Shadow The Guinea Pig

shadowmcbadow

shadowmcbadow

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello! I just wanted to talk to you guys about my 2 year old guinea pig, Shadow. We have had him for awhile now, ever since my little brothers birthday 2 years ago when Shadow was just a tiny little thing. We always enjoy coming home and seeing him in his little cage. My parents have already made it clear that he is not going to have a cage buddy, or that he is ever going to have a vet checkup. The reason for not having the cage buddy is that we think it would do more harm than good, and that he already has a small cage to begin with, etc. Not to mention he seems happy enough on his own. And, I think if my parents noticed he wasn't feeling good, they would have to take him to a vet to help him. I was just wondering if I could get some tips from you guys on how to keep his health in check without a vet and make 100% sure that he can live a full life. Our family loves him a lot and seeing him pass too early would break our hearts. Enjoy the photos of him down below! 1st and 3rd are of him now, 2nd is of him when we first got him 2 years ago.
IMG_2780[1].webp IMG_2668[1].webp IMG_2781[1].webp
 
I am sorry, but the 2 best things you can do to ensure Shadow has a long and happy life is provide him with a large cage and a cage mate.
He is a very beautiful boy and you clearly love him, so I would definitely start by trying to improve at least one aspect of his life.
If his cage is small is there anyway you could expand it for him?
He will also be a much more interesting pet if he has more space, because he will be more active and you will see a lot more of his natural behaviors.
 
Swissgreys said:
I am sorry, but the 2 best things you can do to ensure Shadow has a long and happy life is provide him with a large cage and a cage mate.
He is a very beautiful boy and you clearly love him, so I would definitely start by trying to improve at least one aspect of his life.
If his cage is small is there anyway you could expand it for him?
He will also be a much more interesting pet if he has more space, because he will be more active and you will see a lot more of his natural behaviors.
Click to expand...
his cage isn't tiny, but it doesn't have a ton of room. I don't know of a way to expand it though.
 
Let them know about second hand cages. They can be a lot cheaper than ones in store. As long as you make sure to give it a good clean with a pet safe disinfectant, it will be fine. This might help them come to terms with the fact he needs a bigger cage as it will have less of a cost.
 
KaitlinH said:
Let them know about second hand cages. They can be a lot cheaper than ones in store. As long as you make sure to give it a good clean with a pet safe disinfectant, it will be fine. This might help them come to terms with the fact he needs a bigger cage as it will have less of a cost.
Click to expand...
just an update, i have found a pretty cheap bigger cage for him, and are slowly convincing my parents to let me get a new one. unfortunately, a cage mate is too much of a hassle and is out of the question. But, with a bigger cage and some loving, i believe shadow will be a bit happier and comfortable enough on his own. I wish he could have a cage mate, but shadow will just have to be a lone wolf for now :/
 
shadowmcbadow said:
just an update, i have found a pretty cheap bigger cage for him, and are slowly convincing my parents to let me get a new one. unfortunately, a cage mate is too much of a hassle and is out of the question. But, with a bigger cage and some loving, i believe shadow will be a bit happier and comfortable enough on his own. I wish he could have a cage mate, but shadow will just have to be a lone wolf for now :/
Click to expand...

yay! I hope shadow is happier in his new cage :)
 
for a nice coincidence your Shadow has the same colour of a cat I am fond of, whose name is Ombra which means Shadow in italian;
she is not my cat but she was my guest at home for one month:
101_5579.webp
Long ago I had a piggie who lived alone without a fellow... I did not know they need to live together. Anyway, I cannot say he was unhappy... but his was not an ideal life for sure.
There is another thing which sounds serious, but maybe I misunderstood what you have written (english is not my native language). You say: "My parents have already made it clear that he is ever going to have a vet checkup". Are you talking of a vet check up only? not a visit for a disease, aren't you?
A check up is good for preventing a lot of troubles, but you also can learn how to check your pet; you can realise if he is chewing correctly, if he is growing or losing weight and so on... If you follow the latest rules about the diet and other important things you can prevent damages. But a parent who refuses a check up visit, may refuse also a vet in the future, especially knowing the cost of the bill...

There are a lot of info here and on the website Guinea Lynx which was recommended by my vet.
As for us humans, also piggies need some "sport" and they must walk and run for keeping the health strong. If your cage is little, ask your parents to arrange (of course for some hours a day) a room of your house. I also arrange my kitchen with tunnels, hideys, boxes and recycled/old materials and my piggies can enjoy their floor time without damaging any furniture. At the end of this floor time YOU will take the broom and will sweep the floor.:D
This is my kitchen for the piggies
100_6967 (2).webp
tunnels made with old yoga mats
100_6970 (2).webp
if the cage is little a floor time is necessary
 
rome_italy said:
for a nice coincidence your Shadow has the same colour of a cat I am fond of, whose name is Ombra which means Shadow in italian;
she is not my cat but she was my guest at home for one month:
View attachment 68323
Long ago I had a piggie who lived alone without a fellow... I did not know they need to live together. Anyway, I cannot say he was unhappy... but his was not an ideal life for sure.
There is another thing which sounds serious, but maybe I misunderstood what you have written (english is not my native language). You say: "My parents have already made it clear that he is ever going to have a vet checkup". Are you talking of a vet check up only? not a visit for a disease, aren't you?
A check up is good for preventing a lot of troubles, but you also can learn how to check your pet; you can realise if he is chewing correctly, if he is growing or losing weight and so on... If you follow the latest rules about the diet and other important things you can prevent damages. But a parent who refuses a check up visit, may refuse also a vet in the future, especially knowing the cost of the bill...

There are a lot of info here and on the website Guinea Lynx which was recommended by my vet.
As for us humans, also piggies need some "sport" and they must walk and run for keeping the health strong. If your cage is little, ask your parents to arrange (of course for some hours a day) a room of your house. I also arrange my kitchen with tunnels, hideys, boxes and recycled/old materials and my piggies can enjoy their floor time without damaging any furniture. At the end of this floor time YOU will take the broom and will sweep the floor.:D
This is my kitchen for the piggies
View attachment 68324
tunnels made with old yoga mats
View attachment 68325
if the cage is little a floor time is necessary
Click to expand...

I believe if he was sick and needed medical attention, he would get it.
Also, what a cool coincidence!
As for the cage, no update yet. But, I'm hoping to get it somewhere in the near future!
 
I to have a small store bought cage that is to small for my 2 piggies that was given to me and under my current financial situation until things get better i am doing things cheap as possible until i can affford to build a c&c. I bought a amimal playpen for 10 and attached to my cage to extended it a bit.. I use a shower curtain under to protect the floor

20170730_081338.webp
 
Swissgreys said:
I am sorry, but the 2 best things you can do to ensure Shadow has a long and happy life is provide him with a large cage and a cage mate.
He is a very beautiful boy and you clearly love him, so I would definitely start by trying to improve at least one aspect of his life.
If his cage is small is there anyway you could expand it for him?
He will also be a much more interesting pet if he has more space, because he will be more active and you will see a lot more of his natural behaviors.
Click to expand...

I have a 30" by 44" cage on the way! Thank you all for your advice!
 
One of the reason for a mate is they can play together & talk in there own language. I know you love him to bits, but he will always miss a companion, no matter how he seems. The other thing I'm concerned about is vet treatment, he will need a vet at some point. It makes me sad that people will take a cat or dog to the vet, but consider a rat, mouse, hamster, rabbit or guinea pig as disposable. Oh they are sick let's dump them up the woods or outside a rescue, despite the fact that they are in pain. So sad.
You say you believe your parents will take him to a vet if he's ill, maybe ask them outright. It's silly not taking them to the vet for a check up, because that could identify anything that is brewing & it can be treated before it becomes a major problem & costs a lot of money.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
One of the reason for a mate is they can play together & talk in there own language. I know you love him to bits, but he will always miss a companion, no matter how he seems. The other thing I'm concerned about is vet treatment, he will need a vet at some point. It makes me sad that people will take a cat or dog to the vet, but consider a rat, mouse, hamster, rabbit or guinea pig as disposable. Oh they are sick let's dump them up the woods or outside a rescue, despite the fact that they are in pain. So sad.
You say you believe your parents will take him to a vet if he's ill, maybe ask them outright. It's silly not taking them to the vet for a check up, because that could identify anything that is brewing & it can be treated before it becomes a major problem & costs a lot of money.
Click to expand...

I have. They said they would.
P.S. The next time I get a guinea pig (if I do again) I will make sure to get 2. As I said before, Shadow is going to have to be a lone wolf.
 
It's a shame you can't get him a friend, be aware that he will be lonely. A companion for piggies is as important as food and water rather than a choice like a toy. I hope your parents will reconsider at some point and that his vet visit for check up goes okay.
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
It's a shame you can't get him a friend, be aware that he will be lonely. A companion for piggies is as important as food and water rather than a choice like a toy. I hope your parents will reconsider at some point and that his vet visit for check up goes okay.
Click to expand...

Sorry. Nothing I could do. And I don't mean to sound like everyone out there with a lone guinea pig but he seems pretty happy on his own. Not to mention if we got him a buddy he might not like the one we pick and we would have to put them in seperate cages, which would defeat the purpose of getting one and would be 2x harder to clean.

Also, I said if he needed medical attention, he would get it. A vet check-up would cost more than he is and probably more than the new cage we are getting him. BUT, if needed, I truly know my parents would give him some.
 
Well it's sad that he'll have to be all alone, just be sure to keep an eye on him and weigh him regularly (once a week) to make sure he doesn't stop eating.

If it's your parents that need convincing it may be an idea to get them to look through the forum, there are loads of great threads on here highlighting the importance of company and space :)
 
I have to chime in on the convo. Some people arent that easy to convince. My hubby is one of them. It took me a wheek lol to convince my husband that guinea pigs absolutely need veggies and a companion. After he did some reading we went and got rosey a companion and she was much happier and love to watch them interact and one instigate the other to make chase around the cage. He even has them trained to wheek for their evening veggies. Right before feedimg time before they have time to start wheeking he starts calling their names they wheek back after a few times he feeds them
 
shannonandrosy said:
I have to chime in on the convo. Some people arent that easy to convince. My hubby is one of them. It took me a wheek lol to convince my husband that guinea pigs absolutely need veggies and a companion. After he did some reading we went and got rosey a companion and she was much happier and love to watch them interact and one instigate the other to make chase around the cage. He even has them trained to wheek for their evening veggies. Right before feedimg time before they have time to start wheeking he starts calling their names they wheek back after a few times he feeds them
Click to expand...

I have had the conversation with them for 2 years. It's a no. But, he eats fine and will soon have a lot of space (about 8 square feet). Like I said, it will be easier to do if i ever get guinea pigs again if i ever want to get companion piggies.
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
Well it's sad that he'll have to be all alone, just be sure to keep an eye on him and weigh him regularly (once a week) to make sure he doesn't stop eating.

If it's your parents that need convincing it may be an idea to get them to look through the forum, there are loads of great threads on here highlighting the importance of company and space :)
Click to expand...

any tips on how to weigh him? i have always wondered how to do that
 
Hello all! if anybody is still following this thread, I wanted you to know that Shadow has recently turn 4 years old this year, living strong. He now has a foster cage mate named Peanut from a friend of ours and seems to be loving life. Although it's been 6 months they've been together, I still feel greatful for these little guys every day. Peanut is a weird, antisocial piggy, and honestly Shadow seems to be thriving just as well as he did when he was alone. They seem to get along pretty alright. If anybody is interested, I can send pictures of the two of them together, as well as their cage and all their space they enjoy playing in together. I believe that would be quite the cherry on top to end this story, so let me know!
Thank you all!
 
I’m so glad to hear he finally has a friend to share his cage with. May I ask how. If the cage is? Boys can be territorial so you have to give them more space than the minimum. Everyone loves pigtures so please post them here.

Did you figure out how to weigh him?

PS he may seem as happy as he was while alone but I’m pretty sure he’s happier. 😁
 
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