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Original poster

Advice for remaining Guinea Pig needed please

20 replies

MissStrawberry · 11/09/2013 09:18

As on my other thread we had to have a our 5 year old boy GP put to sleep this morning after finding him very quiet and still this morning at 7. We have a remaining 6 year old girl GP and have brought her in and put her in the indoor cage. What do I need to look out for as I suspect she may even die of a broken heart Sad. They were so close.

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 11/09/2013 11:06

Hi again, i imagine you are having a rotten morning after losing your boypig. Just read Fortified's post, and would tend to agree, if you can bear to move her to his body to say goodbye, she will then in her own animal way instinctively know he is no longer there :( It is a horrible thing to do, I know.

The other one will definitely pine and be very sad, they really do, they are so close knit, and as both are quite elderly, would have been 'life partners' , so like us, they will grieve. It is really sad for the one who is left, so they need to be in with you all as much as possible, even a cage where there is stuff going on, and will need lots of tlc, attention and looking after by your children, you can make them her 'nurses' and give them little jobs to do, like chopping her veg, cleaning out her bowls etc and talking to her. Focus on her, and make this stage of her life as sociable and companionable as possible. :(

Original poster
MissStrawberry · 11/09/2013 11:35

She is in now for the foreseeable future and will only go back into the outdoor hutch if the weather is warm and she manages okay on her own. I am terrified she will die before the kids are home from school of a broken heart.

They really loved each other. When they were apart as we carried one at a time to put them out to play they would squeak like mad when back together as if to say where have you been?!

Will she survive until tonight when DH can let her sniff his body? I really can't cope with picking him up. I am scared. I know it is stupid but I could barely cope with putting the lid on his box to move him away from where the cats go.

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FernieB · 11/09/2013 13:37

Not everyone can cope with that kind of thing. It's fine. Letting her sniff him would be good if you can manage it.

She's an elderly lady so will probably be content to be where you are and as guineapiglet says, just give her lots of attention. When you sit down to watch TV take her as well (my boys enjoyed 'Bake Off' last night) and just involve her. I have an only bunny and he's included in everything from homework to hoovering. She will naturally pine but will adjust in her own way.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/09/2013 13:40

YY when I was down to my last sow of 4 then later my single sow of a pair - they were house pigs (though Free Range indoors. Not so many wires then)

When we tried to introduce New Sow to Established Mum/Daughter Pair the Mum hated her.

fortifiedwithtea · 11/09/2013 15:34

She might like a toy to snuggle into. I personally haven't done it but I've read about people who have on the RWA forum. It needn't be a guinea pig just soft and washable.

They do like their comforts when they get old. My Old Boy lived just past 6 yo. He slept on towels in his 'bedroom' and he liked one end rolled up and he'd rest his head just like it was a pillow.

When we laid him to rest I made him a pillow stuffed with hay and a sheet and blanket from an old top of mine. It still makes me teary thinking about it Sad

FernieB · 11/09/2013 16:35

Yay to trying a soft toy. Current Bun has 2 cuddly toys in his basket and he loves them.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/09/2013 17:09

Those little fleece pet beds are nice ( cat/small animal type)
Easy to wash and lovely for them to cosy into.

(Imagining Fernie holding Current Buns favourite toy distastefully. Wee stains and bunny raisins encrusted on the surface ) Grin

Original poster
MissStrawberry · 11/09/2013 17:41

I have bought them many toys and activity things over the years and they have never played with them! I was told they didn't know how to play but obviously I will buy her a cuddly tomorrow. We have a pets at home so if anyone can recommend that would be great. Will she be okay tonight without?

She finally came out of her den and has had her red pepper but not her carrot. She is chilling out now. GirlCat is a little too interested in her so am keeping her away by clapping and saying a lot of NO.

I am in awe of my children. DD wanted to see his body. DS1 (12) took him out of his box and stroked him on his knee. I stayed with my cat as she was put to sleep and for ages after but I am being silly over Piggy and don't know why. I am scared Blush.

If she is inside does she still need a bed as such? There won't be much room for her to walk around in if I put her igloo bed in there too Confused. Maybe I just put it in at night?

OP posts:
FernieB · 11/09/2013 18:41

Have your DC got an old cuddly toy they would be willing to donate to Girlpig? You don't need to buy a new one, it's just something soft to cuddle up to. An old towel, rolled up, might do the trick. She may not actually be too worried about GirlCat (my pigs find cats very exciting) just so long as GirlCat is not able to get at her.

Kids are brilliant. When Previous Bun died (in my arms), one of my DT's sat with her body and stroked her for ages. The other wouldn't go near but organised the most hilarious funeral I've ever been to.

(70 - Current Bun is quite Angry and would like to point out that unlike the pigs, he is litter trained and does not perform his ablutions in his basket, only in his litter tray. So his cuddly toys are perfectly clean especially as he grooms them regularly. They are slightly black at the moment as he is moulting his black fluff everywhere Hmm ).

FernieB · 11/09/2013 18:46

MissStrawberry - you are not being silly, it's a perfectly normal reaction. You were the one who went through it all with BoyPig and it's clearly affected you. Don't be hard on yourself. You are concentrating on GirlPig which is right as she needs you now. Glad to hear she is eating, hopefully she will settle down and be happy as a housepig.

Original poster
MissStrawberry · 11/09/2013 18:52

GirlPig is out of her den. It is lovely to see her. BoyCat just came in and went in stalking mode when he saw GP. It is possible they could get their paws through the bars if they really wanted too but GP seems oblivious tbh. My previous cat wasn't interested in the GPs but my two new cats are.

OP posts:
Original poster
MissStrawberry · 11/09/2013 20:40

I am really worried she will give up now her companion has gone. Will she die of a broken heart?

This morning she was in the other bit of the hutch from him and I wonder if she was scared that he wasn't well.

OP posts:
FernieB · 11/09/2013 21:25

Maybe just giving him space. Don't worry - you're a great piggie mum. She'll manage in her own way.

Original poster
MissStrawberry · 11/09/2013 21:30

We haven't buried BoyPiggy yet. Too much homework to do and we felt we couldn't do it while the children are in bed, or in the dark Confused.
Must do it tomorrow.

She is out but just chilling.

What a day Sad.

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Original poster
MissStrawberry · 13/09/2013 20:10

We buried our lovely GP yesterday and today I have bought and planted flowers on his grave.

GirlPiggy gave me a fright earlier when she seemed to be sitting funny but on the whole I think she is coping really well without him and seems okay.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/09/2013 20:27

Make sure the grave is fox proof. We've got some really evil ones here (in neighbours garden) my GP2 has been dug up twice even with flower pots (heavy) over the soil. They dug under them (and he's sealed in a zip up bag)

Your DC do NOT want to witness that. Sad

Original poster
MissStrawberry · 13/09/2013 20:32

Fuck.

Will tell dh when he gets back.

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noyouhavehadawee · 13/09/2013 21:13

Misstrawberry, hi, my 6 yr old pig died and left her sister end of June, I too petrified she would die of a broken heart. I also couldn't bare to see thebody and we never did the sniff the corpse thing because I learnt about that after we had buried her! Anyway luckily for us we had light nights and a warm summer so the dc got to totally lavish her - she remained in her outside hutch and we have tried herin the house but even after half hr I get all chesty so my piggy had to stay outside, id say for about 6 weeks remaining piggy sulked, wouldn't free range the garden confidently and generally seemed lethargic and a bit meh... she picked up mid 6 weeks hol and got really really tamer and a bit cheeky - plenty of life in her we think so today we have her a new friend , I debated a soft toy and a snuggle pad but figured thebest thing to cosy up to would be a friend. Hope your lone piggy gets through this difficult time and you never know you may want a friend for yours at some point. I was so upset when Lola died I vowed I would never put my family or myself through that heartache again - I cant resist a piggy though Smile

Original poster
MissStrawberry · 13/09/2013 21:22

She gave me a fright tonight and I thought she was leaving us but she has perked up since. We definitely aren't getting another GP as we have lost 2 animals in four months and I can't bare it any longer. My 8 year old has been heartbroken. We still have animals left but won't add to them.

We now have her in the inside cage. We felt it was mean to leave her outside alone plus it has got colder suddenly. I think she likes being in. Bought her some M&S parsley ShockGrin.

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noyouhavehadawee · 13/09/2013 21:59

M and S!!! wow what a lucky piggy !

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