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Vitamin/mineral in guinea pig water

Penguin2809

Penguin2809

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Hello, I have a 5 month old guinea pig who has been told he is nearly blind in both eyes. I got him from someone who no longer could look after him. I took him to the vets because I new something was wrong as his reaction to me and movement was odd. I don't think the previous owner barely held him or anything. So I have a lot of work ahead of me to try and get him tame as in loves cuddles etc.

One thing I have read nearly constantly online is water vit and minerals are no good for guinea pigs, but my vet has recommended it especially the ones that contains a and e due to them being important for eye health. I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do, do I listen to the vets recommendation? If so, which one is best to you? Can I use it in all my piggies water?

Thanks all
 
:agr: Please also be aware that he may not like cuddles, being picked up or being held. Some do but a lot don’t.

Well done on taking him on. I’m sure he’s now going to be living it up 😁 Hopefully once he’s more settled you can find him a friend. Partially blind or not, he will really benefit from it.
 
He already have 2 little friends, they are 9 weeks old and both boys. He is 5 months and a lot bigger but they get on really well. I put them together before I found out he was blind but it doesn't stop him. He will get use to me and will enjoy cuddles, I'll make it my mission 😝 and even if he doesn't then he will still be loved
 
Please be aware that in the long term, a trio is unlikely to work. Especially those that haven’t yet gone through their teenage months. You also need a lot more space for a trio.

I would consider pairing them up - which two do best together - and then getting the third a friend to live with.
 
Penguin2809 said:
He already have 2 little friends, they are 9 weeks old and both boys. He is 5 months and a lot bigger but they get on really well. I put them together before I found out he was blind but it doesn't stop him. He will get use to me and will enjoy cuddles, I'll make it my mission 😝 and even if he doesn't then he will still be loved
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Hi

Please use our piggy whispering tips to communicate by touch in his own language - he will understand that instantly and you will make total sense to him.
Here are our whispering guide and practical tips:
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely

If you want to give your boy a 2 weeks booster please use Oxbow and if needed syringe it mixed with a little water; vitamin C in bottles massively increases the production of algae and puts piggies off drinking - they have double the amount of human taste buds. Short term boosters for ill or recovering piggies are much more effective because the body will accustom to high vitamin C levels without any practical benefit in the long term; any drop in those high levels can then ironically cause scurvy symptoms even though the actual vitamin C levels are still higher than normal.
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Please follow the advice in our diet guide. A good hay based (and not veg based) diet can really make all the difference in terms of longevity and overall health as I know from my fair number of own adoptees with a neglect background; most are able to live a perfectly normal life span in good care if they are not too badly damaged in incurable ways.
My own severe scurvy survivor who was the weight of an 8 weeks old baby when surrendered to rescue as an adult due to being exclusively fed on just cheap rabbit pellets (which don't contain any vitamin C since rabbits make their own whereas guinea pigs never had the need - fresh growing grass is high in vitamin C) is now 6 years old; her even smaller companion sadly died from a scurvy induced internal bleed in rescue. Teggy never had or needed any extra vitamin C since her recovery and my adoption.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time

With blind piggies, the other senses will take over brain functions. Just anounce your presence with a gentle chatter, picture what you want to do with him in your mind, emphasising how precious you are and how gentle you'll be and concentrate on sensory enrichment that appeals to other senses. Keep in mind that for guinea pigs sight is the weakest sense whereas it is the strongest human sense. Blind guinea pigs can live a perfectly normal enriched life; the biggest mistake you can make is to wrap a disabled piggy in cottonwool instead of challenging them.
You can move things around and even use shallow ramps (with a carpet cut-off as excellent scent retaining material) as long as you make sure that they are well scent-marked and not cleaned - guinea pigs have a very strong sense of smell and very acute hearing.
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
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