So I'm in the process of adopting a 3rd piggy, (which I am so so excited about, I will most likely be picking her up on the 22nd) but she has a few issues that I could deal with on my own, but would like second opinions on.
This is flower, soon to be aurora. When I first saw her profile on adopt-a-pet she was stated to have "a fear response to humans" but that she wasn't a biter. Turns out that fear response isn't necessarily her running away, but her losing the ability to balance.
"I need you to know that Flower is a bit "different" She was seen by my vet and was treated for an ear infection however it is my belief that her 10yr old previous owner may have dropped her. She spins in circles..mostly when your trying to pick her up..once you catch her..she will roll almost like an alligator. Sher condition doesnt seem to bother her..she trots along like life is peachy..she is awesome once she settles down in your lap however if something spooks her she will take off spinning..."
my first instinct was "oh probably just a minor neurological disorder or some brain damage, I'm sure a yearly trip to the vet will be enough" but the more I think about it the more I worry. It's not described as a seizure, especially if she is conscious and aware while these spinning/rolling fits happen, so I don't think it will be anything where she will need constant medication. And of course I can safety proof my cage, adding railings out the butt and making the ramp to the second level as shallow as possible (or removing the second level and expanding the first)
she seems like the perfect piggy for us, an Abby, similar in age (possibly even younger) than our 5 month old teddies, female, and I think the idea of a roley poley guinea pig is adorable. I'm not worried about holding a squirmy wormy, just about whether or not she might hurt herself somehow.
Has anyone dealt with anything like this? Do I need to worry or should I just let her live her life? And to klutz-proof the cage I'd need to add more grids to make a railing for the ramp (I'm thinking to have a ramp go the whole width of the cage instead of front to back, so it wouldn't be steep at all) but what else could I do?
This is flower, soon to be aurora. When I first saw her profile on adopt-a-pet she was stated to have "a fear response to humans" but that she wasn't a biter. Turns out that fear response isn't necessarily her running away, but her losing the ability to balance.
"I need you to know that Flower is a bit "different" She was seen by my vet and was treated for an ear infection however it is my belief that her 10yr old previous owner may have dropped her. She spins in circles..mostly when your trying to pick her up..once you catch her..she will roll almost like an alligator. Sher condition doesnt seem to bother her..she trots along like life is peachy..she is awesome once she settles down in your lap however if something spooks her she will take off spinning..."
my first instinct was "oh probably just a minor neurological disorder or some brain damage, I'm sure a yearly trip to the vet will be enough" but the more I think about it the more I worry. It's not described as a seizure, especially if she is conscious and aware while these spinning/rolling fits happen, so I don't think it will be anything where she will need constant medication. And of course I can safety proof my cage, adding railings out the butt and making the ramp to the second level as shallow as possible (or removing the second level and expanding the first)
she seems like the perfect piggy for us, an Abby, similar in age (possibly even younger) than our 5 month old teddies, female, and I think the idea of a roley poley guinea pig is adorable. I'm not worried about holding a squirmy wormy, just about whether or not she might hurt herself somehow.
Has anyone dealt with anything like this? Do I need to worry or should I just let her live her life? And to klutz-proof the cage I'd need to add more grids to make a railing for the ramp (I'm thinking to have a ramp go the whole width of the cage instead of front to back, so it wouldn't be steep at all) but what else could I do?