Baby female piggy! Discharge?

[Torielynn]

I just adopted a baby female piggy. I already have a boar, no they are not in the same cage I haven't gotten him neutered yet, this one was supposed to be a male but the girl I adopted from didn't sex her correctly. Anyways, she is only about 3 or 4 weeks old, the girl also told me she was older than that but there is no way she is 6 weeks old. So after the first night of having her I noticed a little white discharge. It was like chalk almost and very white. Then the next day there was less and now today, day 3, I noticed different discharge its not as chalky but I am pretty sure it was left over from her pee. I read that maybe she has too much calcium? Maybe it is from the change in food, I don't know what they fed her before. I had noticed a little bit in Cosmo's urine, my boar, when I first had him but now I don't see it anymore. Does anyone know what I am talking about? I am a little worried. I am thinking of maybe just taking her to vet to be on the safe side.


**I didn't mean to post this in forum help, sorry for double posting

 

[wondersueak]

Make that triple posting rolleyes

I don't have a clue, but someone that could help you should be on in a few hours.

 

[Suzygpr]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Taking any new addition to the family is always a good idea.

Hopefully the white substance was excess calcium being excreted from the body through the urine and once she is receiving the proper diet it should improve. Unlimited hay, good quality guinea pig food and fresh veggies, though not too much veggies to start with as she may not be used to them and they can cause gut problems in such a tiny one.

Babies should weigh 400g before being rehomed - this would be at 6-8 weeks old. Minimum weaning weight is 250g (8.5 oz) at three weeks. Check your little one's weight and this should give you an idea of her age. It's important to weigh weekly to monitor progress and to spot weightloss early as this can be a sign of an illness that has not presented symptoms yet.

Suzy x

 

[Torielynn]

getting better

I haven't seen any today and I cut down on the veggies she seems to really like parsley, lettuce, and the pellets but that's all she is wanting to eat so far no carrots or cucumbers or peppers. I was thinking of getting her alfalfa hay. I read somewhere that's good for babies. But I definitely keep fresh timothy hay in there she doesn't eat much of it though maybe half a handful, and these are huge handfuls, but she is for sure about 4 weeks old. Am I dont everything right? haha When I got Cosmo he was already 4 months old so I never had to worry about these things.

 

[Wiebke]

I would persist with offering her more veg - a piggy needs about 50g/1 cupful daily. Ideally, you include one high vitamin C veg in the mix (1 slice of pepper of any colour, broccoli or a bit of parsley; however parsley is not something that should be given every day). Here is a list of veg you can give:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42

I am pretty sure that the little girl hasn't had much veg in her life. New surroundings don't help, either! So be patient and persist. If she lives next to your boy, she may pick things up from him. Please introduce any veg slowly, never more than one new veg at a time, leave a veg lying round for a bit if she doesn't eat it and serve it a few days later again. At that age, things are a bit hit and miss anyway. The same goes for drinking from a bottle.

If she has plenty of good quality pellets and is eating them, you do not need to feed calcium rich alfalfa hay after the end of the nursing period; having calcium pees means that she has all she needs in that respect!

Perhaps you can get her a cuddly toy to snuggle up with?