Found Piggie

[dra&pigs]

Just to start off, I'm not sure how much of this is actually going to make any sense because I'm absolutely furious right now ( ).
Today, I was taking my dog, Bailey for a walk. We live in a city, so there are lots of people and I was mostly concentrated on keeping Bailey, who is still a puppy, from jumping all over the poor people. I turned onto an intersection and suddenly heard the loud wheeking of what could only be a piggie. Of course, at first I thought I was crazy, because the only place I hear that noise is at my house (and what a wonderful noise it is!!). When Bailey began to crazily pull at the leash, I realized it really was a little pig. So I walked over to the previously-unnoticed cardboard box in front a bar (yes, a BAR), and discovered the tiny thing. He's (I think he, but I'm not sure) obviously still supposed to be with his momma. The bottom was really soggy, and when I went to pick him up, he reeked of alchohol (Note-this was about 6:30 a.m, because I was walking her before school)!! I, of course, immediatly cuddled him into my arms and turned towards my house.
So, a bath and urgent trip to the sign store, we have him in a 2x3 grid cage, clean and good smelling, with plenty of hay (alfalfa), veggies, ect. I'm livid that someone would even imagine leaving their pig there, and then letting it get soaked in beer!!!! *Deep breaths*.
Now, I'm probably going to end up keeping the little guy, he's very affectionate and such, but what should I be doing to care for him? We're off to get Critical Care in about 15 minutes, and he has alfalfa hay, but he's really, really tiny and from what I can tell, only a few weeks old. You can see his ribs and is extremely unhealthy looking. He's seeing my vet tomorrow at 4:00, but what can I do until then?

[iluvmypigclover]

My god, that is completely horrible. Somebody actually DUMPED BEER on him? Thats so great that you built the cage for the little guy. I've never had a baby pig, so I don't have much advice. All I can say is that its good that you are providing alfalfa since he's so little. I hope that this little guy makes it! He sounds like an adorable piggy! I'm so sorry that I can't give more advice, but I wish you the best of luck! The critical care ought to help him!

[BubuCandyBlue]

I had my 1st pig like that: very young, skinny, poor condition, freezing almost. He wasn't eating at all, so I had to give him milk with a syringe. Didn't have back then the critical care stuff. He cried a lot after his mommy I guess...and though I was his new mommy and cried after me too, so he kinda slept with me in the bed many times, or was carried in a cangoro pocket blouse everywhere I went around the house.

[iluvmypigclover]

Wait, you fed him milk? As in cows milk? You should never feed a guinea pig ANY animal products, even if it is separated from its mother. I'm assuming that you aren't still feeding it milk, right? I'm sure you wanted what was best for the piggie but dairy is strictly forbidden.

[BubuCandyBlue]

That was 8 years ago. He lived 7. And yes, I fed him milk because that's what the vet said. Guinea pig care back then, and even now, is not so developed in the country I come from, in Europe. I wanted him to live, and I did my best to do that with the info I had back then, and he lived for 7 happy years.
Of course how things stay now, and all the info I have, I would proceed differently. I think everyone has maybe a little of regret and say" I wish I knew then what I know now", things would have been a lot better!

[newpiggiemommy]

Bless your heart for taking the time to notice and care for this little guy! I don't really have any advice for you, as I have never been in this situation.

I was thinking I read something about wrapping a warm water bottle up in a towel and putting it in the cage to help keep them warm.

You can also wet the pellets to feed to him if he is not eating. When my baby piggies were born last January they started eating veggies and pellets by the end of the first day! and they loved eating hay!

Good Luck and God Bless!

[newpiggiemommy]

Originally Posted by BubuCandyBlue

That was 8 years ago. He lived 7. And yes, I fed him milk because that's what the vet said. Guinea pig care back then, and even now, is not so developed in the country I come from, in Europe. I wanted him to live, and I did my best to do that with the info I had back then, and he lived for 7 happy years.
Of course how things stay now, and all the info I have, I would proceed differently. I think everyone has maybe a little of regret and say" I wish I knew then what I know now", things would have been a lot better!

You are absolutely right! I wish I knew about NOT buying guinea pigs at a petstore before I bought mine. I bought 2 females from the pet store and they both were pregnant when I bought them. I now have 5 guinea pigs and we also had 3 born dead. So if they would have lived we would have had 8 piggies!

[iluvmypigclover]

Oh, I really wasn't trying to accuse you. I just wanted to make sure you knew! I agree, I bought both Clover and Crimson from a pet store, not knowing about adoption. Their whole relationship would be different if I had known about this site. However, we can all be glad that we found this site!

[AnimalHouse36]

Oh my Dra&Pigs! How horrible! Keep her on the critical care till you get to the vet. Feed her plenty but introduce slowly. Pigtures please! Good luck little baby!

[hueyeats]

I am sorry that dra&pigs you have to see this human cruelty. Bless your heart for saving the little one else the little one will not have a chance in this highly "disposable" world.

I dunno if I should suggest this but I have saved a baby chipmunk... will chipmunk milk recipe work? When I was googling how to formula feed my baby chipmunk they did say no regular milk / even puppy & kitten formula. Zoos have fed chipmunk goat milk, or a zoological formula.

Being that I do not have access to what was recommended from the zoological site, I found a website that told me when all else at accessing milk failed, you can mix evaporated milk, honey and a few flakes of oats diluted in water as sub for chipmunk milk. I fed my chipmunk this formula & it seems to like it. Now, the baby is not a baby anymore & is living happily in our front yard roaming free... she comes to our doorsteps every morning to greet us still & will occasionally reply to my DH's "sound" (kinda whistle) & see him off to work (as per my hubby).

[Ly&Pigs]

Pigs cannot have any type of replacement milk products. They can have pellet mashes and critical care.

[hueyeats]

I just found this link.
Guinea Lynx :: Hand Feeding

As per Ly&Pigs said.
NO milk products.

Hope that helps & you might want to bookmark guinealynx's site because they have great info too.

[AnimalHouse36]

Any updates dra&pigs?

[dra&pigs]

Sorry, I have been super-busy lately, with my new little friend and an increase in school-work. Ugh. Anyway, he saw the vet, and while he's malnourished and still somewhat smelly, he's doing much better. He's fattened up quite a bit already. I can't bear to part with him, so he's got a name, Jasper (for those of you who've read Twilight, yes, after Jasper Cullen, only the most awesome male Cullen). Can he get a friend (or 2) now? The rescue I adopt from quarentine's already, so any pigs I get will be introduced as soon as possible. Should I wait until he's bigger, or not? My two male pigs can't handle a third buddy, I've already tried, and there are two at the shelter who I adore. Soo...any advice?

[AnimalHouse36]

I would wait it out until Jasper (OMG I love that book!) is as strong as he can be. And you know how much we love pigtures!

[dra&pigs]

Yes, yes pigtures should be coming. Lets just say I have a little brother with some angry feelings towards me and my camera. Oops. Anyway, Jasper (I know, its amazing! Plus his two, maybe three buddies will be named Edward, Emmett and maybe Carlisle) will have to wait, then. He seems to be fine, and he's definitely happy about his new space. I've upgraded to a 3x3, and he loves running laps.

[AnimalHouse36]

I love the name Rosalie! But obviously it's a bit of a girl name!

Maybe you could adopt his buddies but keep them in quatentine until everyone is in tip top shape?

Haha, yes brothers do tend to have VERY angry feelings towards there sisters. I'm speaking from experience here! I'm very glad little Jasper is doing well.