Anyone know about Guinea Pigs?

[ilove2patch]

Amy had two boy Guines pigs up until last night. Peanut has died. They were both the same age from different litters. Nearly two years old. We are reading conflicting things about introducing a new companion. Any advice gratefully received.

[*chez*]

we used to breed Gps and rabbits.. we found with both that you could introduce a new male.. as long there wasn't a female around ( didn't have to be in the same hutch. just within smelling distance). As soon as the males could smell female they would fight to be the dominent male.

hmmm. sounds like a typical evening in the local nightclub!

[ilove2patch]

Waiting for lonesome George to arrive with family in tow.

[vamo48]

Oh dear, sorry, I didn't know it was now not recommended! Just thinking back to ones I've known - we used to have the school ones to stay during holidays!

[ilove2patch]

George is here & seems to be eating so probably not pining too much. How do you know if a GP is happy? lol They are not going to get another one unless he shows signs of being sad. He will get lots of fuss & cuddles.

[*pixachu*]

I'm not an expert, but have guines pigs and have read up a lot about them to make sure ours are happy...

Guinea pigs make all kinds of sounds.... and the distress ones are quite noticeable as a scream/high pitched wail. As long as George is making little chatty sounds/squeaks, maybe he will be ok?

Change can be really stressfuls for piggies. I worried when I sent ours to their holiday home but they were fine, and seem to settle easily to any changes we make to their housing etc. 

There is lots of info available on the guinea pig forum - I go there when I need advice. I am sure I have seen people mention that they have introduced a baby pig to an older lonesome one, and rescues are probably the best place to find a new friend. Boys are harder to get along, but I am sure if you ask on the forum someone will give the best advice 🙂

These are our piggies - 

[fishpieface]

Aaaahhhh, they're lovely Pix.

That's right, they make little chirruppy/squeaky sounds usually and one of my neice's piggies

actually makes a sound like a cat purr when he's cuddled and stroked - he's so happy, he can't

get enough cuddles!

I think you would recognise a distress sound, probably from any animal, as it would be a sound

you may not have heard from them before and not associated with security and happiness.

I remember when my little cat from when I was a child had feline leukaemia, she got along

ok for so long then, one night after I was married but just happened to be at Mum's, she

made a sound I'd never heard her make.  I knew that, sadly, it was time to let her go and hubby

and I made a sad journey to the vets.

A lonely little piggy may not make a distress sound but could just be generally unhappy/disinterested

in stuff around him, seem a bit depressed.

Oh I want some more piggies now!

[ilove2patch]

He seems really fine. Amy gave him lots of love & cuddles today & he peed on her lap in gratitude! lol

[merc1_clocks]

pix..what a healthy-looking pair of Guinea Pigs you have

[*pixachu*]

Aww thanks Patch. That was a few months ago when they still lived inside. They are now bigger but still so clean and shiny. I think the secret must be that they love eating peppers. Apparantly very good for them as high in vit c, and easier to keep in the fridge than a massive cabbage. And they don't love cabbage. They do have other stuff sometimes, but mainly it's peppers 🙂

When they lived inside there was a fridge in the room and when they heard the door open they would wheek for peppers!

Now I rattle the tub and they go crazy 🙂

I'm glad George sounds happy. 

[*pixachu*]

Oops that should have said "Thanks Merc 🙂 "