Loss Guineaye died, What to do now?

[coxbrea151]

My guinea pig, Guineaye, died today at 1:30 pm.
I have another guinea pig, Bella, who is greiving. She hides in the fleece curled up in a corner being quit.

Should I get another guinea pig or should I leave her as a solitary pig. They were really well bonded, and I don't know what to do. I'm not giving Bella up, so I'm mainly wondering if I should get another one or leave her in solitary.

If I do buy another pig, should I buy from a shelter or a petstore. The petstore's in my area treat their pigs farely well. With the exeption of Pet Paridase. All of the females are pregnant and they get all of their pets from mills, while the other ones in my area get their pigs from breeders.

 

[GuineaGuroo16]

I am so sorry for your loss, and I hope your other piggie feels better soon.

I think either way would be fine, but they do enjoy buddies. If you were to get a pig, I would go to a shelter. They are probably healthier and more in need of homes. And try to find a baby or very young pig, they tend to bond easier with older pigs, and cause less stress. But it's all up to yo and if your ready for a new pig.

Very sorry :weepy:

 

[jowasaurus]

I'm sorry for your loss! It's so hard losing a loved one and I hope both you and Bella come out of it okay.


How old is Bella? If she's younger, maybe you can find an older pig to be like her big sister or vice versa if she's a little older.
Either way, I would try to contact a rescue.

 

[betty]

So sorry for your loss. Even these small animals have a way of taking up a large space in our hearts.

Bella would probably really love another friend. Rescues are great places to get guinea pigs becuase you can be sure to get a healthy animal. Secondly, just think how proud you would feel that you rescued a little animal that needed a home. Contact your local rescue and they may be able to find exactly the right friend for your Bella.

If you want we can help you locate a shelter near you.

 

[bpatters]

Do you know what happened to your pig? If you're not sure, or if it was an illness, then wait several weeks before you get another, since you don't want Bella to pass any infection on to a new pig. Death from old age or an accident obviously doesn't present the same problem.

And I would definitely recommend getting the new one from a shelter or a rescue. If you'll post the name of the city you're closest to, we'll be glad to help you find one.

I'm sorry you lost your pig.

 

[cammie0530]

Sorry for your loss. I lost a cavy in 2007. If you piggy is older I would get her a buddy who is a bit younger. She would have someone to look after. If she is younger, get her an older friend. I recommend geting piggies from shelters with good reputations, like a humane society.

 

[Gigabyte]

She's upset by the loss. Animals just know. I recommend a book on pet loss, as I just lost mine. I ordered [h=1]When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing[/h] by Alan D. Wolfelt PhD.

I'd hold her and comfort her for a while every day, let her know you love her. My single pig (RIP GB) loved to have the radio playing softly in his room. I would consider when you're done grieving to ask a guinea pig person like an exotics vet or rescue that specializes in guinea pigs if she needs another friend.

 

[coxbrea151]

I'm sorry for your loss! It's so hard losing a loved one and I hope both you and Bella come out of it okay.


How old is Bella? If she's younger, maybe you can find an older pig to be like her big sister or vice versa if she's a little older.
Either way, I would try to contact a rescue.

Bella is turning 4 years old on Saint Patricks day. I don't know what killed Guineaye, but she got really skinny and got bumblefoot. I was saving up money to cover the vet bills, but she died before I could save up enough. I was thinking of waiting a little while for a new one.

I live in London, Ontario, so any rescue groups that have guinea pigs are really welcome. The London Humane Society doesn't have any from what I researched on their website, which is kind sucks.

 

[Wildcavy]

I am so sorry to hear of Guineaye's passing. I know she's popcorning on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, and I hope that you and Bella can feel that energy more and more as each day passes.

If you decide to get Bella a new friend, and after you are sure she's doing okay physically, you may want to mention to the rescue that Bella was part of a bonded pair. Our local rescue sometimes has a waiting list for sows, but will act quickly to get a new partner for a grieving piggy. You may also want to call the shelter when you get a chance -- ours doesn't list new piggies right away so there can be a few days while they are physically at the shelter and before they appear on the website.

Big hugs to you and Bella!

 

[pinky]

I'm really sorry for your loss. I'd reconsider getting another one until you have a reserve to cover medical bills for them.

 

[rpaws]

I'm sorry for your lost of Guineaye.

If you do get a friend for Bella, definitely got to a rescue or shelter. An experienced rescurer will help you make a match with Bella, find her a friend she likes. The rescue will also have have done quarantine on the guinea pig.

I had one guinea pig Daisy who had enough of being matched and did not want another friend. She wanted to spend her last days snoozing, eating, and listening to the radio. She just wanted to pass the time until she was reuinted with her best buddy Sara.

I had another guinea pig Gypsy who, after the loss of her cagemate, welcomed another friend into her life by the name of Charlotte. Sadly Gypsy passed away about 10 months after this new friendship. I took Charlotte to a rescue and she decided on her new friend Iveagh ("Ivy").

I do agree with what piny said about saying up some money so you can take your guinea pig(s) to the vet if need be.

 

[coxbrea151]

Yeah, I would've had extra money, but since christmas just passed I spent about 120$ (reserve money from my old paper route) on presents. This year has been a hard one and things in my family always go in 3's. My favourite uncle deid of ammonia, my first fish (5 year old betta, turning six) died on the 17th, and guinea died on Chinese New Year (I think, she died yesturday). And in the spring my 36-year old teacher died of a blood-clot to the heart.

I will be saving up money before I get another one, but how much is it usualy for vet bills?

 

[ellisa]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[pinky]

Office visits are anywhere from $30 to $65, depending where you live. Meds, tests, surgery are all extra. Emergency vet care can run in the hundreds of dollars. If you don't have regular income and your parents won't help you out if your guinea pig gets sick and needs vet care, I'd reconsider getting another one. If you can cover the expenses for the one you have and you give it a lot of attention, it would be better off as is. Think of them as part of the family. If they get sick, you'd make sure they get the proper treatment. If you're concerned about covering medical expenses for this one, ask your folks if they'd consider medical insurance for this one. If you have more than one it can get expensive, but is probably more affordable for one. You'd have to weigh the cost vs what it might cost if this one gets sick in the future.

 

[coxbrea151]

thanks, they would cover the expensives if they could. We are a singe income family and we are trying to not be. (also known as becomeing a double income family). I didn't know that there was medical insurence for pets.

 

[hermangp]

So sorry. I got my pair from Piggles guinea pig rescue in Unionville.

 

[louie_joey]

. The petstore's in my area treat their pigs farely well. With the exeption of Pet Paridase. All of the females are pregnant and they get all of their pets from mills, while the other ones in my area get their pigs from breeders.

I am really sorry for your loss.

Your post about Pet Paradise caught my attention. We have one in the Newmarket area, and it is always such a dump with sickly looking animals in poor living conditions, generally very unprofessional looking, that I assumed it was just a one off independent store. Unfortunately, the bad business appears to be a chain! I would adopt another pig when both of you have had some closure and are ready.

 

[coxbrea151]

I am really sorry for your loss.

Your post about Pet Paradise caught my attention. We have one in the Newmarket area, and it is always such a dump with sickly looking animals in poor living conditions, generally very unprofessional looking, that I assumed it was just a one off independent store. Unfortunately, the bad business appears to be a chain! I would adopt another pig when both of you have had some closure and are ready.

Yeah, they don't treat the pigs, hamsters, hedge hogs, dogs, cats, birds, snakes, lizards, rats, mice, chinchilla's, or gerbils right. Unfortionaly they alays have products that is hard to find really cheap. They only treat the fish right. It's sad, they are only in it for the money, not the enjoyment of it.

I do have another question though; Do you think it would be acceptable to get Bella a pair of two bounded guinea pigs? The lady that has a rescue has a pair of two bonded females that are comeing in any day. Do you thinkn she might accept them?

 

[HannibalLecter]

Just make sure the cage is plenty big enough.

The shelter will need(should) quarantine the new pigs first, but once that's done you could ask the shelter if they accept introductions there, where you could bring your pig & see how they get on in a neutral area of the shelter.

While this isn't foolproof, strong aggression will show quite quickly if there is such an issue.

 

[coxbrea151]

The cage is plentlybig. It's a 3X6 C & C cage (with no coroplast). I just upgraded it to that big, and it takes up almost one sixth of my decent sized bedroom! I currently heve the hamster's cage in there (to keep her company, she doesn't scream with her in there), 1 hide (the one she and guineay used to use, she only uses the big one if there is another pig, fleece bedding, a basket full of hay (hanging on the kitchen side), a water bottle (I'll put another one on as soon as I finish sewing another water bottle hanger as I only have one metal one), a cat tunnel, 3 treat sticks, a new salt lick (I threw out the one that Guineay had used, a wooden hide, a large edible log, a small edible treat log, and two stuffies.
I feed her Katee Timothy Complete as it's main ingrediant is timothy hay.
Is this set-up okay? I'll post a pigture of it soon.