My little girl passed away this morning - what do I do with her cage mate?

[InAPickle12345]

My beautiful little Guinea pig passed away this morning. No warning, no signs, just gone and I'm devastated 😢

What I need advice on is what is best to do with my other girl? They've been together for over 4 years. What should I look out for in terms of signs of loneliness / depressions? Should I automatically get another cage mate for her or should I wait and see how she's coping?

Thanks in advance

[InAPickle12345]

Bump

[InAPickle12345]

Another hopeful bump

[NoraLuka]

I think Guinea pigs aren’t supposed to live on their own. We had this a couple of times when one died and the other was left alone, they were male but I’m not sure if that makes a difference.

We introduced the new guinea by putting them in separate cages right next to each other for a few days so they could get used to each other, then put them properly together in the same cage. They had quite a lot of space with 2 water bottles and feed bowls to stop them fighting over those but they always seemed to use them interchangeably! maybe we were lucky but there were never any fights or anything.

[BiscuitBeast]

Sorry to hear your sad news.

I would suggest monitoring your other GP over the next week or so to see how she is coping. You may find she is absolutely fine to live alone. Alternatively, she may display/vocalise distress and would benefit from having a new companion. There are many GP rescues that would love new homes for their animals.

Keep an eye that she's eating, drinking and active as usual and take it from there x

[mimiku]

I’m so sorry.

When this happened with our Guinea pig, he went off his food for a bit so I was syringe feeding liquid food for him. I also put a teddy in the cage and fussed him lots. I’m not sure if the Teddy actually helped, but it made me feel like I was doing something and helped my then 3yo with it as he picked out the teddy. He adjusted and seemed okay after a few days of syringe feeding.

[InAPickle12345]

Thanks everyone, I took her out of the cage today and gave it a good clean, I've just put her back in and she's eaten a bit but she's up and down the ramp in the cage looking for her buddy. I've put in a Teddy and a new blanket to cuddle up in and I might sleep in the living room tonight to see how she goes.

I'll pick up some liquid food in the vets to have on hand just in case.

I'm just afraid I won't spot signs of loneliness and won't know whether she needs a new buddy. Im out to work all day tomorrow and the thought of her at home distressed is just killing me.

I have another slightly smaller cage that I could make up for her, would a change of scenery be good at this time do you think or could it upset her more?

[Toastandcoldsaltedbutter]

I'm so sorry for your loss and don't have any advice on cavey psychology I'm afraid (canine psychology is my thing), but I do know they are herd animals and need others to thrive. Perhaps ask your vet for advice? You sound like a wonderful, caring owner. So many people just get animals to satisfy their own needs (or dogs to 'love' or baby/cuddle') without a second thought to what the animal actually needs to thrive and be happy. Wishing you all the best.

[Dillydollydingdong]

Just get another one. She'll be lonely otherwise.

[sprigatito]

My guinea pig obsessed friend takes her singletons to a local guinea pig shelter for organised "dating" sessions...apparently it becomes obvious quite quickly whether or not they are compatible, and if they are, she adopts the other pig. Might there be something like that near you? Sorry you've lost your little friend, they may be hairy potatoes but they do seem to have a knack for capturing people's hearts!

[Honeyroar]

Speak to a Guinea pig rescue? They’d give you good advice and might have a future new best friend for yours.

[InAPickle12345]

Thank you @Toastandcoldsaltedbutter maybe I'll just book her a check up with her vet, she has a disability as well so no harm and I can ask the vet for some advice and pick up the liquid food at the same time. I'll call them in the morning.

The thought of getting another pig kind of worries me, no doubt I'll have to go through my other girl dying in a few years again and then you could just be in a cycle of loving and losing these cute feckers every few years, don't know if my heart can take it tbh.

It's really surprised me how much I adore them both. They were pets for my son, but they became very much my girls and I just love them both so much, can't stop crying today with grief for one and worry for the other.

Here's a pic of my lovely girl...

[InAPickle12345]

@Honeyroar

Speak to a Guinea pig rescue? They’d give you good advice and might have a future new best friend for yours.

I've looked briefly this evening and don't see any GP rescue in my immediate area but I'll have a proper look in the next couple days.

It could be an idea to adopt an older girl about the same age so I can hopefully deal with losing them both in a shorter time frame and then call time on my guinea pig keeping if that's what I decide to do.

[InAPickle12345]

@sprigatito

My guinea pig obsessed friend takes her singletons to a local guinea pig shelter for organised "dating" sessions...apparently it becomes obvious quite quickly whether or not they are compatible, and if they are, she adopts the other pig. Might there be something like that near you? Sorry you've lost your little friend, they may be hairy potatoes but they do seem to have a knack for capturing people's hearts!

That's interesting, I'm going to have a look for rescues near me in the next day or two so will keep it in mind.

They definitely capture your heart, silly, vocal little goofballs x

[DropDeadFreida]

I know they're not the best place to look but a lot of Pets at Home stores have an adoption section that usually has small animals, maybe look there if you can't find a local rescue?

[Starlightstarbright2]

We had this . We have had g.pigs for about 11 years . We have introduced new pets but the last one is now living on her own as she is the last one . She spends time with us daily . She has been alone for a year now .

[InAPickle12345]

@DropDeadFreida

I know they're not the best place to look but a lot of Pets at Home stores have an adoption section that usually has small animals, maybe look there if you can't find a local rescue?

I'll have a look at the notice board in the vets as well, I'm in Ireland and there's also Done Deal, an online market place for all sorts, but a lot of small animals for sale/adoption are listed there so I'll check that too.

[InAPickle12345]

@Starlightstarbright2

We had this . We have had g.pigs for about 11 years . We have introduced new pets but the last one is now living on her own as she is the last one . She spends time with us daily . She has been alone for a year now .

And how has she found it? Was she lonely at all to start with? How much floor time or cuddle time every day does she get?

My other girl is pretty independent (and plain cheeky and bold tbh) so it could be likely she'll be okay on her own, I just want to know how I can tell for sure.

[YoongiMarryMe]

My poor boy who was left alone was so depressed without a friend. He’d eat his hay but barely touched his veg and he wouldn’t come out from his hidey. It was awful. Even if he'd looked and acted fine I could never have left hime on his own.
I didn’t want to get into a cycle of always having to get a new piggy when one passed away but it wasn’t about me and I’d never forgive myself for choosing my wants over his needs.

I know this sounds horrible and preachy and I don’t mean to make anyone feel bad but really please do get a new companion or find a new home that has a piggy/piggies already.

ETA: god, what a thoughtless dick I’ve been - I should have said I’m sorry for your loss! Piggy’s are just the best at making you love them and they take a piece of your heart when they die.

[Pinkpinkpink15]

I'm sorry about your little girl. Guinea pigs are just the best! Unfortunately my current house is too small for indoor Guinea pigs. Not enough room for a cage I'd be happy with & not a room that my nose could cope with!

if you find a rescue, they may also let you have a trial period to see how they get on.

they're funny little things, I'm not sure I'd know if they were lonely or whatever, but hopefully with time out with you she'll be fine

we need a photo of the one left alone 💔

[Crazyforcavies]

I'm so sorry, they really are the best little creatures.

[InAPickle12345]

@Crazyforcavies

I'm so sorry, they really are the best little creatures.

I have to agree, they have such big personalities for such little ones. Each of mine have their own quirky traits, one's a goofy nutter who loves (or loved 😢) zoomies and licking your face, the other is just the boss bitch, so bold and rules the roost.

I'm a woman in my mid 30s, house, child, 'big' corporate job, and I'm reduced to a blubbering mess all day. I miss her so much already and I'm worried for my other girl. This is actually so tough

[Mamaof1DD]

Have you considered adopting 2 younger GPs (who are already acquainted)? We did this when one of ours passed young and left our girl by herself. That way, when our older girl passed, we didn’t have a repeat with one much younger left by herself, and when the time came for the younger two to go, they passed within a couple of months of one another.

[Mamaof1DD]

I’m so sorry for your loss :(

[InAPickle12345]

Thank you @Mamaof1DD x And that could be an idea about 2 more younger girls, I'd need to add some more space to the cage but that's doable. And, of course, commit to another 6 - 8 years (hopefully) of pig keeping.

To me, right now, it seems a bit heartless to move on and replace my girl with another so soon. (My dog passed 5 years ago and I'm still not over it and ready to move on with another 🙄) But they're my emotions and I understand that if she needs a companion then we'll definitely adopt

[NoraLuka]

OP your guineas sound like they have a lovely life with you.