DESPAIR
New Born Pup
Hello, everyone! I've recently joined the forums as a new guinea pig owner and I need some help.
On Christmas of 2013, my neighbor has given me an 8 month old, male, guinea pig as a present. She received him from a friend of hers. I named him Ty (pronounced as "tie"). I asked her about his history and what she has told me was no good. The previous owners severely neglected him. He was starving, had no water, barely had any bedding in the cage, and was left in a dark basement all alone, slowly dying. They never trimmed his nails, as they're curled and makes it hard for him to walk. He was shaking really bad and was terrified when we first got him.
Hearing this, I was very glad they gave him to me as he will live a better life in my home. As of making this post, he just turned 9 months old and we've had him a little over a month.
This is where I'm in need of advice. Although I do my best to take care of him, he is still in need of things. His cage they gave us is way too small (1.5x2.5 feet) and we just moved into a new home, therefore, there is no room for us to put a bigger cage until things are sorted out.
I am quite aware that guinea pigs need to be in a group of AT LEAST 2, but again, our cage is too small. Ty is falling into depression and me being the owner of him isn't enough company.
His nails need to be trimmed, I would do it myself but he is way too jumpy and is still scared of me. I'm too scared I'll hurt him.
So here are my questions:
1) Until our house gets straightened up, what are some things I can do so Ty isn't in that small cage all the time?
2) What are some things I can do to help Ty cope with his loneliness until I get a second guinea pig?
3) On average, when should I get his nails trimmed?
4) What are some good things Ty and I can do together to bond?
On Christmas of 2013, my neighbor has given me an 8 month old, male, guinea pig as a present. She received him from a friend of hers. I named him Ty (pronounced as "tie"). I asked her about his history and what she has told me was no good. The previous owners severely neglected him. He was starving, had no water, barely had any bedding in the cage, and was left in a dark basement all alone, slowly dying. They never trimmed his nails, as they're curled and makes it hard for him to walk. He was shaking really bad and was terrified when we first got him.
Hearing this, I was very glad they gave him to me as he will live a better life in my home. As of making this post, he just turned 9 months old and we've had him a little over a month.
This is where I'm in need of advice. Although I do my best to take care of him, he is still in need of things. His cage they gave us is way too small (1.5x2.5 feet) and we just moved into a new home, therefore, there is no room for us to put a bigger cage until things are sorted out.
I am quite aware that guinea pigs need to be in a group of AT LEAST 2, but again, our cage is too small. Ty is falling into depression and me being the owner of him isn't enough company.
His nails need to be trimmed, I would do it myself but he is way too jumpy and is still scared of me. I'm too scared I'll hurt him.
So here are my questions:
1) Until our house gets straightened up, what are some things I can do so Ty isn't in that small cage all the time?
2) What are some things I can do to help Ty cope with his loneliness until I get a second guinea pig?
3) On average, when should I get his nails trimmed?
4) What are some good things Ty and I can do together to bond?
to the forum, well done for rescuing Ty..
