When to get a new friend. Update on Freddie.

Lymaine

Lymaine

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all.

I am heartbroken to say that last night we had to send Freddie to sleep. His flush had worked for a week.. and then it ALL came straight back. He was backed up again, in so much pain and bleeding… even though he was on so much painkiller, antibiotics, supplements, probiotics…. It wasn’t making a difference. So I am completely heartbroken and really concerned about his cagemate Elvis.

My question is when should I get Elvis a new friend? He is eating and drinking but obviously sad and keeps burrowing under his fleece. He lives inside with us and we are showing him a lot of love and attention (he is also on critical care just to bump up his hay intake) but we are both back in full time work Monday and I know he needs a friend.

I’d like to get 2 girls but he is not castrated and at 4.5 I don’t think it’s a good idea so I will need to find a boy.. I’m thinking two younger boys but will that be harder to bond?

He lived with Fred his whole life and they loved each other so much.

I think he understands what has happened to Fred as I showed him his body and he licked and sniffed it then came for a cuddle. I have put in a fleece that smells of Fred to ease his pain a little. My poor baby.

I know he needs a new friend even if I am not really ready myself… how long should I leave it? Should I give him some time to grieve or get him a friend sooner rather than later?

I just don’t know what to do for the best.

. 💔
 
I’m so sorry for your loss.

If he is doing ok, then you have a few weeks to find him a compatible friend. Ideally with the help of a rescue centre so you can ensure character compatibility and a successful bond.
If he struggles, stops eating etc, then the need to find a new friend becomes more important.
You say he is on critical care - what is the specific reason for that? How long has he needed supplementing? Switch to daily weight checks if you are concerned he is not eating enough hay.

You will not be able to bond him with two other boys - you can only bond him with one other boy. Three boars together doesn’t work and will result in fights and separated piggies.

The success of a neutering depends on the experience of the vet. If your vet is experienced and confident, and he is in good health, then there is no reason to let his age be a factor in not neutering. It’s something to discuss with your vet. If you do neuter him, then he will not be able to be bonded with any sows until six weeks after surgery to ensure he is infertile.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
 
I’m so sorry you lost Eddie. You did all you could. Take care. ❤️
 
Hi!

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry about your loss.

Here is our supportive information on what you can do for bereaved companions in the short and medium term and what you can do for yourself as you go through the grieving process (including making sense of some of the more unexpected strong emotions and phases): Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

As long as your bereaved piggy is eating and drinking fine, then you have several weeks' time to do your research and if needed go on waiting lists or factor in a post-neutering op recovery period. For long term happiness, it is better to make nails with heads than rushing out as a knee jerk reaction. The majority of bereaved singles can cope, even though they are not happy. If you have more piggies (of any gender), moving a cage with a single boy next to them can help a lot.

A four years old, Elvis is not too young for the snip if you can find an experienced vet with a plenty of experience and good reputation in this area. I have a number of sows needing a spaying operation that were over 5 years old - and it is a much more invasive operation. The crucial part is finding the right vet and a 6 weeks post-op wait.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Otherwise you are looking for a single male companion; age is much less of concern as long as they can choose each other since the key to any happy bond is mutual liking and a personality match. Ideally you rescue date a bereaved piggy of yours at one of our recommended good welfare standard rescuesto ensure that and not come home with some unwanted extra passengers. An adult - adult boar match is about as stable as any sow match because the pesky testosterone spikes are mainly out of the way and you just have to deal with the personality match.
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter on companionship)

Two youngsters that are hitting the big teenage spikes at the same is rather a recipe for disaster. Boar trios and quartets seem to be least stable combination; the more likely the more sub-adults are in the mix - but with you bringing home two babies means that a long term personality balance is not guaranteed.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

You may also find my recent guide about the minefield of getting new piggies helpful, so you can hopefully avoid some of the more common pitfalls.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

@VickiA Do you know re. The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue?
 
Thank you for the replies. I am in north wales and there are not any piggy rescues near me as far as I am aware.. I might go to pets at homes adoption section and see if there are any single boys.. but I don’t know if you can do a piggy date with pets at home? It’s all so confusing and I just want to do the best thing by Elvis! I’d love to get him two lady friends but I am too scared to put him through castration. He is on critical care as he inexplicably started losing weight a few months ago. We couldn’t find a reason other than a small stone in his urethra which hasn’t caused him any problems at all! He may have even passed it by now as his weight stabilised and he is eating, drinking, weeing and pooping as normal. I weigh him every few days usually and give him some CC if his weight drops a bit.
He will be on daily weigh ins for a while since Freddie’s going to sleep.
He is now burrowed under his fleece and coming out for occasional hay and a drink. He seems so sad 😞
 
Lymaine said:
Thank you for the replies. I am in north wales and there are not any piggy rescues near me as far as I am aware.. I might go to pets at homes adoption section and see if there are any single boys.. but I don’t know if you can do a piggy date with pets at home? It’s all so confusing and I just want to do the best thing by Elvis! I’d love to get him two lady friends but I am too scared to put him through castration. He is on critical care as he inexplicably started losing weight a few months ago. We couldn’t find a reason other than a small stone in his urethra which hasn’t caused him any problems at all! He may have even passed it by now as his weight stabilised and he is eating, drinking, weeing and pooping as normal. I weigh him every few days usually and give him some CC if his weight drops a bit.
He will be on daily weigh ins for a while since Freddie’s going to sleep.
He is now burrowed under his fleece and coming out for occasional hay and a drink. He seems so sad 😞
Click to expand...

Pets at home do not do dating. If you get a piggy from there, you will need to bring him home and bond yourself. As character compatibility is the most important part, if it fails, then they will need to live side by side in separate cages.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Pets at home do not do dating. If you get a piggy from there, you will need to bring him home and bond yourself. As character compatibility is the most important part, if it fails, then they will need to live side by side in separate cages.
Click to expand...
Yes I did think if it fails I could always just put a grid in between them
 
So sorry to hear about your loss 💕
If your north wales are you far from any of the rescues in the north west? I think there are a few around there that may be able to help?
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry about your loss.

Here is our supportive information on what you can do for bereaved companions in the short and medium term and what you can do for yourself as you go through the grieving process (including making sense of some of the more unexpected strong emotions and phases): Death, Dying, Terminal Illness; Human Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

As long as your bereaved piggy is eating and drinking fine, then you have several weeks' time to do your research and if needed go on waiting lists or factor in a post-neutering op recovery period. For long term happiness, it is better to make nails with heads than rushing out as a knee jerk reaction. The majority of bereaved singles can cope, even though they are not happy. If you have more piggies (of any gender), moving a cage with a single boy next to them can help a lot.

A four years old, Elvis is not too young for the snip if you can find an experienced vet with a plenty of experience and good reputation in this area. I have a number of sows needing a spaying operation that were over 5 years old - and it is a much more invasive operation. The crucial part is finding the right vet and a 6 weeks post-op wait.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Otherwise you are looking for a single male companion; age is much less of concern as long as they can choose each other since the key to any happy bond is mutual liking and a personality match. Ideally you rescue date a bereaved piggy of yours at one of our recommended good welfare standard rescuesto ensure that and not come home with some unwanted extra passengers. An adult - adult boar match is about as stable as any sow match because the pesky testosterone spikes are mainly out of the way and you just have to deal with the personality match.
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars (see chapter on companionship)

Two youngsters that are hitting the big teenage spikes at the same is rather a recipe for disaster. Boar trios and quartets seem to be least stable combination; the more likely the more sub-adults are in the mix - but with you bringing home two babies means that a long term personality balance is not guaranteed.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

You may also find my recent guide about the minefield of getting new piggies helpful, so you can hopefully avoid some of the more common pitfalls.
Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

@VickiA Do you know re. The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue?
Click to expand...
I’m not sure who we’ve got in the system- an email to Helen would be a good idea - her email is [email protected]
 
So sorry for your loss.
You did everything possible for Freddie and gave him that last gift of love.
You are so caring thinking of Elvis’ need for companionship while you are grieving.

When my Titus lost his brother, Philemon, I went down the route of getting him neutered and getting 2 sows. He was a very happy boy when the girls moved in. Merab was one of the sows.

Hope you can find a lovely companion for Elvis.
Don’t forget to allow yourself space to grieve.
 
Merab's Slave said:
So sorry for your loss.
You did everything possible for Freddie and gave him that last gift of love.
You are so caring thinking of Elvis’ need for companionship while you are grieving.

When my Titus lost his brother, Philemon, I went down the route of getting him neutered and getting 2 sows. He was a very happy boy when the girls moved in. Merab was one of the sows.

Hope you can find a lovely companion for Elvis.
Don’t forget to allow yourself space to grieve.
Click to expand...
How old was your boy when you had him neutered?
 
rp1993 said:
So sorry to hear about your loss 💕
If your north wales are you far from any of the rescues in the north west? I think there are a few around there that may be able to help?
Click to expand...
Where abouts in the north west? My geography is shocking
 
So sorry you lost Freddie. I hope you can find Elvis a new friend soon x
 
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