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Little Melvins rescue

Hi all Melvin update.
he’s doing sooo good! He is now a whopping 301g!🤯
I weighed him about 10 times this morning coz I couldn’t believe it! 🥳
it’s since adding porridge oats into his diet and laying off vegetables he has just found this amazing appetite, he smashing his way through hay, Timothy hay and a alfalfa grass hay ring.... I’m topping up his house ( I hate the word cage) regularly in abundance for him to eat and snuggle, I worry he gets cold. He gets one green been a day as he now is doing pellet shaped normal poos! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 And is coming up to the bars, sitting to be stroked and just dosnt scare easily at all.
Last night was the very first time I herd him make a noise.... he’s been totally silent untill now and it was a squeaky “hi human I’d like attention please” as I walked past his house on my dining room table ( warm room, safe, part of the family and I can easily observe him without nessarily disturbing him) I have noticed that he kinda just sits I’ve enriched his house with tunnels a hay box and try to give his food in a creative way that will entice him to forage a little but I’m thinking maybe I should think of getting a buddy for him sooner? I feel I can give him everything he could possibly need but with the best will I can’t be a pig, maybe that’s the secret to giving him a zest for life?
I thought I’d do the proper rescue centre dating route for him to pick a friend
Too soon? If so when?
is he better with an old or young boar? I don’t want to risk his little life with complications of neutering surgery?

thank you all for helping me help my Marvellous Melvin
 
Sorry posted when you did! But so pleased he’s doing so well! What a gain! Go little man, keep scoffing!
 
Ali-bongo said:
Hi all Melvin update.
he’s doing sooo good! He is now a whopping 301g!🤯
I weighed him about 10 times this morning coz I couldn’t believe it! 🥳
it’s since adding porridge oats into his diet and laying off vegetables he has just found this amazing appetite, he smashing his way through hay, Timothy hay and a alfalfa grass hay ring.... I’m topping up his house ( I hate the word cage) regularly in abundance for him to eat and snuggle, I worry he gets cold. He gets one green been a day as he now is doing pellet shaped normal poos! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 And is coming up to the bars, sitting to be stroked and just dosnt scare easily at all.
Last night was the very first time I herd him make a noise.... he’s been totally silent untill now and it was a squeaky “hi human I’d like attention please” as I walked past his house on my dining room table ( warm room, safe, part of the family and I can easily observe him without nessarily disturbing him) I have noticed that he kinda just sits I’ve enriched his house with tunnels a hay box and try to give his food in a creative way that will entice him to forage a little but I’m thinking maybe I should think of getting a buddy for him sooner? I feel I can give him everything he could possibly need but with the best will I can’t be a pig, maybe that’s the secret to giving him a zest for life?
I thought I’d do the proper rescue centre dating route for him to pick a friend
Too soon? If so when?
is he better with an old or young boar? I don’t want to risk his little life with complications of neutering surgery?

thank you all for helping me help my Marvellous Melvin
Click to expand...
Compatibility is more important than age. All the best with dating him and well done for thinking of his needs. He’s settling in well with you though, demanding attention already 😍
 
Ali-bongo said:
Hi all Melvin update.
he’s doing sooo good! He is now a whopping 301g!🤯
I weighed him about 10 times this morning coz I couldn’t believe it! 🥳
it’s since adding porridge oats into his diet and laying off vegetables he has just found this amazing appetite, he smashing his way through hay, Timothy hay and a alfalfa grass hay ring.... I’m topping up his house ( I hate the word cage) regularly in abundance for him to eat and snuggle, I worry he gets cold. He gets one green been a day as he now is doing pellet shaped normal poos! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 And is coming up to the bars, sitting to be stroked and just dosnt scare easily at all.
Last night was the very first time I herd him make a noise.... he’s been totally silent untill now and it was a squeaky “hi human I’d like attention please” as I walked past his house on my dining room table ( warm room, safe, part of the family and I can easily observe him without nessarily disturbing him) I have noticed that he kinda just sits I’ve enriched his house with tunnels a hay box and try to give his food in a creative way that will entice him to forage a little but I’m thinking maybe I should think of getting a buddy for him sooner? I feel I can give him everything he could possibly need but with the best will I can’t be a pig, maybe that’s the secret to giving him a zest for life?
I thought I’d do the proper rescue centre dating route for him to pick a friend
Too soon? If so when?
is he better with an old or young boar? I don’t want to risk his little life with complications of neutering surgery?

thank you all for helping me help my Marvellous Melvin
Click to expand...
Wow that's amazing news. He's doing so well! Congratulations both of you. He's so lucky that you found him Just in time ♥
 
This is brilliant news he clearly has a zest for life and he just needed some love and proper care! I’m sure a friend would be brilliant for him!
 
I’ve only just seen this thread but my goodness! Melvin is a lucky little chappy, and absolutely gorgeous :wub: :wub: . Well done you for taking him in he looks so happy in that photo of him sitting in the hay😊. It’s so sad that some people will treat animals like this😞😞 but i’m glad to hear that he’s putting on weight well, and hope you’ll keep us all updated with Melvin’s adventures!
 
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: best news of the day! Well done Melvin keep on chomping little man x
 
Yay, wonderful to hear that Melvin is doing so well. You are doing such an amazing job of looking after him. xx
 
I am so pleased to hear how well Melvin is doing. I would speak to a few rescues now and register your interest, there may be a wait because of COVID restrictions. They will guide you on who would be a good friend for Melvin. The best ones to approach first will be the ones who offer to do the bonding for you. Click on the Rescue Locator in the green bar above to find forum approved rescues near you, sorry just tried to link and it didn't work!
 
So glad he’s putting on weight and recognising you as his loving hooman, so so happy for him x
 
I have only just seen this and it brought a tear my eye. Poor little guy and thank goodness you found him and read them the riot act. How utterly appalling that he was treated so badly, what does this teach children!

you are a Guinea guardian angel and he is one very lucky boy. Hugs to you for what you have done x
 
That update just warmed my heart.
As others have said, I’d ring some of the rescues listed on forum and find ones who do boar dating and explain the situation. If you register your interest, they may be able to advise you when the right time to bond is. Age doesn’t matter when it comes to bonding, but the rescue will know all the ins and outs so you won’t have to worry.
Since he’s been alone for so long, I wouldn’t even consider bonding him yourself. He might have a lot of fear aggression towards other piggies which he will need to work through with several dating sessions or a very patient boar. I recently got a 6 year old who had been alone for 5 years. It made the bonding process with my other 6 year old, Little, so much more difficult. It took a lot of perseverance from me and a lot of patience from Little. The new boar just had a lot of fear aggression so was relentless in his dominance. It went on for about 3 hours before it let up. Luckily, it ended up being a success. They’ve been together 2 weeks now and adore each other.
But since Melvin has been on his own for a while, I think he’d need someone experienced to do the bonding so that they can monitor everything
 
Personally I would wait until his weight has stabilised to a normal juvenile/adult weight and you are sure he has no underlying health issues before looking for a companion, but then, once he’s been vet checked and passed as healthy I’d definitely recommend dating through a rescue.
 
If he's being treated for mites/lice it'd be good to wait till that's done too. My only thought would be that he's lightweight and so a full-sized boar might accidentally do him some damage. @Little Ones is right about an experienced eye being useful in these cases where pigs have been alone for a while but if you 'leave' him at a rescue to find a bond he's not going to understand that it will only be for a few hours/days... he might just be sad that he's lost that nice place where he got fed! Maybe a little longer with you will help him to feel more secure.

@Little Ones also has a boar that has found a lot of joy in his new role as 'daddy pig' to a baby boar... I wonder if that would be something to consider if you are prepared for a longer-term commitment?

My George is 4-ish and has always spent a lot of time hiding. He has sow neighbours (bonding didn't work out) and moves around very slightly more now he's not alone but in truth if I want him to scamper I have to take him a little way out of his hidey and watch him run back to it!
 
Hi all! Sorry been quiet! I’ve been working and and juggling homeschool...
marvellous Melvin is doing fantastic eating like a beast and has a new indoor house! .... 120cm with a small upstairs bedroom, he’s in my daughters bedroom and is adored he uses the ramp now it has sides and vet bed....
We have been ringing round a few places .... amazing the amount of breeders/ rescue?!?! Not sure you can do both, but have a spare baby boy and say..... “yeah he’ll go in fine” 😳!
so no luck on friend front as yet. and I will be putting on hold as Melvin has a vet appointment nxt week for a check up as I fear he may be blind! How does this effect my care and future companionship for him please?
 
Glad to hear he’s doing so well. There are a few on here whose piggies are blind (Their eyesight isn’t the best anyway). They have adapted well to living and I think most keep their housing in the same arrangement so they’re not confused.

Email rescues to get yourself on waiting lists and then just sit it out.The lockdown has brought with it problems but you are allowed to travel if for the welfare of the piggy. Did you contact some from the list?
 
Siikibam said:
Glad to hear he’s doing so well. There are a few on here whose piggies are blind (Their eyesight isn’t the best anyway). They have adapted well to living and I think most keep their housing in the same arrangement so they’re not confused.

Email rescues to get yourself on waiting lists and then just sit it out.The lockdown has brought with it problems but you are allowed to travel if for the welfare of the piggy. Did you contact some from the list?
Click to expand...
No not off the list yet... just contacts given ect ect.
So I’m going to ask the vet if he’ll be strong enough eventually for a neutering so I can widen his compatibility with partners...... glad piggys can live a reasonably normal life blind.....
this little piggy really has got under my skin and I think about his well-being all the time
 
Ali-bongo said:
No not off the list yet... just contacts given ect ect.
So I’m going to ask the vet if he’ll be strong enough eventually for a neutering so I can widen his compatibility with partners...... glad piggys can live a reasonably normal life blind.....
this little piggy really has got under my skin and I think about his well-being all the time
Click to expand...
They have a way of getting under our skin pretty quickly! Enjoy him and don’t discount bonding with boars as well, if he’s not yet strong enough to neuter. It ca. Be done at a later stage.

We would love some pics when you’re not too busy ☺️
 
Going to tag @Wiebke for you as she’s had plenty of blind piggies in the past and is best placed to advise on them.
I will be honest. In your shoes I would not plan any future companion for this little darling until he has reached a full adult weight and has been signed off by the vet. Then, personally, I would ensure he was fully fit and could be neutered and I would look for a suitable sow for him. I wouldn’t risk dating him with boars. We don’t know how old he is and he doesn’t need the stress of boar bonding. Also, as the pandemic is likely to restrict rescue activities for some time to come, most reputable rescues aren’t doing any bondings. If he had come into our rescue in this state, this would be exactly how we would plan for his future. I have every hope that he will go on to live a happy and healthy life with you
 
Siikibam said:
Glad to hear he’s doing so well. There are a few on here whose piggies are blind (Their eyesight isn’t the best anyway). They have adapted well to living and I think most keep their housing in the same arrangement so they’re not confused.

Email rescues to get yourself on waiting lists and then just sit it out.The lockdown has brought with it problems but you are allowed to travel if for the welfare of the piggy. Did you contact some from the list?
Click to expand...
No not off the list yet... just contacts given ect ect.
So I’m going to ask the vet if he’ll be strong enough eventually for a neutering so I can widen his compatibility with partners...... glad piggys can live a reasonably normal life blind.....
this little piggy really has got under my skin and I think about his well-being
VickiA said:
Going to tag @Wiebke for you as she’s had plenty of blind piggies in the past and is best placed to advise on them.
I will be honest. In your shoes I would not plan any future companion for this little darling until he has reached a full adult weight and has been signed off by the vet. Then, personally, I would ensure he was fully fit and could be neutered and I would look for a suitable sow for him. I wouldn’t risk dating him with boars. We don’t know how old he is and he doesn’t need the stress of boar bonding. Also, as the pandemic is likely to restrict rescue activities for some time to come, most reputable rescues aren’t doing any bondings. If he had come into our rescue in this state, this would be exactly how we would plan for his future. I have every hope that he will go on to live a happy and healthy life with you
Click to expand...
thank you so much for this 😘 x
 
VickiA said:
Going to tag @Wiebke for you as she’s had plenty of blind piggies in the past and is best placed to advise on them.
I will be honest. In your shoes I would not plan any future companion for this little darling until he has reached a full adult weight and has been signed off by the vet. Then, personally, I would ensure he was fully fit and could be neutered and I would look for a suitable sow for him. I wouldn’t risk dating him with boars. We don’t know how old he is and he doesn’t need the stress of boar bonding. Also, as the pandemic is likely to restrict rescue activities for some time to come, most reputable rescues aren’t doing any bondings. If he had come into our rescue in this state, this would be exactly how we would plan for his future. I have every hope that he will go on to live a happy and healthy life with you
Click to expand...

I fully support @VickiA 's advice. In your case, it is worth taking it slowly but soundly. Melvin is used to being on his own and sounds like he is perfectly happy as he is with his current live so much better already, so while he ideally should have companionship in the medium term, this doesn't have quite the same urgency as a struggling bereaved piggy or sub-teenage youngster.

It is worth taking the time to do things properly. How far are you from East Peckham Guinea Pig Rescue? They normally do residential bonding (i.e. during the full bonding during a boarding holiday and making sure that any new bond is stable before you are notified that Melvin and his new friend are ready to come home), and they will certainly do it for a special needs piggy once the pandemic allows again as they have done so in the past; so they have the necessary experience and know what to look out for. You can also be absolutely sure that any resulting bond is the character match you are after.
The good welfare standard rescues all play by the book in terms of putting safety first, so they are more likely closed again right now.

Neutering would mean that Melvin would be having a wider field to play, allowing to date him with both a sow or a laid-back adult boar who is willing to become a carer companion.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
 
Wiebke said:
I fully support @VickiA 's advice. In your case, it is worth taking it slowly but soundly. Melvin is used to being on his own and sounds like he is perfectly happy as he is with his current live so much better already, so while he ideally should have companionship in the medium term, this doesn't have quite the same urgency as a struggling bereaved piggy or sub-teenage youngster.

It is worth taking the time to do things properly. How far are you from East Peckham Guinea Pig Rescue? They normally do residential bonding (i.e. during the full bonding during a boarding holiday and making sure that any new bond is stable before you are notified that Melvin and his new friend are ready to come home), and they will certainly do it for a special needs piggy once the pandemic allows again as they have done so in the past; so they have the necessary experience and know what to look out for. You can also be absolutely sure that any resulting bond is the character match you are after.
The good welfare standard rescues all play by the book in terms of putting safety first, so they are more likely closed again right now.

Neutering would mean that Melvin would be having a wider field to play, allowing to date him with both a sow or a laid-back adult boar who is willing to become a carer companion.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
Click to expand...
East Peckham is just down the road.....!
 
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