Help please

[bmc1990]

Hello,

I need some help please. We have recently adopted some baby guinea pigs from a local farm who unfortunately had to be removed from their poorly mummies Two piggies are 5 weeks old this sat, and the other three are 3 weeks old on Sunday. I know this isn’t ideal, we were hoping to get a couple around 8 weeks old but as both mummies got poorly the farmer said they would likely have a better chance with us than there as they won’t have as much time as us with it being lambing season, so we ended up with all 5!

I have no idea if they are boys or girls and need some assistance as we definitely don’t want any babies! Looking online I felt confident in knowing how to do it, but looking at our tiny piggies in the flesh it’s very difficult! I have attached some photos, sorry they aren’t the best.

They came with a bad mite infestation, which has been treated with xeno mini thanks to our vets (also regularly cleaning them out to make sure the hutch remains mite free), and will do so again in two weeks, but one looks particularly sore. Am I ok to put tea tree skin cream on them? Any advice gratefully received! First time piggy owners here, our two girls (6 and 9) are being excellent helpers and are keen to do best by them! We have a massive double height and width hutch and are planning on using half for boys and half for girls (when we can sex them!) and a couple of runs for the garden.

Thank you!

 

[Deleted member 131797]

Hi, I don’t feel confident to tell you the sex but have a search for the sexing guide on this page with the search box - it’s really good. There definitely seem to be some boys in there but I can’t say that they are all boys. If there are more than two boys there will likely be bonding trouble in the future.

at this age boys can get girls pregnant so it’s important to quickly find out their sexes - perhaps with vet help or a rescue?

i mainly wanted to quickly respond to say to definitely under no circumstance put tea three oil or cream on any sore patches - it’s not safe for them firstly, secondly it will mess up natural scents and it is likely to be ingested during cleaning and it shouldn’t be used on open wounds.

It should clear up quickly with the invermectin from the vet - if not, it may be a fungal infection so keep an eye on that. It looks quite like fungal infection to me - if it is ringworm (a type of fungal infection) this can spread to humans too, have a look at the ringworm guide from Wiebe on this site...

sorry I don’t have much time to respond right now so hoping someone can give you more clear advise!

 

[artcasper]

@Wiebke

 

[Cavvyluver]

Press gently down above where the genitals are and a little penis will pop out if a male.

 

[Robin_]

If in doubt it may not be a bad idea to have your vet look at the sexes. They can generally get a better idea in person than from an image.

 

[Julie M]

To me it looks like you've got
Pic 1 boy
Pic 2 possibly boy
Pic 3 Boy
Pic 4 girl
Pic 5 girl.

But I'm by no means an expert. It's hard to tell from a picture. You would be better getting a local rescue or a piggy savvy vet to sex them.

 

[bmc1990]

Thanks for the replies. Will leave the tea tree cream away then! Yeh I’m so conscious they can mate, will see if the vets can give me a hand and get them separated ASAP! Oh ok hadn’t thought about a fungal thing, would the treatment we have sort that too? If not will see if the vet can prescribe something else. Thanks for the heads up! They’re adorable little things, having never had guineas before we are loving their little personalities already!

 

[Deleted member 114675]

Wiebke has been tagged and will answer this thread - but looking at this link

Illustrated Sexing Guide

.. I think you need to arrange sex checks quickly

@Julie M has given you guidance on which ones are likely to be male or female - could you separate the ones which are definitely boys from the ones which are definitely girls to minimise the risk of unwanted pregnancy ?

 

[Julie M]

Thanks for the replies. Will leave the tea tree cream away then! Yeh I’m so conscious they can mate, will see if the vets can give me a hand and get them separated ASAP! Oh ok hadn’t thought about a fungal thing, would the treatment we have sort that too? If not will see if the vet can prescribe something else. Thanks for the heads up! They’re adorable little things, having never had guineas before we are loving their little personalities already!

The ivermectin will not help the fungal issue (if indeed it is fungal) one of my boys rescued from a bad situation had ringworm I found the f10 shampoo to be a great help for him I used it diluted in water and bathed the affected area In it. But I'd definitely mention it to your vet about possible ringworm or fungal. That way they will suggest the correct treatment.

 

[Deleted member 114675]

... and to the forum @bmc1990

 

[bmc1990]

... and to the forum @bmc1990

Thank you!

 

[Betsy]

To me it looks like you've got
Pic 1 boy
Pic 2 possibly boy
Pic 3 Boy
Pic 4 girl
Pic 5 girl.

But I'm by no means an expert. It's hard to tell from a picture. You would be better getting a local rescue or a piggy savvy vet to sex them.

I'm no expert but agree with what @Julie M has said. Pic 4 & 5 look different. Have you checked for a penis ridge? VERY gently pass your hand over the area just above the button. If you feel a ridge your piggy is a boydle if there is no ridge your piggle is a girly.

 

[bmc1990]

Ok after some help from you guys and a lovely local rescue we have them sorted and separated! Although Bella now needs a new name haha! Thanks everyone now to keep an eye on the skin and cross everything that they keep doing well and gaining weight Xx

 

[Siikibam]

Please also put the girls on pregnancy watch.

 

[Robin_]

Keep in mind male trios are often very difficult to keep and often don’t work out in the end—I would suggest neutering one of the boys to put with the girls or finding one another friend.

 

[Winniepeg]

Please know you’re an angel for taking them on x

 

[bmc1990]

Thank you all do males recover well from neutering? And what age is best to do this? Would hate for them to fight or anything am I right in thinking it would be difficult to see if they were pregnant until quite far along? I’m hoping as they’re all quite light they won’t have been fertile anyway but will definitely keep an eye. They’re so sweet and our two girls are loving caring for them! and our dog Daisy loves them and likes watching them get their dinner! x

 

[Siikibam]

I’m afraid 250g or three weeks is the point where boars should be separated as they can mate then. Girls, if I remember correctly, have their first season around 4 weeks which is when they can get pregnant.

If you get an experienced vet then neutering should go well. Here in UK they do it after the testicles have descended - so 4+ months.

I'm sorry I can’t remember how old they are. But just be aware boys’ teenage months start at 4 months. The bond can really be put to the rest in that time. So I would see which two seem the most character compatible and put them together, with the third in a cage as a neighbour - they can then still get the interaction and company they need. You can then have him neutered. Once you know whether your girls are pregnant or not, you can then put him in/have him next door to the girls. Just make sure he isn’t able to get in till his six weeks are over - piggies can find means and ways if they know there’s a fertile piggy in the neighbourhood

 

[bmc1990]

I’m afraid 250g or three weeks is the point where boars should be separated as they can mate then. Girls, if I remember correctly, have their first season around 4 weeks which is when they can get pregnant.

If you get an experienced vet then neutering should go well. Here in UK they do it after the testicles have descended - so 4+ months.

I'm sorry I can’t remember how old they are. But just be aware boys’ teenage months start at 4 months. The bond can really be put to the rest in that time. So I would see which two seem the most character compatible and put them together, with the third in a cage as a neighbour - they can then still get the interaction and company they need. You can then have him neutered. Once you know whether your girls are pregnant or not, you can then put him in/have him next door to the girls. Just make sure he isn’t able to get in till his six weeks are over - piggies can find means and ways if they know there’s a fertile piggy in the neighbourhood

They’re all still under 200g and only 3 weeks and 5 weeks old so I’m hoping we won’t have an accidental litter on the way! Ok great thank you very much x

 

[Siikibam]

Ok. Fingers crossed then. But still pregnancy watch. Did you say they were rescued from a hoarder situation?

 

[bmc1990]

Ok. Fingers crossed then. But still pregnancy watch. Did you say they were rescued from a hoarder situation?

They were from two accidental litters from our local farm (male accidentally put in with the females)z We had planned to get a couple when they reached 8 weeks but unfortunately they ended up not being able to be with their mothers and after 3 were lost between the litters we were offered all 5 of them in the hope they would do better with us X

 

[bmc1990]

Just a quick update, they’re all doing really well and soon got used to being apart. All have gained weight really well and Sweetie’s fur is beginning to grow back and she’s no longer scabby or sore - yay! xx