Completely different diets

Spaniel

Spaniel

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Our new 13 week old sow has come to us used to only the following foods alongside hay - carrot, beetroot, grass, dandelions, pellets.

Her new friend, our senior boar, has been on a specific vet advised diet for around 2/2.5 years now due to arthritis and bladder inflammation.

He has a hay and lettuce diet basically. His snacks are cucumber and grass. He also has an Oxbow joint support tab each day. This diet alongside metacam has kept him more than comfortable thankfully.

How do we feed them both together? Unfortunately she won’t eat away from him and won’t try lettuce yet! She’s tried cucumber.

Do we let Perry have carrot, more grass and pellets for the short term or give her only what he can have?

Will she get all she needs to grow and stay healthy?

Thanks :)
 
He’s hoovering up the food before she’s brave enough to even get started so I’m not sure how much she’s getting. She’s definitely eating lots of hay though :)
 
Hello
I’m sure a more experienced person will be along but I’d think gradually change her diet to meet Perry’s - he’s on a good diet
My vet told me dandelions are good to help guinea pigs bladders/ urine output , she’s eating hay !
Carrots should be a rare treat and beetroot the same otherwise pellets and grass are what Perry has
Over a few weeks you can get her used to the pellets you use and introduce Perry’s food
I’m sure she’ll get her confidence
Do you sprinkle the food everywhere so there’s more chance of her getting it ?
 
Roselina said:
Hello
I’m sure a more experienced person will be along but I’d think gradually change her diet to meet Perry’s - he’s on a good diet
My vet told me dandelions are good to help guinea pigs bladders/ urine output , she’s eating hay !
Carrots should be a rare treat and beetroot the same otherwise pellets and grass are what Perry has
Over a few weeks you can get her used to the pellets you use and introduce Perry’s food
I’m sure she’ll get her confidence
Do you sprinkle the food everywhere so there’s more chance of her getting it ?
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Perry isn’t allowed pellets so the only foods they have in common are hay and grass, and now cucumber because she tried that.

Yes I’m scattering the food :)

Thanks :)
 
Hay and grass are fine. I’d just stop the carrot and beetroot. Keep offering her the lettuce and cucumber. She will get braver and soon be munching as much as Perry. Can you hand feed her some pellets as a lap time treat.
 
weepweeps said:
Hay and grass are fine. I’d just stop the carrot and beetroot. Keep offering her the lettuce and cucumber. She will get braver and soon be munching as much as Perry. Can you hand feed her some pellets as a lap time treat.
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That was the plan - when Perry has his night time metacam and joint support tab that she has a few pellets then. She was too nervous to eat them though yesterday but she’s not been here long so hopefully she will eventually. She doesn’t seem to know what lettuce is but fingers crossed she tries that soon. She won’t eat with us close by yet but I’m sure she will work it all out. She’s loving the hays (meadow and timothy) and she’s used the water bottles :)
 
The pellets she was on I’ve not heard of - Heygates I think, something like that, so she’s not had those either. I have some Burgess Excel mint nuggets here from when Lola was poorly recently and was allowed some after surgery so she can have those if she wants.
 
I’ve been putting a little piece of carrot down for now just because it’s familiar but she’s choosing the lettuce and cucumber first now :)

She sneezes lots after the hay is topped up though and also after running around. Is that normal? Her nostrils are so small. Hopefully I am over worrying?
 
If it’s just a couple of sneezes I’d just keep an eye on her at the moment.
 
It’s more than a couple of sneezes. Happens right after topping up the hay and when she burrows or zooms through the hay piles.
 
Spaniel said:
It’s more than a couple of sneezes. Happens right after topping up the hay and when she burrows or zooms through the hay piles.
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Is your hay a bit dusty ?
Could be worth shaking it before putting it in …just in case
Great that she’s eating lettuce and cucumber 🥰
 
Pellets are not essential just gives them bulk Hay, lettuce are best and not sure if your piggies have had it or can red bell peppers great for them too. She will adapt fact she is trying lettuce and loving cucumbers is a good sign! Sounds like a lovely pair.

lol love the hoover mention for eating. Wicket was poorly took forever for him to get over teeth trim and so many ups and downs i almost lost him took two months to get him to stabilize with weight. Pellets are being given for weight gain a bit more, he is chomping on them. Unfortunately he has to literly boss Remy the 1 year old away. Remy is mister hoover for hay, veggies etc. honestly i gave them both lettuce Remy went stole Wickets i was its the same Remy. He had this look but his is better mom. Lord Wicket chased him off then grabbed his lettuce sat on it while he ate :)
 
The hay doesn’t seem particularly dusty but it’s a bit more chopped up than usual and is more fragrant this time.

How do I know if she’s just getting used to the new environment or whether she has an illness starting :(
 
Spaniel said:
The hay doesn’t seem particularly dusty but it’s a bit more chopped up than usual and is more fragrant this time.

How do I know if she’s just getting used to the new environment or whether she has an illness starting :(
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The best way is to weigh her at the same time everyday - guinea pigs are very good at hiding signs of illness
 
What will happen if it’s an uri? Will the sneezing increase and other symptoms happen?

How long does it usually take to get used to a new environment, new hay and bedding etc? Really hoping it’s just this :(
 
Sneezing is not usually the first sign of a URI.
It happens but usually once the case is more advanced. The first signs of a URI are usually chesty, rattly, honky breathing, lethargy. After that sneezing, nasal, eye discharge can start.

Sneezing when hay is added is most usually due to dust in the hay irritating their sensitive airways.

If you are worried then do see a vet.
 
Thankfully she hasn’t sneezed since I posted. I did take all the hay outside and re-shook it and I’ve put flattened hay piles rather than fluffed ones for now.

She’s out waiting at meal times now, all excited :)
 
I’m going to stop the carrot tomorrow. She’s not that fussed about it now anyway and I know it’s not the healthiest.

She’s been here a week tomorrow already! Should I wait longer before adding another new food? She’s having hay, lettuce, cucumber, grass and a few pellets now. The lettuce, cucumber and brand of pellets are all new foods for her.

Thinking of adding in either pepper or coriander next :)
 
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