Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Putting both guinea pigs to sleep?

40 replies

Notmytelescope · 15/01/2026 15:39

One of my pair of 6 year old male guinea pigs is poorly and it’s not looking like a good outcome. He has stopped eating properly, he’s looking hunched with spiky fur. The vet has agreed that more treatments is inappropriate and he just has pain killers. I think we will need to pts in the next few days 🥲

This leaves me a big question about his partner. They have been living alongside each other as neighboars for about the last 2 years after their bond broke down. I am really worried about having a single pig. Unfortunately I am not in a position to adopt more piggies and I think he’s too old to be rehomed now?

Part of me wonders if I should consider putting both to sleep at once to save the other pig the emotional stress of being an only - he’s in fairly good shape though. - although has had teeth trouble and bladder stones…

Has anyone else considered this route for elderly gps?

OP posts:
AmberStoat · 15/01/2026 15:54

We had an elderly pair of boys and one passed away. We also didn't want to get into a "loop" of having to get a younger pig to keep the older one company, but he was fine! Lived another year or so and seemed happy enough doing his usual things. We did give him a bit more attention, but whether he appreciated that or not is difficult to tell!

Original poster
Notmytelescope · 15/01/2026 17:47

Thank you. It’s reassuring to hear that it was ok with a singleton.

OP posts:
idontcareabouttennis · 15/01/2026 17:49

Ours was fine too when one died. In fact, he seemed happier - much friendlier and less shy,I wondered if he didn’t actually like the other one and we never knew! So see how he goes, give him lots of love and hopefully he will be ok. I’m sorry for the other piggy, I hope you will all be ok, it’s very sad when you have to make that decision.

Isobel201 · 15/01/2026 18:15

if you said their bond broke down, then surely the other guinea pig won't be missing the company too much? I'd see how he goes.

jonahpops · 15/01/2026 18:26

I’m not sure a vet would consider putting down a perfectly healthy animal. The decision may not be yours to make.

situps76 · 15/01/2026 18:29

I would ask the vets opinion on it. Or see how he goes and then decide.

Weirdquestion1 · 15/01/2026 18:38

I would see how the other one reacts in this situation. It isn’t like two completely bonded litter mates where both are in bad shape.

Keep a close eye on weight and other signs of stress.

Chefpig · 15/01/2026 18:43

Please don't habe the healthy one put to sleep. I'm sure he'd much rather be alive and enjoying life than his tiny little life cut shorter than it already is as a guinea pig. Give him lots of cuddles and attention. Shower him with love and he'll be fine. I currently have three boars all living separately but side by side but have had single boars before and they have been fine and even turned extra tame once they're on their own as they get your full attention rather than having to vy for attention with other piggies. Love him til his last moments with all your might.

Destiny123 · 15/01/2026 18:49

Had 8 guinea pigs they've always been happy solo with extra cuddles

BarbarianBabs · 15/01/2026 18:56

So sorry to hear about your unwell piggy.

We also had one pass away and the other lived for another two years and was happy as anything - possibly a little bit happier as previously the other was a little dominant!

ours were indoor guineapigs so they always had someone talking to them, were always watching what we were doing etc.

if yours are not living in with your family I’d recommend bringing indoors to make sure loneliness doesn’t set in.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/01/2026 20:28

6yo is guinea-pig middle age but as you know they get health problems
As they are Side-By-Side ( which we had to do at times with our pigs) then the boar who is left will be used to his own space and taking himself off to his own bed . If you keep everything of his as it is then hopefully he'll carry on .
He will need lots of human company , it is really difficult when you have an older solo piggie.

You could add a cagemate m it would be best with a very young boar ( piglet ) but there's no guarantee they'd get on. and you end up in the endless guinea-pig spiral .

We had three oldies who were our last out of eight over the years .
Two sows who were a pair when we got them and a castrated boar who'd had two wives before .
When one sow was euthanised we bonded the remaining sow and the boar . He had to be euthanised , we kept the last girl in the bedroom to be near DD . This piggie survived an eye ulcer ( I thought she'd lose her eye ) then quietly slipped away a couple of days after the Vet gave her the all clear ! Her eye healed , she kept her sight , but it was her time .
This group was over a period of 6 months we lost them.

When your boar is ready to go to the Vet .
Spoil him. Cuddles and his favourite food .
Take the other pig is you can. All our euthanised piggies had their cagemate at their side so this was the last thing they saw . They heard our voice but they saw their friend.
Please stay with him. It is not a pleasant thing to watch but for the sake of your guinea-pig be there at the end for him Sad
Ours were injected first to sedate them then again ( after we'd said our goodbyes) to complete .It was calm . ( Some vets use a sedative gas first .)
One of my little sows peed on the table "Yes you can clear that up, matey"

And let your other piggie see the body and grieve . We always put the body in the cage for a few hours or overnight so they didn't think we'd whisked them away .
Your remaining boar might thrive or he might fail to thrive .
You have the option of "borrowing" a short term loan ( provided nothing infectious) . I'd not want to give them back though!

Good Luck .
It never gets easier does it ?

ThatFairy · 16/01/2026 20:52

I don't think you should take it lightly to have a healthy animal put down. Please don't do it

tinyspiny · 16/01/2026 20:56

We have a 7 yo solo piggie , she outlived her 2 friends and she is happy as Larry as long as someone provides cucumber and corn regularly .

hottentot · 16/01/2026 21:09

He will be fine

We had one who died aged 3. His brother lasted another 4 years 😊

Thewonderfuleveryday · 16/01/2026 21:31

A lone piggy in a cosy house will be fine. I had my final old piggy for two years when their companion passed away. They lived in the living / dining room. They could hear the fridge and salad bags crackling from there.

Pearshapedpear · 16/01/2026 21:36

Good grief why would this even cross your mind OP?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/01/2026 21:37

They could hear the fridge and salad bags crackling from there

My DD always says you can tuck a guinea pig up at your neck and say "Let's go and see what's in the fridge" .
They have ears on elastic if there's any rustling sounds "We have mouths and we're starving " .....
You cannot eat a bag of crisps without an audience Wink

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 16/01/2026 21:38

We’ve been left with single pigs on a number of occasions, they’ve always been absolutely fine to be honest.

bunnygrav3 · 16/01/2026 21:40

My lone pig lived 3 or more yrs after his mates died. There are also probably local people with herds which he could fit into if you think he needs friends

onceagainforrose · 16/01/2026 21:41

I’ve had a lone one now for three years, including weeks at a time when we’ve looked after other guinea pigs for friends and tried to introduce them. She really didn’t seem to enjoy the others being around. It has been ok.

Sausagescanfly · 16/01/2026 21:45

I'm fairly certain one of ours died of loneliness, so it does happen. We had an accidental litter due, so intended to pair him with a baby a few weeks later, but he didn't make it that far.

One of the rescues I follow recommends pairing them up again as a matter of urgency. I'm not sure if it really is urgent, but I wouldn't leave one of mine as a solo pig again.

I'd see if a rescue could take him, so that he would be paired up or live side-by-side with another.

hottentot · 16/01/2026 22:06

Our lived indoors and always heard the fridge

He heard us around and this seemed to be enough 😊

CryMeASliver · 16/01/2026 22:06

@Notmytelescope I had a similar situation a few years ago but my two elderly pigs were bonded sisters. One got poorly and the other whilst healthy, had cataracts and was going blind.

When I took her sister to the vet, I took them both. The vet was clear that the only option for one of the pigs was PTS. However, they did also gently suggest the other one went with her. The reason behind it was because they were bonded, the other one was likely to suffer the loss and there was a high risk she too would quickly end up poorly. Losing a bonded mate is very stressful for some piggies.

It was not an easy decision but we decided alongside our vet that it was the kindest thing to do in the situation. I’m not sure if I would have made the same decision if they weren’t bonded, but in our case it made sense.

We also have another bonded pair who are reaching old age and I would make the same decision again if it comes to it.

hottentot · 16/01/2026 22:09

If you live in Kent try April Lodge Guinea Pig Rescue near Eastry 😊

Chefpig · 17/01/2026 16:01

Hi op, what have you decided to do? If you are really thinking of euthanasia for your healthy piggy still, please let me take him. He'll have a lovely life with me and my other piggies.

Swipe left for the next trending thread