Today I have taken a mother pig and four baby guinea pigs (of almost 4 weeks old) from a sad situation. The owner was an ex breeder who told me she had no need for "excess stock".
Mum pig is incredibly thin and terrified. Her nipples seem to have crusted over? The babies are all very quiet. I have separated the two boars into another cage (I believe 4 weeks is the age they should be separated). All have running lice. Can anyone help on how to boost Mum pig's weight, and what I can use to help with running lice, bearing in mind the age of the babies?
Any other advice appreciated. thanks
Hi! Could you please add to your details which country you are in, so we can give appropriate recommendations.
Please have mum and babies properly vet checked, as soon as possible, considering their bad state and potentially hidden issues! The nipples and genitalia need to be seen and checked for infection.
Your vet is likely to give them ivermectin in the age/weight appropriate concentration. If you are worried about the babies, talk with your vet about alternatives like trying Gorgeous guinea's lice'n'easy shampoo or other safe products; depending on how bad the lice are, your vet may try a two-pronged access. Please do NOT use low dosed cheap shop products and do not home treat on spec; do not treat before the vet appointment as that is going to make any diagnosis much more difficult; they also may have fungal etc... being as run down as they are with the added burden of bringing up a litter of babies on scant resources.
Babies and mums are generally considered to be safe to be given ivermectin once they are weaned.
Please follow the tips for our pregnancy and nursing diet to help boost both the babies' and mum's bodily reserves for the next month.
A balanced general hay based diet with a wide range of nutrients is the best way of boosting mum's health from the inside out. it may take a few weeks to fully percolate through, but your poor mummy should be able to make a full recovery and live a long life, as did me Taffy, who lived to age 6 years despite being in a terrible state when rescued highly pregnant. What is the baby boars' weight, so you can/can't rule out the risk of a back-to-back pregnancy?
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sexing-separating-baby-boars-and-rehoming-babies.109391/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/pregnancy-and-nursing-diet.109377/
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
Here are our tips for settling and dealing with skitting guinea pigs. Place a fleece or blanket over the top of the cage and avoid any predatory behaviours and movements. it is going to take quite some time and a lot of patience and persistence, but once your new arrivals start feeling better, they will hopefully relax and start to trust you.
Please do bathe in your bath tub or in a shallow basin on the floor to avoid any blind jumping injuries if you are given medicated baths to use against the lice.
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
