for our family right now.
I would adopt another pair in a heartbeat, but I can also see this wouldn't be the right thing for us.

It's ok to take a break (long or short) and whilst I loved having 5 piggies I also know I don't want to be back there anytime soon.

one? So you only have Ruby left?

 

[Pawz]

I’ve had a lot of pets since I was a child but I decided earlier this year that my current cats would be my LAST cats. Unexpectedly I am down to one cat now which made me sad but she four this year so hopefully we still have a lot of time left together. Then we have the two buns, I don’t mind continuing with house rabbits in the future with a maximum of 2 at a time. The rabbits are the easiest to manage with vacation plans because we are already familiar with a few local breeders that offer vacation boarding for vaccinated rabbits.

Reptiles, we’ll those are somewhat different to the furry pets but I still have my limit on numbers! We are currently 0 on reptiles and I want to to remain that way for at least the next 4 years.

 

[Pawz]

I couldn't imagine not having them, don't get me wrong there are days when I really don't want any of them, (like the children)

oh I know those days!

 

[Swissgreys]

one? So you only have Ruby left?

Sadly (happily?) yes.
I would never have kept another piggy as a single, but after we lost Harry (who Ruby hated, but did offer some piggy contact through the bars, even if it was only to try and eat his face) we investigated various options for companions that could live alongside her, but also be taken on loan and returned once Ruby is no longer with us.
We are lucky to have options to do that here.
But after multiple attempts (and a lot of cage rage), we were advised to trial her on her own for a few months, and honestly Ruby has never been happier. So for now we will stick with that.
I think personally I will always have animals in the house (and garden), but right now I am quite happy with smaller rodents, and the rabbits.
And Ruby of course - who couldn't be happy with Ruby in their life

 

[Black piggies]

I had most types of pets growing up and as an adult have only had guinea pigs.

Am I right in thinking that, aside from horses, they're the hardest work pet to have? Or maybe we were just a bit rubbish in our petcare in my family a few decades ago....

 

[Claire W]

I had most types of pets growing up and as an adult have only had guinea pigs.

Am I right in thinking that, aside from horses, they're the hardest work pet to have? Or maybe we were just a bit rubbish in our petcare in my family a few decades ago....

As much as I love them, I find them to be a lot of hard work and 4 is definitely my limit

 

[Black piggies]

As much as I love them, I find them to be a lot of hard work and 4 is definitely my limit

Yes I've got 4 for the first time in 2 cages, I wouldn't want more work than that
3 in one cage was my ideal.

 

[Claire W]

Yes I've got 4 for the first time in 2 cages, I wouldn't want more work than that
3 in one cage was my ideal.

I had 4 guinea pigs a few years ago but then went down to 3 then 2 and am now back up to 4. It's amazing how much work one extra little piggy can make

 

[alpacasqueak]

Yes I've got 4 for the first time in 2 cages, I wouldn't want more work than that
3 in one cage was my ideal.

Yes same here! It would have been much easier if my gorgeous fuzzy man had been a sow (and Lolo would accept her!), but I have to admit I love having two boars around again, even if there are lots more poops to clean with separate cages!

 

[Pawz]

Sadly (happily?) yes.
I would never have kept another piggy as a single, but after we lost Harry (who Ruby hated, but did offer some piggy contact through the bars, even if it was only to try and eat his face) we investigated various options for companions that could live alongside her, but also be taken on loan and returned once Ruby is no longer with us.
We are lucky to have options to do that here.
But after multiple attempts (and a lot of cage rage), we were advised to trial her on her own for a few months, and honestly Ruby has never been happier. So for now we will stick with that.
I think personally I will always have animals in the house (and garden), but right now I am quite happy with smaller rodents, and the rabbits.
And Ruby of course - who couldn't be happy with Ruby in their life

Oh I know what it’s like to have a “social animal” that’s anti-social and insists on being alone. Ruby is happy even if the arrangement is outside the usual settings and her happiness is all that matters.

Ruby is a wonderful piggy with such character! Her little quirks are what makes her so lovable.

 

[hot fox]

I was adamant a few years ago when we had ten that I would just have two. As we lost them I stuck to my guns and ended up with my perfect pair, two glorious, beautiful, well bonded and gorgeous boys (Bumble and Boris). It was one hell of a lot easier only having one enclosure to clean every day, and obvs less to snuggle! I felt they received more attention, it really was great.....
Then my Avon lady, who lived in the village, who had asked me to take her girls countless times, was on holiday. I was looking after them and was appalled by their hutch size. Within 40 mins (with her gleeful permission I might add!) they were home with me.....so the second enclosure appeared again!
My younger daughter is moving out and wants to take Coco Bean and Willow-Bee with her, so I will be down to one enclosure within months. I will miss them, but Jaz (daughter) and Coco are entirely inseparable, it's an incredibly close bond, so I'm very happy with that arrangement.
So maybe three will be more manageable....we (hubby and i) will move house one day as both daughters will be gone and not all houses have a Guinea Pig's room, apparently? Who knew?
I am struggling with Flump's illness so my mindset is stoic. However I'm fairly sure I'll crumble! But really, only 2........
OMG WHY ARE THEY SO GODDAMN CUTE?

 

[Deleted member 139433]

I think we have all felt the same way at some point or other.

During my exhausting year caring for poorly Odin last year, we spent around £8000 and I also made several 250 mile round trips to C&R. I didn’t sleep or leave the house properly for months and I nursed Odin day and night (though I would do it all again, he was literally the love of my life). During this time Rocket and Loki also both got very poorly and I was nursing them and driving them to the vets also. We lost Loki to the bridge, then we lost Rocket a few weeks later. Odin did so much better and had the best few months of his life, but then he also fell asleep and trotted off to the bridge just before Xmas. My mental health, emotions, bank balance and heart all took a massive hit last year. I’ve always had animals, mostly horses, dogs, rabbits etc. And I always will. But I was, for a while put off the idea of ever having more piggies as I had endured more anxiety and heart break than I had with any other species, keeping these little guys.

luckily two of my remaining boars after my boys passed, happily paired up. I just have the one boy who prefers to be in his own space, surrounded by neighbours. Then two young pigs came along, through a friend at work. They had been born at work and they didn’t have space for them. I was worried about where they would end up so I took them. I also took in an older, bonded pair from someone who couldn’t keep them. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was thinking more with my heart than my head. With a full time job, two businesses, horses, a house, a husband with a motorsport career (takes over most weekends) and a dog (my world) I had taken on too much. Luckily I worked very closely with a reputable rescue and I’m not ashamed to admit that I rehomed the younger boys with them; so that they could find homes that they deserve with more time for them. I’m pleased to say they now have (the rescue kept in touch with me to let me know of their progress).
So now I have 5 boys, that literally take over an entire room in my house with their giant cages. I love them all dearly, but one day when I’m down to two, I’m going to stick with only two. I’m not sure how that will all pan out yet….. depending on who gets on with who.

We plan on having more horses and competing more in the future, and we want a family; so realistically, though I want to rescue every pig I see on scary sales websites or in rescue centres, I have to listen to my head now.

So similar to you, I’ve considered not having pigs full stop, but they really do bring so much happiness at the same time. I can’t save all the animals in the world, but it makes me so happy knowing that I can offer a safe, loving and happy home to my guys, and a pair of pigs in the future. I can’t change the world, but I can change the world for a couple of little piggies
That said, I know how stressful things can get, so please do let me know if you would ever like to chat
I’m always here to listen

 

[hot fox]

THANK YOU! So kind
I'm feeling emosh right now, it's so lovely to know there are clearly some very intelligent switched on people who totally understand!
I'm trying not to watch Flump, my poorly poppit, like a hawk. Like my daughters, having an anxious mummy doesn't help them at all! I count myself very lucky that financially we are in a good position, and realistically C&R are relatively close too, so we will soldier on for Flumpalumpa, and her sister Maisy and my boy Pickle's sake.
Very interesting and thought provoking discussion, thanks guys!

 

[Pawz]

I was adamant a few years ago when we had ten that I would just have two. As we lost them I stuck to my guns and ended up with my perfect pair, two glorious, beautiful, well bonded and gorgeous boys (Bumble and Boris). It was one hell of a lot easier only having one enclosure to clean every day, and obvs less to snuggle! I felt they received more attention, it really was great.....
Then my Avon lady, who lived in the village, who had asked me to take her girls countless times, was on holiday. I was looking after them and was appalled by their hutch size. Within 40 mins (with her gleeful permission I might add!) they were home with me.....so the second enclosure appeared again!
My younger daughter is moving out and wants to take Coco Bean and Willow-Bee with her, so I will be down to one enclosure within months. I will miss them, but Jaz (daughter) and Coco are entirely inseparable, it's an incredibly close bond, so I'm very happy with that arrangement.
So maybe three will be more manageable....we (hubby and i) will move house one day as both daughters will be gone and not all houses have a Guinea Pig's room, apparently? Who knew?
I am struggling with Flump's illness so my mindset is stoic. However I'm fairly sure I'll crumble! But really, only 2........
OMG WHY ARE THEY SO GODDAMN CUTE?

Can I just say how much I love Flump’s name? It’s the perfect name for a guinea pig!

I think piggies and buns have the perfect lifespan of small pets. Not so short that you don’t get the chance to enjoy them and not so long as to chain you down for 20 or so years. This was one of my reasons as to why our current cat is our last, I love and adore her and if she lives to 20 that’s fantastic but I won’t be considering a new one when she passes. Even if she were to pass at half that age I am not going to be looking for another kitten/young rescue that could potentially add another 20 years onto the tally. I’m not old but I’m not getting any younger either!

My son is really really obsessively into reptiles but I am purposely holding off on those until he is responsible enough to care for them solely by himself (with me covering the financial side). If he still wants them by that point then yes I’ll allow it.

 

[Claire W]

Can I just say how much I love Flump’s name? It’s the perfect name for a guinea pig!

I think piggies and buns have the perfect lifespan of small pets. Not so short that you don’t get the chance to enjoy them and not so long as to chain you down for 20 or so years. This was one of my reasons as to why our current cat is our last, I love and adore her and if she lives to 20 that’s fantastic but I won’t be considering a new one when she passes. Even if she were to pass at half that age I am not going to be looking for another kitten/young rescue that could potentially add another 20 years onto the tally. I’m not old but I’m not getting any younger either!

My son is really really obsessively into reptiles but I am purposely holding off on those until he is responsible enough to care for them solely by himself (with me covering the financial side). If he still wants them by that point then yes I’ll allow it.

I completely understand what you mean. We have 3 cats. The eldest is 13 and the two youngsters are just 2 and a half. I don't want anymore cats when these have passed although I expect Austin and Morris to be around for many years yet

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

I have taken breaks in the past, not just piggies, I was once animal free for 6 years! I have been thinking about this again a lot recently. My boys take up most of my time and I'm not getting any younger. I'm not as agile as I used to be when cleaning out cages on the floor. I am finding the whole process of breavement and trying to find rescues that do boar bondings difficult and distressing. Having been very rudely treated by a rescue recently (suddenly dropped all communication without explanation) I am no longer prepared to even consider that route again. Pets at Home's new policy means I can no longer fall back on the last resort of a baby. Which really only leaves iffy private rehomings. Having been forced to keep Brillo on his own for 6 months until I lost Peanut and could bond him with Rusty makes me feel I am no longer enjoying having piggies like I used to and it's time to consider that in a few years as my current ones pass my piggie keeping days will come to an end.
Life has a way of never working out the way you think it will though, these days I never set any of my decisions in stone!

Just curious. What is pets at home's new policy?

 

[Claire W]

Just curious. What is pets at home's new policy?

I think they now only sell piggies in pairs or groups so you can't buy just one to join an existing piggy at home. Good for the piggies but not so much for those owners who have a bereaved piggy and rescue isn't an option

 

[Pawz]

I completely understand what you mean. We have 3 cats. The eldest is 13 and the two youngsters are just 2 and a half. I don't want anymore cats when these have passed although I expect Austin and Morris to be around for many years yet

You are the only one I know so far who gets me on this . I think I am this way about it because I know of an older very physically unwell older lady that got totally carried away with rescuing dogs and cats. It is boardering on animal hoarding but they are all loved and cared for, that said she is constantly in debt from the costs of caring for so many and instead of giving some up she continues to take more. I think witnessing that and knowing “if she died next week could you imagine the nightmare the rescues would face rehoming all those or the burden to her children to have to deal with organizing all that on top of grieving and making all the other arrangements?”
That totally made me think of my own mortality in comparison to lifespans and numbers of pets.

 

[piggieminder]

@Pound Shilling & Pig
You can only buy a pair. "Because having been together since leaving their mother's they won't fall out". !!

 

[Lady Kelly]

I have maintained a group of four piggies for almost as long as I have been on the forum and last year we decided that we just couldn't do it anymore and give them the same attention we used to. At that time I still had 4, 1 was elderly but the others were middle aged at best. Since that decision I have lost two, one in May and one this month. It is so hard and now I am down to two and trying to work out whether its best to rehome them while they have a better chance of going somewhere together or to wait until I have just one.
What I would say is to try not to make an emotional decision. When we are back and forth to vets dealing with multiple issues it can cloud our judgment on whats best for us and the piggies. Deal with the issues, have a rest and then think on it again.