Will I Need To Get A New Friend For My Grieving Piggy?

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Heidi W

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Please help! Very sadly, my beloved piggy, Eddie, aged almost four, died two days ago. Teddy, same age, is now grieving although will take food and is enjoying extra cuddles. I really don't want to get into the 'perpetual guinea-pig situation', and while I will make time to interact with Teddy for the rest of his life, I feel deep down that he will be much happier if I get him another friend. Although I can give him company it just isn't the same as him having another piggy to chat to. Also, if he doesn't have a new friend he will be very lonely when we go on holiday without him later this year, so I would be worried about that (the place he goes to is great but even so, no one is going to spend two hours a day interacting with him, like I would!). I just don't know what to do. He is such a lovely, chatty piggy (is still chatting to me now, when I pick him up- he has always been very affectionate) whereas Eddie was a much quieter piggy- but even if it seemed that the chat was a bit one way from Teddy to Eddie it still must have been good for Teddy to have Eddie there, and Teddy was definitely upset when Eddie fell ill. It is heartbreaking as I feel I should make Teddy happy by getting him a new friend, however this means that I will have to get a new friend when Teddy or the new piggy dies- and it will never end! I don't have the space to take in foster piggies, ie in a separate cage but so that Teddy would at least hear other piggies- and it wouldn't be the same as sharing a life with them ie same cage. Teddy and Eddie have always lived indoors though go out all the time in the summer. I suppose I am hoping someone will tell me Teddy will be ok with lots of human interaction but my gut feeling is that he will be ok but not truly happy- I just don't know what to do! I am really reluctant to get another piggy, especially as I also have a dog and cat and I don't want to take on more animals long term, much as I love them.
 
Almost the same happened to me!

One of my pigs passed away, and we were giving the lone piggy lots of attention.

Keep an eye on your piggy’s behavior. If he stops wheeking for veggies, or seems lazier than usual, it’s time to get another. You may not be ready for it, but your piggy probably is. He will be much happier with a companion.

We noticed when our piggy was alone, she seemed miserable. She was sleeping most of the day, and not wheeking for veggies. As soon as we got her a companion, this changed. She perked up and was always wheeling and running around.
 
We lost Colin on Wednesday last week and we are picking up a new friend for Hettie today.

She has been eating as normal but is so quiet without her pal.
 
Would it be possible for you to long term foster another piggy for Teddy to give him company and companionship? Then when he trundles off to the Rainbow Bridge you could give your foster piggy back to the rescue. That way you don't have your perpetual piggy situation.
 
Welcome to the forum and do sorry for your loss.
Fostering would be a good way to go or perhaps one of the rescues has an older piggy needing a home.
I know what you mean by the potential of a never ending cycle of piggies.
 
Thank you so much everyone for all your kind replies, so appreciated. We don't have space to foster as would need separate cage but have in any case decided to get another piggy for Teddy as just too cruel to leave him alone. However none of the rescue centres have single male piggies, I've been online and on the phone all morning so if anyone knows of a place that might have one please let me know! I'm in Oxford but will travel a couple of hours or more if needed. Most places have none in or just pairs! Thanks again, Heidi
 
Have you thought about having Teddy neutered and matching him with one or 2 sows?
If the rescues only have pairs that would mean if the bonding with him didn’t work the girls would have each other and a pair of a similar age would possibly avoid being left with a single piggy still in the prime of life.
 
Betsy said:
Have you tried the rescue locator at the top of the page?
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Yes I've tried it, thank you, and went to see a piggy today, miles away but seemed might be ok- however he just humped Teddy non stop and was very dominant so we decided not to go ahead, unfortunately. Will keep trying. Thanks for your help!
 
Merab's Slave said:
Have you thought about having Teddy neutered and matching him with one or 2 sows?
If the rescues only have pairs that would mean if the bonding with him didn’t work the girls would have each other and a pair of a similar age would possibly avoid being left with a single piggy still in the prime of life.
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I like the idea of the sows but not the neutering of Teddy, only because we just lost our other piggy, Eddie, due to cardiac arrest under anaesthetic. Can't put my daughter through another loss. Thanks anyway.
 
Sorry you had that experience - I understand why you wouldn’t want to take the risk again.
Hope you find a suitable companion for Teddy.
 
Heidi W said:
Please help! Very sadly, my beloved piggy, Eddie, aged almost four, died two days ago. Teddy, same age, is now grieving although will take food and is enjoying extra cuddles. I really don't want to get into the 'perpetual guinea-pig situation', and while I will make time to interact with Teddy for the rest of his life, I feel deep down that he will be much happier if I get him another friend. Although I can give him company it just isn't the same as him having another piggy to chat to. Also, if he doesn't have a new friend he will be very lonely when we go on holiday without him later this year, so I would be worried about that (the place he goes to is great but even so, no one is going to spend two hours a day interacting with him, like I would!). I just don't know what to do. He is such a lovely, chatty piggy (is still chatting to me now, when I pick him up- he has always been very affectionate) whereas Eddie was a much quieter piggy- but even if it seemed that the chat was a bit one way from Teddy to Eddie it still must have been good for Teddy to have Eddie there, and Teddy was definitely upset when Eddie fell ill. It is heartbreaking as I feel I should make Teddy happy by getting him a new friend, however this means that I will have to get a new friend when Teddy or the new piggy dies- and it will never end! I don't have the space to take in foster piggies, ie in a separate cage but so that Teddy would at least hear other piggies- and it wouldn't be the same as sharing a life with them ie same cage. Teddy and Eddie have always lived indoors though go out all the time in the summer. I suppose I am hoping someone will tell me Teddy will be ok with lots of human interaction but my gut feeling is that he will be ok but not truly happy- I just don't know what to do! I am really reluctant to get another piggy, especially as I also have a dog and cat and I don't want to take on more animals long term, much as I love them.
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:wel: I think you should defintely get him another piggy partner. My guinea pig, for awhile, was not very active and seemed lonely so I got him a pal! Now, they get along and eat hay together and even popcorn too together sometimes! My guinea pig seems much happier with him around.
But, if you think that you shouldn't get him another partner and it would be for the best then maybe have laptime with him and feed him lots of vegis in your lap every day or up to your liking and if he doesn't get over grieving, maybe just get him another piggy?
I am not sure, that's all the advice I can give! :luv: Hopefully it helps.
 
winniethepooh said:
:wel: I think you should defintely get him another piggy partner. My guinea pig, for awhile, was not very active and seemed lonely so I got him a pal! Now, they get along and eat hay together and even popcorn too together sometimes! My guinea pig seems much happier with him around.
But, if you think that you shouldn't get him another partner and it would be for the best then maybe have laptime with him and feed him lots of vegis in your lap every day or up to your liking and if he doesn't get over grieving, maybe just get him another piggy?
I am not sure, that's all the advice I can give! :luv: Hopefully it helps.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks so much, you are spot on! In fact, Teddy has a new pal since last night and he is so much happier! I didn't want to get into the endless cycle but seeing Teddy so unhappy made me realise there was no substitute for another piggy. I did try spending hours each day with him and while he perked up when on my lap he became really withdrawn as soon as returned to his cage.
Once again thanks to everyone who has helped me reach the right decision. Two other things I have learnt along the way: Teddy is nearly four and unneutered and I was given lots of conflicting advice (outside of Guinea Pig Forum) about whether to place him with an older or younger male- many told me it would not work with a younger male but I had very few choices as virtually no sole males out there that would, apparently, bond with Teddy (especially as he is unneutered). So if I were starting all over I would probably neuter my male guinea at a young-ish age so that when his pal dies he can at least be found a new pal more easily, ie an older sow or a boar. After extensive searching and having travelled several hours, I found a young (10 month old) neutered male piggy last night (at a rescue centre), I could not find one nearer in age to Teddy. Popcorn is placid like Teddy and they get on really well- such a relief! In fact I was able to put them in the same cage straight away (on the advice of the woman from the rescue centre, who has a lot of experience- she herself was pleasantly surprised).
Secondly I was very sad for Teddy that he did not have the chance to say bye to Eddie (my piggy who died last week). Eddie died under anaesthetic and I have since learned from several people who have had a lot of experience with guineas that it is best not to let the surviving piggy see the dead piggy if they died under anaesthetic. This is because they smell different and it can be quite a shock to the surviving piggy. I know that the consensus otherwise (ie when dying but not under anaesthetic) is to let the surviving piggy see the deceased one. I do appreciate that this might not be everyone's view but I wanted to share all of this in case it is of use to others in a similar situation. Although I miss Eddie terribly I am so grateful that Teddy is now much happier, thanks to Popcorn. Definitely the right decision. Some said not to place an older boar with a young one but as Teddy and Popcorn are placid and Popcorn is neutered it seems ok, also Popcorn is young but not a baby so hopefully there won't be too many changes in him. Fingers crossed! Heidi
 
Heidi W said:
Thanks so much, you are spot on! In fact, Teddy has a new pal since last night and he is so much happier! I didn't want to get into the endless cycle but seeing Teddy so unhappy made me realise there was no substitute for another piggy. I did try spending hours each day with him and while he perked up when on my lap he became really withdrawn as soon as returned to his cage.
Once again thanks to everyone who has helped me reach the right decision. Two other things I have learnt along the way: Teddy is nearly four and unneutered and I was given lots of conflicting advice (outside of Guinea Pig Forum) about whether to place him with an older or younger male- many told me it would not work with a younger male but I had very few choices as virtually no sole males out there that would, apparently, bond with Teddy (especially as he is unneutered). So if I were starting all over I would probably neuter my male guinea at a young-ish age so that when his pal dies he can at least be found a new pal more easily, ie an older sow or a boar. After extensive searching and having travelled several hours, I found a young (10 month old) neutered male piggy last night (at a rescue centre), I could not find one nearer in age to Teddy. Popcorn is placid like Teddy and they get on really well- such a relief! In fact I was able to put them in the same cage straight away (on the advice of the woman from the rescue centre, who has a lot of experience- she herself was pleasantly surprised).
Secondly I was very sad for Teddy that he did not have the chance to say bye to Eddie (my piggy who died last week). Eddie died under anaesthetic and I have since learned from several people who have had a lot of experience with guineas that it is best not to let the surviving piggy see the dead piggy if they died under anaesthetic. This is because they smell different and it can be quite a shock to the surviving piggy. I know that the consensus otherwise (ie when dying but not under anaesthetic) is to let the surviving piggy see the deceased one. I do appreciate that this might not be everyone's view but I wanted to share all of this in case it is of use to others in a similar situation. Although I miss Eddie terribly I am so grateful that Teddy is now much happier, thanks to Popcorn. Definitely the right decision. Some said not to place an older boar with a young one but as Teddy and Popcorn are placid and Popcorn is neutered it seems ok, also Popcorn is young but not a baby so hopefully there won't be too many changes in him. Fingers crossed! Heidi
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Awh, nice name for your new guinea pig! Popcorn is a cute and adorable name. :luv:
 
So pleased Teddy is happy with his new pal! Looking forward to seeing pigtures of the new arrival!
 
That's good to hear that you have found Teddy a new friend... I myself am dreading this kind of situation... glad it has worked out for you x
 
Thanks so much! Another thing I have realised now is that things would have been easier if I had had Teddy neutered when he was younger- but I never considered it as he and his friend Eddie (whom we sadly just lost) were both always gentle. Also I was worried about the anaesthetic killing them during neutering. My new, young guinea-pig, Popcorn, came to me already neutered, so at least when Teddy goes it should be easier to get Popcorn a new friend (assuming Teddy goes first). Also, if you do lose a piggy then I would recommend going to a rescue centre where you can try your lone guinea-pig out with several piggies (one at a time), to see if they get on. Initially I travelled for two hours to try Teddy out with just one other male piggy (as that was all they had)- unfortunately the other piggy humped Teddy non stop and got quite aggressive! After that I went to another rescue that had several neutered lone males and this is where I found Popcorn (and if he hadn't been ok I would have had several others to try Teddy with- ie worth the trip!). Thankfully for me both Teddy and Popcorn are very lovely, gentle piggies- they were even able to share a cage from the word go- I have been very lucky as they both seem really happy together! So good not to see Teddy all sad any more.
 
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