Danielle's guinea pigs

Danielle Smith

Danielle Smith

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 10, 2016
Messages
725
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Location
Whitehaven, Cumbria
I've been on the forum for quite a while but rarely post, preferring to enjoy everyone else's stories and pictures. However, I've been struggling with my latest herd bereavements and have found it difficult to enjoy my remaining piggies. I've made this thread as a way to try to mindfully spend time enjoying and observing them, for however long that may be.

So, being in Cumbria, it's only 24°C outside at the moment (with a high of 28°C forecast). However, it's 25°C in the house with all the curtains and windows shut and fans going so I got a little worried about my long haired piggies as they were melty puddles at 9AM (Quint, neutered male, on the left, Tamika in the middle, and Maple on the right.

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I normally just clipper their "trousers" as my lot like to sit in their wee and hate being brushed, but this morning I gave them an all-over clip with pretty good effect! Hopefully they will be cooler now.

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I’m so sorry for your losses. Your piggies are gorgeous. You’ve done a great job with the hair cuts. Can’t wait to see more posts from you and your gorgeous herd. ❤️
 
Thank you for your kind words! In addition to the three piggies above, that herd actually has two more members -- the elusive Maggie (Swiss teddy?) and Faye, who has end stage kidney failure. The latter is very skinny and her chin is constantly soaking wet from drinking so much water, but she loves her veg and critical care top ups so we will keep going for now.

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I also foster a pair of males for the local rescue (Gizmo (ginger) and Widget Steve), but really they are a foster failure as Gizmo has ongoing bladder issues and I don't think it's fair to rehome him in that condition. They are both incredibly chunky lads and Steve is one of the friendliest pigs ever.

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I love a chunky pig. My two were recently 1420g but Pepper is on ABs for an abscess at the moment and is down to 1110g ☹️. They like to worry us don’t they? Keep us on our toes.
 
I'm sorry for your losses.you have some beautiful piggies.They will love you for giving them shorter styles.
 
Sorry for the losses you’ve had.
Your piggies are gorgeous and I’m sure the long haired ones are much more comfortable with less fur.
 
Sorry to hear you have had some recently losses! I see you also have a grey and white Furry Dorito like my boy Pepper! Your piggies are all gorgeous 😍😍
 
When I had a herd of seven, including two elderly sows my young (at the time) guinea pig Rosie would always sit near the older sows.

Your herd look wonderful. Those foster boys ... just lovely!
 
I have managed to get some wonderful shots of my beautiful pigs.
Maple is so fat she can now use her dewlap as a pillow. She is also constantly begging for treats because she needs to keep her figure, you know?
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I managed to photograph the elusive Maggie and her micropthlamic eye. She's have some issues with itchy, scurfy skin and me and the vet are a bit puzzled as it hasn't responded to treatment. Malaseb baths are next on the list to try.


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Quint also likes hiding away but will poke his head out at the rattle of the peaflake jar


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My mother-in-law was staying with us for a few weeks and she absolutely fell in love with the foster boys. We had lots of fun utilising their blueberry holders as they are both coronets. Unfortunately she can't adopt them because she owns a cat and lacks the space; shame because she is a wonderful mum to both animals and humans.

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Finally, I'm sorry to report that Faye had to be helped over the Rainbow Bridge as the effects of kidney failure were just getting too much for her. Every single one of her cage mates was snuggled up next to her in her last days and they were so gentle. The herd is still a bit out of sorts but is getting on with the daily piggling.

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And finally, I give you Faye in better times :wub:
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I’m so sorry you have lost beautiful Faye. She had a wonderful life with you and you gave her a dignified end. A very hard decision I know. Take care ❤️
 
RIP Faye, you've had a lovely life!
Your piggy Maggie looks just like our most recent intake at the rescue, old boy Star (although he is smooth haired) 😍
 

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So sorry that you had to make that difficult decision for Faye.
Even though we know it’s the most loving gift we can give a piggy at the end of life, it’s still tough.
Enjoy the memories of your beautiful girl and be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
 
Have come home from a weekend away to find Gizmo has:
  • Lost 200g weight
  • An obvious URI with lots of yellow snotters and crusty eyes
  • An infected/cancerous (I suspect) grease gland
Poor lad certainly doesn't do things by halves. Vet tomorrow, hopefully a simple enough fix. He's still looking bright and enjoying peaflakes and a snack of Critical Care.

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Good luck Gizmo. Sending healing vibes your way. ❤️
 
Unfortunately Gizmo didn't really respond to Sulfatrim so we are now trying Marbocyl which he assures me tastes absolutely disgusting.
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Meanwhile all the other pigs were really not chuffed with their cage change last week, begging me for peaflakes because I'd removed their stinky, perfectly arranged mess.

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However, fresh fleece and cosies always ends up having a soporific effect on everypig...
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Now, I know my chickens technically aren't pigs but just look at them striding out in my garden, ready to drop their next hip-hop album ("Flown the Coop")
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Sounds a bit sad, but taking these photos is helping me to spend more quality time with my piggies, it's lovely. I'm itching rearrange the pigroom so everyone is on the same (hip-height) level, but that's a lot of work and moving things around. Need to work on persuading the site manager (husband) ;)
 
For the first time in about two years, I set up floortime for the bigger herd today.

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They have an IKEA DUKTIG in their cage already but draping it with fleece for a change seemed popular.
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Widget Steve enjoyed saying hello to each member of the herd but chose to tease Quint on this occasion by refusing to be summoned by Quints onk-onk noises.
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Maple did what she does best the entire time... stuffing her face.
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Brown paper twisted with forage was very popular, to run through, to nibble, to wear as a fancy hat...
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All pigs were more active than I've ever seen them in this herd configuration (they are usually very lazy indeed), with Maggie being a streak of greased lightning who just had to sample all the forbidden delights of floortime such as the black rubbish bag, labels, the thick plastic haybag, and the washbag.
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Finally, have this lovely little video of Quint doing old-man popcorns. His wonky incisor certainly isn't stopping him from enjoying life!
 
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