Feeding the guinea pigs at TEAS

Pesticides, farmers spray it on fields. I buy organic anyway usually.

I thought that is the reason to wash veg
 
I'm probably buying organic for no reason lol, I don't ever wash veg that I don't buy in organic. To be very honest I can't be bothered and it's never harmed any of my animals as far is I know
 
It's interesting you say that about celery @furryfriends (TEAS) I had problems with it too, and stopped feeding it. One of my vets has given me a list of never veg (she has been doing her own research). Green beans, root veg, celery (leaves okay) and corriander are on it. Lettuce (especially iceberg for it's water content) is on the daily list!
 
I thinks it's too many pellets causing stones though. Just have that feeling.

Explain this though, I had two brother pigs, both had a high calcium diet, loads of nuggets daily... One got 3 stones the other got no bladder issues whatsoever
 
piggieminder said:
It's interesting you say that about celery @furryfriends (TEAS) I had problems with it too, and stopped feeding it. One of my vets has given me a list of never veg (she has been doing her own research). Green beans, root veg, celery (leaves okay) and corriander are on it. Lettuce (especially iceberg for it's water content) is on the daily list!
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I feed coriander regularly but only occasionally feed fine beans and never the cheaper green beans.
 
With all th pigs you have go through teas, it can't be genetics surely that can bring on stones.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Simon says it’s looking most likely to be the nuggets and too much handling that causes the bladder issues.
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The pig who had the 3 stones was handled alot more than the other, because he was easy to pick up. These were my early days of Guinea pigs
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
The pig who had the 3 stones was handled alot more than the other, because he was easy to pick up. These were my early days of Guinea pigs
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I have had so many piggies over the years and have never had any bladder issues. I even took in my friend's guinea pigs, after she sadly died and the one who had had bladder problems for years, never had another problem since being fed the way I feed!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I have had so many piggies over the years and have never had any bladder issues. I even took in my friend's guinea pigs, after she sadly died and the one who had had bladder problems for years, never had another problem since being fed the way I feed!
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👌. Dot still hasn't had any gunk or milky urine since I last said. I'm not following your diet to the t, but have sort of customised my own one up.

Wet all veg, loads of grass daily, lot sof diced cucumber before they go inactive for the night. It working because the fleeces are soaking fast under the hay
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I thinks it's too many pellets causing stones though. Just have that feeling
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Mine get a teaspoon of pellets a day and I've just had a third piggie in 3 years with a stone. Mine eat grass everyday and a good couple of handfulls of green leaf veg, loads of hay. I have been assured by several vets it's not the diet I feed. These will be my last piggies now as I do feel this must be my fault and I can't risk taking on more and feeling I'm failing them somehow. I've had guinea pigs on and off for 50 years and they lived long healthy lives, only had a case of mites and a URI until recently. They were fed more or less the same as the ones I have now except in those days it was muesli not pellets. The vets are telling me not to give up pellets completely as the veg we buy has been hanging around in storage since being picked losing it's vitimins, they need the vitimin content in the pellets. I don't know what to think anymore.
 
piggieminder said:
Mine get a teaspoon of pellets a day and I've just had a third piggie in 3 years with a stone. Mine eat grass everyday and a good couple of handfulls of green leaf veg, loads of hay. I have been assured by several vets it's not the diet I feed. These will be my last piggies now as I do feel this must be my fault and I can't risk taking on more and feeling I'm failing them somehow. I've had guinea pigs on and off for 50 years and they lived long healthy lives, only had a case of mites and a URI until recently. They were fed more or less the same as the ones I have now except in those days it was muesli not pellets. The vets are telling me not to give up pellets completely as the veg we buy has been hanging around in storage since being picked losing it's vitimins, they need the vitimin content in the pellets. I don't know what to think anymore.
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Problem is, everyone has their own ways and beliefs and opinions. I know how you feel, because having pet rats is even worse than guinea pigs for conflicting info. Complete nightmare, that's why I Havnt joined a rat forum. I think I'd have a stroke
 
piggieminder said:
Mine get a teaspoon of pellets a day and I've just had a third piggie in 3 years with a stone. Mine eat grass everyday and a good couple of handfulls of green leaf veg, loads of hay. I have been assured by several vets it's not the diet I feed. These will be my last piggies now as I do feel this must be my fault and I can't risk taking on more and feeling I'm failing them somehow. I've had guinea pigs on and off for 50 years and they lived long healthy lives, only had a case of mites and a URI until recently. They were fed more or less the same as the ones I have now except in those days it was muesli not pellets. The vets are telling me not to give up pellets completely as the veg we buy has been hanging around in storage since being picked losing it's vitimins, they need the vitimin content in the pellets. I don't know what to think anymore.
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Are your piggies related? What age were they when you got them? I still feed pellets but tend to scatter them into the hay. I feed lots of porridge oats though. Every cage has a bowlful that is filled up each day!
 
I scatter pellets into the hay too, except my older pair who like to share a bowl with the pellets mixed in oats! My recent ones were all a few months when I got them. The first with stones was PTS at 10 months because he had them in his kidneys as well as bladder, the vet said he must have had a genetic problem because to get a stone load like he had so young I'd have had to have fed him a bucket of kale and spinich a day. The second one was 2 when he got his he was possibly related to the first. The third one who was operated on last week came from the same place so could be distantly related, he is 2.5 years. I saw the head vet last week who is the piggie expert, she told me she sees at least 5 guinea pigs a week with stones. I tried to pin her down as to if it is a greater problem in this area but she wouldn't say. She did say 2 - 2.5 years seems to be the most common age for a stone problem to start.
 
piggieminder said:
Mine get a teaspoon of pellets a day and I've just had a third piggie in 3 years with a stone. Mine eat grass everyday and a good couple of handfulls of green leaf veg, loads of hay. I have been assured by several vets it's not the diet I feed. These will be my last piggies now as I do feel this must be my fault and I can't risk taking on more and feeling I'm failing them somehow. I've had guinea pigs on and off for 50 years and they lived long healthy lives, only had a case of mites and a URI until recently. They were fed more or less the same as the ones I have now except in those days it was muesli not pellets. The vets are telling me not to give up pellets completely as the veg we buy has been hanging around in storage since being picked losing it's vitimins, they need the vitimin content in the pellets. I don't know what to think anymore.
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Sorry you feel like this, you sound like a lovely caring owner that are giving your piggies a lovely home, Just like humans some of us go through life with nothing wrong and other have loads of health problems even when eating the same healthy diets. I rescued Abigail and Rosie this time last year Rosie is really healthy where as Abigail has on going health problems. We are really lucky as we don't live too far from the Cat and Rabbit vets who are brilliant and giving Abi full regular health checks. She loves life and is a massive character and I try to do my best for them both everyday, that's all any of us can do. You are definitely not failing them. Best wishes x
 
piggieminder said:
I scatter pellets into the hay too, except my older pair who like to share a bowl with the pellets mixed in oats! My recent ones were all a few months when I got them. The first with stones was PTS at 10 months because he had them in his kidneys as well as bladder, the vet said he must have had a genetic problem because to get a stone load like he had so young I'd have had to have fed him a bucket of kale and spinich a day. The second one was 2 when he got his he was possibly related to the first. The third one who was operated on last week came from the same place so could be distantly related, he is 2.5 years. I saw the head vet last week who is the piggie expert, she told me she sees at least 5 guinea pigs a week with stones. I tried to pin her down as to if it is a greater problem in this area but she wouldn't say. She did say 2 - 2.5 years seems to be the most common age for a stone problem to start.
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It does sound like it could be genetic. It certainly isn't the diet you are feeding xx
 
I've had Bernie
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It does sound like it could be genetic. It certainly isn't the diet you are feeding xx
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It does sound it. But how out of the hundreds you have, have you not had one with stones, it's like you are flipping heads everytime on coin. Doesn't add up. Not saying I don't believe you. Ofcorse, it just doesn't make sense lol

Maybe grass is key
 
Abirose said:
Sorry you feel like this, you sound like a lovely caring owner that are giving your piggies a lovely home, Just like humans some of us go through life with nothing wrong and other have loads of health problems even when eating the same healthy diets. I rescued Abigail and Rosie this time last year Rosie is really healthy where as Abigail has on going health problems. We are really lucky as we don't live too far from the Cat and Rabbit vets who are brilliant and giving Abi full regular health checks. She loves life and is a massive character and I try to do my best for them both everyday, that's all any of us can do. You are definitely not failing them. Best wishes x
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Running a sanctuary like TEAS, when most of your piggies are on a knife-edge, I take the view that they're here for as long as they're here and as long as it's a good life, then that's all that matters! Most of our piggies really surprise me, by living a normal life span, but I never let myself worry about what might happen longer term. I've just stood in the log cabin, watching them all munching their dinner and that's all that matters and I feel very happy! I couldn't do what I do without Simon though!
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I've had Bernie

It does sound it. But how out of the hundreds you have, have you not had one with stones, it's like you are flipping heads everytime on coin. Doesn't add up. Not saying I don't believe you. Ofcorse, it just doesn't make sense lol

Maybe grass is key
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I used to think it was because my piggies get a lot of natural sunlight, as they go outdoors, in the runs, throughout the whole summer. It's been so wet this winter, but in previous years I would put them in the run, for 10 mins, when I was cleaning their cage, but it's now been months since they've been on the grass!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I used to think it was because my piggies get a lot of natural sunlight, as they go outdoors, in the runs, throughout the whole summer. It's been so wet this winter, but in previous years I would put them in the run, for 10 mins, when I was cleaning their cage, but it's now been months since they've been on the grass!
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🤔. My brain is frazzled. Doesn't help that I'm on my 13th hour of shift, 7 more to go haha
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I've had Bernie

It does sound it. But how out of the hundreds you have, have you not had one with stones, it's like you are flipping heads everytime on coin. Doesn't add up. Not saying I don't believe you. Ofcorse, it just doesn't make sense lol

Maybe grass is key
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We did have one, but she came to us later in life. When she was 7 she suffered a complete bladder blockage, due to a massive stone, pretty much filling the whole bladder. Simon x-rayed and asked me what I wanted to do. I said I think we give her a chance. He operated and removed the stone and she lived another two years. She was an amazing piggy!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
What! You are working a 20 hour shift?!?!
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Yea, in the cold in Southend. I'm sat in the van waiting until 8 until wickes closes and then we can take a huge sign down. Then travel home. Got tomorrow off payed to recover. We have been working from 6am this morning until 6pm, now just waiting and eating
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Running a sanctuary like TEAS, when most of your piggies are on a knife-edge, I take the view that they're here for as long as they're here and as long as it's a good life, then that's all that matters! Most of our piggies really surprise me, by living a normal life span, but I never let myself worry about what might happen longer term. I've just stood in the log cabin, watching them all munching their dinner and that's all that matters and I feel very happy! I couldn't do what I do without Simon though!
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When I lost Willow and then Bracken to stones, I was devastated but felt like that too, I knew their short lives had been so much better than a lot of piggies get. Willow had had a lovely summer in the garden runs, it was early October when we lost him. Being retired I can live my life round the weather and get the piggies out as much as possible. Now Rusty has had a stone too it's getting harder to feel that way. The one thing the vet did say was that Rusty had a very nasty urine infection which could have caused the stone, he only had one stone and no sludge. Hopefully now the infection and stone have gone he won't get more like poor Bracken did. That one's a bit chicken and egg!
 
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