Advice Welcome

[everliin]

Hi, my name is Everliin.
I've joined this forum under dis-heartening circumstances. As a guinea pig owner for only 14months and after the extensive research I have conducted both prior to adopting Pickles and since then, with any query I have had, I was very and am understandably, still distraught after the sudden illness and death of Pickles and the current battle that Gherkin is fighting but sadly losing. This will leave Maggot without his brother and cage mate, who he has continually stuck by, even to this minute his is at the vets with Gherkin keeping him company. And Ugly, the only daughter of Pickles.
In the days ahead I will be nervously reviewing the diet and lifestyle of all my pigs so that this may never happen again. Both myself and the vet are very much bewildered by how this saddening situation occurred.
That is why I have joined. The possibility of a new companion for Maggot and everything else I now worry about, I need the backup, advice and reassurance of those who have been there, experienced cavy lovers.
Thank you and I look forward to meeting you.

[Ziggy&Herald]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope Maggot and Ugly do fine. If you don't mind me asking what was the situation?

Welcome to GPC. There are lots of information on proper diets for cavy's in the Diet and Nutrition Forum.

[everliin]

A bacterial infection that caused internal bleeding, that is why Pickles died so quickly, she had lost a lot of blood. A stool screen was conducted to confirm this. The vet managed the stop Gherkin's blood loss but he stilled showed symptoms such as difficulty in movement, disinterested in food and discharge around the eyes. These symptoms of got worse. Gherkin died last night in his sleep with Maggot at his side. Maggot still remains healthy, just a little sad and lonely. He is under constant watch just to make sure he doesn't get sick on the sly. Right now I am considering the possibility for a new cage mate for Maggot. Not quite sure though.
As for their diet, they eat Peters Guinea Pig and Rabbit Lucerne Pellets enriched with vitamin C, which are recommended by the RSPCA; fresh lucerne; a variety of fresh veges/fruit including green cucumber, dandelion greens, spinach, apple, carrot, kiwi fruit, etc. Thats what I feed them now but I am looking at it more closely now, more than willing to improve. Suggestions?

[camende]

There is a great chart on what to feed and how often. It is here:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...arts-info.html

I don't follow anything else. If you look, you will see that you need to change some of the things you are feeding your piggies. For instance, Spinach is not something you feed every day. In fact, I almost never feed it unless I have a small bit left over from something I cooked for dinner. Kiwi is also high in sugar and shouldn't be given often. Anyway, look at the chart. I printed it out and I keep it handy and review it often.

In fact, I am away on vacation now and I left the chart with my pig sitter so that she would know what to feed and how often...

I'm sorry for your loss. I hope your remaining guinea pigs stay healthy.

[everliin]

Thank you Camende!

[pigsforlife]

I suggest you scrap the pellets, and get some of a higher quality such as Oxbows Cavy Cuisine or Kleenmamas Timothy based pellets. Swap the lucerne hay for a grass hay, both KMs and Oxbows supply hay as well. What sort of housing arrangement do you have? Sorry for your losses.

[everliin]

The reason they are on Peters pellets is because I haven't been able to find Oxbows Cavy Cuisine or Kleenmamas Timothy based pellets anywhere. Where do you get yours? I will look into the grass hay, thanks!
Well the caging at the moment is in need of reorganising as I am down a couple of pigs. Maggot used to live in a 4x4C&C cage shared with Gherkin. Pickles was in a large pet shop cage next to the boys so she could talk. Any time I put any other female guinea pig in with her, they fought. She was very territorial and shy at the same time. Ugly lives on the lawn in a dog proof hutch in close proximity to another female guinea pig's hutch so they can talk. Again, territorial pigs. Both lawn pigs come inside at night.
My problem now is whether or not to get Maggot a playmate. Since Gherkin passed, he has been rather miserable. Do you think a companion would cheer him up or just time? I try and keep him near Ugly and my sister's pig. But obviously enough, due to gender differences, they cannot share a cage.

[pigsforlife]

Oxbow can be found in some stores, and purchased online. Use the store locator on their site to track one down. KMs only sells online. I would get him a same sex companion once you work out what caused the deaths of the other two pigs. The main reason why the pigs fought when in together in the petstore cage was most likely cause they did not have enough space.

[everliin]

When Ugly and Pickles shared a cage I tried hard to stop them from fighting. They shared a 4x4C&C cage identical to that of the boys. I put two of everything in there, plenty of places to hide. I don't believe space was an issue.
The male companion is the plan then. Maggot is very sociable pig and needs the company.
I think I understand what the vet was saying. But you are right it would be better to know what exactly caused it before I get other pigs. I just don't know how they got sick.

[pigsforlife]

Oh I thought the 2 girls were in a large petstore cage together, not a 4x4 C&C!

[pigsforlife]

Just saw that you live in Australia, KMs does not ship to Australia. Oxbow has a limited range of products though, you may be interested - Welcome

[everliin]

Yes, I tried to make it work for Pickles and Ugly but it never did work out.
So, timothy hay and timothy hay based pellets are better for guinea pigs than lucerne ans lucerne based pellets? Lucerne products seems to be the most readily available around my area. I'll contact Oxbow and see if they do mail outs and check what the local packing shed can get in for me in the way of timothy hay.
Discussing with house mates and vets, also given that the house mates aren't in the know with cavies, we can't seem to pinpoint how the two piggies contracted the fatal bacterial infection. The vet just strongly suggestion that I continue to provide the same high standard lifestyle to my pigs and weigh them frequently because, as we all know, excessive weight gain or loss is a key indicator of illness. Once Maggot is rehabilitated more comfortably, and things become steady again, I will look for a friend for Maggot.

[pigsforlife]

Timothy based pellets are better yes. In Australia grass hays are hard to come by, oaten and wheaten hay are grass hays that are readily available in most places though. Weighing more frequently is suggested, I weigh all pigs weekly and any that I am concerned about or are ill daily. Umm, when it comes time to look for a new pal consider adopting. The Australian Cavy Sanctuary is located in Brisbane but can fly interstate.

[Aertyn]

The Oxbow Pellets can be pricey but the bags that are available in Oz last my 5 pigs a month. $37 for 30 days, which breaks down to 24cents a day per pig.

If you are looking for piggy pals I saw these two guys are up for adoption
Guinea Pigs

[everliin]

I adopted Pickles from the RSPCA. She was pregnant at the time and later gave birth to Maggot, Gherkin and Ugly. I don't go to pet shops.
Maggot is home and is still very quite which is unlike his usual self. He isn't eating a great deal either. Tomorrow he is going to the vets even if he suddenly acquires an appetite overnight. He currently weighs 750grams. His sister, Ugly, who is in good condition weighs 850grams. Their friend Bazaldoor weighs 875grams. I will weigh them all again in the morning. Both Bazaldoor and Ugly eat tremendous amounts of food and are bright and alert. This only goes further to highlight the change in Maggot. Before I admitted him to the vets on the Sunday, he had been eating right up until Saturday. I did think it unusual for him to not be attempting to climb out of the cage for food but he seemed content, as did Gherkin and Pickles when I brought them some grass. Even when I took Pickles out of the neighboring cage and Gherkin out of his own cage on the Sunday, he was wheeking and jumping on boxes. Ah dear, I will remain watchful tonight, and in the morning consult the vet. I do wonder if this is because he has lost his cage mate?

[Harrys Dad]

Originally Posted by everliin

I adopted Pickles from the RSPCA. She was pregnant at the time and later gave birth to Maggot, Gherkin and Ugly. I don't go to pet shops.

very weird names for your pigs but sure gave me a good chuckle

[everliin]

Thank you Aertyn. Do you order your pellets through the mail, online or pick them up at a shop?
Just an up-date on my piggies. Maggot was looking better this morning, much more alert and interested in the ladies and food. He ate some grass, lucerne and carrot, and was producing waste again. He was fine when I looked at him this afternoon. Tonight when I came home, he had developed diarrhea so I took him to the vets to be monitored overnight. In the morning I'll pop in to see how he is and speak to the vets.