2 lethals in Daytona

[LobsterOverlord]

HI all,

I'm a sucker, I know...but they're so cute. I took in Piggly and Wiggly. Two one-year old sisters. Both are, from what I've learned here, lethals. Piggly has no lower teeth and is blind in at least one eye, and is rather small. Wiggly has no upper teeth and walks with a tilt to her head.

We took them in, because the owner has been trying for months to find a home and was to the point where putting them to sleep had become an option. This was why she took them in the first place (PetCo drop offs).

The only care concers are that they need their teeth trimmed once ever two weeks and their veggies need to be shredded.

Anyone who can help, please let me know. I will get pictures later tonight. (Btw, they are soooooo adorable)

I live in the Daytona Beach area.

John M.

[VoodooJoint]

I'm sure Salana, our lethal expert, will be along shortly with lots of help and info.

Thanks for being willing to take on these special needs girls.

I would concider it a HUGE step if petstores and breeders would stop selling roans and dals to the general public. I was just in Petsmart last week and they had 5 GPs in "stock". 3 of them were roans.

[piggly wiggly]

What are lethals, roans and dals. Just wondering. Petsmart by me has 6 pigs in one aquarium and 3 in the other. Sorry to be off topic, just wondering what those words mean.

[Jennicat]

Roans and dalmations are color variations. Dalmations are spotty, and roans are kind of salt and peppery (that's how I'd describe it), I'm sure someone else will probably have a better descriptor. Lethal pigs occur when you breed roan to roan or dalmation to dalmation. Salana will know the exact genetic "whys" of what causes the malformation. They're all white, generally blind, can be missing eyes, have serious teeth problems or missing teeth altogether, and have other internal problems. They're generally not very long lived because of these problems as well. If you're familiar with dogs, it's like the lethal whites you get when breeding merle Australian Shepherds together.

[VoodooJoint]

Roans and Dals (Dalmations) refer to a specific type of coat pattern a GP has.

If they are bred together they carry a gene that can cause severe deformities/genetic problems in the young. Pups born with these deformities are commonly referred to as lethals. Lethals are always white are often blind or have deformed eyes, may be deaf, usually have severe tooth deformities and often internal deformities as well.

You will find more info and pictures here http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...scussion.html?

[LobsterOverlord]

Here is a picture of the two together.


I've also updated my main pictures thread with more pictures and info about them

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...d=1#post235509

John M.

[salana]

They're so cute!

Are their molars okay?

Does Wiggly have a deformed eye on the side she tilts towards? Have you tested them both for deafness? I usually use a cell phone to test, because hearing pigs hate all the ringtones and will chatter at it.

[LobsterOverlord]

The vet and the former 'caretaker' said the molars are fine. I havn't sat down to check myself, but I will this weekend. Both have matching eyes (in that each one has their left match their right). Piggly's are small, and Wiggly's are normal sized.

Deaf-test will also be this weekend.

John M.

[fourbwabbys]

Aww, they're adorable. Great job for taking them in, they'll have a great life now.

[Pamela Barr]

They are adorable, I'm glad you got them, good luck!

[LobsterOverlord]

Just to update everyone. We've found Piggly and Wiggly a permanent home. With us. They're going to stay with us unless things change and we can't take care of them.

Since I'd really only wanted to take them in until I could find someone who could take care of them properly, we've come to realize that we are suprizingly suited to do it our selves.

John M.

[fourbwabbys]

That's great news! They couldn't have found a better home.

[sealpupjd]

That is great news!!! They are so lucky!! (And so are you!)
Jami-