Charlie's Medical Thread

[charliespet]

Just wanting to make sure I am checking the righht area for signs of birth. I have checked directly above the Y shape of her genital area, where the fur starts. Is this correct?

 

[charliespet]

Advice needed on impending birth

Hey. My Cavy Charlie is pregnant with her 2nd litter. Her first litter did not survive, it was a sole baby, and if you want to know what happend, go to my profile. Anyway, we were suprised by the birth, thinking her cagemate a girl. When we found the baby we assumed she'd already gotten pregnant again from the post natal heat, so removing the boar seemed to just stress her out more, esp with the loss of her baby. Well, being the 29th its much past the 72 day gestation. She had her baby in the night on Jan 5. So I'm assuming the latest she could have gotten pregnant on was January 29th, with a heat cycle of 18 days, lasting up to 2 days, that's the latest date from the 6th of Jan. (calculating the 14 or so hours for post natal heat) So at the latest, my guess is April 9th. I am just not sure because she is still not "huge" although, it feels like only two babies. Last time with one, I didn't even KNOW...even holding her and everything! Any thoughts? BTW I removed the boar a week ago suspecting it was close.

 

[bpatters]

Try this: http://www.guinealynx.info/photos/Regiane-30.jpg.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

No use crying over spilt milk, but I would not have let the male stay with her. In my understanding the heat right after giving birth is not a full heat. I won't even try to figure out the math (too confusing at this time of night!) but it's possible she got pregnant later than you thought.

 

[charliespet]

Bpatters you are seriously the cavy queen!!! That is exactly what I needed. Thanks!

 

[charliespet]

[MENTION=13918]foggycreekcavy[/MENTION], yeah some might not have let the male stay with her, but I didn't want her getting sick because she was freaked out and sad over the loss of the baby, and then to take away her cagemate seemed heartless. Anyway, while I agree ppl shouldn't breed without considering the risks, my family has been in animal breeding for years, we bred jack russels, cats, teacup weenies, rabbits for meat, chickens for meat and eggs, and we have raised several farm animals.

So I know enough of the risk of breeding and costs to be ok with it. I wouldn't abandon my babies, but I also have a different view of cavies than some do...I wouldn't take an animal who cost under 50 dollars and spend thousands on them for surgeries, xrays, etc....that may sound cruel, but I love my animals with logic.

I cry when they pass, esp if I feel I made a mistake that could have been the cause, BUT on the other hand, I was raised to put an animal down when the animal suffers, do my best first to try and help them, and think before I make decisions. That was my decision, to leave the boar in the cage, because I thouht it would do more harm than taking him out.

I love Charlie, but I also understand shes an animal with instincts and a life cycle. Babies aren't a bad thing for me and my family, so its not really a concern. Now, once the babies are born, obviously I will need to build new cages for both sexes.

 

[nicoleb]

Normally I don't respond to this stuff, but really, just because it's a rodent doesn't mean a guinea pig's life has any less value than any other animal. When you take in an animal as a pet, you should be comitting yourself to caring for it no matter what. You've been on this site long enough to know that posts like this are just going to anger people.
Yes, we are all entitled to our own views, but when your views are so against the majority on a site like this, maybe it's best to just keep those views to yourself. Ask questions if you have them, but don't keep telling us how little you really value your cavy's life.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Yes, your post disturbs me, charliespet.

Sure, you may be okay with the risks of breeding, but do you think your guinea pig would be? It's not like she knows the risks and can make an informed decision, since she's an animal.

You've put her in a bad place-- since there's a 20% chance something will go seriously wrong she may need an emergency vet visit. But since you don't want to pay a large vet bill, she really won't have a chance.

 

[MissJean]

So your reasoning was to make her happy then( leaving her with her cagemate) and then having her suffer later? Once again, that's not called logic. It's called being short-sighted and careless.

You think the way you do because you are desensitized to it, not because it's right or logical.

 

[jgunnoe]

I wouldn't take an animal who cost under 50 dollars and spend thousands on them for surgeries, xrays, etc.

IMO, whenever you adopt, rescue, or even if you choose to buy an animal, they are brought into your home (obviously by no choice of their own) and should be made a PART OF YOUR FAMILY. I don't care if it's my dogs, my birds, my guinea pig, or my pet mouse... I consider ALL of my pets a part of my family. I've laughingly referred to them as my "children" even. I could never put a price tag on any of them! I could never say something like, "My dog just got hit by a car and looks to have a broken leg... But, geez, since I rescued her as a puppy from going to the pound, she didn't cost me a single penny, so I'm not going to waste my money and spend a single penny taking her to the vet." If she needs to go, I TAKE HER. And thankfully, I've never had any problems with my mouse getting ill, but if something ever happened to Stewie, (my mouse) and he needed helped by a vet, I wouldn't hesitate to take him in, no matter the cost! You might think that's silly, and although many people with a frame of mind like yours might say, "What's the point? It's just a mouse!"... It would matter to me! I just don't understand! How can someone own a pet, and then when the pet gets sick or something, that person can be heartless enough to just stand by and watch as it slowly suffers and/or dies? Knowing good and well they could have done something, or atleast ATTEMPTED to do something to save it's life? I could never live with myself. Animals can't speak for themselves. They don't get to choose whose homes they get brought into to spend the rest of their lives, or to spend a couple months of their lives at that home until they get sold, traded or whatever just because their owner got tired of them. But just because they can't speak, doesn't make them worthless. Animals feel pain and love and GIVE love just like we do, only they give UNCONDITIONAL love. If you're going to own a pet, be RESPONSIBLE and give it the best life you can possibly provide. If you can't provide for it, or are unwilling to spend money to take it to the vet when it needs it, then don't get a pet.

 

[suzilovespiggie]

I agree with the posters on this thread. If you have a pet you take care of it period.
With that said, I really do hope your piggie has a safe birth. Her other litter did not survive.
I do hope to that if she has any trouble you will get her to a vet, in spite of what you have said.
If she does have a good birth, the male pups need to be taken out of her cage at 3 weeks, or 21 days. Or this cylce will start all over again, not only with mother but any sisters.
Please do the right thing and take care of your momma pig.

 

[TCTrun]

I wouldn't take an animal who cost under 50 dollars and spend thousands on them for surgeries, xrays, etc....that may sound cruel, but I love my animals with logic.

Perhaps you should clarify your statement, since it sounds pretty heartless and cruel to many of us. For example, I wouldn't take an animal with a life expectancy of 5 years to get a tumor removed at age 5+ years just to make her live a couple of months longer and suffer. For example, my parents spent several thousand dollars getting a few tumors removed on their 14 year old dog, and the dog only lived 4 more months and was in pain the entire time. I would likely have considered euthanasia. I would, however, spend hundreds of dollars for vet care on an animal if the care would likely give the animal a much longer and improved life. Your statement makes it sound like you view guinea pigs as "throw away" pets, which is why so many are annoyed. Perhaps you didn't mean this?

 

[charliespet]

[MENTION=21185]TCTrun[/MENTION] no of course I didn't mean it that way. I'm glad that someone had the smarts to see what I was saying. Which is exactly the scenario you were telling about the dog. Making a humane decsion that is in the best intererst of the animal. To all others, all my animals recieve vetranrian care. It's easy to try to smack someone down on the internet. Although many of you may not agree with breeding, I don't think its the end of the world. I think that proper education, support, and vet care are key to making sure everyone is safe and happy during the process. All breeders began somewhere. Just like in my own family, we have bred Jack Russels for many years, as well as rabbits. It takes learning, advice and care.

 

[charliespet]

[MENTION=18169]MissJean[/MENTION] I suppose your right, my way of thinking is because I've been around the life and death of many, many beloved pets and animals in my life. It also doesn't make me wrong. As a pet owner, I DO have a right to decide wether to breed my Guinea pig or not. Or my dog, or my cat, or pet turtle. Some ppl should not breed. Because they don't know enough about the animal, the breeding process, or haven't considered the welfare of the pups, the mother, the possible cost of the vet, etc. I also have a right to my opnion on the value of an animals life, TO ME. I do not have a right to abuse an animal, or neglect the care of my animal, just like no person has that right. I am against animal abuse. I adopt pets rather than buy them from stores. I have been a member of PETA and 4H. You are all preaching to the choir, only the choir has different members with different views. The sooner you see that love comes in different forms, you will be better for it. I gaurentee you my Charlie is just as loved, happy, healthy and spoiled as any of your own pigs, if not more than some. I've raised cavies for 9 years.

 

[charliespet]

[MENTION=21677]jgunnoe[/MENTION] Where did I ever say I would not take my pet to the vet? I have no qualms about taking any of my pets for shots, check ups, medications...I am against spending astromonmical amounts of money on a pet who is suffering, and me prodding and poking the poor animal because I cannot let go. That was my point. Sometimes an owner will treat an animal as a pin cushion because they cannot accept the pet is dying. I never said my animals were worthless. I would not spend 500 dollars on plane tickets for my pets to travel with me and micro chip and register them, bring them to other country's with me if I thought they were worthless. SMH at you who think getting all twisted up in one mis understood comment and spewing out all your pent up speeches onto someone without even asking is pretty amazing. It's always easy to emotionally vomit on the internet.

 

[Paula]

So I know enough of the risk of breeding and costs to be ok with it. I wouldn't abandon my babies, but I also have a different view of cavies than some do...I wouldn't take an animal who cost under 50 dollars and spend thousands on them for surgeries, xrays, etc....that may sound cruel, but I love my animals with logic.

I'm sorry, but the notion that you are "loving" anything is laughable. In reality, you are selfishly keeping these animals, selfishly breeding them, and then selfishly dispensing with them when either their cost or care becomes an inconvenience for you. You know, my husband grew up on a farm, where animals were a business and a profit, and were disposed of when they cost more than their value, and he'd rather curl up and die than spend a buck he doesn't have to, but he is still able to value a life enough to seek (often expensive) medical care rather than just drop it like a failed investment when things get rough, so I am not quite able to reconcile the idea that it's just how you were raised. A life is a life and everything counts. You like to say that we're all entitled to our opinions, and we are, but we are also able to change our opinions too, and if my bull-headed, farm-raised, tightwad husband can appreciate that sentiment, I'm of the opinion that anyone can. Even you.

 

[CavyMama]

[MENTION=22418]charliespet[/MENTION] - sure, you have the right to breed your guinea pig...but why? Why are you doing it? What is your plan? Do you sell the babies? Do you use it as education for kids?

Do you realize there are thousands of homeless animals (guinea pigs included) in shelters and rescues across the country? While those poor critters are languishing in shelters awaiting a home, you are busy creating new babies. Why? Why make more when there are already existing pigs in need of homes? Why not save a life and adopt one?

Have you considered the strain you are putting on your female pig's body? You know first hand that sometimes litters don't make it. Sometimes the mamas don't make it either. Particularly when they've been backbred.

By putting the male and female in the same cage, you are forcing them to mate. They are not humans and do not have the capacity to make a decision to mate or not to mate. It's instinct to procreate.

Allow her to be a regular female, rather than a baby-making machine.

 

[jgunnoe]

Although many of you may not agree with breeding, I don't think its the end of the world.

Okay, I'm done with this thread. I just wanted to point out before I go, though, that while it may not be the end of the world for YOU, it could very well be the end for YOUR PIG. I do wish her the best with the upcoming birth. I hope all goes well and that she is not subjected to any more subsequent litters.

 

[charliespet]

I also am finished with this thread, I do not have plans to breed again, because this pregnancy was not intended in the first place, for obvious reasons. (that is why I adopted a second "sow," in the first place after charlies first cage mate died.) It won't be the end of the world for Charlie, she is going to be just fine. I came here to get help with a touchy situation, not to be preached at and annoyed by the same stuff over and over and over that I myself have said to breeders who carelessly do it for "fun". I am keeping the babies, and caring for them. It's none of anyone's business really why or how it happend, and I didn't share every detail, because the point is my guinea pig is pregnant, no matter how it happend, I was asking about her due date, and advice on her pelvic bone...SO STOP POSTING ILLIGITIMATE PICKETING NON SENSE AND HELP OR GET OFF MY POSTS> I HAVE NO NEED FOR NEGATIVE PREACHY PPL WHO WOULD RATHER OFFEND< BE CRUEL AND HURT OTHERS IN THE NAME OF "HELPING," ANIMALS SMH!!!!

PS, I love how arrognat some of you so called pet lovers are. You act as if you are the only ones who know everything there is to know about cavies. It is egotisitcal and not the true sign of a real compassionate being. Anger and compassion don't mix. Same thing with those who shun pet stores instead of making pet stores responsible. Its ludicrus. I choose to have positive ppl only in my life, and I will not respond any further to any negative, egotisical of dogmatic posts. Thank you for your time, and I hope you take a step back, and be real, because half of you are only up on your internet pedestal, and in real life, if you were speaking to my face, you would be much more tactful.

 

[ellisa]

I haven't really read any of the nonsense that has been going on in your threads, but I am wondering, did you not read any of the forum rules before posting on this site? There are rules for posting on this forum that Teresa and the other admin/mods work very hard to enforce. You are posting on a public forum so you shouldn't get so angry when people post something that disagrees with your own beliefs. Please respect the rules of this forum. This is a site that cares for the welfare of cavies, and posting about breeding and substandard care is disrespectful.