Hello - I am new here. I have been reading through the "posted" important note threats slowly to learn some information, but I am worried and hoping to get a bit more guidance. A few months ago I "acquired" two guinea pigs. HAzel and Peanut. They were returned to the pet store by owners that could not care for them. I went in to pick up dog food and started talking to the young associate and she told me she was taking them as "snake food" the next day if someone did not take them home. So, me being who I am, decided to take them.
I have been feeding them Timothy Hay and orchard grass, a mix of fresh veggies like dark leafy veggies, carrots, and such, and sometimes pellets. I live in Alaska and supply can sometimes be unpredictable. I recently, about a week and a half to two weeks ago had to get different pellets. They didn't have what I normally get. This mix has pellets, corn, and other died things mixed in. Its called "Kaytee Gourmet Guinea Pig Food".
Anyway, the girls loved it but since they have been eating it they have almost stopped eating their hay all together and the last day or so I noticed that Hazel, the smaller of the two has lost a good big of weight and Peanut as lost also, but not as much. I am worried that there is something with this food that is making them not eat everything they need?
There are no vets that see guinea pigs in my area, so I have no option to take them to a vet to make sure they are alright. The only vet that saw them closed right after I got them. And their behavior seems fine otherwise - just the weird new food habit, and not weight loss.
I have other questions about how to cut their nails and what I can do about them seeming to fight sometimes - but that is all secondary for now.
Any help that you can give would be great. Thank you so very much.
I have been feeding them Timothy Hay and orchard grass, a mix of fresh veggies like dark leafy veggies, carrots, and such, and sometimes pellets. I live in Alaska and supply can sometimes be unpredictable. I recently, about a week and a half to two weeks ago had to get different pellets. They didn't have what I normally get. This mix has pellets, corn, and other died things mixed in. Its called "Kaytee Gourmet Guinea Pig Food".
Anyway, the girls loved it but since they have been eating it they have almost stopped eating their hay all together and the last day or so I noticed that Hazel, the smaller of the two has lost a good big of weight and Peanut as lost also, but not as much. I am worried that there is something with this food that is making them not eat everything they need?
There are no vets that see guinea pigs in my area, so I have no option to take them to a vet to make sure they are alright. The only vet that saw them closed right after I got them. And their behavior seems fine otherwise - just the weird new food habit, and not weight loss.
I have other questions about how to cut their nails and what I can do about them seeming to fight sometimes - but that is all secondary for now.
Any help that you can give would be great. Thank you so very much.