First trip to the vets tomorrow

[Cadams]

Hi - tomorrow marks a week since we picked up our 4 sows so tomorrow I have them all booked in for a check up at the vets.
Are there any tips in particular to help reduce stress for all involved? At the moment I’m watching them happily play in the playpen and two of them have started popcorning this evening which I think is good - but I am absolutely dreading trying to herd them up and do the visit tomorrow.
I’m planning on putting them in a cardboard box together, with plenty of straw and hay and putting one of their mats in there to chill them out. Il take some greens for emergency chilling out but they are only 10 weeks old and so still hate being picked up/ held/ general sudden movements.

Is there anything else I can do?

Main purpose of the vet is to give them all the once over and to double double check the sex!
Thank you!

 

[Merab]

Your plan sounds good.
No straw though - it’s not good for guinea pigs.
Hope the check up goes well.

 

[Cadams]

Your plan sounds good.
No straw though - it’s not good for guinea pigs.
Hope the check up goes well.

Thanks - oh no I’ve been using straw for their bedding as that’s what pets corner gave us! We have a hutch lined with newspaper, then dust free saw dust type stuff, then straw for their bedding and then shed loads of hay in holders?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes I agree - keeping them all together will help them, but as above, straw should not be used for guinea pigs, it’s far too sharp for them and if they eat it it offers no nutritional value.
Use hay as bedding. I use meadow hay for bedding and then put Timothy hay in their hay racks for eating (although they also eat the bedding hay!)

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Well you have a busy day.
I'd take piggies and what I do is I park up and go inside to tell them you are here. I'd leave piggies in car. I've had times when I once had to dash into a room as the stupid reception lady was encouraging a puppy to bark and it was freaking out my piggie. . I was fuming and i told her so that the biggest killer of small animals is stress
To catch um just take yer time before you go.
Great news you getting popping piggies.
All the best. x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi - tomorrow marks a week since we picked up our 4 sows so tomorrow I have them all booked in for a check up at the vets.
Are there any tips in particular to help reduce stress for all involved? At the moment I’m watching them happily play in the playpen and two of them have started popcorning this evening which I think is good - but I am absolutely dreading trying to herd them up and do the visit tomorrow.
I’m planning on putting them in a cardboard box together, with plenty of straw and hay and putting one of their mats in there to chill them out. Il take some greens for emergency chilling out but they are only 10 weeks old and so still hate being picked up/ held/ general sudden movements.

Is there anything else I can do?

Main purpose of the vet is to give them all the once over and to double double check the sex!
Thank you!

Hi!

All the best! My biggest tip is: Give yourself time to collect all piggies and don't wait until the very last moment so you are not so stressed and then the piggies are less stressed. Try to corner your piggies; make a bit of a funnel with your hideys to herd them into a tunnel or smaller cardboard box.

You may find these guides here helpful:
Tips For Vet Visits
Travelling with guinea pigs
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely

 

[Cadams]

Thanks everyone - me and the 4 girls survived! Vet confirmed they are all girls and all seem healthy and happy so yay!

 

[VickiA]

Thanks everyone - me and the 4 girls survived! Vet confirmed they are all girls and all seem healthy and happy so yay!

well done!

 

[Merab]