New to piggie kingdom!

[kkluv155]

Hi, My name is Kay and this is my very first piggie. I always wanted one since I was a little girl but my mother didn't allow pets . I have been married for 13 years and finally decided to get a piggie. Where I am from (Greensburg, La.) not many places sell guinea pigs so I purchased mine from a hardware store. I have had him 3 days and am enjoying him very much. Today I took him to the vet and found out he has fleas (vet said guinea pig fleas) and got treatment for it, but everything else is very healthy. I really havn't decided on a name but my husband calls him Mr. Pig. He told me that is his name b/c the pig deserves a little respect . He is sooooo cute. As soon as I figure out how to post pics I will do so. Because he is so small I have him in a laundry basket for now and hubby is going to build him a big cage soon. I also need to know if piggies can climb or do I need to put a top on cage. I have 3 toy poodles (5 pounds each)and it would not be good if he escaped. Well I will post pics later. This forum is teaching me alot. Thank You all for the info.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You can get shelving unit from the hardware store and build a lid if you have a C&C cage. He won't climb out, but it will keep the dogs from getting in as a safety measure.

He probably needs a buddy too. They are social animals: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

Try to find a shelter or rescue to adopt from next time. We recommend adopting rather than buying if possible:
www.petfinder.com
www.petharbor.com
www.cavyrescue.com
http://www.guinealynx.info/rescues.html and placement forum

[C&K]

Originally Posted by kkluv155

Hi, My name is Kay and this is my very first piggie. I always wanted one since I was a little girl but my mother didn't allow pets . I have been married for 13 years and finally decided to get a piggie. Where I am from (Greensburg, La.) not many places sell guinea pigs so I purchased mine from a hardware store. I have had him 3 days and am enjoying him very much. Today I took him to the vet and found out he has fleas (vet said guinea pig fleas) and got treatment for it, but everything else is very healthy. I really havn't decided on a name but my husband calls him Mr. Pig. He told me that is his name b/c the pig deserves a little respect . He is sooooo cute. As soon as I figure out how to post pics I will do so. Because he is so small I have him in a laundry basket for now and hubby is going to build him a big cage soon. I also need to know if piggies can climb or do I need to put a top on cage. I have 3 toy poodles (5 pounds each)and it would not be good if he escaped. Well I will post pics later. This forum is teaching me alot. Thank You all for the info.

Welcome to the board.

You have already got some very good advice. We all stronly recommend C&C cages. They are very easy and inexpensive to construct. Wood is not a desireable material for any animal habitat, as it can harbour parasites.

We strongly recommend adopting next time. In LA I am thinking there must be a ton of homeless guineas right now. Also you really should have 2, they are very social creatures!

[sunflowergirl]

Congrats!I have a male guinea pig named MR.Piggs!He is the second pig I have had and also named Mr.Piggs!They are really sweet little guys.

[kkluv155]

I hope this works. I am tryng to download pics of Mr. Pig. I plan on getting another piggie later. I just talked my hubby into letting me get this one so I would have been pushing it for 2 of them. I have no idea how to go about adopting from around here. As I said this is my first piggie and really have no idea about these things. I am just learning but thank you for informing me of this. If the pics show up that is ping-pong balls next to him which really shows how small he is. Also I have a little teddy bear with him so he can cuddle with it. He seems to like it. All I had for him to get in right now is a tissue box. It seems like plenty of room for him. Thank you for your inputs.

[dagwellismypigy]

Fleas? I don't think guinea pigs really get fleas, don't hold me to that though.. Take a look at this page; http://guinealynx.info/parasites.html . It's probably mites. You should find an exotic vet. http://guinealynx.info/vet.html

Just wondering, but what was his treatment? I really hope he didn't get a flea dip...

[sunflowergirl]

Very cute!I don't know where you are located but I am in Washington and had an easy time finding the materials needed to build a c&c cage and it was really easy.It took me an hour to build my 2x4.I am not good at putting things together but I think it turned out nice.I built one for my moms guinea pigs the next day and hers only took me a half an hour to build.It is a 2x4 also.The grids were $14.99 and the coroplast cost $8.00!I only have one pig right now but I plan on adopting a male buddy for Mr.Piggs very soon!This site has a lot of info.It has helped me so much,Good Luck!!!

[sunflowergirl]

I use the same kind of laundry basket as you have in your picture to put Mr.Piggs in when I am cleaning out his cage.It works great as a travel carrier too.What is going on with fleas?

[rabbitsncavyluv]

They can get fleas, but mites are more common. Pet store pigs are often with parasites.

Start at petfinder and then those other sites, or try to locate the area animal shelter or humane society near you. See if they have guinea pigs, or try the rabbit rescue if there is no rodent rescue near you.

[kkluv155]

I think the name of the med was revolution. He doesn't seem to be getting sick from it so far. He is eating and drinking good so hopefully it doesn't hurt him. I called many different vets and noone around here deals with piggies. My vet called a friend of hers in another state who is a vet and deals with piggies and she recomended revolution to put on his back.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Revolution is fine. Can you see the parasites?

[Ly&Pigs]

Pigs in hardware stores, that's one I haven't heard.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you are feeding unlimited hay and starting him on daily veggies. A good leaf lettuce such as romaine, green or red leaf, curly endive are good to start with. Also cilantro and bell peppers are great daily foods. If he is under 6 months he will need both a good grass hay and some alfalfa and an alfalfa based plain pellet such as oxbow cavy performance or KM's alfalfa pellets. If he is older than 6 months, he will need just a good grass hay and a timothy based pellet.

[kkluv155]

yes I can see the parasites. They are tiny white bugs that look like albino fleas. I am holding him right now and notice the bugs are dieing. I am using a soft toothbrush to gently brush him and they are falling out dead. He seems to enjoy the brushing because he is really still and falling asleep. Also he is not scratching like he was.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Fleas are usually dark and black, aren't they? Are you sure that isn't lice?

Either way, Revolution should take care of it. You may want to bleach his cage and the area to kill off any eggs.

[Marlania]

I know where Greensburg is! I pass by the Greensburg-Fluker exit on I-55 on by way back and forth between MS and LA all the time, and I have a friend whose mom lived in Fluker. I'm from LA (Thibodaux) but have been living in MS for 2 years. I believe you when you say there aren't many places in the area with pigs. I'm not sure how the area is with animal shelters or rescues, but I just looked for pigs near your area on Petfinder, and there were only three (one in Ruston, one in Alexandria, and one in Cleveland, MS)...not exactly next door so they may be hard to find when you're ready to add a buddy. However, you might have a better chance now with all the displaced animals in the state. Keep checking Petfinder and put in calls to surrounding shelters (if there are any...Thibodaux's shelter is finally under construction. A humane society was formed about 2 years ago, and before that, only a private rescue group was there to serve the entire parish.)

You'll probably also have a hard time finding quality food, but you might be able to convince a feed store to order something for you if you agree to buy x amount a month. The feedstore here finally started carrying Oxbow hay. Now I just have to convince them to sell pellets.

[Odella]

Just wanted to say welcome to the forum, kkluv155! Seems like you're off to a good start with Mr.Pig!