Chirp - Help

[urockstar]

I've posted a few times now and because of hearing all the "no-no's" about store buying I'm now more concerned about my pigs than ever. Exactly what I didn't want. I've been intending to bring them to the vet for their first check up either way, but now I'm doing it right away because of everyone making me so nervous my pigs are doomed because of buying them. (Thanks!)

Well I am pretty certain my one pig IS pregnant, this will be confirmed tomorrow at the vet. I'm worried I may have injured the growing babies from the number of times I've scooped her up to get her to floortime or to change the cage. I thought she was just growing as she was a few weeks older than the other pig, it was only a few days ago I thought otherwise. I don't know how strong everything is in a pregnant sow's stomach so I'm really upset I may have caused harm because she is a wriggly one - I'm hoping I never squeezed too hard to keep her in place. I wouldn't think this except for the fact of her possibly being pregnant.

The CHIRP issue is with my other pig, Bean. I read on another site that they chirp when they are in pain, NOT when they are happy. (I don't know how anyone really knows this) and I've never heard a pig "chirp" but I think I heard it this morning from Bean. She did it while popcorning though, so maybe it does mean she's happy? I'm also very concerned now about her also. Ever since I got her she's seemed more shy, hides in the tubes or backs in corner, yet is popcorning all the time, especially when going back in the cage after floortime. She does laps around the cage basically every day, and her eyes and nose look perfectly fine. I have held her to my ear to listen to her sides since I got her and everything always sounded fine. However like I said she is a more shy one, doesn't seem to be getting very meaty even at around 9 weeks - I know she is eating, just not as much as Marley. But the low chirping today startled me because of recently reading it means they're in pain. (And also because of everyone freaking me out about how they'll probably die from disease and whatnot from being from Petco) She popcorned then did a few low chirps.

Can someone please help me out here and give me any feedback about this? Thank you!

[Wheek Weak]

Is the chirp like a "chutt-chutting" or bubbly sound? Our babies chirp, bubble, squeak, chutt, wheek, and basically walk around talking to themselves or anyone who will listen. They do this all the time. In fact, it's when they get too quiet that we start to worry.

Are you weighing your pigs on a weekly basis? If not, you need to start doing that immediately. Weight loss (a lot of times) is usually the first indicator that something is wrong. You also want to make sure that the pregnant one is gaining at the proper rate.

And please don't be down on people who are against pet store buying. We rescue pigs. Most of them had been bought at pet stores as toys for children. The novelty wore off, and we ended up with the pregnant, sick, and dying ones because they weren't "fun".

Believe me...it's not "fun" taking them to the (very expensive) vet, hand-feeding them every 3 hours around the clock to try to get enough nutrients and water into them, trying any and all medications that may (or may not) work, only to have them die a very agonizing death in your arms.

I wish your little pregnant one all the best. I hope she, and the babies, do well. We also ended up with a pregnant pet store pig. The "buyers" got rid of her so fast...they didn't even realize that she was pregnant. Thank God she ended up here with us where she (and her baby) is very loved and cared for.

Unfortunately, most "purchases" don't end up that way (it's a long story, but our neighbor's pet store guinea pig just died because of ignorance, in spite of all the educating that we tried with them...and that's just ONE instance).

Please keep trying to educate yourself and learn all you can about guinea pigs and how to care for them the proper way. Believe me, it pays off in the end and your piggies will have a better life that many of them out there will.

[urockstar]

I wasn't trying to be down on people who are against pet stores. I fully support these people. I should have known better. But I didn't need to hear 500 times that pet stores are bad, bad, bad. I got it. I really didn't know about guinea pig mills but obviously should have known better. There are so many sad stories out there with mills for all different animals, but you hear the most about puppy mills, those sadden me most of all.

People were making me feel like my pigs were doomed and I was getting more worried about them than I think I should have, which I didn't think was fair. While I should've adopted, that's not what ended up happening, and so I don't want to keep hearing about it. Now I just want to take care of them, that is my main focus. I really appreciate this forum for all the information it has to offer, and many of you seem very knowledgable which is helpful.

As I've said in other posts, I'm taking them both for a checkup in the morning and am hoping the pregnancy will go fine for my one sow. I'm now scared that she could have a bad pregnancy because of some talk on here, but I don't know if that is just some people on here trying to scare others out of breeding --- obviously there are risks, I'm aware of that, but since she seems to be in good health I'm hoping everything will go just fine. I'm aware of the risks so I'd appreciate support, not pessimism. (Not that you're giving it, that's just a general statement)

[Wheek Weak]

Originally Posted by urockstar

but you hear the most about puppy mills, those sadden me most of all.

As I've said in other posts, I'm taking them both for a checkup in the morning and am hoping the pregnancy will go fine for my one sow. I'm now scared that she could have a bad pregnancy because of some talk on here, but I don't know if that is just some people on here trying to scare others out of breeding --- obviously there are risks, I'm aware of that, but since she seems to be in good health I'm hoping everything will go just fine. I'm aware of the risks so I'd appreciate support, not pessimism. (Not that you're giving it, that's just a general statement)

ANY breeders sadden me and, basically, make me sick to my stomach

No, it's not just a scare tactic...pregnancy is very risky for the mother and babies both. We were totally scared to death when Ruby was pregnant. She had a single-pup birth (which is extremely high-risk) and had difficulty with the birth. I'm just thankful that I was there to help her when she went into labor. The pup (TeeJay) needed my help to get her breathing. Otherwise, she wouldn't have made it.

I'm not trying to come down on you. I really appreciate the fact that you're taking the time to learn about the little creatures that you chose to be responsible for. Most people don't care, nor bother.

I really do wish your little ones all the best. They obviously have a very caring person who is willing to make sure that that is exactly what they get!

Please keep asking questions, researching, and doing all you can for your babies. Just like we did...you have to start somewhere...and you're doing a great job of trying to learn and educate yourself. As I said, most people don't bother, but you're different...and your piggies will be the better for all your effort. Thank you.

[urockstar]

Thanks. I'll be heartbroken if my pig has a hard time or doesn't live through the pregnancy. I kind of favor her over Bean because she seems to like me more. She loves laptime and stretches out, yawns, relaxes more. She seems very calm with me, of course still runs when I try to pick up, but she's always moving around and checking things out.

I've seen videos on youtube of pigs giving birth and it looked like they had no problems at all. It seemed so easy for them, I was surprised. I guess they were just really lucky!

[zingo-pig-hops]

Honestly, I think your pigs will be fine. 8 years ago my sister got a guinea pig from Petco. THe guinea pig had mites but once she was treated the guinea pig lived for 7 years. I think your guineas will be just fine. Like any pregnancy, in any animal, there is some worry that occurs. If the pregnancy and birth goes good then everything is ok and you can go on loving your guinea pigs. If the pregnancy or birth goes bad then you take it to the vet. Never stop loving your guinea pigs. I think that your guineas will live a long, happy, and healthy lives.

[urockstar]

Originally Posted by zingo-pig-hops

Honestly, I think your pigs will be fine. 8 years ago my sister got a guinea pig from Petco. THe guinea pig had mites but once she was treated the guinea pig lived for 7 years. I think your guineas will be just fine. Like any pregnancy, in any animal, there is some worry that occurs. If the pregnancy and birth goes good then everything is ok and you can go on loving your guinea pigs. If the pregnancy or birth goes bad then you take it to the vet. Never stop loving your guinea pigs. I think that your guineas will live a long, happy, and healthy lives.

Thanks, I appreciate it! I hope they will be fine. Will update tomorrow after the vet visit.

[Wheek Weak]

Originally Posted by zingo-pig-hops

If the pregnancy or birth goes bad then you take it to the vet.

It's not easy to find a cavy saavy vet. Not just ANY vet will do. Most don't know the first thing about treating cavies...let alone pigs who are pregnant, or having a difficult labor/birth.

You need to have a vet that is experienced with guinea pigs. You also need to have an emergency phone number on hand, just in case.

This is not a time to panic but, on the other hand, it's also not a time to be cavalier about the possible risks and problems that could (and do) occur.

[Biscuit]

There are a lot of people here who made the mistake of adopting at a pet store before they knew better. They don't keep hearing about it though, because they don't keep bringing it up in a snippy, somewhat arguementative tone.

I promise you if I reregistered here under a different name and posted "I got a pig at a pet store, I know better now, I know I should have adopted, but I thinks she's pregnant and I'm scared." No one would say anything....

However, if I came and said "I adopted a pig at a pet store which I know isn't okay but I sorta do think it's okay because should those pigs suffer for our cause it's just not right! And no one should make me feel bad, so just don't bring it up I don't want to hear it. And it sounds like you people don't like breeders and try to scare them away. And people here keep trying to scare me. <insert sarcastic thanks here>"

See the difference?

[urockstar]

Originally Posted by Biscuit

There are a lot of people here who made the mistake of adopting at a pet store before they knew better. They don't keep hearing about it though, because they don't keep bringing it up in a snippy, somewhat arguementative tone.

I promise you if I reregistered here under a different name and posted "I got a pig at a pet store, I know better now, I know I should have adopted, but I thinks she's pregnant and I'm scared." No one would say anything....

However, if I came and said "I adopted a pig at a pet store which I know isn't okay but I sorta do think it's okay because should those pigs suffer for our cause it's just not right! And no one should make me feel bad, so just don't bring it up I don't want to hear it. And it sounds like you people don't like breeders and try to scare them away. And people here keep trying to scare me. <insert sarcastic thanks here>"

See the difference?

No, not really. And this was over and done with today so no need to stir the pot. I'm sorry if you misinterpreted what I was saying, or the way I was saying what I was saying. Moooving on.

[Biscuit]

I didn't misread or misinterpret anything...you really don't see the difference in the two approaches?

Over and done with...today? Today isn't far back. People bump stuff from 2003! Can I have a day to reply before you invalidate me for responding to inflammatory things you said 8 hours ago?

Either way, you said a lot of stuff I could dig out and quote that argued with people. You brought up things about how buying from a pet store isn't really that horrid. You said a lot of things you quickly forgot. But I didn't. I read it all.

But...in the end I just don't care. I care about your piggy.

My advice is to quit demanding that people not mention your petstore experience. And guess what, they won't! It's like magic. If you quit mentioning it and saying how it wasn't that bad, it won't come up. These people care more about guinea pigs than anything else. They care more about guinea pigs than arguing with you. Stop bringing it up, and they will too.

[urockstar]

I believe nothing I said was inflammatory. I never once said buying from a pet store wasn't bad. If I did I must've been in a stupid daze. What I said numerous times was that when I bought my guinea pigs on a whim a few weeks ago, I wasn't thinking about guinea pig mills (I should have known better), I have really only heard about puppy mills (and quite honestly it all upsets me so that I tend to block it all out now, I don't like hearing about ANY of it), I saw them and liked them and bought them and it was kind of an instantaneous thing. So blame it on in the moment ignorance. I said in other posts it was wrong of me and I should have adopted from a shelter, but also said what's done is done and I would now like to simply take care of and love my pigs, and not feel upset every time I look at them about having bought them and worrying they'll have a plethora of diseases. I really don't need that. I've realized it, I did wrong, now I'd like to just move on and care for them as anyone would for a pet they love. Please don't put words in my mouth.

It's all good though. But yes, let's stop talking about this now. I'm taking my pigs to the vet tomorrow morning, and anxious to find out if everything is A-okay. I'm hoping it all is.

And I'm excited to start building the C&C cage... just having an issue figuring out where it's going to go in my room. I need some help about the bedding, the blankets instead of bedding? Is there a link to that somewhere?

[Treacle]

Hi Urockstar, you should be happy for your piggies because they didn't end in some careless home or with too little children that wouldn't know how to look after them.

There is loads if links and info here, if i was you, start openening about every link and have a general idea of all the info. i was a bit like you, got my piggies from a colleage in the office, she bought the pigs from a breeder and put a girl and a boy together, they had two litters! Anyway, i saw this site and I completly changed they way I was looking after them and now they are two very happy piggies.

U will be ok, be patiente a follow the advice given here!

[Percy's Mom]

If you read through the threads in the bedding section of the forum or do a search with the keyword "fleece", you will find numerous threads with the information you're looking for.

[random09]

So what did you find out about your girl? I hope everything is okie-doke!!