IDal
New Born Pup
Hi,
It’s been a while since I posted. I had two boars who I thought were doing great. Unfortunately 4 weeks ago I came home from work to find one of them very sick in the cage. I called a vet, but he was so far gone that the vet and I decided not to bring him in and he died about an hour later. He would have been 2 years old this week, so quite young still.
I have no idea what happened to him and have been picking my brain what I missed. Looking back in the week before he died, maybe the food didn’t get eaten as fast, but no other signs.
The thing is, Rico has always been the more frightened one, he didn’t like to be picked up. So I usually didn’t as much. But now I’m wondering if I had, would I have been able to see sign sooner?
This has made me insecure as what to do with my guinea pigs. Rico’s brother Ben is type of pig who does anything for food and as long as you keep feeding him happily sits on your lap. I was planning on getting one lady friend for Ben (yes, he is castrated), but at the rescue they had this couple they didn’t want to separate. Because I have a CC cage I decided I could make room for both girls. The bonding was no problem at all and all three happily share a hay tray together. One new girl was a bit scared the first few days, but after that was happy to take food from my hand and even sits still if the kids pet her in the cage (until she’s had enough, at which point she walks away, not even runs). The other one (Luna) however is extremely scared. Didn’t leave the shelter, didn’t eat with us the room. This has improved somewhat, she will walk around when we are sitting on the couch, but sprints when we get up. This week she did make the major step of taking some lettuce when I offered it to her while she sat in her shelter.
The major thing I get insecure about though is when I have to pick her up. I’ve never heard any of my guinea pigs scream like that. I’m ok with leaving her be, but I need to pick her up when cleaning the cage or to clip her nails. Also, I’m afraid of missing something again like I did with Rico. I don’t think she’s sick, she appears to be gaining weight here (both girls, they are eating like crazy), I don’t think she’s pregnant (Ben has been having the time of his life so to speak). I don’t know anything about their backgrounds, they estimate she is about a year old.
Should I be worried about her screaming when picked up. Is picking up once a week when thoroughly cleaning the cage enough to not miss illness? Should I leave her, or should I try to get her used to being picked up. What to do?
It’s been a while since I posted. I had two boars who I thought were doing great. Unfortunately 4 weeks ago I came home from work to find one of them very sick in the cage. I called a vet, but he was so far gone that the vet and I decided not to bring him in and he died about an hour later. He would have been 2 years old this week, so quite young still.
I have no idea what happened to him and have been picking my brain what I missed. Looking back in the week before he died, maybe the food didn’t get eaten as fast, but no other signs.
The thing is, Rico has always been the more frightened one, he didn’t like to be picked up. So I usually didn’t as much. But now I’m wondering if I had, would I have been able to see sign sooner?
This has made me insecure as what to do with my guinea pigs. Rico’s brother Ben is type of pig who does anything for food and as long as you keep feeding him happily sits on your lap. I was planning on getting one lady friend for Ben (yes, he is castrated), but at the rescue they had this couple they didn’t want to separate. Because I have a CC cage I decided I could make room for both girls. The bonding was no problem at all and all three happily share a hay tray together. One new girl was a bit scared the first few days, but after that was happy to take food from my hand and even sits still if the kids pet her in the cage (until she’s had enough, at which point she walks away, not even runs). The other one (Luna) however is extremely scared. Didn’t leave the shelter, didn’t eat with us the room. This has improved somewhat, she will walk around when we are sitting on the couch, but sprints when we get up. This week she did make the major step of taking some lettuce when I offered it to her while she sat in her shelter.
The major thing I get insecure about though is when I have to pick her up. I’ve never heard any of my guinea pigs scream like that. I’m ok with leaving her be, but I need to pick her up when cleaning the cage or to clip her nails. Also, I’m afraid of missing something again like I did with Rico. I don’t think she’s sick, she appears to be gaining weight here (both girls, they are eating like crazy), I don’t think she’s pregnant (Ben has been having the time of his life so to speak). I don’t know anything about their backgrounds, they estimate she is about a year old.
Should I be worried about her screaming when picked up. Is picking up once a week when thoroughly cleaning the cage enough to not miss illness? Should I leave her, or should I try to get her used to being picked up. What to do?
