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A veterinary blog for pet lovers, vet voyeurs and the medically curious...
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After this weekend's gravitas, I thought I’d offer you some light fare on the topic of something sweet and hopeful.
Yes, I keep a Guinea pig. Her name is Apfel (means “apple” in German, after her round physique) and she’s been living with us for a couple of weeks, during which time I’ve been stressing out about my son’s allergies (Guinea pigs are NOT hypoallergenic).
Thankfully, my son’s respiratory symptoms appear to have remained at bay, meaning I can keep the cute creature I inherited after a Telemundo shoot (ironically, the segment treated the issue of what pets make not so ideal first pets).
Ill-suited though I thought she’d be to our multi-pet household’s burdens, this cutie has bored her way into my domicile’s soul with a strange cleverness and a demanding, spritely spirit.
I always imagined a Guinea pig to be a less-than-interesting pet. Frankly, I’d planned on re-homing her quickly after taking her off the hands of a misguided TV producer (who thought nothing of purchasing the Petco critter for a five-minute segment). But this pet’s a keeper.
Why?
She squeaks for me when I come home, demanding I feed her treats and roughage. She plays hide-and-seek with Vincent, tormenting him playfully. And she tolerates Sophie’s snuffles—in her ears. What more could I ask for? OK, so I’d like her toenails a little less sharp and pinchy, but she’s otherwise a fun pet to play and cuddle with—and an even more entertaining pet to watch.
Because I placed her enclosure strategically so that I might enjoy her scurryings while I ride my trainer-mounted road bike, I’m able to interact with her daily for reasonably long stints. We talk in squeaks to one another as the bike’s back wheel whistles tunefully in her direction. She munches happily on the timothy and alfalfa she appropriates from the goats’ stash throughout the session.
Though she’s fairly messy and requires lots of bedding changes, she’s mostly an easy keeper. I still might not recommend this kind of pet to a novice owner (I fear they’d so quickly be ignored and discarded as hawk-bait), but I can’t help but remain surprised by the personality display Apfel manages in spite of her diminutive dimensions and pea-brain.
That’s why I worry that I can’t keep her sufficiently entertained or happily kept. Perhaps the small rodent keepers out there can help me make her life more interesting with recommendations for her nibbling, scurrying and in-cage pleasures.
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"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
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- Mohandas Gandhi
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She doesn't really need the alfalfa--but she does need free choice timothy hay for optimal GI tract and dental health. We recommend a timothy based GP pellet too--no more than 1/4 cup per pig per day. We recommend Oxbow products (www.oxbowhay.com) Make sure you get a GP pellet and use it within 3 months of its milling date--GPs need vitamin C in their diet, unlike many other small rodents.
GPs are also pretty social critters and do well together--yours may do well with another female pig.
Do check the shelter for a pal ... you'll find LOTS of pocket pets there.
Who knows? You may end up getting addicted and become one of the new board-certified pocket pet vets!
Also, if you have an extra room or whatnot -- you can set up a piggie disney land and lay it out with boxes and tunnels and pieces of treat here and there. We used to have a room like that for the rats.
I love guinea-pig noises!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe...
Under a new Swiss law enshrining rights for animals, dog owners will require a qualification, anglers will take lessons in compassion and horses will go only in twos.
From guinea-pigs to budgerigars, any animal classified as a “social species” will be a victim of abuse if it does not cohabit, or at least have contact, with others of its own kind.
As a herd animal, she needs a friend! Please adopt! She needs another female or neutered male. NO rabbits...their powerful hind legs could unintentionally hurt her and their dietary needs differ. I give my 5 guinea pigs Oxbow GTN-50C Vitamin C tablets daily, Oxbow Cavy Cuisine pellets, timothy hay (free access), and fresh water, fruits, and vegetables daily. I highly recommend C & C cages! Take a peek at this website for information: http://www.guineapigcages.com.
A great website is http://www.guinealynx.info.
Apfel should have daily time out of her cage to sit with you and/or run around a bit. She will reward you with lots of wheeks, purrs, whistles, and maybe a song! (My Teddy "chirps" and it's just delightful!)
Enjoy her!
As a vet, you have a unique opportunity to not only give Apfel the best care, but the best *medical* care. Some of the best exotics vets (I take exception to the term "pocket pet" - it has come to be synonymous with "disposable") in the world are members of various posting boards and mailing lists, and they are usually more than happy to provide information for sincere inquiries.
And, to add my $.02 - yes, piggies enjoy company. A companion (or three!) will help Apfel pass the time when you are not there to dote on her.
I recommend the Wildlife Care Center in Ft. Lauderdale as a place to look for a guinea pig to adopt. Check out their list on Petfinder - http://members.petfinder.org/~FL509/
Good luck finding a friend for your piggie.
Both are un-neutered males. I 'fostered' Alfalfa for the humane society. When I realized that he was mine permanently and my roomate moved with her two females (who lived in a neighboring cage) I decided a cagemate was in order. I got Norman, who was surrendered as a single pig, from the SPCA. When I introduced the two there was so much wheeking! They were both very excited and despite a little dominance in the beginning, they get along great!
Both of my males have had mammary tumors which were successfully removed and have not re-occurred. Definately keep the alfalfa to a minimum- and research diet- pigs are prone to bladder stones and are not great surgical candidates. The websites mentioned are fantastic references, especially for interpreting your pigs vocalizations.
Have a good look though Apfels hair for little white bugs- lice are very common in Guinea pigs- I treated mine with a single treatment of Revolution.
Sometimes I wonder if they like to flip things over just for the fun of it. Any largish plastic structure (pigloo, or other such thing) if it is light weight they flip it over as if it is a game- and it may be for them)
Primarily, however I think they enjoy a change of pace, and new places to hide. I have a couple of ferret hammocks strong up around the cage. When they don't think I"m watching they will occasionally hop up in one...but mostly like to hide under them. I also like to have part of the cage more 'secluded' with a blanket over one side, so they can feel hidden if they want to. Different levels to a cage is always fun- but be careful, because they will fall/jump from one level to another so it either needs walls or be low enough to not be a problem.
And like everyone else said- Adopt a friend! There are many, many, friendly piggies in shelters that need a good home and some cage mates. My guinea pigs interactions with the each other have fueled hours of fun watching.