Warning about Grass balls!

[redfrock]

I have just been to check on my guinea pigs and have a chat with them and found Thistle laying absolutely stationary with her head stuck fast in one of these.

They are grass balls with a willow skeleton stuffed with hay. Initially I thought she was dead. As I tried to calm myself down I realised she was still breathing. I picked her up and sat her on my lap and tried to remove the ball but it was stuck fast. Normally I am not at home, but thank god I am currently recovering from an op, otherwise she would have been like it until 6pm and I dread to think what state she would be in. It means however that I cannot get drive so I couldn't take her to the vet. I again tried to calm myself down. Realised I couldn't extract her head so looked at the ball and started to undo the willow round the neck of it. This opened it up enough for her head to come out. I don't know who was in more shock, her or me. Checked her over, and apart from a scratch on her ear she is fine. Popped her back in the cage, she has given herself a good wash and is now pottering about as normal.

I have just removed them from both the cages and won't be buying them again. Wish I had thought more sensibly in the first place

 

[JackyB]

Poor Thistle! I'm so glad she's ok after her ordeal, who would have thought such a simple toy could pose such a risk!

 

[flips]

Poor Thistle and poor you. What a shock! Well done for staying calm and managing to sort her out. x

Thanks for the warning too.

 

[maxwellsmummy]

Thanks for the warning!

 

[Monkeynutz]

Aww, poor thistle, I bet she was relieved to get out of that and I bet you were relieved too for you and yourself. I was getting panicky just reading it, aww. Glad she's okay. Definately something to be warned about and especially if you are not home for hours during the day. Thanks for the warning.

 

[redd1800]

poor piggy!

thanks for letting us know

 

[Claire W]

Poor Thistle and poor you It must have been such a shock.

Don't beat yourself up about buying it though. I have recently became quite paranoid about the things in my hutch. I have removed the metal fold up hay rack that was in there as I heard stories of piggies getting trapped in them. Especially smaller pigs.

 

[Gaile]

It maybe a good idea to contact the company..but they then will most likely say that you shouldn't leave your pet unsupervised!

 

[lulu!]

I've had a pig get stuck in one of these before, but fortunately she wasn't hurt. She was a lot fatter than she thought she was, especially around the bum department rolleyes i don't buy them at all unless I have a baba pig around that I know has plenty of room in it. Not a good idea for adult pigs.

 

[Alicia]

Thank you for the warning I nearly bought one of these last weekend now I'm so pleased I didn't

 

[KimberleysWheekers]

Oh no! Good job you were home, hope she isn't too traumatised! hope you are recovering well too hun xx

 

[redfrock]

Oh no! Good job you were home, hope she isn't too traumatised! hope you are recovering well too hun xx

thankfully she was straight back to normal, munching and chilling. It was awful trying to get the darned thing off her head - greedy minx. She isn't even fully grown yet. Must have been one of those days; Clementine, one of my chooks, prolapsed this afternoon and had to be PTS It is a fairly common problem with Hybrids, but the first time I have lost one to it. Thankfully her last hours were spent scratching round the garden enjoying herself. OH tells me she was fighter though and didn't want to leave us . They had to give her 3 injections

 

[Claire W]

That is so sad I am sorry for your loss xx

 

[KimberleysWheekers]

thankfully she was straight back to normal, munching and chilling. It was awful trying to get the darned thing off her head - greedy minx. She isn't even fully grown yet. Must have been one of those days; Clementine, one of my chooks, prolapsed this afternoon and had to be PTS It is a fairly common problem with Hybrids, but the first time I have lost one to it. Thankfully her last hours were spent scratching round the garden enjoying herself. OH tells me she was fighter though and didn't want to leave us . They had to give her 3 injections

Oh no Sorry to hear that hun. When I went to the vets a while back, we had a late appointment and there was a girl I went school with waiting with her chook, she'd lost a few all in a week and was so upset in the waiting room.

Hope you are on the mend xx