Pigsitting While I am away.

[Marybonus]

Hello everybody! I was wondering what your thoughts were on my care arrangements while I am away on holidays.
I am going away for two weeks on January 15th. Since I have many animals (4 dogs, a cat, two chinchillas and a rabbit), I have somebody spend the day at home and leave at night. I have been 'training' this lady on cavy care, i.e. Spot cleaning every day ( same tng for chins), veggies every day, food, water, etc. My only doubt has to do with floor time and outside time. I am not sure about asking her to bring them out, I am afraid somehing might happen while catching or transporting them. But I think two weeks is too long for them to be inside their cages. What do you think? I cannot take them with me because I am travelling by ferry and car. It is, I think, too much stress for them.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

[kirsty91]

Everything sounds pretty good. I would set up a place inside that is safe for them to have floor time and just have the lady watch them. I agree I wouldn't let them outside in case something happens.

 

[Thumper27]

How many do you have? I'd make sure she understood how to pick them up/hold them/carry them, and let her do floortime. Of course is she's not comfortable you may rethink it. Also are you doing a menu prior to leaving? Giving her detailed instructions on the veggies she's feeding?

 

[Marybonus]

Thanks for your answers! I have two piggies. And although I have been teaching her how to hold them, I am still not sure about telling her to do so. As for the menu, yes, definitwly. I am leaving a menu for each day, and, just in case, I am leaving a list of safe veggies. My concern is also that they are used to eating grass everyday, do you think it might make them sick to suddenly stop their grass intake?

 

[Thumper27]

As long as they have hay it shouldn't. And you could tell her that if she felt comfortable, and that is was safe, she could do floor time. Perhaps she could pick grass and bring it in to them? A little everyday?

 

[Kieri]

i think if you abruptly changed a huge part of their diet, it might shock their system in a way. tell your pigsitter to grab some grass from a safe area in your yard for them to eat.

when i had a pigsitter, i left her with a 3-ring binder filled with information about piggies for her to look at if she couldn't get a hold of me. i made sure to include the number to my vet as well as good/bad foods and signs of illnesses.

 

[Thumper27]

you could also tell her to hop on here, somebody could help....

 

[Marybonus]

Asking her to cut out some grass is a great idea! Thanks. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she could hop on the forum!!!!! But she only speaks Spanish... We live in Argentina.