How can I help my guinea pig through the grieving process after the loss of her cagemate?
My four year old guinea pig just lost her six year old cagemate this morning. How do I help my remaining guinea pig through the grief process? How long should I let her grieve on her own? How soon afterwards should I introduce her to a new cagemate? Would giving her two new cagemates as opposed to one be harmful or beneficial?
Answers ( 1 )
As someone who has owned guinea pigs on and off my entire life, I feel your (and your guinea pig's) pain and I'm sorry for the loss of your pet. I have found that once a guinea pig has reached adulthood, the introduction of another guinea into the living area is generally not in the best interest of either piggy. The best thing to do at this point is to give your piggy a lot of extra time with you, out of its enclosure to exercise, and for you to step up as the piggy's closest companion. A new guinea could create even more stress for your current guinea. If you are truly wanting to add another guinea to the home, I would recommend separate enclosures with supervised time together in a space where both piggies have plenty of room to interact or seek isolation as they see fit and then over time allow them to spend more and more time together. In the end, a solo guinea pig can adjust if their human is there for love and companionship.