u/Lucideonix

Max (the bigger one) made a new friend today! I think he suits the name Otto, and I don't have any other name ideas so.. this is (possibly perhaps) Otto! aka fuzzball

Myself and Max lost Kyran, my other guinea pig, recently and he seemed to be very lonely. He also seemed to be relying on a teddy bear I got him following Kyran passing away as a substitute friend (I had read people sometimes get their piggies a teddy bear if they've lost a friend as it can help to comfort them). Most days I would see him cuddling next to it, it was quite sad if the substitute friend thing was the case.

They had a successful introduction, were running around happy squeaking and playfully chasing each other around for ages before going to eat hay together.

The last pic!! Otto in the tent with Max laying beside him outside, Max eventually moved inside the tent to lay beside Otto. I'm so glad they are getting on well together!!!

Edit: ignore the boxes, this is not their permanent enclosure but just the space I was using to introduce them to each other.

Kyran passed away 22/06/26 at the age of 6.

Bit of a rant because I'm really not happy with how the vets handled this.

I took him to THREE different vets, the first two wouldn't take my concerns seriously. He was fine on Thursday, I did notice his personality was slightly off but couldn't quite place why I thought so. Friday he suddenly stopped eating, drinking and pooping. I think this day he had his morning salad, but left a few pieces of pepper which wasn't like him and that also concerned me.

I took him to the vet early afternoon, about 12 pm. She didn't even check his teeth which I thought she should have done. She just squished him a bunch to check for lumps, handed me a bottle of meds, said they'd last a few weeks and to monitor him and sent me on my way.

He still wasn't doing well by night, I had tried feeding him a pellet mixture through syringe but he was just spitting it out. The closest emergency vet was in the city. That vet was not much help either, though she did check his teeth which were fine. She straight up told me he didn't have GI stasis when I brought my concerns with that up and I also got the impression she was annoyed and confused as to why I brought him all the way there in the middle of the night. She knows the distance I came and that it wasn't just a quick cheap taxi, so I don't know why she thought I might be there based on a light 'what if' worry. It was so obvious to me he had GI stasis so I really don't get why she, a qualified veterinarian, dismissed this even as a possibility. She sent me home with a packet of critical care and gave him some there.

He still wasn't doing well the next day and I contacted my vet for a referral to the exotic vet, who the emergency vet recommended. Though she said to give it a few days and "see how he goes" with the critical care and the meds I got from the previous vet. The vet called me back and told me the exotic one was willing to see Kyran asap. I didn't realise this was even further out and had to take a train and 2 buses to get there. It took about 3? hours, I was so scared he was going to die on the way there. I had called an exotic vet closer but she said that legally they can't see him as it has to be the one in connection with his home area vet...?

Anyway, I got him to that vet who was SO much more helpful and she agreed with me that he definitely did have stasis. She was keeping him till I think Tuesday to run tests and monitor him there with the oxygen and meds she had put him on. It turns out he had heart disease and, because of that, kidney disease.

My other guinea pig, Max, I think noticed something was up with Kyran. I don't think he will do well on his own (not that I'd keep him as a solo piggy, just in the meantime). He was so reliant on Kyran. I got Max when he was about 8 weeks old so he has been with Kyran since he was a baby, he is 2 now.

I feel so bad, Kyran was such a sweet boy, very peaceful and gentle. He was very odd for a guinea pig, acted the exact opposite of what you would expect from a prey animal. He never really bolted at any kind of noise and was always up for pets, even coming up to the bars himself to greet me when I was nearby. He acted like a sort of father figure for Max right from the day I brought Max home, he was so willing to share his space and things with him. I am scared he thinks I abandoned him or 'got rid of him' because he was ill. I really hope he at least passed away in his sleep. I hate I wasn't there with him. I don't think I've mentally accepted this quite yet, my brain feels like it's sort of still waiting for the call from the vet to say everything is okay and he is recovering, to come pick him up and take him back home.

I am expecting a call from the vet to ask me what I'm doing. She gave me the option of cremation or home burial. I absolutely hate the idea of cremation but there is zero space in my garden from past pets, tree roots and electrical wires. I don't know what to do. I would appreciate advice on this if anyone is able.