Conditions Blind piggy Kato

[codie]

I recently brought home a beautiful young piggy, Kato. He is friendly, affectionate and a gorgeous peruvian/abyssinian cross. I got him from the petstore where he had been treated for a number of injuries resulting from being attcked by other guineas. He's scarred and has tattered and...very damaged ears but otherwise appears normal and healthy(though he had lice, now being treated-another story). The only suprise was, as it turns out, Kato is also blind, which may explain why he was picked on so badly by other pigs.

I just wanted some tips on dealing with a blind guinea pig. He is adapting fairly well right now, I have shown him where everything is and we are starting to use certain words to "teach"him what we are going to be doing because he can't get visual cues. It took the poor guy a day to figure out what a waterbottle was and how to reach up to get the water.., and now he kind of just bites it? But I hear playing with a water bottle is fairly normal so I'm trying not to worry especially since he eats so many fresh food.Eating is definately not an issue as long as I bring him the food the first time and guide him to it. I'm usuing a (appx.6 square foot) cage right now. I don't think at the moment he would be able to find food and water in anything larger...I also want to keep layouts simple I think?

I love him already. He's my little guy and he muchly enjoys lounging with me for cuddles(he's kind of lap-doggy in temperment). I just want to do the best possible that I can for such a unique guy.

 

[TwilightStar]

I recently brought home a beautiful young piggy, Kato. He is friendly, affectionate and a gorgeous peruvian/abyssinian cross. I got him from the petstore where he had been treated for a number of injuries resulting from being attcked by other guineas. He's scarred and has tattered and...very damaged ears but otherwise appears normal and healthy(though he had lice, now being treated-another story). The only suprise was, as it turns out, Kato is also blind, which may explain why he was picked on so badly by other pigs.

I just wanted some tips on dealing with a blind guinea pig. He is adapting fairly well right now, I have shown him where everything is and we are starting to use certain words to "teach"him what we are going to be doing because he can't get visual cues. It took the poor guy a day to figure out what a waterbottle was and how to reach up to get the water.., and now he kind of just bites it? But I hear playing with a water bottle is fairly normal so I'm trying not to worry especially since he eats so many fresh food.Eating is definately not an issue as long as I bring him the food the first time and guide him to it. I'm usuing a (appx.6 square foot) cage right now. I don't think at the moment he would be able to find food and water in anything larger...I also want to keep layouts simple I think?

I love him already. He's my little guy and he muchly enjoys lounging with me for cuddles(he's kind of lap-doggy in temperment). I just want to do the best possible that I can for such a unique guy.

I can't really offer suggestion, but I now own a piggy blind in one eye due to glacouma, so we're in the same boat.
However, you really should read up on adoption vs shopping. It's rather sad the condition he is in due to the pet store's cruelty. Please report them so they can't harm any more creatures.Please take him to the Vet as pet store pigs tend to be sick and abused. And last, adopt him a friend. Guinea pigs are social creatures and need the companionship of one from their own species. Also, you will need a cage that is at least a 2x4 to house two boars.

 

[codie]

I know about pet store conditions and adopting vs. buying
The health situation at the pet store has already been addressed and I already have had the health issues treated. I had the head office of the pet store authorize him to be treated by my personal vet(another very long story...)

 

[TwilightStar]

I know about pet store conditions and adopting vs. buying
The health situation at the pet store has already been addressed and I already have had the health issues treated. I had the head office of the pet store authorize him to be treated by my personal vet(another very long story...)

So why did you still opt to buy a pet when the store will continue to mistreat their future animals?

 

[codie]

Why do you, without any knowledge of my situation, opt to attack a new member? Also, why do you opt to do so in a thread in which that new member is asking advice on how to help a blind guinea pig cope and derail said thread off track entirely. I think I've seen enough of what this forum has to offer....

 

[Rnd210]

I do not have a blind guinea pig, but I do have blind dog and he has to stay with his friend at all times, she (his friend both fixed) acts like a guide for him and helps him to the food, water, and toys. As long as she is with him, he is able to cope.

If you guinea pig does not currently have a friend I suggest getting him one so that the friend can help him cope and find his way around. Also, don't move water bottles, hideys, food bowls, or hay racks around to much since he can't see he can still smell and memorize were things or located. I think a friend will greatly help him as well.

 

[Sirene]

Welcome, codie. This is a great resource, so I hope you'll stick around. I recently lost my almost-blind piggy (who had cataracts in both eyes), and learned a few things.

You are right about the words. Guinea pigs are surprisingly good (and quick!) at learning words, so things like "pet", "pick up", "hay", "pellets", etc will actually be useful to him.
I always told my pig "hay" (and kept going: "hay for pigs, hay over here, want some hay?" etc) when I went to put it in. I also rustled it a lot so he realized where it was. Same with the pellets and water when I refilled them, and veggies when I brought them.

He will (as I'm sure you've noticed), also figure out quickly where things are in his cage. As you suggest, I wouldn't change the layout too often, or make areas where he could get "trapped". between hideys, etc.

"Biting" the water bottle seems to be quite normal - both my pigs drink that way. It seems quite "violent", but I've checked, and they're definitely getting a lot of water. If you're concerned about him drinking enough, just leave some extra water on his lettuce, etc, when you rinse them.

Do you have any idea why he is blind? It may be worthwhile getting him tested for diabetes, or asking the vet if he/she knows what is causing it. My blind pigger passed away EXTREMELY suddenly (popcorning and wheeking one evening, dead the next morning) and it turned out his little body was riddled with tumors. No idea if the cataracts and tumors were related, but I wish to goodness I'd known what was going on inside him.

Sorry to be a downer. My pigger was a happy, merry little clown, and he did just great. We didn't even realize he was blind for the first few months, and his previous owner had no clue. With a bit of TLC and an understanding owner, your little guy will be just fine.

 

[SFailed186]

Why do you, without any knowledge of my situation, opt to attack a new member? Also, why do you opt to do so in a thread in which that new member is asking advice on how to help a blind guinea pig cope and derail said thread off track entirely. I think I've seen enough of what this forum has to offer....

She is not attacking you, she just asked you a question. It was not meant offensively or anything of the sort. I believe part of what she was getting at if that you could have adopted a pig in the same or similar condition without supporting a pet store by allowing it to have more room to sell more pigs. When you buy from a pet store, you are just opening up a spot for them to add even more pigs and abuse them in the future. You are showing them that there is a demand, and so they must have a supply in order to keep the cash flow coming. Please, this is not an attack, it is advice. Our first two girls were from pet stores, before we knew any better. We also thought we were rescuing them, but we realized we were gravely mistaken when we when in later and there was an entire litter of at least 5-6 babies, including mom and dad, to replace Freya and her two sisters that were bought by another party.

Do not give up on this forum so easily! It is absolutely full of wonderful people and amazing advice. I believe that it is extremely hard to get a sense of the meaning behind a person's words when they are simply on a computer screen. You can't hear the emotion of inflection in her voice through the screen, so while something may sound snotty, it really isn't. TwilightStar is my sister and I know that she would never say those things to hurt you or attack you. She wants to help, and that is all.

Also, we would like advice for our newly adopted female, Lyla, as she is blind in one eye and could go blind in the other in the near future.

 

[TwilightStar]

Why do you, without any knowledge of my situation, opt to attack a new member? Also, why do you opt to do so in a thread in which that new member is asking advice on how to help a blind guinea pig cope and derail said thread off track entirely. I think I've seen enough of what this forum has to offer....

Well, you see, this forum is pretty much against buying from a pet store, and I can't think of any good reason to buy a pet from one.
Also, while it's important to help your pig, it is also important to help the others that are suffering. It takes severe neglect to allow a situation such as you described to occur.
Anyways, according to guinealynx, guinea pigs already have poor eye sight to be begin with, so blind guinea pigs tend to cope easier. As long as you have hay, food and water near each other, the pig should be fine. I mentioned adopting another pig, as sometimes a pig will sort of adopt another one and take care of it and walk it to the food bowels, etc.

 

[Hanale]

Their are a few people who do attack and just keep pushing like a bad zit that won't go away, All CODIE wants is advice...that's what I'm reading in her question, if you got nothing nice to say than just don't say it at all.

 

[TwilightStar]

Their are a few people who do attack and just keep pushing like a bad zit that won't go ahead, All CODIE wants is advice...that's what I'm reading in her question, if you got nothing nice to say than just don't say it at all.

Sorry for believing strongly in something, and not backing down. I don't load my posts with sugar nor do I lace it with poison. I promote adoption is all.
I have offered advise. Simple layout, companion and keep things the same.

 

[SFailed186]

Their are a few people who do attack and just keep pushing like a bad zit that won't go away, All CODIE wants is advice...that's what I'm reading in her question, if you got nothing nice to say than just don't say it at all.

Also, we have given advice, even though it is about more than just her original question. Nothing we are saying is cold-hearted, cruel, mean, rude, or any other negative word you could think of, it is the absolute truth.

 

[Hanale]

There is a right way and a wrong way...so far as I read pass forum there's are a few people ask and push it the wrong way. Just to judge.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Let's stick to the original topic. If you have advice about a blind pig that you can share, please do so. If not, then please do not take the post off topic.

I will start unapproving posts in this thread if need be. This is not going to be an "attack" thread.

We cannot help new members if they feel they are being chased away. The OP is aware of pet store purchasing vs. adoption and chose to go down the path we don't condone and I am sure he/she knows that now. What is done is done and now it is up to us to HELP the OP with their questions concerning the blind pig. Arguing about the fact they got the pig from the petstore isn't helping the OP at all. Let's stop and think about the pig and it's needs.

Codie, I have a sow who is blind in one eye due to an eye injury a few years ago. She gets around her cage very well and nothing stops her from doing what she wants to do. Other senses take over when sight is no longer an option.

The best thing to do is have a simple single level cage and keep the water bottle, food dishes, hidey's/cozies/etc. all in the same spots for a while. Then move things around slightly and I betcha he will be able to still find them by scent.