will my guineapig be lonely? can i introducw a friend?

[mumnosbest]

we had 2 pigs about 2 yrs old. i came down this morning to find one laying in th garden dead :( not a mark on him so wasnt a cat. i dont know whats happened :( dont know what to tell the dcs either.

im now worrying about his brother. we've had them both since babies. will he get lonely. would he accept a new pig?

[mumnosbest]

that's introduce (sorry on my phone)

[BonkeyMollocks]

:( Sorry to hear about your pig.

Can you take your other to a rescue 'boar dating* ??

Theyes will help you match up one who will suit him best.
You will need to clean everything really well since nothing smells like just one pig and is neutral territory for both.

The guinea pig forum have a great sticky thread on normal boar behaviour, worth a look so you know what might happen answer when to separate if need be.

A rescue should also take a pig back if they don't get on and help you find another. :)

Good luck

[mumnosbest]

thanks. would the rspca do this? i cant think of anywhere else local but will look online too.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Aw, poor piggie.

It's probably one of those things out of the blue.
But keep an eye on GP brother in case in was something they ate (have they been outside?)
Have they got too hot overnight? Was there dry sweat on him?
GPs with heatstroke tend to lie flat out (not like when they curl on their side, banana like -or croissant in the case of GP2)

There was probably nothing you could foresee, GPs do that sometimes, quietly.

Let the DC see him if they're old enough. They'll see his little still body and see he's gone quietly.

A complete clean out is a good idea anyway, to eliminate the risk of anything being in there.

Then you can start the search for your new little boar.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

IIRC - the RSPCA recommends GP boars should be neutered.
So they might suggest a neuter + female GP.

You'd have to risk an operation, and he'd need a period of time to become streile.
But he's young still, if you considered that route.

Phone a local rabbit rescue and see if they have any guinea-pigs. They'll know of some GP rescues most likely.
Or there might be some 'fosterers' looking after baby GP until they are old enough.
alot of owners will dump a pg sow.

(I got my boars via a rabbit rescue. Nearest GP one was 25 miles. They had lots of single female they could match up)

[mumnosbest]

they have beeb out but they've only eaten grass, hay and wagg food. he was wet but must have been laid there a while so probably morning damp/dew. He was laid on his side but not curled up so possibly heat stroke then. im amazed he was still there as both next door and us have cats.

Dont want to put my other little pig through an op so will check out other rescues. will he need a baby friend or an older one?

I dont want to lie to the dcs but maybe theyd be happier thinking hed run away. i always said kids learn to cope with death through pets but its different now its my dcs. they'll be heartbroken :(

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

If you have a 2 yo old boar, you'd be best with a baby boar.
Adult:adult match ups are difficult.

Baby boars won't be seen as a threat but keep an eye on them when they get to the terrible teens, they might try to overthrow the older male .(Lots of threads on here about matching up and how to introduce them)


WRT to your DC- you know your children best, but if you tell them GP has run away, they'll be out looking for him, worrying about him and worrying about your remaining one doing the same.
And why would your GP run away?They might think he wasn't happy.

All animals die, DC face this well.
When my DC were about 4 and 6 our elderly cat had to be PTS. They saw her body and helped to bury her, so accepted itwell.
(I didn't say she had gone to sleep, or mention needles, or the vet 'killed' her. But they saw her still perfect, still body)

[mumnosbest]

my dd still talks about our cats brother who shes only ever seen in photos. shes a bit of a softy and gets upset that our cat misses her brother. i can see a repeat of this with the gps. ds is 7 and would be ok but dd is 4 and would be upset. last year our budgie did escape and fly away. both dcs are quite happy believing hes out there with a little budgie family.
im becoming a compulsive liar when it comes to dcs: santa, toothfairy, wild budgie colonies and now possibly houdini gps!

[mumnosbest]

thanks 70 great advice

[FernieB]

Sorry to hear about your GP. I don't know what I would do if one of my boars died - the 2 of them have a love-hate relationship but would be lonely without each other. I would try the RSPCA or a rabbit rescue to help you find a match.

As for telling your DC's - I would be direct and tell them he died. Kids will worry about a run away pig and may think it's their fault. They soon come to terms with the death of a pet. When our rabbit died (in my arms) last year, mine (and their younger cousins) viewed the body, stroked her, helped with the burial, made a gravestone (chalked on a slab), laid dandelions on it and held a very entertaining funeral - all their cuddly toys came and delivered eulogies. I was heartbroken so this actually really helped me. They still visit the grave (in my parents garden) and leave dandelions for her and sometimes chalk a new message/picture on the slab.

[mumnosbest]

Oh Fernie I'm welling up at your rabbits funeral, don't know if I could handle our own :(

[FernieB]

TBH I was also welling up at our rabbits funeral but it was tears of laughter - the way they did it was hysterical.

[mumnosbest]

Ooh you are heartless

[FernieB]

That makes me sound callous doesn't it! I had been up all night with a sick rabbit and was very tired and upset, so the funeral came as much needed light relief and really helped us all. The kids sorted it all out themselves - we just attended the service - it gave them something to do and kept them so busy that day, they hadn't really got time to think about her too much. They were upset the next day and for a few days after, but accepted it quite well.

[mumnosbest]

No it doesn't, it sounds lovely. I'm just waiting for DH to get back then will decide what to do. He's very matter-of-fact and will probably just tell them.

[mumnosbest]

ok so ive told a porky to the dcs and although theyre not over the moon, theyre happy that he has probably found a little piggie wife.

now to sort my boy piggy out. ive found a local gp rescue and am waiting for a reply. i cant believe how many gp lovers there are out there!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

DD and I went to Pets@Home today to buy niace hay (and yes to ogle baby guineas)

When the boars are out at grass all day they have a "dry" supper (boring they shriek) so I'm treating them to some Timothy Hay to eat (bedding hay is 'normal' )

There was the cutest little black and white long haired GP. I think female, I saw one rump and it definately looked like the female pen.

She had the sweetest tiniest little porquipine nose. (like our little black boar)

No, we didn't buy her. But I can 100% see why people buy baby GPs on impulse.
That doesn't mean I condone buying baby GPs on impulse...

[guineapiglet]

Hi - very sorry to hear about your guinea - it is hard losing them - I think you have had lots of good advice - have had a number of rescues to 'add' to the 'herd' over the years, it does take time and it is worth it - not sure if you have Freecycle in your area, if you have try and get a separate hutch and run for a while, the new guinea will need to be introduced slowly, so that they can see and smell each other, - tbh insome cases, it took months to get them fully attached to each other, but it can be done. Guinea rescue or the RSPCA will help you do this... good luck, it will be worth it, just a bit of work needed to begin the process!

70 - I know how you feel, I loathe P@H but I do love looking at all the babies scootling around and their lovely smell - we had a monochrome guinea girl, Eliza, and I swear she was psychic, she would be wherever you looked - looking back, if that makes sense, miss her terribly, she was like my touchstone.