My Piggie had died

[Sookeh]

Not sure if anyone remembers my previous threads about my two piggies, Tyrion and Scruffles and the hell we went through with pets at home etc.

Scruffles was found dead in his cage this morning and I'm beyond devastated. I'm also terrified Tyrion is sick too and that we'll lose him.

This is the second companion Tyrion has lost and he doesn't seem himself at all.

I can't stop crying and I've not told DD yet. Scruffles was totally adored by us both and I tried so hard to keep him well.

I'm just a mess and I'm meant to be taking the kids out for the day in an hour and I'm barely holding myself together.

I've never been this attached to an animal before .

[guineapiglet]

Very sorry to hear about your guinea today - I send you empathy hugs, I know exactly how you feel, - was really attached to ours, and cried for days about one girl in particular - hope that Tyrion is not fretting too much, you will have to give him lots of attention and cuddles as he will be missing his friend. _ It might be worth giving the cage a good clean, and keeping an eye on him, - not sure how old Scruffles was, but guineas just do this, all of a sudden they just pass away - at least it ws peaceful and quick and he didnt suffer. If you are worried about Tyrion do take him for a check over. It may be you are able to track down a new companion when you are feeling up to it, I know it is difficult with boy singletons, but it can be done and we will help you do it!!
All good wishes, hope your daughter is going to be OK as well.

[Myliferocks]

One of our boy guinea pigs died back in february. We thought our surviving one would pine.
How wrong we were!
They always got on fine but the surviving one has loved being on his own!
I'm sorry about your guinea pig.
They really become members of the family with their own unique character.

[Sookeh]

I honestly don't think I could bare to get another one, so think Tyrion will have to be an only piggie. I just couldn't face it.

[alemci]

so sorry Sookeh about Scruffles. i would be exactly the same. they are just such wonderful pets.

[BonkeyMollocks]

Oh Sookeh I am sorry! :(

Is Tyrion one of the original pigs?

[BonkeyMollocks]

Also, when you feel better, it may be worth writing another complaint to P@H!

Thats two young pigs you have had from there that haven't survived. It awful! :(

[Sookeh]

Yes Tyrion is the original pig whose now lost two brothers

I'm just so devastated and DH has said I'm being ridiculous but I nursed Scruffles back to health and invested so much time into it. I'm so sad.

[BonkeyMollocks]

My dh would be the same.

Its hard when you have had them from a baby and bought them back to health.

It just means you are a lovely caring person. How are you dc's?

[Sookeh]

DD is really upset but took her out for a bit and bought her a Zsu Zsu hamster thing called Scruffles.

She's handled it better than I expected, I'm more of a mess than her. Have to bury him tonight when DH gets in but don't know how to go about it . What sort of container should I put him in?

[BonkeyMollocks]

Do you have a old shoe box?

The dcs could decorate it then fill it with shredded toilet paper.

[guineapiglet]

Sadly its another horrible thing you have to do - we got a special stone ( from the beach) to mark the spots where they have been buried over the years, and my daughter wrote a little poem for each of them - its another rite of passage for the children - being a softy, I always buried ours in a shoe box wrapped up in hay, with bits of their favourite food, sounds daft but I knew what they enjoyed in life! Same here, my husband indulged us a bit and we just got on with it ourselves.

The two we got from P at H died within days, and we buried each of them, it was horribly sad, they were so tiny. However P a H refused to give any kind of refund, or credence that it was their fault unless I brought the bodies in. Sickening, utterly sickening.

Hope it goes OK and you will start to feel a bit stronger, you will have to spoil Tyrion tonight.

[ClaimedByMe]

So sorry, one of my piggies died last Friday, it's the third one we have lost, I was devastated, she was the baby and runt of the litter, she was nearly 3 and the vet said she was physically fine. We have got all the guinea pigs cremated through the vet, I got Jessie back today in a wee pink urn, I know its not everyones cup of tea but I have 3 cats so putting her in the garden wasnt really an option x

[Sookeh]

He's in a shoe box now wrapped in his favorite blanket and I am beyond myself. I really need to get a grip.

I've suffered really horribly with depression the past two years but ever since getting the guinea pigs I've found it getting better. It's something just for me and I find it really therapeutic looking after them and I was so proud of myself for bringing him back from the brink when we took him home.

I am at pets at home, furious even. Those poor little things.

Tyrion seems very lost and his poo is a little runny but I think that might be from the cucumber he's been given (more than usual as I'm spoiling him a bit)

DH has thankfully agreed to bury him for me because there's no way I could do it at all.

[Sookeh]

Tyrion seems very lost today and won't come out of his hidey house. I have cuddled with him lots but he just seems so sad .

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Very - I remember you writing about your 2 original pigs (it was your friend who got 'fed up' with them IIRC)

Not sure if P@H would entertain the idea of responsibility though. They give a ridiculously short 'guarentee' on their livestock, but no harm in letting them know this is the 2nd pig from them that hasn't thrived.

Give Tyrion lots of fuss, he'll be forlorn.GPs do suffer depression so keep an eye on him for now.Lots of human company.

BTW- if you do bury Scruffles make sure he's fox proof.
Bad enough to lose him, but more devastating to find he's been dug up and is eaten or all over the garden.

[Sookeh]

How would I make it fox proof? I hadn't thought of that to be honest .

[BonkeyMollocks]

I know it sounds odd...but if you grate a bar of soap and then sprinkle it over the grave it will disguise the smell.

Also make sure he is deep enough in the ground.

:(

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

When we buried our cat a few years back, we wrapped her in a bin bag then a cotton sack (it was a bag my DS sleeping bag came in). For some reason I couldn't bear the idea of the moggy being in just a plastic bag. We put stones on top, then earth.Then a statue of a cat that we'd been given,as a gravestone (and it's heavy, so they couldn't dig under it)

We've got an adult fox in the gardens where I live. It's started leaving little 'presents' on the back door step, so they are coming right up to the house.
I put a heavy plant pot in front of the hogs' door (there's a bolt as well).

Had to lob a plank of wood at it tonight and yell at it (neighbours think I'm a nutter but as several houses have rabbits, and small children, I don't want Foxy to think he can have free rein).

[HmmThinkingAboutIt]

It gets easier. I'm always devastated and hysterical when I loose a pig, but it does get easier. Even with the piggies you get most attached to.

I personally would get a pal for Tyrion and enjoy the times you get with the new pig rather than dwell on the death of Scruffles, if you've loved having piggies so much and found them theraputic. Sadly I've found that piggies really struggle when they are bereaved and often almost seem to die of a broken heart; but if they have a new pal they seem to be able to get over it.

We lost a piggie a 3 weeks ago. He lived with his wife and daughter. Its heartbreaking to see how they react; they know and understand what has happened. They are only just starting to get back to themselves.

If Tyrion won't come out of his hidey house, keep a close eye on him, and make sure he's still eating. Hiding away is not a healthy sign.

[KRITIQ]

I'm so sorry to hear what happened. It is so, so hard. They really work their way into your heart. It hurts when they leave, but they do bring such joy when we have them.

Maybe when things settle a bit you could approach a local refuge to see if they have any young boars looking for a home. Tyrion will need lots of attention and cuddles, but that will be good for both of you!

[Sookeh]

Thanks for the kind words all. Scruffles is now buried in our garden. It's been very sad here these past couple of days. I just miss him .

I'm a bit worried about what Hmm said. Can they really die of a broken heart? Would it be better to get Tyrion another companion asap? Would he even be able to bond with another boy now he's bigger?

He's eating and drinking but is definitely not himself at all.

[BonkeyMollocks]

Gpigs really really need company of their own kind.
I bought Big Pig as a lone pig and after alot of research decided to get another to keep him company. Along came Little pig and the difference was amazing! Granted they have had a falling out since but they are just as happy living side by side so they can still sniff, play and chew each others bums through the bars.

If you are going to get him a friend then find a local rescue/breeder to help you match him up.
My breeder just plonked Big Pig in with about 7 other babies and Big Pig chose Little Pig. Quite fascinating to watch really.

[HmmThinkingAboutIt]

If hes eating thats really good. I'm sorry if I've scared you a bit. That comment before was a bit stupid and thoughtless. I've just seen some piggies really struggle when they've lost their pal and just seem to give up a bit and die very shortly after their mate did, but then he's still really young isn't he?

Some piggies do cope a lot better than others. I think a lot really depends on how bonded they are with another piggie (possibly younger pigs are better equipped to cope and are healthier anyway) and how bonded they are with you. Lots of attention is definitely order of the day right now!

I'm sure he'll be fine; I agree with KRITIQ about letting things settle first anyway before making any decision about a pal anyway. Keep an eye on him and see how he goes. Just cos he's older doesn't mean you couldn't put him with a younger male without any problems. You'd need a young boar though so they establish a heirachry whilst the little one is still small rather than fighting for it when they are older.

FWIW, I have a male who had a pal who died when he was just a year old. He REALLY struggled for a good while before we gave in and got him a wife. We'd planned on them having babies but it never happened. He's now seven and very, very settled and very, very in love with her and can't bare to be parted from her for more than 5 minutes before he starts screaming for her.

[Sookeh]

Don't apologise hmm, I'm just being sensitive, really couldn't bare to lose him as well.

I'm wondering if I could put him with a spayed female? Might that be less problematic?

He took to Scruffles very quickly after our original pig we got with him died (a day after we got him ) so I don't know.

We've just had a cuddle and he seems ok, doesn't seem unwell so will cross my fingers and then in a week or two look into getting him a new friend .

[BonkeyMollocks]

You may have a very hard time finding a spayed female.

Iirc its even more risky to spay a female than it us castrated a male. You very rarely hear of them. Its.not common at all.

Maybe you.could look into castrating Tyrion though. He is still young so would probably cope ok, but consider it carefully. You need a good vet and it would be a fair while.before he is able to go in with a female. I think its about a month but not 100% . Plus you need too weigh up the risks. But plenty come back fine so it is worth thinking about :)

Whatever you do, give yourself time to adjust and see how it goes and how you feel :)