Why is my guinea pig not grieving?

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littleguineapigmomma

New Born Pup
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So I'm a little bit worried about my guinea pig, his twin who they have legit been together always for almost two years passed away yesterday. And he is acting normal and eating, like at first going into the cage without his twin he looked everywhere for him, but then just started eating and popcorning. So I don't know if he is hiding it, but he is acting like he never had a brother. And I'm just worried and can't sleep.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m sorry for your loss.

He will be grieving but he will also have a survival instinct and will get on with life. Its good he is eating.

Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
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I'm just worried since usually I only have one guinea pig since my mom doesn't allow me to have more, and I had a guinea pig who lived almost nine years by herself. So I know to give him a lot of attention and he is in the room that people are in all day.
 
I’m sorry for your loss. Unfortunately no amount of human contact can replace company of their own kind. He really does need a friend to live with. I think if you’re not allowed to get him a friend then you may have to consider whether you can meet all his needs.

As said above, survival instinct. And he may have actually also grieved before his friend passed away.
 
Sorry for your loss. When we lost Pretty Patsy, Betsy stayed with her until the end whereas Meg was acting as if nothing was happening. After I had removed Patsy from the run Betsy as down for a few days and Meg carried on as normal. Piggies are all different and grieve differently to others. Your remaining piggy will have known what was happening to his friend and said his goodbyes and done his grieving before his friend crossed over to the Bridge, just as Meg did.
 
littleguineapigmomma said:
So I'm a little bit worried about my guinea pig, his twin who they have legit been together always for almost two years passed away yesterday. And he is acting normal and eating, like at first going into the cage without his twin he looked everywhere for him, but then just started eating and popcorning. So I don't know if he is hiding it, but he is acting like he never had a brother. And I'm just worried and can't sleep.
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Hi!

I am ever so sorry about your loss. Please accept that like humans, piggies can react very differently to a loss. Some will just carry on as if nothing has happened like some humans bury their own grief deeply. It is actually not all that rare - in either species.
With having lost over 50 piggies throughout my life, I have had quite a few that have just focused on getting on with their lives. Nothing wrong with that in itself; the problem is our own human social expectations and a rather narrow definition of what is considered socially acceptable and what not.

Here is more information on what you can do for your bereaved piggy and for yourself:
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
So sorry for your loss.
You’ve had some good responses which I can only echo.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
 
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