Feeding the guinea pigs at TEAS

furryfriends (TEAS)

furryfriends (TEAS)

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I feed very differently to how most people do! During the summer months the piggies spend all day, in runs, out in the garden eating grass. They then get a small amount of veg and nuggets and unlimited hay. During the winter, when they’re unable to eat grass all day, I feed a lot more veg! For example, today they’ve had kale, carrots, parsley, coriander, green pepper, babyleaf salad mix. It is all thrown into a washing up bowl and I mix it up with my hand and then each piggy gets two handfuls each! This is in addition to a few nuggets and unlimited hay.

I was talking to Simon today about bladder issues in guinea pigs and he feels very sure that the reason our guinea pigs don’t have bladder issues and stones is, in part, due to them being fed a very wet diet. It is also thought that stress plays a big part in bladder issues in guinea pigs. Keeping prey animals in busy parts of the house and handling them lots can contribute to very stressful life and bladder issues are very rarely seen in guinea pigs who spend a lot of time outdoors eating a very natural and wet diet.




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Simon basicly told me the same, so since then I wet all their veg under the tap, I Havnt a garden to let mine graze in, so I pick grass for them twice a day in the summer months, and in winter I make sure they have a ring of cucumber. Once in morning, then afternoon when possible and then before I go to bed.

If I feed too much veg though. Bernie gets the runs, so that doesn't work for him.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Simon basicly told me the same, so since then I wet all their veg under the tap, I Havnt a garden to let mine graze in, so I pick grass for them twice a day in the summer months, and in winter I make sure they have a ring of cucumber. Once in morning, then afternoon when possible and then before I go to bed.

If I feed too much veg though. Bernie gets the runs, so that doesn't work for him.
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Yes, he was saying that although hay is the main part of their diet, it is very dry and they need a much wetter diet. Leafy veg has a high level of water in it and it keeps the system well flushed through.
 
Bill and Ted spend most of their day’s out in their run in summer too. From 9.00 till dusk. Simon says grass is as good as hay for grinding down teeth as it contains a lot of silica. In winter we go out every other day to get a bag of grass for them (they have our salad draw). They never turn down grass I think it’s so good for them too-
 
Om nom nom nom :love:

Interesting thoughts there from Simon. Thanks for sharing them Debs
 
I have 3 pigs. 2 and 1. The 2 Mrs Dougal and Florence eat veg as tho it's the last meal but never drink water yet pee like a waterfall.The 1 Heidi leaves veg drinks and has a little squirt now and then.
They all girls and good weight it's getting the balance and knowing your piggie helps.
One day a blueberry oh MY GOD gimmie gimmie then another day Florence sits with it in her mouth and slowly let's it drop. . .
No wonder I'm Bald. :nod:
 
Bill & Ted said:
Bill and Ted spend most of their day’s out in their run in summer too. From 9.00 till dusk. Simon says grass is as good as hay for grinding down teeth as it contains a lot of silica. In winter we go out every other day to get a bag of grass for them (they have our salad draw). They never turn down grass I think it’s so good for them too-
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Dot screams the house down for grass, you should see her abdomen, it's goes right in and out to get those high pitch vocals known in the house, it only takes the front door to be opened.
 
sport_billy said:
Om nom nom nom :love:

Interesting thoughts there from Simon. Thanks for sharing them Debs
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Apparently John Chitty is so adamant that bladder issues are caused by stress, that he very rarely prescribes antibiotics for them! He's trying to encourage owners to handle less, get them out into the garden more (weather permitting of course) and feed a more natural and wetter diet.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Apparently John Chitty is so adamant that bladder issues are caused by stress, that he very rarely prescribes antibiotics for them! He's trying to encourage owners to handle less, get them out into the garden more (weather permitting of course) and feed a more natural and wetter diet.
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Do you mean bladder stones aswell though, can be caused by stress? Or we talking more cystitis and I. C. You probably made it clear, I'm just half asleep lol

To be honest, I don't handle my pigs alot, only to pick them up to put in the play pen and back out. I rarely get them out for lap time, that seems to be better for the rats to be fair
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Do you mean bladder stones aswell though, can be caused by stress? Or we talking more cystitis and I. C. You probably made it clear, I'm just half asleep lol

To be honest, I don't handle my pigs alot, only to pick them up to put in the play pen and back out. I rarely get them out for lap time, that seems to be better for the rats to be fair
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Yes, John Chitty believes bladder stones are the end result!
 
Who is John chitty? I've heard of Peter gurney but not John. This is interesting
 
Pretty much the same as our main exotics vets say. Mine are outside weather permitting in the warmer months. I have trays of grass around the garden growing in the winter in the most sheltered spots to try and keep some frost free all winter. Our vets also say mainly green leaf diet when grass not available, they shouldn't have all the fancy stuff especially root veg.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Apparently John Chitty is so adamant that bladder issues are caused by stress, that he very rarely prescribes antibiotics for them! He's trying to encourage owners to handle less, get them out into the garden more (weather permitting of course) and feed a more natural and wetter diet.
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I won't feel bad about not giving my lot a cuddle every day now then! I haven't had a chance to these last few months what with moving and everything. They have cuddle time as and when atm. They always get a weekly check and a cuddle though.
 
This is very interesting. As some of you may have read from my previous threads we adopted 2 boys 8 weeks ago and have been plagued by bladder problems (peeing blood/squeaking when urinating) since we have had them, and weight loss. I had thought they had stones but their previous owner says they were totally fine when she had them. She fed a lot of kale and spinach so I was more convinced they had stones. However, having read a lot on here I think it may have been the stress of the move and the fact they are now in a busier house. It seems to have calmed down a bit now (touch wood) and I have moved them to the bladder issue diet. We plan to move them to a hutch in the garden when it’s warmer and I think they will prefer the quiet of the garden than the busy nature of the house.
I had 5 piggies as a child over the years and never suffered any problems with them. They were in a hutch outside, hay made by my Dad (farmer) and spent the summer on the lawn!
 
Betsy said:
I won't feel bad about not giving my lot a cuddle every day now then! I haven't had a chance to these last few months what with moving and everything. They have cuddle time as and when atm. They always get a weekly check and a cuddle though.
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Yes, it's important to give them a check over, but I actually enjoy watching them interacting with one another, rather than getting them out for cuddles. I am sure they prefer being with their friends, than with me! 🙂
 
This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion here but very honest, waiting for the hate, but when it comes down to it, I honestly think that guinea pigs don't actually make good pets because of how they are with stress, they are good for us, but I don't think we humans are actually that good for them totally. But hey they have been domesticated like lots of other animals, and we love them, so we keep them and help them and rescue them. If no more guinea pigs were ever bred, I don't think it would be a bad thing at all
 
Guinea Newbie said:
This is very interesting. As some of you may have read from my previous threads we adopted 2 boys 8 weeks ago and have been plagued by bladder problems (peeing blood/squeaking when urinating) since we have had them, and weight loss. I had thought they had stones but their previous owner says they were totally fine when she had them. She fed a lot of kale and spinach so I was more convinced they had stones. However, having read a lot on here I think it may have been the stress of the move and the fact they are now in a busier house. It seems to have calmed down a bit now (touch wood) and I have moved them to the bladder issue diet. We plan to move them to a hutch in the garden when it’s warmer and I think they will prefer the quiet of the garden than the busy nature of the house.
I had 5 piggies as a child over the years and never suffered any problems with them. They were in a hutch outside, hay made by my Dad (farmer) and spent the summer on the lawn!
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I have always fed spinach and kale, along with lots of other veg and they've never had bladder or stone issues. I also believe that stress is the biggest cause of bladder problems. Bear lost his little friend a few weeks ago and then very soon after, I got him castrated. He had a few days of bladder problems and I think it was all the stress of losing his mate, having the op, being brought into the house, so away from the rest of the piggies in the log cabin, that all contributed. I moved him back to the cabin and as soon as he was in his cage, he started to popcorn and we've had no further bladder problems.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion here but very honest, waiting for the hate, but when it comes down to it, I honestly think that guinea pigs don't actually make good pets because of how they are with stress, they are good for us, but I don't think we humans are actually that good for them totally. But hey they have been domesticated like lots of other animals, and we love them, so we keep them and help them and rescue them. If no more guinea pigs were ever bred, I don't think it would be a bad thing at all
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I think we just need to be more respectful of their needs rather than ours! Cats are another species where humans can often get it wrong, but as long as we respect their needs, they make excellent companions and pets. I love the piggies and Priya for being animals! They aren't little humans, or substitutes for my children, who have now flown the nest!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I think we just need to be more respectful of their needs rather than ours! Cats are another species where humans can often get it wrong, but as long as we respect their needs, they make excellent companions and pets. I love the piggies and Priya for being animals! They aren't little humans, or substitutes for my children, who have now flown the nest!
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Yea I agree with this
 
piggieminder said:
I won't hate you @SkyPipDotBernie I kind of agree. I certainly think there needs to be control over their breeding, only those that know what they are doing should be able to do it. No more piggie mills and indiscriminate breeding for large pet shops!
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Cheers, I was scared to write that, but it's something I have been thinking for a while, I believe all we animal lovers are doing is making the best of the situation for these animals, which is good, and whilst they are being mass bread and keep ending up in rescues which most of us get our guinea pigs from, we should keep doing this

Yes I am guilty of having most of my animals from the pets at home adoption part. I'm a push over I can't help it, but no more lol
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I have always fed spinach and kale, along with lots of other veg and they've never had bladder or stone issues. I also believe that stress is the biggest cause of bladder problems. Bear lost his little friend a few weeks ago and then very soon after, I got him castrated. He had a few days of bladder problems and I think it was all the stress of losing his mate, having the op, being brought into the house, so away from the rest of the piggies in the log cabin, that all contributed. I moved him back to the cabin and as soon as he was in his cage, he started to popcorn and we've had no further bladder problems.
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This is interesting, because dot was kept single for 2 years ( my own fault kind of) she has bladder issues ( intertestial cystitis) it got alot better since she has had Bernie by her side, and along with Cystease
 
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