More Education On Guinea Pigs Required Please

[Sue_P]

They have cheap veggies at LIDL and ALDI at the moment, most of it is half price, if you have one near you it's worth to check out. Just thought I'd let you know . You can also try farmers markets and farm shops.

I’ve never seen a LIDL before but there’s an Aldi in town, I’ll take a look, thanks. Dunno where farm shops are, not sure I’ve seen one before.

Is a farmers market like a market with market stalls? Is there a difference between farmers markets and normal markets? Our town centre indoor market isn’t way expensive, it’s about the same as supermarkets, there’s an outdoor market at Skipton and I suppose other markets, ones which aren’t there every day, but I’ve never thought of them as being cheap. Their sweeties certainly aren’t. I’ll take a look around but better still I’ll get Meanie Mummy to study the food list and we can go hunting for wild growing stuff, free food sounds good to me.

 

[Wiebke]

Is the NT park just a park or do they grow veg as well? If yes, you could ask whether they have stuff suitable for piggies.

 

[Niki]

Aldi's really cheap for veggies Sue & yes i do collect froggy stuff. x)

Here's some of mine http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34437&highlight=frogs

 

[Delia]

Hi Sue,


Welcome to the world of gp`s.It is brilliant that you are interested enough in them to ask for info.

You are doing well so far and their accomodation looks great,especially as it is indoors.

You do need a lot of help so I have pm`d you re this,as to answer everything here would make the thread a bit too big.

Kind regards

Maryh

 

[Sue_P]

Is the NT park just a park or do they grow veg as well? If yes, you could ask whether they have stuff suitable for piggies.

The National Trust place is an old hall open to tourists with a lake and there’s a big field nearby.

Aldi's really cheap for veggies Sue

I went in and treated them to 3 corn on the cobs for 49p.

They love them.

 

[Sue_P]

& yes i do collect froggy stuff. x)

Here's some of mine http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34437&highlight=frogs

Have you made a will?

Surely you don’t need that many froggie things, do you fancy giving some of your frogs away to me?

Hi Sue,


Welcome to the world of gp`s.It is brilliant that you are interested enough in them to ask for info.

You are doing well so far and their accomodation looks great,especially as it is indoors.

I’m glad you don’t think it looks a disaster zone.

You do need a lot of help so I have pm`d you re this,as to answer everything here would make the thread a bit too big.

Kind regards

Maryh

Psssst, I like big threads.

I’m up to page 50 on another forum I go on a lot.

 

[Sue_P]

Oh and people?!

I went to the library and got a guinea pig book out, my first book in 25 years.

 

[shazbo]

Interesting fact about Guinea Pigs not closing their eyes when they sleep - I did not know that !

i didnt either but when mine are in there pouchs and left alone they close there eyes

 

[Niki]

Have you made a will?

Surely you don’t need that many froggie things, do you fancy giving some of your frogs away to me?

No, no will |) Wether i "need" them is a matter of opinion However, there may be some frogs that might like to come live with you |)

 

[Sue_P]

I think you should give their happiness some serious thought,

if they do really want to come to my house and you have too many to look after then you should do what’s right and parcel some up for posting or bring them round in the car.

I may have killed Henry but I’m far better at looking after frogs so I assure you they’ll be safe with me, you must think about it and do what’s right for them.

 

[Niki]

I think you should give their happiness some serious thought,

if they do really want to come to my house and you have too many to look after then you should do what’s right and parcel some up for posting or bring them round in the car.

I may have killed Henry but I’m far better at looking after frogs so I assure you they’ll be safe with me, you must think about it and do what’s right for them.

I shall conduct a survey & let you know their views on moving home

 

[Sue_P]

Just remember that 'gribbit' is a thumbs up for coming to live with me.

 

[Sue_P]

So what height is the nozzle of a water bottle supposed to be off the floor?

Fudge had a very lucky escape a couple of week back cos the water bottle fell out of the hay rack and nearly landed on top of him.

It was so close that it looked like it did hit him but he acted totally normal after so it must have just skimmed his hair as he was darting away.

That would have hurt cos it was full of water to the top.

I’ve got two metal hoops around the bottle now but it’s still not 100% safe, to make it safe I’d need to lift the water bottle higher which is dead easy to do but I wasn’t sure if it’d be too high up for my rodents. See my bottle set-up: -

What is the highest height I can have the water bottle nozzle at without making it uncomfortable or impossible for my two to drink from please?

 

[Wiebke]

It looks OK to me!

 

[Sue_P]

The white wire holder can slip up though and the bottle can then fall out. It's slipped up twice now, if I bring the entire hay rack higher up (easy to do) it should stay put and be safe but I don't want to put the water out of reach of them.

 

[Sue_P]

More Questions: -

1.) Are you sure you’re not allowed to give rodents food from tins? Not even a small nibble of a pineapple chunk if it’s in juice not syrup?

2.) If I brought a mirror into my rodents pen for entertainment purposes is it cruel to them?

Will they enjoy it like parrots?

I showed Henry (my dead bunny) himself and he showed a slight bit of interest for a few seconds then went back to his miserable self.

3.) One of my rodents got mites a couple of months back, could I have passed it to him from stroking horses?

Henry got mites twice too, could that also be because of me being too eager to stroke animals?

Shall I not stroke horses no more?

 

[Sue_P]

4.) My two rodents were squeaking whilst peeing and pooing for months, the vet said it could be cystitis or bladder stones. Baytril made no difference so after discussion with the vet I decided to do nothing and let them take their chance because of the cost of ops for bladder stones. The vet said loads of rodents may all be squeaking whilst peeing and pooing and that they can possibly live with it and the owners never notice cos they’re not right observant. He said if they were his two he’s do nothing and not operate and only put them down if one looked proper sick. So I did nothing and they stopped squeaking eventually and didn’t do no more reddy wees.

They were like that for 2 or 3 months but one rodent has been squeaking again (although I haven’t heard a squeak from him in two days, I gave them cranberry juice, maybe that’s why), anyway, the rodent which has recently been squeaking drinks loads. He always had drunk more than the other. In fact I haven’t actually seen the black one drink in weeks and I sit with them for over an hour and a half each night and see them in the mornings. But he must drink otherwise he’d be dead. But when I’m with them the fudge coloured one constantly goes to take sips from the water bottle. He’s back and forth like a yoyo. Is drinking loads a symptom of something bad?

 

[Sue_P]

5.) & I’m sick of not being able to pet my pets.

Meanie Mummy is getting two cute bunnies on Saturday and you can hold them and they don’t struggle from your grip like their life depends on it. I’m already jealous of her pets cos hers are nice and mine don’t wanna let me stroke them.

I’ve grabbed mine two days running to stroke them but their eyes pop out of their heads and they struggle and put their heads under my sleeves to hide and bite my arm and scream their heads off nearly the whole time.

& catching the things deserves a medal, the chase and capture is stressful for all of us and they teeth chatter like mad.

Do I continue to grab them in an attempt to make them not feral or do I just quit and accept that I’ll never be able to get near my rodents.

6.) & also. When Meanie Mummy gets the baby bunnies, do you think it’s totally unwise to bring my rodents to the same pen to eat grass? I.e. on the disease front.

 

[Wiebke]

1) Tinned food is a no no; pineapple can cause sores in the mouth anyway, as it's quite sour.

2) They will like investigating the mirror, but once they have found out that there aren't any more guinea pigs around, they will ignore it aminly after the first day.

3) Mites have possible come from the hay, not from horses. You don't catch rodent mites from mammals.

4) What kind of crap vet have you got who would not x-ray a guinea pig that is in major pain and under suspicion of bladder stones?

Here is a medical link on how to treat cystitis/bladder stones:
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
The correct treatment for cystitis is: pediatric septrin 0.5 ml twice daily; course for 2-4 weeks. Painkiller. Probiotic. X-ray to make sure they haven't got bladder stones, in which case they need an op.

5) Perhaps you would prefer to hand over your piggies to a rescue and rather get involved with your mum's bunnies? They are obviously still extrememly afraid of being handled by you.

6) Guinea pigs and rabbits should not be together, as one kick from a bun can seriously injure aor even kill a piggy, apart from transmittable diseases.

 

[Wiebke]

I have lost a guinea pig of mine after a long, painful battle with bladder stones/chronic cystitis. I would not wish the untreated condition on anyone - human or pet! Even an untreated cystitis can kill in the long term, and it is a very slow, agonising death!

Here is a list of guinea pig rescues in Yorkshire:
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp#Yorkshire

At least, you can be sure that your guinea pigs will get proper medical treatment (including an operation, if necessary) and won't be in pain anymore.

 

[Sue_P]

1) Tinned food is a no no; pineapple can cause sores in the mouth anyway, as it's quite sour.

Oh OK, so not pineapple then. But what about a bit of pear, not much, just a little?

I don’t understand how tinned food is poisonous to rodents whereas it’s perfectly fine for us.

What's the reason for not giving tinned food?

2) They will like investigating the mirror, but once they have found out that there aren't any more guinea pigs around, they will ignore it aminly after the first day.

Cool, I’ll probably put one in with them soon just for them to see themselves for a bit.

 

[Sue_P]

3) Mites have possible come from the hay, not from horses. You don't catch rodent mites from mammals.

Are rabbits mammals?

It’s good to know I can still stroke horses though.

I wonder what Henry got mites from cos he only had a little bit of hay and I never changed it in his whole 2 years.

Or maybe I did once when we moved house?

Can’t remember.

4) What kind of crap vet have you got who would not x-ray a guinea pig that is in major pain and under suspicion of bladder stones?

Well he said he could x-ray them but there seemed little point if I wasn’t prepared to have them operated on.

 

[Sue_P]

Here is a medical link on how to treat cystitis/bladder stones:
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
The correct treatment for cystitis is: pediatric septrin 0.5 ml twice daily; course for 2-4 weeks. Painkiller. Probiotic. X-ray to make sure they haven't got bladder stones, in which case they need an op.

Yes I knew what they should get before my vets visit but the vets don’t stock Septrin and they didn’t give pro-biotic. That’s probably another reason why my bunny Henry died cos I kept saying he ain’t getting it down him cos he wasn’t drinking, he had hardly no pro-biotic at all when he was dying for 2 weeks.

& they only gave one sachet and said split it into 4, one quarter for each day.

It don’t say that on the sachet though, you’re supposed to give the whole lot. I kept saying there ain’t no point putting it the water bottle cos he weren’t going near it but they just said to keep adding it. Anyway, he’s dead now.

 

[Sue_P]

5) Perhaps you would prefer to hand over your piggies to a rescue and rather get involved with your mum's bunnies? They are obviously still extrememly afraid of being handled by you.

No.

I shan’t abandon my rodents even if I don’t like them much.

Pets are for life, it’s mean to give them away, how would they feel about it?

I shan’t reject my rodents.

But what do I do?

Try to make them tame or quit?

 

[Sue_P]

6) Guinea pigs and rabbits should not be together, as one kick from a bun can seriously injure aor even kill a piggy, apart from transmittable diseases.

Oh, I meant to say the rabbits would be put in their hutches if the rodents ever did come. Do you think it’s likely that one set of pets will make the other set ill though?

I have lost a guinea pig of mine after a long, painful battle with bladder stones/chronic cystitis. I would not wish the untreated condition on anyone - human or pet! Even an untreated cystitis can kill in the long term, and it is a very slow, agonising death!

I’ll put them down if they look proper bad.

But they look fine, they run around and play and seem happy rodents.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

PS. Like I say I haven’t heard a squeak for a couple of days and it cleared up by itself last time.

 

[Wiebke]

There are preservatives in tinned food. Even fruit juice contains a lot of sugar, which is not good for them.

PLEASE, you need to sort out their cystitis! One course of baytril is often simply not enough, especially if they live on a cold floor. It is a very painful thing to have and not treating it amounts to neglect; especially, as cystitis is not something that will heal off by itself eventually.

 

[Sue_P]

Here is a list of guinea pig rescues in Yorkshire:
http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp#Yorkshire

Uwe, I hadn’t seen that before.

Cheers, that’s interesting.

The place I got Henry and my rodents are listed, the rescue centre where my mum is getting the baby buns from isn’t though.

At least, you can be sure that your guinea pigs will get proper medical treatment (including an operation, if necessary) and won't be in pain anymore.

You mean if I take them to a rescue centre?

I sincerely doubt it.

If I took them back to where I got them from they’d be stuck in a hut again, the lady has a full-time job and loads and loads of animals to care for, she could never spend enough time with them to notice if they’re squeaking whilst peeing or if they’re not.

& I doubt she’d be paying £600 or £700 each for ops.

 

[Sue_P]

There are preservatives in tinned food. Even fruit juice contains a lot of sugar, which is not good for them.

But if you gave a tiny amount of somethin’ different, just a small bit for them to try surely there ain’t enough preservatives to harm them?

Sorry to sound like I’m arguing but it seems a shame to make them miss out on things if they don’t need to.

 

[Sue_P]

PLEASE, you need to sort out their cystitis! One course of baytril is often simply not enough, especially if they live on a cold floor.

Mine live upstairs on a laminate floor, coated with thick cardboard and tonnes of newspaper.

It is a very painful thing to have and not treating it amounts to neglect; especially, as cystitis is not something that will heal off by itself eventually.

Yeah, on another forum they said I could get fined some stupid amount of money for animal cruelty and sent to jail, they were on about calling the police on me.

If it were to get bad I’d put them down, don’t worry.

But like I say, they look healthy and happy right now.

 

[slackalice2k]

But if you gave a tiny amount of somethin’ different, just a small bit for them to try surely there ain’t enough preservatives to harm them?

Sorry to sound like I’m arguing but it seems a shame to make them miss out on things if they don’t need to.

Hi sue,

Nice to see you're asking questions, unfortunately the preservatives and extra hidden salt in tinned fruit really are not very healthy for piggies. In saying that they're not entirely good for us either, fresh fruit and vegetables are better all round for us and them. I know you care for your piggies, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, think of your piggies welfare.

And regarding handling your piggies, not all like being handled, you may find them easier to handle if you try putting an old towel down, ushering them onto it and wrapping them first before you pick them up. Then it's just a case of gently talking to them and gentle stroking and you should get much better results.

Please try to remember that guinea pigs have an instinct to run away from anything they think might want to eat them, and they don't really know any different. The more you handle them gently you'll find they trust you more, and they should be easier at cuddle time.