Ivy, along with her sister Daisy came to live with us about 2 1/2 years ago, as very tiny little guinea pigs from a pet shop. In fact, they were so small they probably shouldn't have even been separated from their mother. Both of them were treated for some health problems, and sadly, poor little Daisy didn't live long at all. However, Ivy started to put on weight rapidly, and to grow not only size, but in cheekiness every day! She never needed to be tamed - right from the beginning she was exceptionally friendly and cuddly. She used to squeak like mad at us whenever we came in the room, and so we had to get her out and play with her! She loved attention, and after a couple of minutes cuddling, she would start popcorning all over us - it was adorable! But we knew that however much she seemed to love us, she also needed the companionship of another squeaker. Our two older guinea pigs didn't seem to want to have her living with them, so we took Ivy along to Windwhistle Warren where she was introduced to Flora. Ivy was so excited at having this new little friend, and jumped right up in the air! However, we used to find that when we cuddled them both together, that Ivy seemed jealous of Flora getting any of our attention - she didn't want to share us, although she got better with that eventually!
I've never known a guinea pig so keen for cuddles as Ivy was. She made such sweet noises, a sort of cooing when she was being cuddled and stroked. You just couldn't give Ivy too much fuss. Quite often she would stretch and yawn during cuddles, which was so cute - then she might start jumping onto the sofa so that she could eat the cushion tassels. She was also the only guinea pig we've had to actually jump right into our arms!
She was very demanding as well, and acquired the unfortunate habit of bar biting, to try and get our attention, although we told her that we'd much prefer it if she just squeaked! We were never allowed to eat our supper in peace, and on more than one occasion, had to finish a meal while holding her, just to keep her quiet! Her naughty bar biting resulted in her breaking her teeth two or three times, which caused us a lot of worry. She also worried us a lot when she had a spur removed from a molar, and it took quite a long time for her to get her weight back up.
Ivy liked free ranging, especially as it afforded ample opportunity for sampling the edibilty of illicit items! The fringe of the rug was very attractive, and her chewing left it covered in green stains! And the wallpaper! There's now an Ivy legacy on one corner of the wall, quite artistic really. But we didn't exactly want her ingesting wallpaper, so put barriers around it when she was on the floor - and you could see her looking at it, and with her agile little mind trying to work out a way to get round the obstacle! She was a very intelligent guinea pig, who knew what she wanted and would make sure she got it! She was never very big, but her pigsonality was enormous!
Her gut stasis started very suddenly one day in March, and despite so much care and attention from Debbie at TEAS, Ivy had to be put to sleep yesterday. She fought for a very long time, and had such a will to live, but in the end she made it clear that she'd had enough .
Although we wouldn't want to buy a piggy from a pet shop again, we're so glad that we got Ivy. It was a real privilege to have her as part of our Team GP, and she leaves us with very many happy memories. We are also very touched by the kindness and concern that people have shown during her final illness.
Dear Ivy, you were such a sweet little ball of ginger and white fluff, and you could be so stubborn and exhausting at times - but you were absolutely brilliant, and you enriched our lives no end. It is quiet here without you.
I've never known a guinea pig so keen for cuddles as Ivy was. She made such sweet noises, a sort of cooing when she was being cuddled and stroked. You just couldn't give Ivy too much fuss. Quite often she would stretch and yawn during cuddles, which was so cute - then she might start jumping onto the sofa so that she could eat the cushion tassels. She was also the only guinea pig we've had to actually jump right into our arms!
She was very demanding as well, and acquired the unfortunate habit of bar biting, to try and get our attention, although we told her that we'd much prefer it if she just squeaked! We were never allowed to eat our supper in peace, and on more than one occasion, had to finish a meal while holding her, just to keep her quiet! Her naughty bar biting resulted in her breaking her teeth two or three times, which caused us a lot of worry. She also worried us a lot when she had a spur removed from a molar, and it took quite a long time for her to get her weight back up.
Ivy liked free ranging, especially as it afforded ample opportunity for sampling the edibilty of illicit items! The fringe of the rug was very attractive, and her chewing left it covered in green stains! And the wallpaper! There's now an Ivy legacy on one corner of the wall, quite artistic really. But we didn't exactly want her ingesting wallpaper, so put barriers around it when she was on the floor - and you could see her looking at it, and with her agile little mind trying to work out a way to get round the obstacle! She was a very intelligent guinea pig, who knew what she wanted and would make sure she got it! She was never very big, but her pigsonality was enormous!
Her gut stasis started very suddenly one day in March, and despite so much care and attention from Debbie at TEAS, Ivy had to be put to sleep yesterday. She fought for a very long time, and had such a will to live, but in the end she made it clear that she'd had enough .
Although we wouldn't want to buy a piggy from a pet shop again, we're so glad that we got Ivy. It was a real privilege to have her as part of our Team GP, and she leaves us with very many happy memories. We are also very touched by the kindness and concern that people have shown during her final illness.
Dear Ivy, you were such a sweet little ball of ginger and white fluff, and you could be so stubborn and exhausting at times - but you were absolutely brilliant, and you enriched our lives no end. It is quiet here without you.
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