Confused over death of guinea pig

Question
Hi,
I had two guinea pigs, a male and a female, aged about 2 years, up until this morning.  The male had wet eyes and seemed to have loose stools for a couple of days, but was acting his normal self. The female seemed fine. However, this morning when I went the hutch she was dead. She had diarrhoea around her rear end. The male was snuggled up to her and screamed when I took her out of the hutch. He now seems really lonely and still has the aforementioned symptoms, but seems fine apart from this. I put him into a different hutch while I scrubbed their hutch clean.
Do you have any idea why she died? They live in a covered outside hutch, and they are cleaned out twice a week.
Also, should I get a replacement guinea pig as company for my male? He hasn't been neutered. I am unsure what to do as he is still displaying the symptoms, and I don't want to get another pig, only for him to infect it.

Thank you for your time,
Vicki

Answer
Hi Vicki

I am sorry for your loss.

Based on what you tell me, both pigs had/have a bacterial infection which will need to be treated with a course of antibiotics.

You are right not to get a new pig until he is better but in the long run a new friend would be a good idea. I recommend a baby male as a new friend.

Andy