Rescuing a neglected guinea *please read*

lilyandluna

lilyandluna

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all,
One of our neighbors has owned a guinea pig for a while and has neglected it for a very long time. She carries it around in a purse, even during the winter, denies it pellets/hay, and keeps it in a garage. For a long while i've tried to help her care for it, but she is mentally ill and cannot give it proper care. Finally, she asked me to take it.
Of course, all of me wants the piggie with all my heart but I need advice on many things.

The guinea pig is five and has never seen or interacted with another guinea pig. She is very traumatized and scared. Of course, I would never introduce her to my girls, but in my heart i don't think it would be good for her to be with another pig. On top of that, we just don't have room.

She is also very very sick. The poor girl has bumblefoot, and has never had her nails clipped. I'm fully prepared to take her to the vet and spend the money to get medication and care as needed. This is a little hard though, as my bank account is a getting a little low. I would be ready to spend the money if needed.

She also has a very small cage and has lived in a garage her whole life. She's never had hay or pellets and mostly eats dandelion greens or lettuce.

All of me wants to save this poor girl but here's the thing,
1. I don't have enough room for a bigger cage.
The most room I have is a 100 cm ish cage. I don't want her in the room with my other pigs so I have very little space. I know how important space is, as my other piggies have 14 square feet, but we really don't have room.

2. I don't know if I could get another pig. If a bonding did not work with another pig with her, I wouldn't have room.

3. She is a little older for a pig, so if I did adopt her, it would be a home for her last years.


Would it be okay to keep her alone? I have the resources to get her to a vet, and get her on a proper diet, and expand her cage a little. My neighbor wants me to have her and otherwise would try to keep her. The poor piggie has been through so much neglect and pain, and I have so much love in my heart.

Could anybody share any advice? I'm being hit with this, and I have no idea what to do.
 
Well done on wanting to take on such a very neglected piggy. It sounds as if she needs a lot of love. I can't really advise you on what to do as I have no experience of dealing with traumatised piggies in very small cages other than to say take her to the vet for a health check which I know you would do anyway. @PigglePuggle took on 2 neglected girls who lived in a hamster cage. She may be able to offer some advice.
 
This sounds a very sad situation, however neglected piggies can sometimes recover remarkably well with proper care! I think the main issue is the vet bills, foot problems can be ongoing (as Jezzy floof will tell you with her crusty feet and twisted toes and curly nails!) but there again they arent usually too expensive to treat, just ongoing with regular treatment at home once the vet has done their best. If she hasnt had hay she will probably also have some dental problems, which again may be ongoing.
There's no reason why this poor old girl couldnt live next door to your piggies after a vet check and quarantine, she will appreciate the company even if its just as neighbours. She may even bond with them over time.
If you are prepared to take her on, I'd say go for it- if realistically you can't, is there a rescue near you who might take her, and possibly place her with a foster carer, or keep her on as a long term resident?
 
The poor thing.... surprised she is still alive after having no hay.... good luck x
 
Please take her, this poor old lady needs some love and care as a priority and you sound like a very caring owner who will improve her life no end x
There’s no reason once she has settled, that you can’t try and bond her with your girls when the time is right x
Good luck, do let us all know how you go on
 
lilyandluna said:
Hi all,
One of our neighbors has owned a guinea pig for a while and has neglected it for a very long time. She carries it around in a purse, even during the winter, denies it pellets/hay, and keeps it in a garage. For a long while i've tried to help her care for it, but she is mentally ill and cannot give it proper care. Finally, she asked me to take it.
Of course, all of me wants the piggie with all my heart but I need advice on many things.

The guinea pig is five and has never seen or interacted with another guinea pig. She is very traumatized and scared. Of course, I would never introduce her to my girls, but in my heart i don't think it would be good for her to be with another pig. On top of that, we just don't have room.

She is also very very sick. The poor girl has bumblefoot, and has never had her nails clipped. I'm fully prepared to take her to the vet and spend the money to get medication and care as needed. This is a little hard though, as my bank account is a getting a little low. I would be ready to spend the money if needed.

She also has a very small cage and has lived in a garage her whole life. She's never had hay or pellets and mostly eats dandelion greens or lettuce.

All of me wants to save this poor girl but here's the thing,
1. I don't have enough room for a bigger cage.
The most room I have is a 100 cm ish cage. I don't want her in the room with my other pigs so I have very little space. I know how important space is, as my other piggies have 14 square feet, but we really don't have room.

2. I don't know if I could get another pig. If a bonding did not work with another pig with her, I wouldn't have room.

3. She is a little older for a pig, so if I did adopt her, it would be a home for her last years.


Would it be okay to keep her alone? I have the resources to get her to a vet, and get her on a proper diet, and expand her cage a little. My neighbor wants me to have her and otherwise would try to keep her. The poor piggie has been through so much neglect and pain, and I have so much love in my heart.

Could anybody share any advice? I'm being hit with this, and I have no idea what to do.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Good that you are determined to give this poor girl a happy retirement.

I would recommend to concentrate first and foremost on quarantining and getting her back to good health as much as possible.
Please have her thoroughly vet checked, including her teeth.
Importance Of Quarantine

Once you have done that, then your piggy room and the company of your other piggies through the bars may be your best option.
Please don't underestimate how much of a stress reliever the presence of other piggies is! I see it all the time when I come home with a new adoptee and how they visibly relax, knowing that they are in a safe place; irrespective of whether they have lived with another piggy before or been kept as a single.
Guinea pigs are group animals. Even if they need their own cage for some reason, the smell and sound of others of their kind is going a very long way; ideally with interaction and stimulation through the bars. No piggy is ever too old for company of some sort.
I would however not push direct companionship at this stage. It can be a fraught process.
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

Their is unfortunately no magic wand treatment for bumblefoot - it is more of a matter of seeing what works best and hoping that it hasn't gone as far as the bone yet. An antibiotic may help in combination with topical treatment as discussed with your vet.
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

@Jaycey @helen105281 @Abi_nurse @VickiA @pig in the city
 
lilyandluna said:
Hi all,
One of our neighbors has owned a guinea pig for a while and has neglected it for a very long time. She carries it around in a purse, even during the winter, denies it pellets/hay, and keeps it in a garage. For a long while i've tried to help her care for it, but she is mentally ill and cannot give it proper care. Finally, she asked me to take it.
Of course, all of me wants the piggie with all my heart but I need advice on many things.

The guinea pig is five and has never seen or interacted with another guinea pig. She is very traumatized and scared. Of course, I would never introduce her to my girls, but in my heart i don't think it would be good for her to be with another pig. On top of that, we just don't have room.

She is also very very sick. The poor girl has bumblefoot, and has never had her nails clipped. I'm fully prepared to take her to the vet and spend the money to get medication and care as needed. This is a little hard though, as my bank account is a getting a little low. I would be ready to spend the money if needed.

She also has a very small cage and has lived in a garage her whole life. She's never had hay or pellets and mostly eats dandelion greens or lettuce.

All of me wants to save this poor girl but here's the thing,
1. I don't have enough room for a bigger cage.
The most room I have is a 100 cm ish cage. I don't want her in the room with my other pigs so I have very little space. I know how important space is, as my other piggies have 14 square feet, but we really don't have room.

2. I don't know if I could get another pig. If a bonding did not work with another pig with her, I wouldn't have room.

3. She is a little older for a pig, so if I did adopt her, it would be a home for her last years.


Would it be okay to keep her alone? I have the resources to get her to a vet, and get her on a proper diet, and expand her cage a little. My neighbor wants me to have her and otherwise would try to keep her. The poor piggie has been through so much neglect and pain, and I have so much love in my heart.

Could anybody share any advice? I'm being hit with this, and I have no idea what to do.
Click to expand...
Well done for helping this poor piggy.
Just being near other piggies will help her become less traumatised. A 100cm cage that is clean and dry and has nice soft fleece bedding and hay will be so much better than what she has had. One step at a time, just get her safe and get her vet checked and treated.
The bumblefoot may improve just with better conditions, but if not try soaking her foot in dilute hibiscrub, dry gently and apply a moisturizing cream such as perfect paws, not sure if gorgeous guineas ship to the US but their foot creams are very effective Ointments
 
Would it be okay to keep her in a cage touching Lily and Luna at this point? Is bumblefoot contagious?
 
It's better to quarantine for 14 days just in case she has something that you don't want them all to get. The other side of the room will be fine if there is no space in any other room.
 
At this point I would be taking her either this week, or next week.
My vet is pretty booked but I could probably get it booked for the next week after that.
 
lilyandluna said:
Would it be okay to keep her in a cage touching Lily and Luna at this point? Is bumblefoot contagious?
Click to expand...

Hi! Please quarantine first for 2 weeks. After that, they can live in adjoining cages.

Bumblefoot (pododermatitis) is not contagious. It happens when germs get into the skin through tiny cracks; it depends on what gets through the cracks, which is why there is no one overall recommended treatment. Bumblefoot happens usually on the pads of the weight bearing front feet; the back legs are more used for propulsion.
The infection is most common in neglected guinea pigs that are forced to sit in their own waste or in the elderly that are no longer as mobile and whose blood circulation is no longer working all that well.

Please take the time to read the links in my first post. You will find them very helpful!
 
Reenie said:
I wanted to say that a 100cm cage was a big improvement on what she has, (and what a lot of other piggies have) so if that's the best you can do, so be it.
Click to expand...
Yes the main thing is getting her away from your neighbour, a vet check, good food and care and love. The 100 cm is quite adequate for now x
 
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