Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Small pets

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.

Original poster

Friend just bought ONE piggy for her dc's - would you say something or am I being silly?

26 replies

Piggyhead · 19/04/2014 08:50

(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?

OP posts:
slartybartfast · 19/04/2014 08:55

when did she buy it? if it is some time ago there might be problems socialising it, there might be a cut off point, to adding another?

slartybartfast · 19/04/2014 08:56

i cant see the terrier being a problem. if the guineapig is in a cage.

Original poster
Piggyhead · 19/04/2014 08:59

Think it was last Thursday, might have been Wednesday but no earlier than that. And fair point, but imagined the terrier worrying at the pig when it was let out and also when the pig was in a run/loose on laps etc I can see the terrier getting to it and trying to 'play' with it (terrier has to be kept in another room/behind stairgate from people most of the time as it gets overexcited but it's a master at getting out).

OP posts:
slartybartfast · 19/04/2014 09:01

although we couldnt get guineapigs til our terrier was old, she would have barked and barked!
as it was only last thursday you could broach it, say they are sociable creatures and will live longer if there are more than one. and you are surprised the pet shop didnt tell them that.

Meglet · 19/04/2014 09:02

Two piggies are no more trouble than one. Unless you get two males who take ages to settle in.

I'd be judging the pets at home bit too!

ExcuseTypos · 19/04/2014 09:04

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 oursSad 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.

fridayfreedom · 19/04/2014 09:07

Poor piggy. You are definately not being silly. It gives me the rage when pet shops sell animals who live in groups on their own. They should know better!
I accosted a woman at a local village fair last year who was doing this. She told me the person she sold it too has another one at home so it was ok!
No it's not!! They do not automatically get on, you can't just put two randomly together.
The piggy should have been bought with another from its group.
Bet the child loses interest and it ends up alone all day or in a rescue. Our local rescue gets loads in from kids losing interest so won't rehouse for children.
When my last piggy died his mate went back to the rescue as he was pinning. He stayed for week whilst they found him a new friend. So now I have two happy boys!!

Methe · 19/04/2014 09:08

Id have to say something or I'd have a lonely pig in my conscience Sad

Is illegal to own single guinea pigs in Switzerland... Maybe use that fantastic fact as conversation starter?

TheRedQueen · 19/04/2014 09:10

Leaving aside the stuff about the dog, if you know the friend well enough, I probably would mention that piggies should be kept at least in pairs where possible. It's kinder as they are very much social animals (and in some countries - Switzerland is one, I think - I believe it is even against the law to just have one.)

As regards the potential squeezing, could you perhaps offer your help with showing them how to handle them? When we first got ours, I would have welcomed an offer from someone 'in the know'.

UriGeller · 19/04/2014 09:10

Hmmm. We are looking into getting a guinea pig for our ds. (Or rather I am, then I'll persuade DP).

Many people have said one GP is fine, as long as they are talked to/entertained and that anyone who says I need two is after my money.

I'm not keen on having 2 as its just one more to worry about and if they were same sex or different sexes or related there seem to be problems.

slartybartfast · 19/04/2014 09:16

two girls are good, not sure about being related. you dont want separate sex, and i believe two males will fight.

HolidayCriminal · 19/04/2014 09:26

I'd have to say something. They are communal animals.

TheRedQueen · 19/04/2014 09:33

We actually have separate sex and they get along fabulously (although the male had obviously already been neutered when we got him!).

slartybartfast · 19/04/2014 09:34

of course, if one is neutered that is fine

Original poster
Piggyhead · 19/04/2014 09:36

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 Grin ) 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.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/04/2014 09:44

Quick post, I'm meant to be getting ready Wink

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. Sad. 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 Angry 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.

Meglet · 19/04/2014 09:44

I had varioius combinations over the years neutered male / female (fine), female / female (one was queen bee but they were ok), male / male (fought for a month and had to be gradually introduced or so but were best buddies after that).

Never knew that about Switzerland.

sneakyday · 19/04/2014 09:45

As long as there are no females around and the boys have always been kept together (either rescue or litter mates) then 2 boys are normally fine.

2 is less of a worry than 1 as they wont be lonely.

RedRoom · 19/04/2014 09:57

Say something. People that buy pets from pet shops without doing any decent research about the animal's needs annoy me.

Original poster
Piggyhead · 19/04/2014 10:11

Texted her to ask if they were enjoying it etc and slipped in the 'fun fact' about Switzerland (didn't know that either, thanks!) - she replied saying it had been the last one in the pet shop (got the wrong end of the stick - wasn't P@H, it was a smaller pet shop I'd forgotten was near her) so they thought they should 'rescue' it and they were thinking about getting another when this one has 'settled in'. Lot I could say about that but don't really want to get into a long debate about it with her when I don't think she'd listen, but at least I raised the issue. Thanks for the help.

OP posts:
slartybartfast · 19/04/2014 10:41

oh that sounds kind of promising op.

mnistooaddictive · 19/04/2014 12:03

I was going to say pets at home refused to sell me one on its own- I had to buy two so I was surprised but looks like it wasn't them anyway.

FernieB · 19/04/2014 16:05

Piggy - that sounds better. I'm sure the pig will be happier in a good home than alone in a pet shop. Try to persuade your friend to take the pig 'dating' at a rescue to choose a friend it likes.

UriGeller - definitely 2 pigs not one. Anyone who tells you they are okay on their own does not know pigs. Pet shops are not trying to take your money they are thinking of the animals welfare. If you only had 1 pig you would spend more time worrying than if you had 2 as 1 would be very unhappy and be more likely to suffer as a result.

The main priority when you get a pet is the animals welfare. Research it properly first. If you can't afford the time/money to look after an animal properly then don't get one. Also pets are not really for children as a lot of kids lose interest after a few weeks.

ilovemywestie · 25/04/2014 12:07

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 Sad.
I'm a bunny person normally so this little chap is a new venture for us.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/04/2014 12:20

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 Grin
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......

Swipe left for the next trending thread