First Vet Visit- What Questions Should I Be Asking?

[EmmaE]

Hi,
I've rehomed 2 boars recently who are about 8 months old. They have settled pretty well, possibly because I looked after them for 2 weeks in the summer so they're back in a familiar place with familiar smells.

Because they're new to us, I've booked a vet visit tomorrow to get them registered and checked over. I'll be taking them together in a cleaned cat carrier, with the hay from today that they haven't eaten so it's got their smell.

Apart from a general check of weight, nails, physical health, is there anything else I should be asking the vet? One boar is a long hair (who is slowly being trimmed in stages as he's quite matted) so I'll be asking for ideas for looking after him.

Anything else I should be asking?

Thanks in advance.
Emma (and Elf and Sergio!)

 

[Wiebke]

Here are tips for vet visits. Have the skin checked for sign of potential parasites or fungal, the genitalia to make sure that the testicles have fully descended (unless it is very obvious that the six pack is evenly distributed on both sides). You vet will check genitalia, grease gland, eyes, ears, mouth, feet etc. If you are worried about nail cutting, your vet or a nurse will show you or do it for you for a small sum.
Tips For Vet Visits

As to matted hairs: Cut mats gently with one finger between then skin and the mat (to prevent accidents) and do not pull on the skin. Give a bath once you have removed the worst of the matting. Then give it another try after your boy is dry again. Generally, keep the area around the bum, genitalia, grease gland and back legs short, as that is where the most mats happen. If you love a long coat, keep the underlayers on the sides shorter. Otherwise, give your boy a fairly short-hair cut every now and then, to minimise the dicomfort of grooming, especially if he hates it.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands
I would recommend Posh'n'go shampoo for long-hairs if they are really dirty - with good care, a gentle bum bath is usually all that is needed. The recommended shampoo has some conditioner added to minimise matting. Gorgeous Guineas product have a guinea pig skin ph. Conditioning Shampoos
Guinea pig body quirks
Guide to Cutting Guinea Pig Nails

You can find more guides that are most useful to new owners via this link here: " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

 

[DM030819]

It might be worth asking how specialised they are with piggies. Like how often they see them, and what operations they've done.

Then you'll know if you can use them if your piggy ever needs an operation.

My local vet will happily admit to not knowing a great deal, so if I ever need something a bit more specialised then I go to the piggy vet further away.

Having a guinea pig MOT is a fantastic idea. I do it every time I get a new piggy. When I got a new piggy last year he was perfectly healthy but my vet found a life threatening lump. So I always recommend it to anyone.

 

[EmmaE]

Thanks for this advice. We went yesterday and were really impressed. There's a bit of difference in weight, with Elf (long haired) at 750g and Sergio (Short haired) at 950g, though she said it could be due to Sergio reaching sexual maturity earlier. The vet recommend feeding them in separate bowls and weighing regularly. She also gave us things to watch for like scratching because of mites etc. All in all very impressed, and healthy piggies!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for this advice. We went yesterday and were really impressed. There's a bit of difference in weight, with Elf (long haired) at 750g and Sergio (Short haired) at 950g, though she said it could be due to Sergio reaching sexual maturity earlier. The vet recommend feeding them in separate bowls and weighing regularly. She also gave us things to watch for like scratching because of mites etc. All in all very impressed, and healthy piggies!

Glad that all is well! Weight differences in guinea pigs, even in litter mates, are not at all uncommon - one sister pair even had a 500g weight difference at the peak of their lives! Both were a good weight and lived to a good age.
If in doubt, check for the heft, as explained in the link below, to judge whether a guinea pig has a good weight/size ratio. Please weigh your guinea pigs once weekly throughout their lives, in combination with a weekly onceover check. Whenever they are ill or you have concerns, you switch to weighing daily at the same time in the feeding cycle, like before you serve their dinner, for example.

As to feeding separately: we recommend that each boar has his own bowl anyway (together with a separate hidey and water bottle, all placed well away from each other). Ideally you serve veg and pellets in smaller portions that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times daily in order to minimise food hogging. In the meantime, guinea pigs should eat unlimited hay. It should make up to 80% of the daily intake.

The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.

 

[Swissgreys]

Glad it went well.
It's a bit late now, but one of the questions I asked my vet is how many piggies she sees on a regular basis, and doe she recommend a specific cavy specialised practice?
I just wanted to be sure that if she needed to ask advice from a more experienced small animal vet that she already had that relationship in place.

 

[EmmaE]

Thanks all. We already see the cardiologist at that practise with our cat, so I know they're very good, but I will ask next time. She did seem very knowledgeable

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks all. We already see the cardiologist at that practise with our cat, so I know they're very good, but I will ask next time. She did seem very knowledgeable

We have got a recommended UK vet locator on the top bar if you ever need a second opinion. @pig in the city, who is also from Sheffield, may be able to give you local recommendations, too, if you wish to.

 

[EmmaE]

Thank you, I'd looked on there first but not found one close to me.
Would be lovely to chat with a local pig enthusiast too!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I'd looked on there first but not found one close to me.
Would be lovely to chat with a local pig enthusiast too!

There is a Cavy Corner event on 20th November in Doncaster where several forum members will be attending. I am going to be there, selling my home baked Swiss/German Christmas biscuits. It is a great place to meet lots of other piggy people!
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...r-fun-pet-show-sun-20th-november-2016.141459/

The BARC Barnsley event (which is the rescue pig in the city is fostering for) has just been last weekend, but perhaps you can come to the next one?

 

[pig in the city]

Thank you, I'd looked on there first but not found one close to me.
Would be lovely to chat with a local pig enthusiast too!

I will message you my number if you ever want to get in touch for advice. I have some electric pet trimmers if you need help with haircuts!

 

[EmmaE]

I need all the help I can get to trim Elf... I'm hoping as they settle he'll tolerate it more! He's a little lop sided at the moment, bless him!

 

[pig in the city]

I will message you my number if you ever want to get in touch for advice. I have some electric pet trimmers if you need help with haircuts!

It doesn't look as if I can send you a private message, just tag me on here if you need to get in touch x

 

[EmmaE]

Thank you @pig in the city (and that's my first tag too!)

 

[pig in the city]

My number is on the Barnsley animal rescue website , if you go into the adopting guinea pigs section you should find it

 

[EmmaE]

Thank you!