Just a few questions....

[jmacka93]

I have had my guinea pigs, Penny and Luna, for 4 days now, and I have a couple of questions. They are my first 2 guinea pigs and I am worrying about everything.
Here are my questions:

1. What colour is a guinea pigs urine supposed to be? Penny and Luna had very milky coloured urine when I first got them home, and now it is still milky, but not as milky coloured (does that make sense?)

2. When Penny eats her veggies she makes a little coughing noise (she does seem to eat quite quickly). Is this normal? because if kinda freaks me out when she does it.

3. Penny is a lot more active than Luna. Luna sits under the hay rack and always runs and hides when I walk into the room. Penny on the other hand will run under her bridge but will eventually sneak out to get food. Is it normal for one to be more shy and nervous (I know I have only had them for 4 days, but it seems strange to me how active Penny is compared to Luna).

4. When I get Luna out (The 3 times I have, I picked her up in the little cosy sack thing) she shakes. Almost like we do when we're cold. She doen't make noise at all. Is she cold or just scared?

5. I weighed them both yesterday, and Luna weighed 365g and Penny weighed 420g. They are both around 8 weeks old now. Penny seems to eat a lot more than Luna. Do you think this may be why she weighs more? or could it be something else?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm just worrying about everything. They just seem so little and vulnerable.

 

[sport_billy]

Hey, Congrats on Penny and Luna, lovely names by the way! Iremmber seeign your post in Stories and phot's they are little stunners x)

1. The wee sounds fine - Guinea pig urine can be a range of Colours, ours is often cloudy white. Here's a link to Guinea Lynx an excellent Guinea pig medical website that goes into more detail http://www.guinealynx.info/normal.html#urine

2. she's probably just eating to quickly, Cookie will do this from time to time... Is she making the noise at other times?

3. Sounds like normal piggie behaviour, piggie's are like humans some are more nervous than others, they can are very nervous at first and take a while to settle in and trust us.
Friendly talking when you are in the room or approach the cage so they get used to the sound of your voice will help. Luna will get used to you in time, hand feeding is great way to gain trust, but let them have a week or so settling in.

4. That's nerves again, Treacle used to shake when we first handled her... She'll now happily lie down on our laps. It's a good idea to use her cosy that will help her feel more secure. Again its a time thing.

5. They sound decent weights. Please continue to weigh every week and note down the weights as this will give you an indication of health (weight loss is often the first sign of illness) Some piggies are heavier than others as they come in all shapes and sizes.

Hope this helps

 

[jmacka93]

Thank you.
Penny doesn't really cough at any other time except when she eats. Luna however, has sneezed a few times, but again I've only noticed it when she has been eating something, usually the hay. I bought the timothy hay from pets at home, and she is alswys lying under the hay rack. I'm wondering whether it could be that. I've heard her sneeze around 5 times, but other than that and the nervousness she seems fine. Does that sound okay? Do you think the hay might be a bit dusty, which is making her sneeze, because she only sneezes when she is lying under they hay rack.

 

[sport_billy]

Thank you.
Penny doesn't really cough at any other time except when she eats. Luna however, has sneezed a few times, but again I've only noticed it when she has been eating something, usually the hay. I bought the timothy hay from pets at home, and she is alswys lying under the hay rack. I'm wondering whether it could be that. I've heard her sneeze around 5 times, but other than that and the nervousness she seems fine. Does that sound okay? Do you think the hay might be a bit dusty, which is making her sneeze, because she only sneezes when she is lying under they hay rack.

Sounds like she's getting a little hay up her nose, when you take it form the bag you can give it a little shake and soome of the finer bits will drop off. Oxbow hay is normally quite dust free.

 

[jmacka93]

Sounds like she's getting a little hay up her nose, when you take it form the bag you can give it a little shake and soome of the finer bits will drop off. Oxbow hay is normally quite dust free.

Thanks. I'll try to get some and try her on that.