How Many? The last guinea pig - opinions - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Duffinvt** · #1 11-02-09, 10:19 am

Another of my "deep" questions.

What do members here do when they have lost guinea pig(s) and are down to their last pig and don't want to or cannot adopt yet again. Kept the last pig to live a life alone? Or rehomed the surviving pig? Just curious. I assume many members in this position are no longer on the boards to comment, but what would you do if this happened to you?

**Tessa Bea** · #2 11-02-09, 11:31 am

Previously, I had one pig left out of a bonded pair. I rescued another pig who ended up being a male, and they had two babies- only one of which lived on. I housed the male by himself and the mother and daughter together, the mother died about a year later and I continued to house the baby alone and the dad alone.

Knowing what I know now, I would have rehomed the father and adopted the orphan another friend.

**alicia09** · #3 11-02-09, 11:36 am

I don't know, it would be fairer to the guinea-pig to rehome him/her so they had company, but I'd probably adopt another guinea-pig, but maybe not a baby one (if bonding etc. worked well) so they could live out the rest of their lives together and die around about the same time. Or, I would try to rehome to somebody that doesn't live too far from me so I could maybe visit the guinea-pig

**JD In Van** · #4 11-02-09, 11:39 am

You can take in another senior pig. Or opt to foster a pig for your local rescue. They're often needing long term homes for single senior pigs and they'll cover any medical costs for said foster pig.

**Duffinvt** · #5 11-02-09, 11:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD In Van

You can take in another senior pig. Or opt to foster a pig for your local rescue. They're often needing long term homes for single senior pigs and they'll cover any medical costs for said foster pig.

JD, I'm saying when you get to the point where you say "no more guinea pigs" (if any of us can ever say that

). You are down to your last one and can't continue to take on any others.

**JD In Van** · #6 11-02-09, 11:50 am

Ahh... I guess it depends then why you're saying no more.

If you're worried about your cavy being lonely you could talk to a rescue and in exchange for a donation of some kind you could find a perminent foster home for the last cavy where he'd have company and you'd still be able to visit him. (I'm likely taking on a senior in a situation like that though our rescue).

**Ly&Pigs** · #7 11-02-09, 12:32 pm

I'm going to be facing this myself. My girls are getting up there in age. Chatty just turned 5 about a month ago and CoCo is somewhere around 5 1/2. I've decided that I will not be getting more pigs after these girls pass on. So when either go first, the other will then be alone until she passes on.

**akstrohm** · #8 11-02-09, 12:34 pm

I think it depends a lot on the pig in question. If your remaining pig is already several years old, then I think it's fair to keep it alone for the last part of its life. However, if you have a baby, I would consider rehoming it.

**Duffinvt** · #9 11-02-09, 01:07 pm

Thanks everyone. Good answers. I hope I don't have to face this decision for many years, but I just thought I'd toss it out for discussion.

**fieryone** · #10 11-02-09, 01:20 pm

I think that I would personally keep the last pig as a lone pig until it passed on. We'd give it extra human attention during that time.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #11 11-02-09, 01:39 pm

I'd keep him and just give him plenty of attention if you are in a position to. Esp. if he is older.

**Fudgenrolo** · #12 11-02-09, 02:07 pm

I'd agree really with what others have said.... so much depends on the circumstances. If it was a young pig, then it would be straight-forward in my eyes - it wouldn't be fair to keep a piggy for a long time on its own. But if the pig was older then it would be case for me personally of weighing things up as to what would be best for that particular pig.

For example; I have kept Fancy Rats for many years. They are sociable animals and should never be kept alone. However I have come to a point where I don't want to get any more rats for a while. (They don't live very long and I've lost a lot of ratties at a fairly young-ish age with this past group which has been especially hard.

)

On Sunday one of my remaining pair of rats died suddenly - she wasn't young - I think she had a stroke or a heart attack. So I only have Daisy left now. Daisy is 26 months old and her health isn't 100%. Besides which; she's a bit of a loner rat. Given her age, health and character I have decided to keep her as a lone rat until she passes on and I'm not going to rehome her. But if she was 18 months old and in good health I'd be rehoming her to someone else for her retirement - hard though that would be.

**frashy** · #13 11-02-09, 05:07 pm

Actually, this happend to me a few months ago. I ended up having to downsize my herd because of a job I had gotten, making it just Grimace and Brobee. Brobee passed away a little over a month ago now. It was pretty sad, but it actually brought me back to this site. Grimmie was gunna be the last pig I had (ironicly he was the first I had gotten out of my recent four), but he is about 3 and there was no way I could ever rehome him. So I ended up adopting a baby boy for him, and since the moment they meet they have been the best of buds, just the way Grimmie and Brobee were. These are probably gunna be my last two, as sad as that is to say!

**ILovesMePiggies** · #14 11-02-09, 05:39 pm

With the last set of pigpigs I had two of my three girls passed away in quick succession and I was told by my parents that I was not allowed any more. The remaining girl, Sugar, was the youngest of the three and in good health (the other 2 pigpigs were 8ish and 7 and a bit when they passed away). Sugar was re-homed to a girl in the village so that she didn't have to keep her singular sow with her rabbits (I even gave her the old hutch, feed bowl, water bottle and remaining food, so she had no excuses on that one). For a while my sister checked regularly to make sure that the "not to be kept with the rabbits" part of the deal was being adhered to (my sister was closer to the girls family, so it seemed less rude if she checked for me and she also helped look after the pigpigs so knew what she was doing around pigpigs), but once we where satisfied that she would take good care of Sugar I let them take care of her as they saw fit.

I feel that this was the best solution given the surrounding situation as it stopped two animals from being lonely and stopped one from definitely getting hurt or much worse, killed. But as has been said the best solution for one might not be for everyone.

**Pulsepoint129** · #15 11-02-09, 06:38 pm

Urgh, this one drudges up some very sad memories of my first three pigs that I had...

My freshman year of high school. It was a year after I first got my first two girls Nibbles and Cuddles. A friend of mine had to surrender her male guinea pig because her grandmother had asthma and emphysema, and her pulmonary doctor told her that the guinea pig was aggravating her then present condition. Rebecca had nowhere else to go with him, so I told her I'd take him in since he had his own cage and everything. So...here I am with my two girls and newly acquired boy. We had only been living in the house for a couple of months, but due to faulty wiring near our Christmas tree, (and given the fact that the house was built in 1810 so EVERYTHING in it was old) our house caught fire. By the time I'd made it to the otherside of the house and into the parlor to get my father and stepmother, (which was actually just an addition to the house) I had COMPLETELY forgotten my guinea pigs. I cannot tell you, to this day, the guilt that I harbor within myself when I remember looking up at my bedroom window, seeing the flames engulf the house. My heart and stomach sank. I remember screaming and running to go back up there to get them, but the firemen and police officers pulled me back and told me to let it go. I just couldn't believe how selfish I had been in wanting to get my father and stepmother out so quickly, that I had completely forgotten my guinea friends. I can't even express to you how much they meant to me, especially Nibbles--she was my first guinea pig ever, and we had a relationship almost of a man and his dog. She was such a loveable, tame, and well-trained guinea pig.

It wasn't for another 3 years before I was open to considering another guinea pig.

**Duffinvt** · #16 11-02-09, 06:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulsepoint129

Urgh, this one drudges up some very sad memories of my first three pigs that I had...

I am so sorry. The thread was just meant for discussion, I am sorry it brought up such a heartbreaking event. I know you must have heard this many times, but you got the humans out of the house. Of course your family was first and foremost on your mind ! You did the right thing, absolutely. You are a hero in my book.

**Pulsepoint129** · #17 11-02-09, 06:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffinvt

I am so sorry. The thread was just meant for discussion, I am sorry it brought up such a heartbreaking event. I know you must have heard this many times, but you got the humans out of the house. Of course your family was first and foremost on your mind ! You did the right thing, absolutely. You are a hero in my book.

No, it's okay Duffin. It's been 11 years now since we lost the house and my guinea pigs. It really only bothers me around Christmastime, since that's when I lost 'em. Actually, I think it's my fault as I read your post too fast and didn't even catch the part about getting a second guinea pig when the first one dies. Gah.

I appreciate your kindness though!

**Toadies** · #18 11-03-09, 01:39 pm

I have had to give this question serious consideration lately. My boys are just approaching 5, but Charlie is not in good health (respiratory problems) and Slick just had malignant tumors removed. What would I do? My heart is tired. I have an aging population of pets and, as dearly as I love my piggies, cats and dogs, I am ready for a break. To loose them is going to kill me (I still mourn a beloved kitty that died 14 years ago - best cat ever). I think I would love the daylights out of my remaining piggie but I would not get more. The losses hurt more, it seems, the older that you get.

**Duffinvt** · #19 11-03-09, 02:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toadies

I have had to give this question serious consideration lately. My boys are just approaching 5, but Charlie is not in good health (respiratory problems) and Slick just had malignant tumors removed. What would I do? My heart is tired. I have an aging population of pets and, as dearly as I love my piggies, cats and dogs, I am ready for a break. To loose them is going to kill me (I still mourn a beloved kitty that died 14 years ago - best cat ever). I think I would love the daylights out of my remaining piggie but I would not get more. The losses hurt more, it seems, the older that you get.

I appreciate your post Toadies. I make no secret that I am a grandmother and, if my piggies lead a long life, I will be in my 60's when they die. I really cannot see continuing to get more pets when they might be someone else's responsibility if I should not be able to care for them. So, I hope to adopt one more now and keep my fingers crossed they live long lives and all die within a short span as I cannot imagine adding a new pet at such a late date. We'll see.

**Seonta** · #20 11-03-09, 02:42 pm

If you are going to go along that path what you could do is adopt an elder-pig who needs love.

"Thank you, JD In Van, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
Duffinvt (11-02-09), sophistacavy (11-04-09)

"Thank you, Ly&Pigs, for this useful post," say these 3 members:
Duffinvt (11-02-09), Peggysu (11-02-09), Wheekie (11-04-09)

"Thank you, akstrohm, for this useful post," say these 2 members:
Duffinvt (11-02-09), Tessa Bea (11-03-09)

"Thank you, Fudgenrolo, for this useful post," says:
sophistacavy (11-04-09)