How to get senior pigs moving

[Engel]

Hi all, I haven't posted in a while, still here but just lurking; learning anything new and updating my mental guinea pig care guide as I go.

Basil and Cyril are my last piggies and are both 5 years old, and with their age they've become, well....lazy. Yes they'll wheek and popcorn for their food and have the odd zoomies but nothing like they used to. That being said, Basil has never been one for exercise, he'd prefer 'extra fries'. I told both boys that they need to get into shape but it would appear the only shape these potatoes know is round...

I've been through the enrichment guide and done it all, I made it part of the routine from day 1. They've been vet checked, nothing suggests pain or anything wrong.

Their idea of exercise is jumping into a hay pile, laying down and eating until there's too much 'seasoning' and jumping into the next pile between naps and mutual face cleanings.

Any ideas to get them up and about a bit more? Or should I just accept defeat and leave these lumps to do their thing in their senior years?

 

[Piggies&buns]

This is the life of an older piggy!
Provide them with mental stimulation and they will do their thing!

 

[Engel]

This is the life of an older piggy!
Provide them with mental stimulation and they will do their thing!

Basil and Cyril love your reply, however Basil asks for a life that requires less thinking. He's never had to do much of that all his life as wives made all the decisions for him and he went along with it.

It doesn't help, well me anyway, the fact that Basil's hearing isn't as it once was and often ignores me with most requests or responds to it with his own request which is normally head rubs or something to eat out the garden.

Cyril has become more demanding and I can often hear him screaming for food from in the house. He's even tried his luck at 12am when I put the dogs out, then chatters at me when he can't get his own way.

They both seem to think this is perfectly reasonable behaviour that all piggy helpers must deal with. Do we have a support group?

 

[Betsy]

Dear Basil and Cyril

Congratulations on successfully training your Hooman!

May I use your screaming for food then chattering at your Hooman if you don't get it as advice for other piggies to use on their recalcitrant Hoomans please?

Your helpful friend

Sir Saxon Canute
Shop Steward

 

[Engel]

Dear Sir Saxon Canute

We'd be delighted for this advice to be shared with other piggies, but we can't take full credit though!

The ever sassy RB Mia came up with the idea. Extra stubborn Hooms may require a quick sharp swipe with a back foot, although Mia mostly reserved this for nail clipping, it's not that she minded a mani-pedi but it always happened at the most inconvenient of times! Piggies got places to be, that grass isn't going to cut itself!

Our Hoom is well trained and rarely do we feel the need to progress to the swipe, but we understand that not all piggies are as lucky. So please do spread the word.

Many wheeks
Basil and Cyril