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Advice Needed Please!

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Werezal

Werezal

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 29, 2015
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Location
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Hi all,

Sorry that my first post is one asking for advice. I'm a proud mum to two Boars, Frank and Charles who are just over two years old. Charles is the dominant pig of the two (after much rumbling and raising of heads in the air). For the last couple of months I've noticed that Charles sits outside of Frank's pigloo everyday and sleeps across the entrance whilst Frank is in there . At times I've found him nearly face to face with Frank, he rarely sleeps in his pigloo at all now days.

Frank has been urinating a lot but he is eating and pooping ok still, no sign of problems with his teeth and I've been weighing him. There has been a slight weight loss (940 to 920g), my biggest concern is that he only leaves his house to eat or drink nowadays. During exercise time neither or them seem to run around like they used to and they seem to just stand still.

Any advice would be really appreciated; I've never owned pigs before so rely heavily on you guys in this forum as it is.

Thank you! Sadie x
 
This is a difficult one as there is not really that much to go on to say anything is wrong but as their mum you are able to pick up on the small changes in behaviour that alert us all to the fact that something is not quite right. The weight loss is only slight but it is possible that Charles has picked up on something. Do you have access to a good piggy vet to give him a general health check? Does his breathing seem ok?
 
Thank you for replying. His breathing seems ok, no wheezing or panting as such but I have heard him sneezing on occasion in the last week. I've just weighed him and he's lost 10grams so I'm going to take him to the vets this afternoon to get him checked out. Charles literally doesn't leave the igloos side, I was concerned he was bullying him at first but then I saw him licking Franks eyes which I've read is a kind behaviour. I'll keep you posted after I've seen the vet, thank you again.
 
Werezal said:
Thank you for replying. His breathing seems ok, no wheezing or panting as such but I have heard him sneezing on occasion in the last week. I've just weighed him and he's lost 10grams so I'm going to take him to the vets this afternoon to get him checked out. Charles literally doesn't leave the igloos side, I was concerned he was bullying him at first but then I saw him licking Franks eyes which I've read is a kind behaviour. I'll keep you posted after I've seen the vet, thank you again.
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10 grams is nothing to be concerned over as a rule but well done for being on the ball a vet check won't hurt as Helen says, piggies know when each other aren't well. Well spotted on the eye cleaning, please let us know how he gets on and welcome to the forum. Lots of positive vibes being sent x
 
Thank you both for your support - I really appreciate it. Just got back from the vets, he's had the all clear (particularly distressing moment for Frank when he had the thermometer up his bum) but they have said to continue to keep an eye on his weight. His teeth, breathing and tummy were fine. The vet has advised me to give extra vitamin C in their diet so will give that a go to see if it perks him up a little.

The second I put Frank back in the cage Charles came over to give him a lick. Thank you again for all of your help, I can't begin to explain how much I appreciate it. I think I may just need to accept he might be getting old....x
 
2 isn't that old, I think a lot of mine have calmed down once the have passed the excitable young piggy phase though and tend to sleep and eat. Glad the vet was happy with him.
 
Guinea pig parenting is very new to me so I have no idea what to expect. Thank you again for your help, I do miss them being little and popcorning all the time! He's fast asleep now being watched by Charles of course...x
 
You sound like you are on the ball. They do popcorn less as they get older :( I know, it is a shame...

If you have any questions please just ask, I am still learning all the time.

Maybe get Charles some CCTV installed in his Pigloo with a live feed to Frank's pigloo :))

Are those your boys in your avatar? They are lovely. Please feel free to post some photos of them in the photos section. Always enjoy seeing peoples piggies.
 
It really is, it's so adorable watching them when they were little. There is an occasional popcorn when it's kale for breakfast :) ha! I think he prefers the live show, he even calls for him if I take him out of the cage ....!

Yes! Frank is Black and Tan and Charles looks like a bumblebee, he's a Teddy breed so is a giant pig. I'll try get some pictures uploaded to the 'hello' forum. I've been fawning over everyone else's pigs for the last hour, I wish I could have so many more!

You've all been so helpful, I've visited this page before many times when trying to decipher their behaviours so I'll be sure to ask. What piggies do you have?
 
Kale, ours had that for tea... way to a piggies heart :)

Ah, Charles is the bumblebee one - very striking colours. He is lovely.

Yeah, they are addictive.... We started with two (the girls in our avatar, I joined the forum for advice back in 2009 with the girl on the right)

We now have four, they are all girls. Cookie our oldest she is nearly six, her friends we got for her when her sister died - Vimto and Sarsaparilla and we failed as fosterers for walsall RSPCA and ended up keeping baby Widget who is now over one.

Hope you enjoy posting on the forum, lovely to have you join in.
 
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