London for 4 days

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Hi I’m going to London for 4 days for Xmas. If I give my piggies plenty of food hay and water will they be ok
 
No they won’t be ok. As they eat constantly they would eat everything you put in as quickly as they could. Also I’d be worried that if a water bottle leaked they’d have no water. Four days is too long to leave a piggy if they started to show signs of illness while you are away. If you could have someone come in daily to take care of them that would be best. If not could you take them to a friends house or take them to a small pet boarder.
 
:agr:
I would never leave a piggy for more than 24 hours (at the absolute most).
Anything can happen in that time and I have seen piggies go from fine to needing emergency surgery in less than 12 hours.

If they have a large cage, and you can make sure they have several water sources and large piles of hay then all you need is someone to pop in once or twice a day to top up hay and pellets.
Guinea pigs don't understand about rationing their food and will poo and pee all over their hay so this needs refreshing daily.
Plus they need someone just to check they are ok, the heating hasn't broken, they have water, etc.
 
Piggies&buns said:
:agr:
You cannot leave them for that long.
If you can’t take them with you, then you will need someone to come in to feed them and check on them ideally twice a day but definitely once a day
Click to expand...
I go on the 23rd and I'm
Back on the 27th
 
Guinea lover 1982 said:
It was parents that said they would be fine as I did say to them I would ask my neighbour to check on them and they said they would be fine
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No, it’s not fine. They need someone to come in to check and feed them ideally twice a day
 
Guinea lover 1982 said:
It was parents that said they would be fine as I did say to them I would ask my neighbour to check on them and they said they would be fine
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You need to sit down and explain to your parents why it isn't fine, and they need an absolute minimum of a daily check by a responsible adult.

Wasn't it also your parents who said you couldn't get a proper size cage because they had already bought you one (even though it's too small)?
I understand you need to respect your parents, but you still have to make responsible choices that are in the best interests of the welfare of your pets.
 
Argh I’ve tried talking to my parents they just won’t listen . They say animals can survive for days . I said I’d they get sick I’ll blame them
 
This is so sad you clearly love your pets but your parents are making this hard. They will definitely need daily checks. I've left my boys when I've been away for 1 night before but any longer than that and I get my sister in law to help us.
 
Yeah if id left them alone id be worrying about the constantly ie are they warm enough. Have I given them to much food . Are they sick
 
Where abouts in the UK are you (roughly)? Perhaps we can help you find boarding for them?

Please, please don't consider leaving them for this amount of time
 
I'm afraid you cannot leave guinea pigs alone and untended from 23 - 27 December. So there are only 3 acceptable solutions here:

1. You take them with you or
2. You put them into paid boarding (small pet hotel or vets or pet sitter)or
3. You arrange for someone (paid or unpaid) to call in daily to tend to their needs.

No other solutions are acceptable.
 
Guinea lover 1982 said:
I’ll probably try to arrange with a neighbour to see if they would mind watching them
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Guinea pigs travel well so that isn't an issue, however I appreciate that if your parents are not even prepared to let you ask a neighbour, they clearly aren't going to take them somewhere else and pay a boarding fee.

I don't mean to be blunt as you clearly love your pets, but you also need to be realistic.
If you parents are the responsible owners of them, then what will happen if they get sick and have to see a vet.
If they won't even consider getting care for them when you go away, or providing an adequate sized cage, then clearly they aren't taking the responsibility very seriously.
This is in no way a criticism of you, but you need to think how you will manage these situations in the longer term.
Things like holidays, unforeseen expenses, and other issues will continue to be part of your life when you own pets.
Maybe now is not the right time for you to be taking on this responsibility, as your parents don't seem to be fully aware of exactly what is involved and how this can continue for the next 6-8 years.
 
Guinea lover 1982 said:
I’ll probably try to arrange with a neighbour to see if they would mind watching them
Click to expand...
Whenever I go away I either have my neighbour come in and see to my piggies (weekend) or they go to my boarder (4 days or longer). I always give them a sheet of paper on how to look after my piggies, what they like to eat, how much, when etc. If I leave them for a weekend and the neighbour is popping in, I leave the cut up veggies in separate plastic boxes in the fridge, show my neighbour where the boxes are and explain that it's one box per night. If there is something that they don't understand that I've written down they have the chance to ask me before I leave. Therefore I am happy that they know how too look after my piggies properly. If I leave them at my boarder the list includes what veggies I feed them and how many etc. There is then no confusion whatsoever. Maybe this is something that you could do as well?
 
When we have had friends coming in to look after the piggies I have prepared a sheet of paper with emergency contact numbers for me and the vet.
I also place all the veggies in one part of the fridge so they're east to access.
I put out the veggie bowl so the measurements are fine.
I list roughly what they have each day in terms of pellets and veggies
I also have a photo of each piggy with their name so the friends know who is who.
In return for such kindness I bring back a gift of chocolates or biscuits.

I hope your friends can look after them for you.
 
When my neighbour looks after mine, I chop their veg into take away plastic tubs with lids for each day I’m away so all they have to do is open and put the veg in the cage. And give them hay, pellets and more hay, and check their water too.
 
Having a neighbour drop in to feed and check your piggies is also beneficial for security.
The first Christmas I was married, we went away to stay with our families, leaving the house unattended as we had no pets. We came back to find the house had been burgled in our absence 🙁. It would have been worse but for a power cut in the village which made the lights go out and security lights come on, which scared the burglars.
 
Yeah I’m going to ask my neighbour if she will check on them maybe every second day .
 
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