(Feel free to tell me I'm being silly if I am!)
Last week a friend of mine bought one guinea pig (from Pets at Home) for her dd (3yo). Ever since I found out it's been really bugging me - I had a couple of guineas when I was 12 and got very attached and afaik, unless advice has massively changed, they're far too sociable to just keep one, especially by choice (my last one was on his own for a couple of months but he was very old and I didn't want 2 more so it made sense).
Both parents work and have busy lives so I can't see how the piggie will have more than an hour contact a day at absolute maximum, the dd involved is lovely but VERY boisterous so possible 'squeezing' instances give me the willies, the family have a barely half-trained Westie terrier as well (I know piggies and dogs can coexist but that seems a bad match to me!) and I just keep thinking about poor lonely piggie left on his own.
On the other side of the fence it doesn't make me 100% objective that I'm jealous they just waltzed out and got one - I would LOVE piggies, I've got whatever the equivalent of being broody is for getting some, we've been considering getting some for ages but space is an issue and it's not something I could just make a decision about on the hop without being 100%.
Question is though (after all that ramble) - should I just ignore it and wish them well with their piggie or, as sensitively as poss, point out it's not ideal to have one alone and the terrier (let alone the dd) might be a problem?
Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
Small pets
Friend just bought ONE piggy for her dc's - would you say something or am I being silly?
Piggyhead · 19/04/2014 08:50
I would say something. Just say you've read that they get very lonely on their own so it might need a friend.
A friend of ours terrier got into our ginny run and killed one of ours
she will soon find out what a nightmare a terrier can be with small animals. But she'll have to manage that and keep them apart.
Id have to say something or I'd have a lonely pig in my conscience
Is illegal to own single guinea pigs in Switzerland... Maybe use that fantastic fact as conversation starter?
Thanks, I think I'll try and say something lightly, without sounding too judgey. Unfortunately I can't offer handling help as we live 3 hours away and aren't visiting until June. Thinking about it last time we went in Pets At Home (to get dog food for DM, well DM's dog - not to get live animals 
) we looked at the piggies just to coo and there were definitely signs up saying they should be kept in pairs (or more) but don't know if it's the same in all stores.
Uri - it's definitely not about selling more in this case, they really do need a LOT of attention and afaik, you'd need to be around as much as you would for a toddler to avoid them getting bored on their own, whereas another pig keeps them company. Not heard about problems with being related, but it's been a long time since I had mine, though mine were 2 sisters and got on brilliantly.
Quick post, I'm meant to be getting ready 
i believe two males will fight - 2 males can fight that is true but it's not a given. 2 males need more room and they establish (and re-establish) their pecking order. But it's this belief that has far too many solitary males. . We had an adult male pair then when one died, we introduced a very young male piglet to the older boar. They are lovely (yes they have tussells but no fighting)
P@H have signs up saying the GPs should be in pairs so unless your friend insisted on just having one, I would be very 
that they went against policy. I've been in P@H when a woman came in and the first thing the salesman asked was "Have you got a GP already"?
The human contact- yes they love cuddles and chat, but it's like being in a room with someone who speaks a foreign language . You can say
"Oh it's a lovely day, I hope I can go out. What's for breakfast"
To be told
" Xuhttyyy RRRddggtgy"
Makes no sense and it's not a conversation.
GPs interact. Ours chat (even though GP2 was silent apart from purring or grunting). GP3 prattles away as he goes about his daily life. They need that.
If you play a video of GP noises, see how they perk up and chatter.
And , sadly, chances are the 3yo will lose interest. It's better for the pigs to have company and two isn't any more work than one TBH.
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Hope you don't mind me asking a question as well OP? We've just rehomed a young male piggy. He was all on his own and looked so sad. Anyway I intend to get him a friend and thought as he was young (under a year) another male would be fine? Is that right? Should I be getting a young male? I wanted to let him settle for a few days before we got another but am now worried he's been lonely for a long time.
Also he has a sticky patch on his back since coming here, scent glad I'm sure but is this normal and is this because he's now in a new cage? Piggy is indoors, draft free and cosy but looks sad .
I'm a bunny person normally so this little chap is a new venture for us.
ilove
a companion male for your boar would be lovely for him (I always worry about the length of time a lone pig is on it's own- indoors they have the household chatter but when they house is quiet or if (like mine) they are outside, they must sit and think "Well this is boring"
We had two bonded boars (brothers) from Rescue , about a year when we got them.
When one died last year, my DD wouldn't even consider her precious biy being neutered so we got a piglet.
(Boar is now 3.6 and the piglet boar is now 10 months)
I phoned a Rescue they had a new intake of boars arriving the same week, so we took GP to meet a 6 week piglet who came to live with us
The Rescuer did say she'd matched a couple of very laid back adult boars but that's more unusual.
If you contact a Rescue, they might have a singleton that you could match up on neutral ground and they can give them a Boar-Date.
Or there might be some piglets ( we saw some who were still with their mum. Boars can wean at 4 weeks so you can get a very little one but you'd need to make sure they didn't smell of the mum pig. Dirty used non-sow bedding and baby wipes to disguise the smell maybe? )
Sticky patch is most likely the grease gland but double check he hasn't got an open area that he's niggling with his teeth.
GP1 used to get a 'tail' from his greasegland when it got manky, but it's ok now. DD gives him a rub with shampoo and a Bum Dip.
Boar-Glue on the other hand......
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.