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Ophelia

PiggyintheMiddle

PiggyintheMiddle

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 14, 2023
Messages
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Location
Oxfordshire
I wanted to make a thread on Ophelia now that she has lost her life partner.

She seems to be doing ok so far. She comes out and eats and drinks. I think she's sad but also continuing with life, knowing that she is safe and cared for and loved. I went in and gave her nuggets this morning, but she much preferred when pepper came. She still ran off with it - can't risk having the hoomans try to take it from her.

We are looking at rescues near us (Oxfordshire).
 
Sorry - I can’t think of any at the moment. Have you looked at the list of approved rescues?
I’m going to move your thread to Guinea pig chat x
 
piggieminder said:
Someone on the forum used Blue Cross at Burford, it might come to me later who it was but my brain is a sieve these days!
Not sure if they do the bonding but it would be worth asking.
Click to expand...

Merab said:
Burford would be my suggestion too.
I think they have a good reputation but I have no idea if they do bonding
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Thank you! We are looking at the Blue Cross right now.
 
piggieminder said:
Someone on the forum used Blue Cross at Burford, it might come to me later who it was but my brain is a sieve these days!
Not sure if they do the bonding but it would be worth asking.
Click to expand...

They have never offered dating and I am not sure whether they are putting up guinea pigs for adoption, either. Oxfordshire is a bit of a difficult area for dating, unfortunately since the good dating rescues have mostly closed down now.
 
Just had a look at Blue Cross Burford website. Lots of piggies but mostly pairs, only singles are males, all the single females are reserved.
Little Wheekers in Bristol are very helpful they may be worth contacting for anyone who can travel. Although Oxford is out of their stated area but for experienced piggy people they have been known to be flexible. It's sad the way rescues are no longer doing bondings but it can take up an awful lot of time.
 
We're in contact with the Burford Blue Cross as they have a pair of sows, aged four and five, who are not yet listed because one was undergoing a vet check as they suspected calcium build up. 🏮Red flag on my part, given how careful we are to avoid such a scenario. The Blue Cross have now back to us with the vet's assessment:

"urinary scan revealed silt-like material present in bladder, urinary results showed no infection present but calcium +++. Therefore, ongoing plan transition over to low calcium diet long term".
(Why the three plus-signs after calcium: +++ ?)

The person who quoted this then said, 'The food she is currently being fed is Burgess guinea pig nuggets which are already low in calcium, and we are making sure to choose veggies which are low in calcium to keep her maintained.'

So they haven't specified bladder stones, but I'm guessing that it will go that way? My instinct is *not* to take them on. They were each bereaved and then bonded at the centre and so we would have to take both (without any guinea-pig dating). I just can't face, or afford, hundreds and hundreds more pounds of vet fees and medications. Would that be a likely outcome with calcium already present as silt?

I would welcome any input on this, please.
 
These are my personal thoughts from my experiences and in no way represent the forum.

I wouldn't write them off completely yet. I would draw up 2 lists, pros and cons. Thinking of things like, sludge doesn't necessarily mean she will get stones. Sludge can be peed out and on a good diet won't necessarily return. These girls sound like they have been to a good vet for a thorough check, you won't get that at many rescues and certainly not with a private rehome.
Do you want to take on piggies of this age? I took on a 4 year old boar two years ago, he is now 6 but it is strange when I think that because he feels new to me! I don't regret having him and am very glad I could give him a home.
Can you cope with 3 piggies, is your cage big enough for 3? Do you have room for a 2nd cage if the bond fails? Would you be happy with side by side living? Can you return them to the rescue if the bond doesn't work out. Older sows can be difficult to bond, especially as they are already in a pair.
Look into other rescues, how far would you travel? There are other rescues not on the forum approved list, they are sometimes not on the list because they haven't asked to be not because they are bad. Are there any general animal rescues that also have guinea pigs? There is no shame in not going the rescue route if there is no suitable sow available to you, whilst we would all love to rescue it's not always possible the happiness of your single sow is also important. I've been on a rescue waiting list for a friend for Bertie for over a year now, we have a very narrow chance of finding what we need in rescue with our difficult boar (9 failed bonds). He's okay with Duck as a bar buddy for now but Duck's recent illness has made me think. It looks like we will be going down the breeder route and trying a baby.
Somewhere on the forum there is a guide on finding piggies I will link it if I can find it!
There's a lot to think about. I wish you good luck whatever you decide.
 
piggieminder said:
These are my personal thoughts from my experiences and in no way represent the forum.

I wouldn't write them off completely yet. I would draw up 2 lists, pros and cons. Thinking of things like, sludge doesn't necessarily mean she will get stones. Sludge can be peed out and on a good diet won't necessarily return. These girls sound like they have been to a good vet for a thorough check, you won't get that at many rescues and certainly not with a private rehome.
Do you want to take on piggies of this age? I took on a 4 year old boar two years ago, he is now 6 but it is strange when I think that because he feels new to me! I don't regret having him and am very glad I could give him a home.
Can you cope with 3 piggies, is your cage big enough for 3? Do you have room for a 2nd cage if the bond fails? Would you be happy with side by side living? Can you return them to the rescue if the bond doesn't work out. Older sows can be difficult to bond, especially as they are already in a pair.
Look into other rescues, how far would you travel? There are other rescues not on the forum approved list, they are sometimes not on the list because they haven't asked to be not because they are bad. Are there any general animal rescues that also have guinea pigs? There is no shame in not going the rescue route if there is no suitable sow available to you, whilst we would all love to rescue it's not always possible the happiness of your single sow is also important. I've been on a rescue waiting list for a friend for Bertie for over a year now, we have a very narrow chance of finding what we need in rescue with our difficult boar (9 failed bonds). He's okay with Duck as a bar buddy for now but Duck's recent illness has made me think. It looks like we will be going down the breeder route and trying a baby.
Somewhere on the forum there is a guide on finding piggies I will link it if I can find it!
There's a lot to think about. I wish you good luck whatever you decide.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your detailed answer -- it has helped enormously. We had been looking for just one sow but have been offered this pair. I had raised the worry that it would be harder to bond an already bonded pair with our 6-year-old sow and her answer was that sows 'normally get on really well'. I was already taking that with a pinch of salt, so I am glad you pointed out that an older sows can be difficult to bond. It would be a bonded 4 and 5 year-old with a 6 year-old! Whilst you have reassured with me with regards to the calcium, the problem of bonding has decided it, since there is no opportunity for 'dating' or a trial. Other things you have said have also consolidated the no, so thank you.

I will read the link now. Thank you very much.
 
I didn't want to put you off, only point out potential problems. They may well bond okay but I would want to try bonding before making a decision and if they won't allow that then I can understand why you would say no.
It would be worth telling them you really want a single and do they have a waiting list in case they get one in.
 
Have you looked at Bunnyjack Foundation. They do bonding. They only have a pair of 3 year old girls available at the moment but it may be worth going on a waiting list if they have one. They are based in Wiltshire according to one post I read, their registered address is Bath.
 
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You may have said (the heat is getting to my brain a bit...) but have you considered a husboar for Ophelia?

I certainly understand your hesitancy to take on any further guineas where you're not sure that the bond is going to work, as well as your hesistancy to take on guineas who look as if they may well develop expensive health problems. It's just good and honest to know yourself and how much you can handle.
 
piggieminder said:
Have you looked at Bunnyjack Foundation. They do bonding. They only have a pair of 3 year old girls available at the moment but it may be worth going on a waiting list if they have one. They are based in Wiltshire according to one post I read, their registered address is Bath.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I’ll apply to them as well. I’ve filled in the form for Little Wheekers in Bristol and so wait to hear back from them. It sounds like they too do bonding.
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
You may have said (the heat is getting to my brain a bit...) but have you considered a husboar for Ophelia?

I certainly understand your hesitancy to take on any further guineas where you're not sure that the bond is going to work, as well as your hesistancy to take on guineas who look as if they may well develop expensive health problems. It's just good and honest to know yourself and how much you can handle.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your understanding. Much as I want Ophelia to have a companion immediately, I have to be realistic about how much I can really take on. I had wondered about a husboar but am rather put off by tales here of sporadic smelliness! The girls moved permanently into my 16-year-old’s room when Bianca was diagnosed (having previously lived between heated shed and outdoors) and I am pretty sure she won’t want smelliness there!
 
Probably a bit far but last year we found hazlecroft rescue near St Albans really good and they did a thorough bonding to help our bereaved sow Winnie find her new friend Dottie. Sarah who runs it has lots of experience and was really helpful.

Hazelcroft Rescue

All the best. I’m sure you’ll find a new friend.
 
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