My son and daughter each got a guinea pig from the same litter about a year and a half ago. Unfortunatly my daughters guinea pig has died. The two of them seemed to spend more time shoving each other out of the way, I was told they were just playing but I'm not so sure. Anyway now poor piggy has gone the other has gone very quiet. For the last couple of months it has just sat there in it's cage doing nothing. It eats and drinks fine and loves being handled. When you let it out of the cage for a run most of the time it can't be bothered it just sits there. It does run about on occasion so theres nothing preventing it from doing so. I've tried giving it bits and bobs to play with and it isn't bothered, the guinea pig isn't ill by the way! Plus this guniea pig has been totally silent (literally) since the other guinea pig died. What can I do???

I had thought of getting another guinea pig but I have my suspitions that this one was a bit of a bully with the one that died. Plus my daughter has a hamster although would be quite happy to look after a guinea pig too!!! I think my sons guinea pig is about 2 years old now. Can't stand to thing the guinea pig isn't happy :(

Is the guinea a male or female....???

I have two females and although not from the same litter and they seem to get on fine, although one of them is more the 'alpha female' - always first to feed and more nosey etc!!


In time your guinea may just 'get over it' as he/she is obviously grieving for their loss and feeling quite fretful at the moment!! I wouldn't rush out and buy another just yet or mix this one with others when he/she may not be ready for company just yet!

When I was a child my sisters guinea died before mine and as my mother said we were getting too old for anymore little pets she lived alone quite happy for another couple of years - although she did initally fret over her loss!


Good Luck

:)

Both the guinea pigs were female. I just feel so sorry for her sat there doing nothing.....:( Plus we miss the noise she used to make!!!

Thanks for the advice!!

We've owned lots of guinea pigs over the years. Unfortunately they just do not get on well on their own and usually fail to thrive after a hutch mate dies. Whilst they may look like they are 'grieving', they are used to living in social colonies and therefore just don't cope alone. It's quite a sad situation as they also rarely get on with another guinea pig if introduced unless they are still both babies, and going through the introduction procedure is long and fraught and involves keeping them separately in adjacent cages for some time. New guinea pigs are also usually smaller and younger and subject to being bullied.

Sadly they don't tend to live too long alone after another has died. Is she kept indoors? If not, moving her into an indoor cage where she has constant human company would be a good idea, as would handling her as often as possible. I hate it when I get into this situation it's so heartbreaking!

I used to keep guinea pigs years ago and had a few females, i always kept them in pairs and even changed or added to the pairs at times, i never found any that didn't get on after a introduction period, guinea pigs are very sociable animals and you will find yours will get her old chirpiness back if you introduce her to a new friend.

As a guinea pig owner Id say definately try and get her a mate. If you dont want another I'd suggest either rehoming her to someone else or maybe try a little mirror on the outside of the cage. One of my piggies hates being on her own but hates other pigs and this cheered her up a bit. If you want anymore help or have any other questions please feel free to pm me!

when I was a kid me and my broth both got a guinea pig (males) they got on fine, but after a few weeks my brothers died.

My pig went very quiet etc so after a few months we decided to get a dwaf rabbet (male) and they got on fantastically. if the pig was quite, the rabbet would nudge him and visa versa.

I would NEVER suggest getting a rabbit with a guinea pig. GP's cant make thier own vit C so need thier own food and also rabbits are prone to kicking the piggies.

Many times I've been phoned to remove a dead piggy cos its been kicked by a rabbit

I would NEVER suggest getting a rabbit with a guinea pig. GP's cant make thier own vit C so need thier own food and also rabbits are prone to kicking the piggies.

Many times I've been phoned to remove a dead piggy cos its been kicked by a rabbit

I'm sorry to say but I agree with this. GPs need fresh greens and bunnies can be prone to loose droppings (Sorry can't spell the d word!!) if they have too much

bear in mind this was a dwarf bunny - the gp was almost the same size as the rabbit. it never caused a problem my my guinea pig or bunny and the gp lived for 6 yrs and the bunny for almost 7.

they had a huge run built round the walls of an outdoor shed and after the gp died the bunny pined for him and it wasn't long after that the bunny died.

no need to be over protective.....(thats what i believe anyway)

I have a rabbit but keep them seperate. It's a hard one, i want the guinea pig to be happy not distress it any more!! I may have to just see how she goes!! thanks for everyones advice!!

Tracy

bear in mind this was a dwarf bunny - the gp was almost the same size as the rabbit. it never caused a problem my my guinea pig or bunny and the gp lived for 6 yrs and the bunny for almost 7.

they had a huge run built round the walls of an outdoor shed and after the gp died the bunny pined for him and it wasn't long after that the bunny died.

no need to be over protective.....(thats what i believe anyway)

You were quite lucky they were ok. Advice for anyone considering doing this in the future is not to - dwarf bunny or not. Even though the rabbit is small it still has large powerful hind legs which can kick the guinea pig. The dietary requirement differences are also a major incompatibility and will result in the illness and potentially shortened life of one or both animals. It isn't being over protective it's about doing proper research and providing appropriate care for pets you choose to keep.

Kittenta - Perhaps you could move the guinea pigs and rabbits cages together so they can smell each other and interact through the bars without any risk of the guinea pig being harmed? Any distraction or amusement for her is a benefit.

Do bunnies sometimes harm each other with their kicking then? or are guinea pigs just more delicate?

Do bunnies sometimes harm each other with their kicking then? or are guinea pigs just more delicate?

Guinea pigs are far more fragile than rabbits and have a more delicate bone structure which leaves them more susceptible to internal injuries. Their heads are also at bunny kicking height, and another rabbits head would be much higher.

Also, most rabbits carry a type of bacteria called Bordetella which doesn't harm them or cause any symptoms, but causes respiratory diseases in guinea pigs.