Caring for Guinea Pigs while disabled?

jpegmafia

jpegmafia

New Born Pup
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For reference, I suffer from chronic pain and fatigue and can’t walk unless I use a mobility aid and can’t even get out of bed some days.
I’m worried about my 2 pigs because I haven’t been able to spend time with them as often as I wished. While my mother does help care for them while I’m bedridden, It feels like I’m treating them badly and ignoring them. While this clearly isn’t the case, I can’t help but feel horrible about my piggies as I do love them very much. Is there anything I could do that could help me feel less regretful? Thank you in advance.
 
Welcome to the forum
You are in an awkward situation.
So sorry for your personal suffering.
I wish there was an easy answer for you but if the guinea pigs are well cared for and you spend as much time with them as possible then you have nothing to feel guilty about.
On the days you can’t get out of bed is it possible to set up a playpen in your bedroom so that the piggies are there with you?

Other members may have more ideas for you.
When you can, please can we see pictures
 
I am so sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. Your piggies are obviously not being neglected, they are having their needs met by your mother, but I can understand you feeling sad you can't do more. Would your mother be able to put them into a carrier and bring them to you in bed so that you can have them beside you for a little while, to talk to and if you are up to it to stroke. You could also give them little treats in this way while you interact with them.
 
There’s no need for you to feel bad, people keep piggies who work 40 hours a week and piggies are left to their own devices. As long as they have company of their own kind and are clean, fed and watered and have a roomy cage then don’t feel bad, you are a caring owner, give them a cuddle when you can, but please don’t feel bad x

:wel: To the forum, hope you enjoy our community. There’s always good advise and support when you need it x
 
Don't feel bad. You do what you can when you can. As long as piggies have company of their own kind to talk to and do bimbly piggy things and their needs are catered for that is all that matters. Interaction is important too but not as important as being fed, watered and cleaned out and your Mother is doing that when you can't.
 
Thank you for the advice! I cuddled with one of my pigs earlier this morning in bed and she seemed pretty excited about it! While today isn't necessarily a bad day i'm still having trouble getting around so i'll probably ask my mom for extra help today.
 
I don't know if this will help reassure you or not. I copied this from another page:
The RSPCA list 5 freedoms that any animal should be able to enjoy:

  1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: By ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour
  2. Freedom from Discomfort: By providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area
  3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease: By providing appropriate preventative measures, along with rapid diagnosis and treatment.
  4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour: By providing for species specific requirements with respect to space, enrichment and social needs
  5. Freedom from Fear and Distress: By ensuring species specific conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering
Click to expand...

There is nothing to say that human connection is a must. On bad days as long as your piggies have the company of their own species, are feed, watered, warm, dry and healthy then that is the absolute best you can aim for. I work 37.5 hours a week and have recently had my own health problems including an overnight stay in hospital. My husband ensured the pigs had what they needed but when he was with me til 8pm and still needed to look after himself there was no chance of them having extra fuss. I'm pretty certain they didn't even notice (though hubby still maintains they wheeked louder the following day when I came home).
 
Lots of brilliant advice above :) it's great you've got your mum for help too.

I've got epilepsy which has been very up and down the last few years, so I can have seizures for a few days at a time when I'm bad. I'm normally exhausted but have been known to hurt myself a lot too!
I live alone and do feel terrible for my piggies when they're stuck in the cage for a couple of days (but I think they like those days really as it means extra tasty stuff every time I'm up and passing the cage!). But I try and remember when I'm having a good day they have loads of time out and lots of fuss.

They always have everything they need in the cage, I make sure they've got stacks of hay, bottle filled regularly, am always sticking things in to keep them occupied, like toilet roll tubes or boxes stuffed with hay etc in case I sleep for hours after a seizure.

Hope you feel better soon, sure the piggies will love time on the bed with you, mine certainly do but have been known to pee all over it too! Good old piggies! :)
 
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