alsilon
Member
Cavy Gazer
- Joined
- May 16, 2018
- Posts
- 3
- Joined
- May 16, 2018
- Messages
- 3
Hi all!
I adopted a guinea pig last Friday and it was quite unplanned. I am now seeking out all information and advice so I can better care for him. This site has already been a wealth of knowledge and I'm certain I've only scratched the surface
My kids love to go to pet stores and look at the animals, but I am a firm believer in adoption. However, last Friday while we were oohing and awwing, I saw a lone guinea caged away from the others that were herded together. I asked a worker about him and she said that he was not for sale because he was imperfect. This word upset me LOL so I decided I needed him and he WAS perfect... I asked why they would say that and he has a genetic condition that causes his eye to weep. They thought that he had an upper respiratory infection and treated him for months until this apparent diagnosis. But they were going to have to "dispose" of him since he couldn't be sold. I asked if I could adopt him, and after some run-around I was allowed to. He's got a cage and seems used to handling from what I can tell, I'm guessing because he was under the vet care for so long. He loves to go out to our back yard and play outside, munching grass etc.
Here are my questions:
1) In my reading and learning, I'm convicted that I need to get him a pal. Should I feel pressure to do it quickly or should I get him situated and learn more before taking on another one? (I have found 3 within an hour of me at various shelters via Petfinder)
2) He's in a rabbit cage (even with no research I thought that the cages sold for piggies in store were too small), but can't seem to figure out how to go up the ramp. Can't figure out may be the wrong wording, but my concern is he's lived in an environment that hasn't taught him much... best ways to help him? Or is time all he needs?
3) Same as the environment question but with food. He seems to have only been fed hay and pellets. No interest at all in other foods that we've offered, but he'll eat hay or grass from my hand. Should I push this and try to keep experimenting, should I work on it or let it go?
4) His nails seem long to me. I purchase some clippers, but am terrified to hurt him. Should I take him to a vet?
Any other advice is welcome, I am a TOTAL newbie and want to take care of this sweet guy as best I can. Thank you all in advance for any help, and thank you for the help that this site is!
I adopted a guinea pig last Friday and it was quite unplanned. I am now seeking out all information and advice so I can better care for him. This site has already been a wealth of knowledge and I'm certain I've only scratched the surface
My kids love to go to pet stores and look at the animals, but I am a firm believer in adoption. However, last Friday while we were oohing and awwing, I saw a lone guinea caged away from the others that were herded together. I asked a worker about him and she said that he was not for sale because he was imperfect. This word upset me LOL so I decided I needed him and he WAS perfect... I asked why they would say that and he has a genetic condition that causes his eye to weep. They thought that he had an upper respiratory infection and treated him for months until this apparent diagnosis. But they were going to have to "dispose" of him since he couldn't be sold. I asked if I could adopt him, and after some run-around I was allowed to. He's got a cage and seems used to handling from what I can tell, I'm guessing because he was under the vet care for so long. He loves to go out to our back yard and play outside, munching grass etc.
Here are my questions:
1) In my reading and learning, I'm convicted that I need to get him a pal. Should I feel pressure to do it quickly or should I get him situated and learn more before taking on another one? (I have found 3 within an hour of me at various shelters via Petfinder)
2) He's in a rabbit cage (even with no research I thought that the cages sold for piggies in store were too small), but can't seem to figure out how to go up the ramp. Can't figure out may be the wrong wording, but my concern is he's lived in an environment that hasn't taught him much... best ways to help him? Or is time all he needs?
3) Same as the environment question but with food. He seems to have only been fed hay and pellets. No interest at all in other foods that we've offered, but he'll eat hay or grass from my hand. Should I push this and try to keep experimenting, should I work on it or let it go?
4) His nails seem long to me. I purchase some clippers, but am terrified to hurt him. Should I take him to a vet?
Any other advice is welcome, I am a TOTAL newbie and want to take care of this sweet guy as best I can. Thank you all in advance for any help, and thank you for the help that this site is!
