Couldn't Stomach The Neglect, So Many Questions...

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Jthomp26

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Hello... I am a new guinea pig owner. I have adopted two little puppies (6 years ago now!) and I've got a fair amount of experience with taking care of animals.

Buuuuut.... I have hardly ever even seen a guinea pig. That didn't really matter though because when I was asked to watch a guinea pig this weekend, it took about 5 minutes to realize the GP was being mistreated. The cage was a mess and there was hardly anything in it, and no food and etc.

I talked to the owner, and they were going to surrender it anyways. I got it on Friday and started googling pretty much immediately. The information from the last owner was that it's a female, they adopted it from the Humane Society about 2.5 years ago, and it was a couple years old when they adopted it.

So, she's probably in the 4-6 year old range. I got her an appointment with the vet yesterday and bought her a new, working water bottle, CareFresh bedding, Timothy Hay, and some romaine lettuce. I cleaned her disgusting cage.

On to the questions:

1. I know that they do better with other GP's... but she's never (to anyone's knowledge) lived with another GP, and she's on the older side. Would it still make sense to get another GP? Don't get me wrong, I love all animals, but I don't have a particular desire to own guinea pigs. I just want to love it and give it a good home because it deserves that... so I'd be willing to adopt another if it would really make sense given the circumstances.

2. I know they can't tolerate too much temperature fluctuation.... so I just want to make sure that my usual habits are safe. Generally, I set my temperature at 75 when I'm not home, 69-71 when I am home, and 63-65 at night.

3. I'm buying a bigger cage, for sure (just need to figure out if it's going to accommodate 1, or more :-) ) The current cage is 2.75 square feet, so would this be an immediate concern? Or will a couple of weeks not make a huge difference?

Lastly,

4. My veterinarian I saw gave me a care sheet, and like all sources I've found, it says to feed fresh greens (not iceberg or bibb, etc.). However, her care sheet recommends free choice on fresh greens, which I have not seen anywhere else. She said that she's a little underweight, and she said that GP usually won't overeat. She said if she started getting too heavy I would have to change things, but she generally suggests fresh greens and pellets be free choice. Again, I have not seen these recommendations anywhere else.... is she wrong!?!

Thank you so much!
 
Hello, welcome to the forum. Glad this little one has a home with you.

Will try and answer your questions and post you some links to read. Are you from the UK or overseas? I noticed you typed the temperature in Fahrenheit...


1. I know that they do better with other GP's... but she's never (to anyone's knowledge) lived with another GP, and she's on the older side. Would it still make sense to get another GP? Don't get me wrong, I love all animals, but I don't have a particular desire to own guinea pigs. I just want to love it and give it a good home because it deserves that... so I'd be willing to adopt another if it would really make sense given the circumstances.
They do do better with company of their own kind as the are heard animal, but as she is coming form a bad background it may make sense to get her stabilised in her new home first, make sure she has no health issues and gets used to being in her new safe home.

2. I know they can't tolerate too much temperature fluctuation.... so I just want to make sure that my usual habits are safe. Generally, I set my temperature at 75 when I'm not home, 69-71 when I am home, and 63-65 at night.
Piggies like Room temperature like us so anywhere around 18-21c is fine 64-70F ish is great

3. I'm buying a bigger cage, for sure (just need to figure out if it's going to accommodate 1, or more :-) ) The current cage is 2.75 square feet, so would this be an immediate concern? Or will a couple of weeks not make a huge difference?

Cages you are lookign at 120cm by 90cm for two piggies, this will give a single piggy a lot of room too or c&c 2x4 Guinea Pig Cages Store

Lastly,

4. My veterinarian I saw gave me a care sheet, and like all sources I've found, it says to feed fresh greens (not iceberg or bibb, etc.). However, her care sheet recommends free choice on fresh greens, which I have not seen anywhere else. She said that she's a little underweight, and she said that GP usually won't overeat. She said if she started getting too heavy I would have to change things, but she generally suggests fresh greens and pellets be free choice. Again, I have not seen these recommendations anywhere else.... is she wrong!?!

Okay have read of this on diet it will tell you all the info you need Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
Good quality hay is vital and should be unlimited. I would start off carefully introducing veg, maybe a slice of fresh pepper de-seeded as they are high in vit C
When I say peppers i mean these below
ING-bell-pepper_sql.jpg



If we can help in anyway, p;ease just ask. What is your new piggies name?

Could you add your location to your profile also?

Lovely to have you join the forum and so pleasing to see a piggy end up with someone who obviously cares so much

Lee
 
It's so lovely that you have taken in this piggie and are so keen to do the best for her. Look forward to seeing pics in later posts. Welcome to the forum
 
It's lovely you are giving this piggy a better life :-) this sounds like a true rescue! And I think she will grow on you ;-)
Welcome to the forum and I hope you get all the Iformation you need
 
Hahahahahaha! ! ! Piggies won't overeat? ? ? Think my 2 chunksters would argue with that!

Seriously though - well done on saving this little piggy. Really don't understand why someone one would rescue an animal and then mistreat it. Sounds like it doesn't matter what you do she is still going to have a much happier life!
 
sport_billy said:
Hello, welcome to the forum. Glad this little one has a home with you.

Will try and answer your questions and post you some links to read. Are you from the UK or overseas? I noticed you typed the temperature in Fahrenheit...


1. I know that they do better with other GP's... but she's never (to anyone's knowledge) lived with another GP, and she's on the older side. Would it still make sense to get another GP? Don't get me wrong, I love all animals, but I don't have a particular desire to own guinea pigs. I just want to love it and give it a good home because it deserves that... so I'd be willing to adopt another if it would really make sense given the circumstances.
They do do better with company of their own kind as the are heard animal, but as she is coming form a bad background it may make sense to get her stabilised in her new home first, make sure she has no health issues and gets used to being in her new safe home.

2. I know they can't tolerate too much temperature fluctuation.... so I just want to make sure that my usual habits are safe. Generally, I set my temperature at 75 when I'm not home, 69-71 when I am home, and 63-65 at night.
Piggies like Room temperature like us so anywhere around 18-21c is fine 64-70F ish is great

3. I'm buying a bigger cage, for sure (just need to figure out if it's going to accommodate 1, or more :-) ) The current cage is 2.75 square feet, so would this be an immediate concern? Or will a couple of weeks not make a huge difference?

Cages you are lookign at 120cm by 90cm for two piggies, this will give a single piggy a lot of room too or c&c 2x4 Guinea Pig Cages Store

Lastly,

4. My veterinarian I saw gave me a care sheet, and like all sources I've found, it says to feed fresh greens (not iceberg or bibb, etc.). However, her care sheet recommends free choice on fresh greens, which I have not seen anywhere else. She said that she's a little underweight, and she said that GP usually won't overeat. She said if she started getting too heavy I would have to change things, but she generally suggests fresh greens and pellets be free choice. Again, I have not seen these recommendations anywhere else.... is she wrong!?!

Okay have read of this on diet it will tell you all the info you need Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet
Good quality hay is vital and should be unlimited. I would start off carefully introducing veg, maybe a slice of fresh pepper de-seeded as they are high in vit C
When I say peppers i mean these below
ING-bell-pepper_sql.jpg



If we can help in anyway, p;ease just ask. What is your new piggies name?

Could you add your location to your profile also?

Lovely to have you join the forum and so pleasing to see a piggy end up with someone who obviously cares so much

Lee
Click to expand...


Hey Lee!

I am indeed from the U.S. I added my location to my profile :-)

I have read about the temperature range, and I feel like the range of temperatures are safe.... but everything says that they can't tolerate "extreme" or "rapid" temperature changes. I haven't found much on what constitutes extreme and/or rapid, so I was just wondering if a 23 degrees celsius to 18 degrees celsius change over the course of a day constitutes an extreme and/or rapid change?

As far as the cage goes... I'm actually planning on using the C&C extra large (2x5) deluxe cage with the 2x2 upper level loft thing... But what I was wondering is how urgent a bigger cage is. Should I buy one already made from the C&C store now and change her cage immediately, or is the 46cm x 76cm cage ok for 2 or 3 weeks until I can build my own?

As far as the diet... I guess the reason I brought that up is I read that page and it doesn't suggest free feeding romaine lettuce... it says about a cup! So I was just wondering if I should trust this vet, since she said to free feed romaine lettuce, which seems to be dangerous.
 
As a side note... I finally got her to let me pick her up without chasing her around the cage, and I had her in my lap for about 10 minutes and was feeding her lettuce and petting her. I feel pretty crappy though, and worried that I did more harm than good, because when I went to put her back she started going nuts. I had read that when she does that, I should hold her above the cage until she stops squirming.

I was doing that, but I was scared I was squeezing too hard, and she fell. Only about maybe 2''... I didn't have her very high but I'm just worried she won't trust me next time I want to hold her :-/
 
Hi there and welldoneyou on taking on this neglected piggy! The temperature change overthe course of a day you mention sounds ok. Sudden and extreme would be bringing a piggy indoors from very low temp outside! I would follow the diet advice on this forum from Lee, too much lettuce is indeed not good for their little tums. Hay should be the bulk of the diet, pellets and fresh veggies make up the remainder. If you need to wait a while for the bigger C&C set up( great choice!), you could give your piggy some free roaming time in a safe and secure area( kitchen floor?) with no cables to chew, houseplants, other animals, etc around. Just pop an old sheet on the floor and some places to hide( cardboard boxes with holes/ archways cut out make great hideys. That way year piggy will have somewhere to stretch those legs.xxxxx
 
Well done for taking in this little piggie. It sounds like you definitely care to do the best for her.

For Vegetables its usually best to give some twice a day. Some in the morning and then again at night. For example I feed mine at 1pm an then again at 1am their veg. Hay is unlimited as they need it to keep their gut moving. Pellets aren't necessarily needed but are good for young piggies or piggies who need to put on weight. I only give mine one handful of pellets a day but other people give them more. It depends on you as an owner.
If she's not used to vegetables then I would start her slow with just the pepper as Lee reccomended.

Some good veggies include cucumber, peppers, coriander, celery, green beans and savoy cabbage.
 
Jthomp26 said:
Hey Lee!

I am indeed from the you.S. I added my location to my profile :-)

I have read about the temperature range, and I feel like the range of temperatures are safe.... but everything says that they can't tolerate "extreme" or "rapid" temperature changes. I haven't found much on what constitutes extreme and/or rapid, so I was just wondering if a 23 degrees celsius to 18 degrees celsius change over the course of a day constitutes an extreme and/or rapid change?

As far as the cage goes... I'm actually planning on using the C&C extra large (2x5) deluxe cage with the 2x2 upper level loft thing... But what I was wondering is how urgent a bigger cage is. Should I buy one already made from the C&C store now and change her cage immediately, or is the 46cm x 76cm cage ok for 2 or 3 weeks until I can build my own?

As far as the diet... I guess the reason I brought that up is I read that page and it doesn't suggest free feeding romaine lettuce... it says about a cup! So I was just wondering if I should trust this vet, since she said to free feed romaine lettuce, which seems to be dangerous.
Click to expand...


The change is fine in temperature and not rapid.

The cage can wait as you say it's not ideal but as you are planning to get a c&c over the next few weeks, she'll be okay in a smaller one temporarily with some run time maybe? If you can get a cage of ebay in the meantime for cheap that is always a bonus

Lettuce shouldn't be fed daily as it can cause watery poo's we feed a leaf or two of little gem every other day probably

great advice from @AuntyC and @Julesie above

Have a look at this for picking her up, it will take the stress out for her and you



as you can see in the video our girls are used to the method
 
She won't run at all :-/

I have a giant 8 ft by 6 ft room completely empty (no wires or anything) that I put her in... she literally just stands in the corner. I put some cardboard boxes in there, and hid food and tried a few things... she just sits in the corner...

She only comes out of her pigloo to eat and drink water
 
Hi :wel:to the forum..

Jthomp26 said:
She won't run at all :-/

I have a giant 8 ft by 6 ft room completely empty (no wires or anything) that I put her in... she literally just stands in the corner. I put some cardboard boxes in there, and hid food and tried a few things... she just sits in the corner...

She only comes out of her pigloo to eat and drink water
Click to expand...

It will take some time for Her, ( What's her name ) to learn to trust you... have a look at this link. Well done for getting her out of that bad situation... :nod: With your care she will soon come out as she begins to trust you.. How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?

Lisa & Ali..
 
She is probably just stressed after the fall. Is there any sign of injury?

They will squirm when you hold them and above the cage they can see they are going to be put down so can get scrabbley - they wont calm down, the key is to get them down as quick as possible. Try not to feel bad we have all done it and you soon gain her trust back, it is early days.... food is a good bribery
 
Jthomp26 said:
She won't run at all :-/

I have a giant 8 ft by 6 ft room completely empty (no wires or anything) that I put her in... she literally just stands in the corner. I put some cardboard boxes in there, and hid food and tried a few things... she just sits in the corner...

She only comes out of her pigloo to eat and drink water
Click to expand...

We had to set a video camera up with our first two piggies just to see them.

You will do fine, you are attentive and very caring. We are all here to help

Have a read of the thread above by @lisaali
 
I haven't figured out a name for her yet! The previous moro....err owner.... answered that questions strangely with "it's changed so many times, I don't even know."


lisaali said:
Hi :wel:to the forum..



It will take some time for Her, ( What's her name ) to learn to trust you... have a look at this link. Well done for getting her out of that bad situation... :nod: With your care she will soon come out as she begins to trust you.. How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?

Lisa & Ali..
Click to expand...

I'm going to
 
sport_billy said:
She is probably just stressed after the fall. Is there any sign of injury?

They will squirm when you hold them and above the cage they can see they are going to be put down so can get scrabbley - they wont calm down, the key is to get them down as quick as possible. Try not to feel bad we have all done it and you soon gain her trust back, it is early days.... food is a good bribery
Click to expand...


Well she's been doing that since I got her on Friday... but she doesn't look hurt at all. Her behavior hasn't changed. She's been chowing down on her hay and staring at me now for a good 20 minutes...she's actually really cute! haha

But when I go over there she will come sniff my finger for a second, I think she realizes I didn't bring food, and then she sprints back in her pigloo and stays in there for another 20 minutes

I have bribed her with so many carrots and romaine lettuce... I'm afraid of giving her too much
 
Jthomp26 said:
Well she's been doing that since I got her on Friday... but she doesn't look hurt at all. Her behavior hasn't changed. She's been chowing down on her hay and staring at me now for a good 20 minutes...she's actually really cute! haha

But when I go over there she will come sniff my finger for a second, I think she realizes I didn't bring food, and then she sprints back in her pigloo and stays in there for another 20 minutes

I have bribed her with so many carrots and romaine lettuce... I'm afraid of giving her too much
Click to expand...

Normal piggy behaviour honestly, we have all been through this, try some sprigs of Coriander or strips of pepper, it is food they can have a little more of. Honestly it is just time and this little lady may have had a traumatic life before she met you. I am pleased that she has found someone who will give her the love she deserves. Be lovely to see some photos of her at some point.
 
Ok I got a couple pics! I have just one last question for right now... I'm about to go buy a bigger cage that I'm going to use temporarily and then return when I get the C&C cage. I can't watch her sit in this little thing anymore.

I currently just have the CareFresh paper bedding.... How can I make it so that the cage remains completely clean (and basically new) for 2 or 3 weeks? Should I buy some wood chips or whatever and layer those on the bottom, and then cover that with hay and paper bedding?

IMG_0016.webp IMG_0019.webp
 
Jthomp26 said:
Ok I got a couple pics! I have just one last question for right now... I'm about to go buy a bigger cage that I'm going to use temporarily and then return when I get the C&C cage. I can't watch her sit in this little thing anymore.

I currently just have the CareFresh paper bedding.... How can I make it so that the cage remains completely clean (and basically new) for 2 or 3 weeks? Should I buy some wood chips or whatever and layer those on the bottom, and then cover that with hay and paper bedding?

View attachment 36257 View attachment 36258
Click to expand...

You could line the bottom of the cage with newspaper then puppy pads, followed by your Carefresh and top with hay. Recommend changing puppy pads every 3 - 4 days but that depends on the cage size.

Lisa & Ali...x
 
What a beautiful guinea pig!

You are a very dedicated owner.
 
well done in rescueing her, I would have done the same. She is so much better off with you.They recommend two spoonfuls of pellets I think a day. My three get a handful between three of them, unlimited meadow hay, timothy hay and orchard hay, pepper every day and then cucumber, celery, green beans, broccoli spinach, herbs rotated. they get carrots occasionally as well.
 
Ok... I bought the cage and put it together... it's crazy how much bigger it is than the other one! There's only one problem.... I can't get her to use the ramp to go to the food...

She just hides in her pigloo, unless I bait her with a carrot, which she takes a chunk and runs back in the pigloo, and won't cross the threshold of the ramp.

So... out of concern for her not eating... should I just move the food to the other side? Pick her up and move her into the other section? Take away the pigloo so she is more likely to explore?


IMG_0020.webp
 
lisaali said:
Hi :wel:to the forum..



It will take some time for Her, ( What's her name ) to learn to trust you... have a look at this link. Well done for getting her out of that bad situation... :nod: With your care she will soon come out as she begins to trust you.. How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?

Lisa & Ali..
Click to expand...


The site you gave me addresses the ramp issue, so I understand it'll take some time. In the meantime... should I move her food and water to the side her hideout is on!?
 
I would give her a little bit of food and put some water in the side she is currently using.

It can take a few weeks for guinea pigs to settle . Be patient . She will explore when she is ready to.
 
I agree with moving some of the food over, especially the hay, in time she will start to explore.
 
Its not a huge ramp so she will go over in time, bring her food to her and leave her pigloo in, she needs it to help her feel secure. You are doing a fab job. She is beautiful :love:
 
Jthomp26 said:
Ok... I bought the cage and put it together... it's crazy how much bigger it is than the other one! There's only one problem.... I can't get her to use the ramp to go to the food...

She just hides in her pigloo, unless I bait her with a carrot, which she takes a chunk and runs back in the pigloo, and won't cross the threshold of the ramp.

So... out of concern for her not eating... should I just move the food to the other side? Pick her up and move her into the other section? Take away the pigloo so she is more likely to explore?


View attachment 36267
Click to expand...

Is it possible to take the divider out, as she could easily jump over into the other area rather than using the ramp but keep the ramp there as well, all part of her getting used to her new cage... x
 
Thanks so much everybody for all your help and advice! I sorta jumped the gun because I think it was pretty late for you guys last night, I forgot the time difference. I was worried she wouldn't eat, so I just picked her up and put her in the room with her food. She's ate for a while and then after burrowing under the hay for a minute... gave up and went over the ramp to her pigloo. She's going back and forth now!

This morning when I woke up and came over I was just saying good morning and she was doing the kinda squeak thing a little... She only came out of her pigloo to steal the little piece of carrot I fed her and run back in... other than that she's hiding in there.

I decided to name her Q. Short for question mark. When I took her to the vet on Saturday I didn't know her name so I put a question mark under "name." They called today and they said "Hi, we just wanted to see how you and question mark were doing."

We got a good laugh, but then I decided to name her question mark.... which is obviously too long... so, her name is Q!
 
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