New owner, learning a lot, need some more info

[Dsunny1]

Hello, My name is Jen. I just got a Guinea pig on Saturday from a neighbor, who learned she was allergic to piggs after getting this one from another neighbor who was moving... Anyway, I have never owned one before and didn't have the slightest idea how to care for one. I was referred here and boy there was a lot I didn't know... So, I think (after what I have read here) that Pokey was very neglected before coming to our house. She is "1 or 2" years old I am told. She was in a very small cage (store bought) of couse and her nails are horrible. I have made her a 2x3 C&C cage with a second story (1x2) now and she has lots of running room. I am using fleece for the flooring right now. Once I get my ramp built, I might use the carefresh on the second floor. I managed to clip her nails today with the help of my BIL, but they probably need more trimming. They were very overgown and curved. It looks like she has spurs on her left front paw, and I am not sure what to do about those. I am also wondering if Pokey might be a Boy and not a Girl. I will look at the sexing page again tonight to try to see if I can tell by the pictures there.
My questions: She won't eat pellets, I bought her oxbow ones, and she doesn't eat any of them. She gets plenty of fresh veggies and timothy hay. I was told to use her vitamin C drops when I got her but stopped as soon as I read on here not to. Should I keep putting fresh pellets in her bowl daily, and hope she starts eating them sometime?
She makes what I think is a happy noise when I scratch her back and looks like she likes it. I would know if she really didn't like it right?
Ok, that is enough for now, sorry for the novel.

[C&K]

She is such a sweetie! Reminds me of my foster Oats who went home a month ago or so. Anyway, I am sure she is very much appreciating the better care you are able to give her.

Have you had any thoughts to getting him/ her a friend? They are herd animals and usually do better with company.

As for the pellets, I would get a scale and make sure she is not loosing weight. It may be that the pellets she was on before where like candy, and she is just being picky now that you took her candy dish away and put a real meal infront of her. I would just leave it there, and she should come around, provided that she is not loosing weight, the veggies and hay should be just fine!

Is she eating a wide variety of veggies? What are you feeding her?

[JennG]

She is a doll. Congrats on your new piggie and I'm glad you were able to find this forum and want to do what's best for her since her previous owners didn't know better.

Don't forget to read this link, if you already haven't: http://www.cavycages.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17032. As far as the pellets, I'd just leave some out. She may not realize what they are. Also, are you considering getting her a friend (once you can make sure she's a she and not a he). We highly recommend a companion since they are herd animals.

Again congrats and welcome to the forum.

[Dsunny1]

I am going to adopt another piggy once we get settled in with this one. Maybe in a week or two. I looked them up on Petfinder and there are plenty of piggy's needing adoption in my area. If she is a female, would you suggest I get a baby female or one that is closer to her age?
Do you have any suggestions on what to do about her spur on her foot? Thanks!

eddited to add: I feed her romaine lettuce, a small carrot every other day, cucumber, corn husks and silks, parsley, green pepper, she didn't like the tomato, or basil. I gave her some broccoli stalk until someone told me not to... Hmmmm, I think that is all. As far as the pellets go, she didn't eat the ones her previous owners gave her either. They gave me a shoebox full of pellets, but I didn't know what kind they were and if they had enough vitamin C in them, so I bought oxbow, so I would be sure she was getting good pellets.

[JennG]

If it is a spur, (which I'm thinking is what Angel gets, an extra flappy piece of skin on the bottom of her front feet) you can trim it off. I have a pair of baby nail clippers that I use to keep hers trimmed. It's just dead skin and shouldn't hurt her. I get a spur and bumblefoot mixed up. You can always go onto www.guinealynx.com which is a good link to know anyways, since they are a good site as well.

[nonamian_girl]

Check her teeth just to make sure that they're not overgrown. Supply her with plenty of hay and she'll wear them down. Maybe once she gets a friend they will teach her how to eat her pellets?

[C&K]

If she is a female, would you suggest I get a baby female or one that is closer to her age?

With sows it is not as important to play the age game as it is with boars. I adopted 3 separate pigs and made a trio, all two years old, they get along really well.

If it is a spur, you should be able to clip it.


As for the pellets, as long as she always has hay, and her teeth look good, and she is not loosing weight, I would not sweat it. She may adjust in a few days too as she gets more settled in. Just keep an eye on her teeth and weight. If she does start to loose weight, or stops eating other foods, it probably means trouble with her molars.

[Dsunny1]

So, I need to buy a scale right? How much do they cost, and can I get one at Petco or someplace like that? Thanks again for all the advice.

[VoodooJoint]

You can get a scale at Walmart, Office Depot, probably even places like Walgreens.

Get a postal or food scale. Make sure it measures ounces and not just pounds.

[PiggieMom]

A good one is about $15.00 or $20.00. Go to a store like Wal-Mart, Meijer, Target or K-Mart. In their kitchen section they'll have digital scales to weigh food. That's the kind you need. Digital is the best way to go and one that can do pounds and grams.

Grr. VJ beat me. Good point on the ounces and pounds.

[Dsunny1]

A few more questions if you don't mind... My piggy is an absynian ( i know I just spelled that wrong sorry), do I need to brush her hair? She seems to be shedding a lot. I didn't notice till I got her purple fleece for her bed and there is hair everywhere.
Second question: I know people use puppy pads for their cages under fleece/towels. Can you use those lap pads or matress savers you get for babies to help prevent leaks from accidents to put under the fleece, then wash them when you wash the fleece?
Sometimes she makes this high pitched squeek for no reason, that I can tell. Is that what people are talking about when they say their piggy's make noise when they think they are getting food? She seems to be coming more and more out of her shell each day and has a lot of personality.
thanks!

[fourbwabbys]

#1: I have 4 abbys and I brush them 2 or 3 times a week. Use a soft baby brush or ones made for small animals and brush in the direction thier fur grows.
#2: Yes, those are fine. I used the crib pads. Just be sure not to get the fitted kind, you want the ones that lay flat.
They can squeak for any reason. Most likely that's for food.