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Post by faafaa on Apr 25, 2014 10:07:11 GMT
That I can do. What flavors of baby food would you suggest I use?
And he's getting a ton of attention. He never goes more than a few hours without a cuddle or a scratch or a little nibble of green leaf lettuce. Here's our timeline....
4-12 he weighed 1 pound 10 ounces 4-15 Charlie Passed 4-16 Henry started meds 4-23 Henry stopped meds
Henry still has some boogers, so I am expecting more meds. He had lost an ounce about halfway thru the meds, but as of this morning has gained it back. His poops are normal. His eating habits have gotten goofy. He is only eating a small portion of his pellets each day and is refusing anything fresh except for green leaf lettuce. He is still eating hay.
How much of his appetite change is from the meds and how much from being alone? How can I tell if he is OK by himself? What should I ask the vet at our recheck tomorrow?
For those of you that remember, we have a BIG move coming. We leave in 36 days to make a cross country move. So, do I get a piggy before we move or after? I really don't know what to do and I can't decide if Henry is sad or if the meds and URI were bringing him down. I know I can't bring a new piggy into the mix until Henry is healthy. Also, I would have to get a pet store piggy here, but in CA I can rescue a pig. If I can be sure that Henry is happy I have no trouble waiting to adopt the right piggy for him. I have already been approved thru Orange County Cavy Haven.
I really want to make sure I have all of my bases covered with him and I want him to be happy.
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Post by Bean on Apr 25, 2014 12:20:04 GMT
Glad Henry is hanging in there and still chomping his hay as that's the main thing he needs to be doing to keep his body working properly. How is he drinking?
Personally I would definitely leave it until you get settled to consider another pal - you'll know Henry is healthy by then and be in a much better place to supervise any introductions. It might be that he and a new buddy take to one another right away, but if it is a more gradual process with ups and downs, you don't want to be dealing with that when you're in full-on hectic packing mode or on your long road trip - and you'd certainly need to know he and a new companion were fully bonded before being confined to a smaller space together for a trip. Added to that a rescue will be able to help you with the bonding and enable you to help a pig already waiting for a new home - it just seems like a better option on several counts! As long as you are interacting more with Henry in the meantime and doing your best to keep him amused and keep his spirits up, just concentrate on getting him well. Although losing a buddy can cause behaviour and appetite changes, they won't cause URI symptoms - whereas a URI can definitely affect behaviour and appetite - so that should be your main priority. Well, that and moving your entire lives from one end of the country to the other of course!
Hope the vets goes well tomorrow and he has a positive plan to continue treating his cold symptoms. xx
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Post by faafaa on Apr 25, 2014 13:11:22 GMT
Thanks Bean! I prefer to wait to get a new boy too, I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing! I think I probably worry too much sometimes.
Henry is drinking just fine, there is water missing from the water bottle every day.
Henry has started chewing his fleece. What's that all about? I can hear him ripping and chewing now....
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Post by Bean on Apr 25, 2014 13:56:34 GMT
If he's not done it before, it could be he's looking for something to do now he hasn't got his partner in crime to keep him amused? Maybe you will find a few ideas of things to entertain and distract him on the Cavy Spirit website. I'm holding off on using fleece as I know my two would chew it up at the moment regardless of what else there was to do - they just like making a mess! Josh recently started to try to pull threads from my rug which is quite an unappealing habit. I clap when he does it to stop him (but am always around when he's free ranging so it's easy for me to be consistent - can't do that so easily if it's something in their cage!). As he did when he started doing it a few months ago and I employed the same tactics, he's caught on pretty quickly - now he goes to chew it and sort of freezes and looks around like he knows what's going to happen next! I only have to say his name in a questioning sort of voice and he moves on! Mine have got a paper bag full of shredded newspaper to keep their teeth busy today! It's only natural to worry about Henry, but you are definitely doing the right thing concentrating on getting Henry well right now. It'll be great to get settled in your new place and be able to visit the rescue to find him a new buddy and help a piggy out who's in need of a home. A couple of months is no time at all really - I'm sure once you are reassured Henry is healthy, it will seem less fraught. Good news on the drinking too!
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 25, 2014 22:53:33 GMT
Chewing fleece is a sign of boredom. It gets him attention, and he's lonely. It won't do him any harm. Try getting him a paper bag to chew and play in. Makes lots of noise and is lots of fun.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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Post by weesilvie on Apr 26, 2014 17:55:54 GMT
What about a soft toy or plushie to keep him company for now? Just make sure you chop any thin tails or whiskers off so he can't do himself any mischief with them and it should be a toy suitable for babies to withstand some chewing
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Post by faafaa on Apr 26, 2014 23:14:18 GMT
These are all great ideas. I added paper bags and toilet paper rolls with a slit cut in them. Henry had his vet apt today. The vet seems to think alot of his issues came from being bored. We are still treating the URI, but now we are using a liquid antibiotic. I'm not sure due to the handwriting, but it is either TMJ or TMS Elixir. She also just happened to have a few of her own piggy babies that were healthy and ready to go. (They took in a piggy who was pregnant) I caved! Have you ever seen a baby guinea pig?!? He's 4 weeks old. But we will make him his own thread!
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Post by faafaa on Apr 26, 2014 23:17:17 GMT
Took Henry to the vet today. She prescribed more meds and this..... (babies that they had there looking for homes)
He's 4 weeks old. He has weird hair patterns that are a little hard to see in the pictures.
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Post by faafaa on Apr 26, 2014 23:23:46 GMT
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Post by faafaa on Apr 26, 2014 23:25:15 GMT
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Post by faafaa on Apr 26, 2014 23:25:55 GMT
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 27, 2014 0:08:57 GMT
My Zippy They are so adorable Ah, the link just popped up. He's gorgeous. Part Abbysinian (sp). Definitely going to keep Henry from being bored Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 27, 2014 0:20:43 GMT
Adorable Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 27, 2014 0:21:09 GMT
Aw Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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Post by weesilvie on Apr 27, 2014 7:24:15 GMT
What a handsome little dude, I'm sure he'll provide entertainment!
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Post by faafaa on Apr 27, 2014 10:51:05 GMT
He really is a cute little guy. He has a few rosettes here and there. I had every intention of waiting it out and adopting once we were settled. But that little face and the vet telling me I could have him, well that was just too much! I have never had such a small pig before. George is eating pellets and green leaf lettuce. He is a very loud little thing. Henry took right to him and little George follows him everywhere!
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Post by bongosfriend on Apr 27, 2014 16:01:50 GMT
That's great, Faafaa! I hope they have many happy adventures together!
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 27, 2014 17:44:08 GMT
When my Dakota died, his cage mate Dallas was fine as long as I was in the room to keep him company. I couldn't even leave the room briefly without him crying incessantly. When I put little Zippy in the cage, Dallas was beside himself, he was so happy. The adult/baby combo serms to be a winner, especially after a death. So glad the hit it off so well Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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Post by Bean on Apr 28, 2014 9:31:52 GMT
Aww welcome to George, he's adorable and I'm so pleased that Henry has his skip back in his step. What did the vet say about his URI symptoms?
Boring to do, but for the benefit of anyone reading this thread (present or future) who is not so familiar with piggy introductions, it's really important to point out that it's not recommended that guinea pigs are introduced while either is showing any signs of illness, whether it be a URI or something like sore/itchy skin. You could so easily introduce that illness to the other pig, especially risky in a pig that's immune system has not yet matured (although baby boars need to be separated from mum and sisters at 3-4 weeks, it's usually recommended that they stay in family groups and are not moved to different homes until 6 weeks of age when they are a bit more resilient). Even in seemingly healthy guinea pigs, a period of quarantine (2-3 weeks) is advisable. Hope I don't sound too moany but having seen numerous people lose pigs and face hefty vet bills after skipping quarantine, I think it's important that point is made.
Anyway, I do hope that Henry makes a full recovery and that you don't have any health issues with either pig. I do understand why you were eager to get Henry a buddy sooner too, it's really tough to see them moping. George is so sweet and I hope they will be the best of friends.
Faafaa, we can move all your posts from the other threads into this one if you like - it organises them in order of posting so it might be that some conversations overlap and look a bit confusing in places, but let me know if you'd prefer that!
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Post by faafaa on Apr 28, 2014 18:58:00 GMT
Hey Bean!
Henry just had a bit of a booger nose first thing in the mornings. That was his only remaining symptom. Which now is gone.
I know I was wrong and should have waited. I'm so impatient!I do hope my impatience doesn't cause either pig harm. The vet did say the benefits outweighed the risks, I don't know if that's true, but it sure didn't help me to wait!
I am watching both Henry and George. Both boys go back to the vet in two weeks.
If it's not too much trouble to mash all 3 threads together go for it! Thanks!
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