urgent guinea pig advise please :)

[ilovepets]

Hello. My two female indoor guineas are 1 1/2 years old. Daisy my white one for a long time now she has been drinking a lot of water then she runs down the cage ramp and pee's at the bottom. she is very playful, eating well and her weight looks normal. she only has this behavior in the cage as when i leave them out all day she hardly drinks a all. do you think she has bladder trouble? or is it just a boredom habit? the spot in the cage where she keeps peeing does smell but only after two days worth of constantly peeing there. she also uses the spot to pee when i enter the room (due to excitement i presume).

also i have rarely handled the guineas although they do let me stoke them. i let them climb into an upturned pigloo. so i am worried about how she will handle being taken to a vet? your advice is greatly appreciated! thank you.

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hi there,

It's a good idea to weigh your pigs frequently rather than relying upon guesstimate, I did this once but not anymore. Any fluctuation in weight downwardsis a sign of illness. Re the drinking some drink more, some drink less. I haven't any advice regarding that, but if you Re concerned I would leave a coloured cloth, bright to see what colour the pee is, whether it has too much calcium coming out and then a white cloth to see any discolouration in the pee. The smell could be whatever bedding your using as well, I found fleece more smelly but there are ways of combating that.

I personally think my pigs get a lot from my interaction with them, lots of lap time gives us both enjoyment.

Other members might have some more ideas.

 

[twiams]

I think lil made some great points about the urine, but i would recommend handling your guineas as much as possible within reason of course, it’s good to be able to handle your piggies and give them a good check over each day to look for anything new or anything unusual.

Most piggies react like any other animal when taken to the vet, it’s okay at first but sometimes if the vet does injections or takes blood etc. then they often look to their owner for comfort. I thought my guinea pig Marmite and I weren’t that close, not compared to my other piggies as he was quite independent and quiet, but whenever i take him to the vet and he has an injection or anything he always comes scampering across the table to snuggle up against me, it sounds horrible but it’s sweet to see how much comfort they take from their owners. So i wouldn’t be worried about that at all!

 

[ilovepets]

thanks...but

I think lil made some great points about the urine, but

i would recommend handling your guineas as much as possible within reason of course, it’s good to be able to handle your piggies and give them a good check over each day to look for anything new or anything unusual.

Most piggies react like any other animal when taken to the vet, it’s okay at first but sometimes if the vet does injections or takes blood etc. then they often look to their owner for comfort. I thought my guinea pig Marmite and I weren’t that close, not compared to my other piggies as he was quite independent and quiet, but whenever i take him to the vet and he has an injection or anything he always comes scampering across the table to snuggle up against me, it sounds horrible but it’s sweet to see how much comfort they take from their owners. So i wouldn’t be worried about that at all!

I have tried to handle the guineas a number of times but the just wriggle free from me. they used to go still when i lifted them but now i just cant grasp them properly anymore. i worry that I've left it too late to handle them now? thanks for the replies

 

[Wiebke]

Pick them up in a tunnel, a padded cardboard box (with lid) with one end cut off or an upturned hidey etc. Entice them in with a little treat.

Your piggies have gone from being frozen with fear on their prey animal instincts to being confident around you; so you should be actually very pleased! Most piggies never like being picked up (it cuts too close to their prey animal instincts); but that doesn't mean that they won't come to enjoy a little cuddle with you! Give them lots of encouragement and praise when you teach them the new pick up ritual; use the same phrase with the same melody each time and put in a little veg treat as a bribe. Be patient. Once they realise that it is a lot less stressful than being picked up, they will cooperate.