We have had 2 sisters for nearly 3 years and tonight I found melody passed away in there cage. My daughter was heartbroken. We do all the right things and look after them so unsure what happened. She was eating and moving usual yesterday and now today......... I'm now afraid for her sister twinkle. I hear tales of they can't live long without a partner then I read introducing new partners is bad due to fighting. It still early but I worry over twinkle as I was expecting them to last longer. Is it ok to introduceher to a new buddy and if yes does it have to be a similar age?
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When One Passes Away
- Thread starter Orient
- Start date
I'm sorry for your loss. Pigs do better with company and will grieve when a companion passes away. We have pigs of different ages (due to an initial pair where one passed before age 2 while the other lived to be 6.5 years) so we have been through the loss of a buddy and a new introduction a few times now. In my experience, all of my girls were happy to get a new companion after a loss. Being the same age is not a factor in whether a pig will like the new companion- age doesn't matter anywhere near as much as personality does. Depending on where you live, there may be shelters that will allow you to 'date' prospective new companions to ensure that your pig and the new pig like each other. This is not offered everywhere (it's not an option where I live), but I do try to be mindful of the position in the hierarchy of the pig I am trying to match and try to match them with a pig I think will be complimentary. If the surviving pig was the dominant pig, I will try to find a friend who is not the boss in her group because I feel like she will be more likely to happily assume a subordinate position to my pig at home. So far this has worked out well for me.
There are some stickies at the top of the behavior page about how to bond pigs- from allowing them to meet in a neutral setting to what all the body language means and how to know when pigs have accepted one another. I would definitely encourage you to check those out, as they are very helpful!
Again, so sorry for your loss.
There are some stickies at the top of the behavior page about how to bond pigs- from allowing them to meet in a neutral setting to what all the body language means and how to know when pigs have accepted one another. I would definitely encourage you to check those out, as they are very helpful!
Again, so sorry for your loss.
*kate*
Adult Guinea Pig
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Tilly passed away in October and I thought Hettie was doing fine alone. She was eating and having laptime with us every night.
But, I always thought she could be happier than she was and, 3 weeks ago, we adopted Colin. They have had no fights, a bit of rumbling and barging but just normal piggie behaviour!
The change in Hettie is amazing! she is much more active and just doing more piggie things with a friend!
But, I always thought she could be happier than she was and, 3 weeks ago, we adopted Colin. They have had no fights, a bit of rumbling and barging but just normal piggie behaviour!
The change in Hettie is amazing! she is much more active and just doing more piggie things with a friend!
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I am so sorry for the loss of Melody. You have received some good advice above from two of our experienced posters.
Here is a link to a thread on helping bereaved piggies Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Please feel free to leave a memorial post for Melody in our Rainbow Bridge section of the forum
Make sure Twinkle's eating and drinking, but expect her to be quiet the next few days.
Some rescues may be able to help you find a new friend for Twinkle when you feel able, I have checked your rough geograpichal area through you IP
and your closest rescues are below
Here is a link to a thread on helping bereaved piggies Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Please feel free to leave a memorial post for Melody in our Rainbow Bridge section of the forum
Make sure Twinkle's eating and drinking, but expect her to be quiet the next few days.
Some rescues may be able to help you find a new friend for Twinkle when you feel able, I have checked your rough geograpichal area through you IP
and your closest rescues are below
- This Little Piggy Guinea Pig Rescue
Richmond
South West London
London, Greater London TW10
thislittlepiggyrichmond.webs.com/
- Animal Rescue and Care
TW1 1WG
0208 894 4508
Thank you for your kind comments and definitely food for thought. She is quiet and not so chatty since sis has gone. But will defo look at a companion for her. My 7 year old was very brave and I was proud of how she reacted and what she did. Once our holiday is over we will look. Your help and tips is most appreciated. You google and it comes up with so many things but now i have found this forum who better to ask than people who have been through it.
I'm sorry for your daughter. I have three kids and it is definitely hard for them when one of the pets passes away. Heck, my teenage son cried when we lost our elderly pig, Sundae, last winter! At almost 7, she had been in the family for half of his life and he certainly loved her. It's one of those 'life lessons' that kids get from sharing their lives with animals, but it's the hardest one on them. One thing that my kids have often done is do something to memorialize the pet they've lost... a poem or a picture. My youngest (who is now 10) would always choose a picture to print of the pig we had lost and we would frame it and place it on top of our computer desk so we could always see them. She also wrote a really lovely poem for one of our pigs, which I tucked up behind her picture on the desk so we wouldn't lose it. ((HUGS)) and hopefully she will feel better with time. It's always so hard to lose a pet, particularly for kids.