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Janey

Janey

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Hi folks, my two new rescue piggies, Maisie and Alice only arrived with me yesterday lunchtime, so they've hardly settled in yet. I want to take them to my piggy vet tomorrow to get them checked over, as I'm a bit worried about Maisie - she seems to be doing quite a bit of wheeking, but not looking excited, just kind of sitting there and her breathing looks noticeable. What do you think? Should I take them if I can get an appt? I didn't want to handle them yet, as they seemed pretty scared of me still.
 
Janey said:
Hi folks, my two new rescue piggies, Maisie and Alice only arrived with me yesterday lunchtime, so they've hardly settled in yet. I want to take them to my piggy vet tomorrow to get them checked over, as I'm a bit worried about Maisie - she seems to be doing quite a bit of wheeking, but not looking excited, just kind of sitting there and her breathing looks noticeable. What do you think? Should I take them if I can get an appt? I didn't want to handle them yet, as they seemed pretty scared of me still.
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Please have them vet checked if you are worried about the breathing, but also contact the rescue about your concerns. Are they a private intake, from a local rescue or from one of our recommended rescues with mandatory quarantine and medical care where necessary?

Be aware that it takes some time for guinea pigs to settle into new surroundings. They are prey animals. they also have to re-establish their group hierarchy in any new surroundings.

You may find our new owners' guide collection helpful; we have got a whole section on how to settle down and make friends with your new guinea pigs, as well as understanding guinea pig behaviours in it: New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit

Here are tips for vet visits: Tips For Vet Visits
 
Whenever I get new pigs I take them for a wellness check, so if you're at all worried then definitely take them in.

If you give them plenty of hay to hide under then they will be fine going to the vet. They'll be scared but the majority of pigs are the first time they go to the vet. They'll recover okay though.
 
Thank you both - these are my second pair of piggies. I'd feel happier having them checked but with it being so early days ... might have been tempted to leave it a few more days if I wasn't concerned about Maisie. The rescue I got them from isn't one of the recommended ones sadly. I did look at all of those on there within reach of me, but nobody had any pairs of sows. I've been leaving them pretty much alone since they arrived, to let them settle, it's a huge change for them coming from such a large herd of piggies to just the two of them - so just been popping in and talking to them quietly, sorting the hay/food/water out - although they've not drunk anything that I can see from the water level, so been giving them fresh veg, and they've been eating that thankfully.
 
Saw my lovely piggy vet tonight and Alice got the all clear - Maisie has an injured toe joint, which has made her nail grow differently, sort of fatter and has sore feet, but the vet hopes they will improve just with the different bedding. She also has cystic ovaries though - still pretty small, so just have to keep an eye on them with 6 monthly vet checks and if they start to get significantly bigger, we could be looking at surgery :(. Nothing definite though. Thankfully her breathing was fine - chest clear, phew!
 
Different bedding can work wonders. You can try cleaning out the area that they like to poop and wee on a little bit more often.

It's sad to hear she has cystic ovaries, and I've never had female pigs so I can't comment on the medical side. But, it's always good to know about them now, instead of when she's ill. You never know, she could have her whole life problem free so don't worry about it now. Enjoy them both and spoil them rotten x
 
I've only just noticed tonight that one corner of their cage is damp, so will sort that out straight away. I guess it's too early to tell where they're going to pee! Thanks for your advice x
 
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