Maggots in fleece and cage.

[123guineapig]

i am so mad and upset at myself. i plan on staying anonymous but here i go with what happened.
is there anything else i should do this is what ive already done;
i got very caught up this week with school, family/personal issues, i am very sick, work, other pet, ect. so i kept putting my gp's cage off, for an extra 2 days so i went about 5 days without cleaning. Flies were buzing around the cage but i would shoo the away or kill them.
i ended up cleaning the cage and there was maggots! i was soooooooo peeved at myself and I feel like a horrible owner. normally i would never wait this long but i just got so caught up.
i took about 4 hours cleaning everything, the fleece, cage, toys. Gps will be cleaned on Sunday if I'm 100% better(I do not want my piggies sick!) i have homemade fly trap all around the cage and if that doesnt work i am going to buy store ones. I'm wondering if i should give my gps away because of this, am i over reacting a little? for the most part I'm on top of the cage they always have food, water, toys, lap and floor time, ect.
I'm pretty new with fleece, ive only had it for about a month or so, ive had my gps for about half a year. should i do anything else, am i over reacting. i feel so bad. thank you all in advance.

 

[*Midnight*]

You need to stay ontop of your cage cleaning, if you are unwell is there someone who can help you? Also please check your piggies bums for fly strike. When flies lay eggs it will take approx 3 days for them to hatch (or so I'm told) so you need to make sure they are thoroughly cleaned out every 3 days, especially in the summer when there are flies around. I don't believe you should give your piggies up, just please learn from this and be more careful in the future.

Rach

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

I agree with everything midnight says and also dont think you need to give up your piggies. it is guilt that is making you feel that way but you have been brave enough to come on here and ask for advice. we all make mistakes in life and when they happen learning from them is the important thing.
do you live outside the uk? perhaps you are some where much warmer where there are a lot more flies too? if so i would suggest cleaning out your piggies every day or every other day and use (pet friendly) disinfectant evey time as flies are very quickly attracted to the smell of animals.

 

[guinea77]

Nobody is perfect! I wouldn't give the piggies up, unless you feel you are beginning to struggle to have the time for them.

You obviously love your piggies and I hope that they will be okay xx

Could you get a friend or someone to help you out when you are busy?
Dawn

 

[Wiebke]

I am very sory that you have been ill. It is tough when you do not have anybody to help you out.

If you have a regular fly problem, you can also buy some mosquito netting to put over the cage.

Please check your piggies' bums and hair for maggots and signs of fly strike over the next few days and give them a good brush and bath as soon as you can. You need to see a vet asap as an emergency if you notice signs of fly strike.
http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/blowfly.htm

 

[Lil-Ninnibig]

I understand your busy and have been ill but I'm sorry thats no excuse, i work full time and have just started a night school course after work 3 nights a week and have a social life like anyother 22 year old but i always make time for my pig chores. It doesnt take long to clean a cagr out especially if you use fleece its a case of shaking poos off into a binliner and throwing fleece in washing machine. I use wood shavings and so it takes a good half hour to clean cage out. I'm sorrt but if you are struggling to find time for your piggys then maybe you should give them to someone who has time spare. Your busy schedule and lack of concern at seeing flies around the cage could cost your piggys there lives had they ended up with flystrike. Flystrike is maggots basically eating your pig alive. Its like people with doga who never get walked because its raining etc. part of having a pet is the responsibility of taking care of it no matter how busy you are or what the weathers doing etc etc. You need to keep your piggys clean otherwise i agree with you that you should do the responsible thing and rehome them to someone who has time for them. I'm not at all saying your a bad owner or you dont love them, just you have to do whats right for the animal.

 

[Amysmom]

I know you must feel bad but like Lil-ninnibig said it really doesn't take long to clean a cage out. You just need to set aside a regular day to do it. Having guinea pigs is a responsibility that has to be taken very seriously. When you are ill there needs to be someone else who can take over that chore or simply force yourself to get it done.

I had major surgery on my spine and for many months my daughter or hubby had to clean them out. I now clean a big c&c cage with very bad back pain but it has to be done!

Put this down to a lesson learnt and know that no matter what is going in in your life you have to get them cleaned out.

 

[SpinningNickel]

I think you're over-reacting a little, yes. Things happens and if you have no one who can help you I know it's tough. If this happens again, then maybe you need to consider whether you have enough time to dedicate to your piggies, but if this is a one-off and a lesson learned then I really don't think they need to go.

Like Pound Shilling & Pig said, I'm wondering if you're somewhere warmer than the UK, and I'm gathering your pigs are outside? Maybe it's better to move them inside if that's an option? Fewer flies and closer to you, so you'd be less likely to put off the cleaning.

 

[123guineapig]

to answer everyone's questions; i live outside of the uk, i do have time for my piggies i try to set aside at least 3 hours everyday, it just ive been ill and i did not want them getting ill.
the first thing i did was check their bums, and i checked them again this morning.
i do live with my parents but they want nothing to do with my guinea pigs, they would rather get rid of them.
i do use a disinfectant its half vinegar half water and i spray the whole cage down and than use paper towel to wipe that away.
ive almost never struggled with time for them, ive always been on top.
from now on i will be on top of their cage, and any flies i see I'm killing, not even shooing I'm killing them.
its getting colder were i live and my piggies are indoor, i bet about a week or so all these flies should be dead where i live.
thank you everyone with your answers, my piggies are doing fine as of right now and as i know they get sick very fast very soon so I'm weighing them regularly (evey 3 days, is that too little should i be weighing them everday?) and so far everythings okay, if anything changes ill be rushing to a vet, i promise!

 

[ortonc]

I really sympathise with you. I relocated due to work, and have no family anywhere near and very few friends. It's really tough when you're ill and you have to do everything yourself. Most of the time it's fine, but there has been the odd occasion when I've been throwing up and the most I can manage is feeding them a few veggies. You obviously care a great deal for your piggies.

Now you are feeling better, are you able to put together a plan for next time? Maybe talk to someone else with pets and see if you can phone them in an emergency to help out?