• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Little Melvins rescue

Ali-bongo

Ali-bongo

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 18, 2020
Messages
77
Reaction score
351
Points
290
Location
East Sussex
So I love pigs like mad! Always I the first to coo over one, for many reasons I haven’t kept pigs myself for about 5 years. I started a totally new new career, in a nursery school 6 weeks ago, due to covid they shut down a week early for Xmas. I went back in with my 12 year old daughter to help clean and close down. A colleague said to me as we opened up the door to go in, “Oh I must feed the guinea pig” For 6 weeks I hadn’t herd anything about a pig! and I’m usually first to go be nosey at a piggy!
“oh” I said “I’ll go!” So my daughter and I went up to find two large two tiered hutches, one empty and one covered, with new sawdust in.
we opened the door and my daughter immediately said “ oh mummy!”
In the very corner alone was a tiny mass of knotted fur. I immediately took off my scarf and picked it up, he was alive! and so pleased to see us! All I felt was bones, all I saw was bleary eyes! he hid deep in my scarf, Not moving. he’d had no foodstuffs at all, dry bottle, no hay! He’d must of been like this ages to be the bag of bones he was.
I took him inside where we found my boss on FaceTime to the other girl, I said my peace in disgust and showed her the state of a living creature and that he’d be coming home with us. No argument!
He drank solidly for about 5 min and ate hungrily tiny slices of an apple (all I had suitable) and my daughter cuddled him in a scarf all day to keep him warm till I had finished work after lunch.
I borrowed an indoor cage from a friend who keeps rabbits and pigs, bought carefresh bedding, hay, ready grass, Burgess pellets, bran, got a Amazon box for a bed, parsley red pepper and spinach and took him home to set up.
He ate and drank well! We left him overnight to warm up and refuel.
I checked him in the morning, alive! He had overgrown nails, bumbled foot on front feet from dirty bed and standing hunched in same place for hours/days. Disgusting long poo embedded matted hair.
A good hair cut and warm bath later cuddled in a fluffy towel to dry I booked a vet appointment, came home with pain relief, antibiotics and ivermectin.
We renamed him Melvin
He weighs 80g! ( In stupidity forgot to weigh him the day I got him)
I think he’s 3-4 years old and has lived alone for a long time.
soooo friendly and cuddly
Am doing our best today I have bought critical care to feed him as his belly is less empty but not putting on weight on his bones
Any help will be much appreciated xx
 
Wow! That is truly cruelty personified. They shouldn’t have got him at all.

You will need to weigh him daily at the same time and top up with syringe feeding for now. You’ll have to buy some hay. Stuff his cage with it as that should be what he eats the most. Readigrass shouldn’t be fed daily as it’s too rich. If you have (dry) grass you can give him a small handful every day. They need to build up their tolerance for it.

Please don’t feed parsley and spinach in the same week. They’re both high in calcium so should be a once a week thing. For reference you should only feed one leaf of spinach. Get some lettuce (anything but iceberg), cucumber, bell pepper and coriander. Those are the staples that can be fed daily. If he wasn’t fed veggies before then you’ll have to start slowly. (A sprig of) Coriander is a good one to start with.

What is the bran you say you bought? Don’t feed anything but veg and plain pellets. Pellets should be a tablespoon a day. As said above hay and more hay.

It’s good you got him to the vet. What was the ivermectin for, and how have they said you should treat the bumblefoot?

Next thing you’ll have to think about (once he’s in a better health position) is to get him a friend. It may be difficult if he’s been living alone all that time, but it’s not entirely impossible. Have a read of the guides below. Otherwise well done on taking him in! Bet he feels like he’s landed on his paws.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

I forgot to ask, did the vet trim his nails?
 
Oh thanks for the advice!
lots has changed it seems on veggies to feed pigs since 5 years ago,
Ivermectin was for parasites and lice, he was riddled with them ☹️Vets have trimmed his nails beautifully and the antibiotics were to help with his bumble foot, the swelling and crusty scabby skin has improved a lot already.
I am friendly with a lady who ran a guineapig rescue and rehoming center and she studied rodentology at with the cavy council and always fed her rescue pigs bran they just have a teaspoon in With pellets.
sadly she’s moved away now and I could really do with her! Thanks for your help I really appreciate it xx
 
Please don’t feed bran, it’s not something they need in their diet. They shouldn’t have grain. As you’ve said, things have moved on a lot from years ago. We don’t look on rodentologists as qualified to treat them. Any issue we always recommend you take to a vet, preferably one with experience in treating small animals. The only exception is eyes - they are treated the same for all animals so in that case you can see a general vet.
Vet Locator
 
From what you've said I'm amazed he's still alive. He's a very lucky boy! Hope he is perking up 🙂
 
Ali-bongo said:
So I love pigs like mad! Always I the first to coo over one, for many reasons I haven’t kept pigs myself for about 5 years. I started a totally new new career, in a nursery school 6 weeks ago, due to covid they shut down a week early for Xmas. I went back in with my 12 year old daughter to help clean and close down. A colleague said to me as we opened up the door to go in, “Oh I must feed the guinea pig” For 6 weeks I hadn’t herd anything about a pig! and I’m usually first to go be nosey at a piggy!
“oh” I said “I’ll go!” So my daughter and I went up to find two large two tiered hutches, one empty and one covered, with new sawdust in.
we opened the door and my daughter immediately said “ oh mummy!”
In the very corner alone was a tiny mass of knotted fur. I immediately took off my scarf and picked it up, he was alive! and so pleased to see us! All I felt was bones, all I saw was bleary eyes! he hid deep in my scarf, Not moving. he’d had no foodstuffs at all, dry bottle, no hay! He’d must of been like this ages to be the bag of bones he was.
I took him inside where we found my boss on FaceTime to the other girl, I said my peace in disgust and showed her the state of a living creature and that he’d be coming home with us. No argument!
He drank solidly for about 5 min and ate hungrily tiny slices of an apple (all I had suitable) and my daughter cuddled him in a scarf all day to keep him warm till I had finished work after lunch.
I borrowed an indoor cage from a friend who keeps rabbits and pigs, bought carefresh bedding, hay, ready grass, Burgess pellets, bran, got a Amazon box for a bed, parsley red pepper and spinach and took him home to set up.
He ate and drank well! We left him overnight to warm up and refuel.
I checked him in the morning, alive! He had overgrown nails, bumbled foot on front feet from dirty bed and standing hunched in same place for hours/days. Disgusting long poo embedded matted hair.
A good hair cut and warm bath later cuddled in a fluffy towel to dry I booked a vet appointment, came home with pain relief, antibiotics and ivermectin.
We renamed him Melvin
He weighs 80g! ( In stupidity forgot to weigh him the day I got him)
I think he’s 3-4 years old and has lived alone for a long time.
soooo friendly and cuddly
Am doing our best today I have bought critical care to feed him as his belly is less empty but not putting on weight on his bones
Any help will be much appreciated xx
Click to expand...

Ouch - he must have been starved all his life if he is still the weight of a new-born baby (70-100g). Poor boy!
It is a miracle that he is still alive.

Please give him plenty of grass hay, hay and more hay (it should make 80% of the daily food intake) and keep on with the feeding support. Keep off veg and don't overdo the pellets; 1 tablespoon is enough as they have more empty fillers and less fibre than hay) in order to help rebalance the gut that is obviously not used to so much rich food and to fresh veg). Keep in mind that good quality grass hay does contain vitamin C, which is the reason why guinea pigs never had the need to make their own as they have got plenty with their main source of food, fresh and dry grass (hay). You can additionally offer alfalfa hay, which is rich in protein and calcium; it is normally not recommended for anypig but pregnant and nursing sows and babies or for very neglected rescue intakes (which is basically what you are dealing with).
Wait with any fresh foods until the poos have normalised for 48 hours and then start with a little fresh herb like coriander/cilantro or parsley. Introduce a small portion of fresh veg with every further meal that doesn't upset the gut. Give the gut microbiome time to slowly adjust to fresh food. I would recommend to add probiotics or fibreplex to his feed in order to help strengthen the gut microbiome, which is responsible for breaking down and processing all the nutrition.
Continue to offer recovery feed; as he is eating on his own, you can do so in a bowl 3-4 times a day. Concentrate on the quality of what you offer and allow him to eat as much as he can; keep in mind that his gut and his digestion need time to adapt. You will in a few weeks suddenly experience a phase of massive weight gain once the nutrients are filtering through into his body, his reserves have filled up and he has finally got extra. He may just fill out and not grow any larger if he is past 2 years old and he body has lost its ability to catch up in terms of growth. Leave off the bran.

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Weight - Monitoring and Management
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

For catching up on developments and for use as a helpful resource (worth bookmarking): Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

I would strongly recommend to see a vet as soon as you can and discuss with them whether he needs extra care and medication re. scurvy (vitamin C deficiency and any longer term damage to the body). Please also be aware that pet shop ivermectin is not vet strength and won't necessarily be able to cut through the infestation.

A LOT has changed in the piggy world in recent years. For now, concentrate on getting him well and then tackle campanionship in the new year.
 
Aw well done you for rescuing Melvin, poor little man reading his story made me feel so sad 😞 But hopefully he will pull through with all your love and care x
Keep us all updated on how he progresses, you can build him up with a little plain porridge oats instead of bran 😄
 
You are truly wonderful rescuing that poor boy.
Melvin is so lucky you found him - he has landed on his paws with you.
It sounds as if he’s a little fighter so with all your love and proper care he will be transformed.
 
Thank you all so much for your really helpful advice and mindful information! Wow! So glad I found this forum!
So I’ll remove the bran, 😂🤦🏻‍♀️
I’m waiting on my order for my oxbow critical care? is that ok to feed? He is eating independently but I was going to help syringe feed 1tbs.
he’s loving the veggies, but I’ll reduce the amount I’m feeding and stick with the ones on the plate picture in the thread I’ve read. he has bundles and bundles of beautiful hay to sleep, eat and burry himself in. He such a friendly little boy, seems very happy with his little noises, as soon as you hold him in a warm fleace or blanket he snuggles in and sleeps 🥰 definitely had a very limited food supply as he is a real scavenger.
 
Wiebke said:
Ouch - he must have been starved all his life if he is still the weight of a new-born baby (70-100g). Poor boy!
It is a miracle that he is still alive.

Please give him plenty of grass hay, hay and more hay (it should make 80% of the daily food intake) and keep on with the feeding support. Keep off veg and don't overdo the pellets; 1 tablespoon is enough as they have more empty fillers and less fibre than hay) in order to help rebalance the gut that is obviously not used to so much rich food and to fresh veg). Keep in mind that good quality grass hay does contain vitamin C, which is the reason why guinea pigs never had the need to make their own as they have got plenty with their main source of food, fresh and dry grass (hay). You can additionally offer alfalfa hay, which is rich in protein and calcium; it is normally not recommended for anypig but pregnant and nursing sows and babies or for very neglected rescue intakes (which is basically what you are dealing with).
Wait with any fresh foods until the poos have normalised for 48 hours and then start with a little fresh herb like coriander/cilantro or parsley. Introduce a small portion of fresh veg with every further meal that doesn't upset the gut. Give the gut microbiome time to slowly adjust to fresh food. I would recommend to add probiotics or fibreplex to his feed in order to help strengthen the gut microbiome, which is responsible for breaking down and processing all the nutrition.
Continue to offer recovery feed; as he is eating on his own, you can do so in a bowl 3-4 times a day. Concentrate on the quality of what you offer and allow him to eat as much as he can; keep in mind that his gut and his digestion need time to adapt. You will in a few weeks suddenly experience a phase of massive weight gain once the nutrients are filtering through into his body, his reserves have filled up and he has finally got extra. He may just fill out and not grow any larger if he is past 2 years old and he body has lost its ability to catch up in terms of growth. Leave off the bran.

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Weight - Monitoring and Management
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

For catching up on developments and for use as a helpful resource (worth bookmarking): Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

I would strongly recommend to see a vet as soon as you can and discuss with them whether he needs extra care and medication re. scurvy (vitamin C deficiency and any longer term damage to the body). Please also be aware that pet shop ivermectin is not vet strength and won't necessarily be able to cut through the infestation.

A LOT has changed in the piggy world in recent years. For now, concentrate on getting him well and then tackle campanionship in the new year.
Click to expand...
 
You were certainly there just at the right time for poor Melvin and he can now look forward to a happy life. i can't believe a school could let any animal get so neglected, shame on them and I hope they never keep any more. Sending you and your new little family member lots of best wishes for the future, and maybe when he is ready, take his pigture so we can all meet him.
 
What a great thing you have done rescuing this poor piggy. Thank you so much for your kindness.

You are doing a wonderful job looking after Melvin and reaching out for advice here on the forum. Hope he starts to thrive with all the care and love he is receiving as part of your family.♥️
 
Lucky for Melvin that you found him when you did. Look forward to seeing some photos of him.
 
The dirty old bowl and crappy cheep food was what I found that was being fed to him, needless to say he did not eat it and went straight in the bin!
the photos show all his fur, they hide how much much of an empty bag if bones he is. He is also looking much warmer, cuter and happier today x
 
This is so sad he was left to live like that! Shame on the nursery! So glad he has landed in his paws with someone who clearly cares about him!
 
Ohh my gosh - how awful?! How could they just forget to feed him? Forget about his existence? You would have thought someone would have remembered about him.. I'm so glad you took him home. ❤️
 
How wonderful for him to have food drink comfort and medicine.

I bet you were furious with the boss ... Incredible.
 
Thank you all for your helpful advice and kindness ☺️ I only did what any other decent hearted human would do... ♥️
 
What a sad story. A nursery I used to work at had a goldfish that was neglected I put so much effort into staying after work to do water changes and I'm pretty sure it was only me and one of the children that ever remembered to feed him I wish I had the courage to do what you did.
 
Sweet Potato said:
What a sad story. A nursery I used to work at had a goldfish that was neglected I put so much effort into staying after work to do water changes and I'm pretty sure it was only me and one of the children that ever remembered to feed him I wish I had the courage to do what you did.
Click to expand...

so lovely of you to clean him and feed him, you’re wonderful for doing that x
 
Rivervixen said:
so lovely of you to clean him and feed him, you’re wonderful for doing that x
Click to expand...

I'm still left wondering if he's ok. I wish I'd taken him or donated a bigger tank and a filter but I was too worried about offending people or speaking out of turn especially as I was only an agency worker. I really admire people who can just put all that aside for the sake of an animal.
 
This is so sad and horrible at the same time! Thank you so much for rescuing him. ❤ Fingers crossed he would thrive living with you.

I'm not really a fan of animals living in schools. It's okay for an owner taking the animal to the school for an hour or so to educate the students, but the animals living in a classroom, I feel horrified for them.
 
Sweet Potato said:
I'm still left wondering if he's ok. I wish I'd taken him or donated a bigger tank and a filter but I was too worried about offending people or speaking out of turn especially as I was only an agency worker. I really admire people who can just put all that aside for the sake of an animal.
Click to expand...
Oh bless you xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top