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Rescued Guinea pigs.

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So the vet gave her some anti-biotic cream and put a speacial sort of band-aid on. She kept trying to scratch it off so we had to make a little jumper out of a sock:roll: (don’t worry it’s very loose!) We decided to name her “Miss piggy” she is VERY greedy and steals from her sisters, will even put up a fight for it. Plus she’s super vocal and whenever she sees anyone it sound like someone is murdering her! (it’s her way of trying to get food, it always works because someone gets sick of her wheeling). Hope the others will get the perfect names too! haha
 
Wow, you are doing so well with these poor little mites. I did pick up that you intend to put the boy with your existing boars though. That's not likely to end well, as more than two boys together almost always leads to serious fighting. That's likely to be exacerbated if there's girlies nearby. Why not wait till the babies are born and pair him up with one of his sons instead? Also, you'll need to keep him separately from the girls, as they go into season within hours of giving birth, and the last thing you or they need is a back to back pregnancy.
That said, you are doing an amazing job with them, they are looking great! Little cuties!
 
Reenie said:
Wow, you are doing so well with these poor little mites. I did pick up that you intend to put the boy with your existing boars though. That's not likely to end well, as more than two boys together almost always leads to serious fighting. That's likely to be exacerbated if there's girlies nearby. Why not wait till the babies are born and pair him up with one of his sons instead? Also, you'll need to keep him separately from the girls, as they go into season within hours of giving birth, and the last thing you or they need is a back to back pregnancy.
That said, you are doing an amazing job with them, they are looking great! Little cuties!
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I was thinking about attempting to introduce him to my current boys. I have the girls and the boys and two different ends of the house so hopefully they don’t smell each other. But I think I will pair him up with one of his kids if they survive. And don’t worry, I already separated him from the girls and he is currently living on his own. Thank you!
 
MinnieZvonar said:
I went in to feed the girls and put on their anti-fungal cream tonight. Two of them are doing amazing and everything is almost cleared up! Execpt the little white one :no: She has been scratching at herself and made a pretty big open wound. I really don’t know what to do, i have found she does this after i put the cream on. SO, looks like I am booking ANOTHER vets appointment tomorrow. Poor little . I went in to feed my other guinea pigs (the happy, fat and healthy ones i didn’t get from the horrid person off gumtree), and as soon as they saw me started screaming and popcorning. Can’t wait for the day ALL my guinea pigs will do this.
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Hi! Could you ask your vet whether they have oral ketonocazole or itraconazole for cats? It has being used by US resp. UK exotics vets successfully for a number of years. Guinea pig kidneys don't seem to have problems.

I would also consider whether mange mites have caused the irritation or whether bacteria or microbes could have got in. Poor baby! :(

If you need local advice from experienced rescues, try contacting Gold Coast Guinea Pig Rescue or QLD Guinea Pig Refuge; they are the most experienced rescues in your state and can help you best with available meds and treatment options.
Other good rescues are The Fox Residence Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Brisbane or Miss Piggy's Guinea Pig Lair Rescue.

https://www.facebook.com/goldcoast.guineapigrescue/
https://www.facebook.com/qldguineapigrefuge/
https://www.facebook.com/thefoxresidents/
https://www.facebook.com/PiggysLair/
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! Could you ask your vet whether they have oral ketonocazole or itraconazole for cats? It has being used by US resp. UK exotics vets successfully for a number of years. Guinea pig kidneys don't seem to have problems.

I would also consider whether mange mites have caused the irritation or whether bacteria or microbes could have got in. Poor baby! :(

If you need local advice from experienced rescues, try contacting Gold Coast Guinea Pig Rescue or QLD Guinea Pig Refuge; they are the most experienced rescues in your state and can help you best with available meds and treatment options.
Other good rescues are The Fox Residence Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Brisbane or Miss Piggy's Guinea Pig Lair Rescue.

https://www.facebook.com/goldcoast.guineapigrescue/
https://www.facebook.com/qldguineapigrefuge/
https://www.facebook.com/thefoxresidents/
https://www.facebook.com/PiggysLair/
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I gave the vet a call yesterday and he said he would prescribe itraconazole if she worsens but for now she should be fine on the current anti-biotics she has. Thank-you for the help! If i get stuck I’ll call into those guinea pig rescues (their pretty close to me).
 
I have no idea how long the girls are in their pregnancy or when I should expect them to be due. I have been reading a lot about guinea pig pregnancy’s and some sources suggest to feel the pelvic bones? and if they are a finger or more apart you should expect babies any day. First of, I tried this, I don’t know if it was because I was being too gentle (I was literally like only touching her fur) because I was scared of hurting a baby, or I was doing it wrong. Could feeling for a pelvic gap be fatal to mum and babies? or is it safe? and if it is safe, how do i do it right? (sorry for so many questions).
 
MinnieZvonar said:
I gave the vet a call yesterday and he said he would prescribe itraconazole if she worsens but for now she should be fine on the current anti-biotics she has. Thank-you for the help! If i get stuck I’ll call into those guinea pig rescues (their pretty close to me).
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All the best! Brisbane is the rescue capital of Australia. :D
I am messaging with all three rescue ladies regularly. They are all doing an amazing job. ;)
 
MinnieZvonar said:
I have no idea how long the girls are in their pregnancy or when I should expect them to be due. I have been reading a lot about guinea pig pregnancy’s and some sources suggest to feel the pelvic bones? and if they are a finger or more apart you should expect babies any day. First of, I tried this, I don’t know if it was because I was being too gentle (I was literally like only touching her fur) because I was scared of hurting a baby, or I was doing it wrong. Could feeling for a pelvic gap be fatal to mum and babies? or is it safe? and if it is safe, how do i do it right? (sorry for so many questions).
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I'm no expert, but my understanding is that its really not a good idea to try and feel pups or pelvic bones. There's no evidence to suggest you'll gain any meaningful information (there's no proven correlation between gap in pelvis and proximity of delivery) and there's a risk of injury to either pups and/or mum.

In terms of when they're due, all you can really do is be prepared and start counting. There's no definitive way to be sure they're pregnant until you get to the last few weeks, when the pups are well enough developed they're unmistakeable on a scan - and by that point mum may well be resembling a pancake on legs anyway. A good baseline is to work on 10 weeks from last contact - so if you separated boar and sows on 30th September you'll need to keep waiting until about 9th December or until babies arrive, whichever is sooner.

I think it was suggested earlier to start a thread in the Pregnancy section? Some of the boards, of which that is one, are monitored more closely by members/admin with specialist knowledge so if you start a thread there you should get more expert advice on signs to look out for and what to do. But at this stage all you can really do is read the guides you've already been linked to and assume they're pregnant until you're past the magic 10 week mark.
 
Please start an ongoing support thread in our specially monitored pregnancy section. It is specifically watched by members with practical experience with pregnancy and birth.
Click on this link to get there: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forums/pregnancy-baby-care-and-sexing-no-breeding.11/
Mention how long you have had your sows and what ages you think they are.

Please take the time to read our pregnancy, birth and baby advice. It is specifically written for inexperienced owners. We have concentrated on practical, helpful step-by-step tips and have dispensed with all the confusing but persistent breeder myths that we have found not to work in the dozen years of this forum's existence.
You can find it when you click on this link here: Pregnancy & Baby Care Guide's

A first pregnancy lasts about 10 weeks of which you want be able to see or feel anything for 7 weeks. Forget about any pelvic bones - they are anything but an exact predictor of birth. All they can tell you is that your sow is somewhere in the last couple of weeks of a pregnancy once they are fully open, and by then you should see that from fast growing visible baby balls anyway!
Do NOT dig your fingers into the body and bellies; you can easily damage or even kill embryos - or mistake inner organs for babies.
 
and I have made up my mind about what i am going to do with the boy. I am going to take him to a guinea pig rescue near me where they do bonding for males, I’ll find him a new friend and buy them a big hutch. I am already too attached to let him go. A lot of people have suggested to bond him with one of his soon to be sons, but I can’t guarantee they will make it and he is currentlu
Wiebke said:
Please start an ongoing support thread in our specially monitored pregnancy section. It is specifically watched by members with practical experience with pregnancy and birth.
Click on this link to get there: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forums/pregnancy-baby-care-and-sexing-no-breeding.11/
Mention how long you have had your sows and what ages you think they are.

Please take the time to read our pregnancy, birth and baby advice. It is specifically written for inexperienced owners. We have concentrated on practical, helpful step-by-step tips and have dispensed with all the confusing but persistent breeder myths that we have found not to work in the dozen years of this forum's existence.
You can find it when you click on this link here: Pregnancy & Baby Care Guide's

A first pregnancy lasts about 10 weeks of which you want be able to see or feel anything for 7 weeks. Forget about any pelvic bones - they are anything but an exact predictor of birth. All they can tell you is that your sow is somewhere in the last couple of weeks of a pregnancy once they are fully open, and by then you should see that from fast growing visible baby balls anyway!
Do NOT dig your fingers into the body and bellies; you can easily damage or even kill embryos - or mistake inner organs for babies.
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Thankyou, just started the thread :)
 
MinnieZvonar said:
Another update: So they went to a different vet today who confirmed my suspicions about ring worm. unfortunantly they were out of the worm medicine but said she would call me as soon as it is restocked (sometime this week). But she gave me instructions to bath them in dandruff shampoo, put anti-fungal cream on the sores, and then spray them down with a lice and mite spray (they have lice aswell 🙄). Which i have done as soon as i got home. The vet believes that the girls are pregnant, but is unsure on how many weeks, so i’m really hoping all this ringworm/mites/lice clears up before birth. I really don’t want to deal with sick babies!
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I’m not sure that pregnant sows can have treatment for ringworm?
 
As for the boy, I have decided to take him to a guinea pig rescue near me where they do male bonding, and I am going to find him a new friend and purchase a large run for them. I am too attached to him to attempt to find him a new home or take the risks of neutering him. A lot of people suggested to pair him with one of his future sons, but I can guarantee they will make it and I don’t want him to wait much longer because I can tell he is very upset and depressed about being alone.

When I purchased my first boys, I promised myself I wouldn’t get more than 4 guinea pigs. Currently have 6, expecting 7+ :doh:. It’s alright, I love them all! haha
 
MinnieZvonar said:
and I have made up my mind about what i am going to do with the boy. I am going to take him to a guinea pig rescue near me where they do bonding for males, I’ll find him a new friend and buy them a big hutch. I am already too attached to let him go. A lot of people have suggested to bond him with one of his soon to be sons, but I can’t guarantee they will make it and he is currentlu

Thankyou, just started the thread :)
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Thank you!

Rescue dating is the best way forward for single boars if you are finding that he is very unhappy.

What you have to respect is that once dad is stably bonded, you can't just stick any babies in with your boy pair. it would be good to speak with the rescue about possible solutions if you end up with an uneven number of baby boys. I am sure that they will help you.
 
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