|
Post by 3piggles on Jul 4, 2016 20:46:05 GMT
Oh no I'm so, so sorry Whatever was wrong progessed really quickly It was nothing you did. Their genes determine these things, and there's nothing we can do about it. Doesn't make it hurt any less, but it helps with our instinct to endless question everything we did. Huge hugs
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Jul 4, 2016 20:55:04 GMT
Thanks, 3piggles. It's just that this July marked a year ago when we got Deo, and now I had to say goodbye to the pet that replaced him. I don't know why I can't seem to have two healthy piggies for a reasonable amount of time. It's likely we'll pick up another guinea pig at the shelter, but since we're heading to Colorado soon for a short trip, I'm holding off until we get back.
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Jul 5, 2016 5:42:09 GMT
Oh no, what a shock - I'm really sorry to hear this. Theodore's had a few minor health issues right from the start, so I expect that as 3piggles said, he was sadly just not a robust little pig.
I'm sorry you're having to go through this again too, it must be so disheartening. Hope your daughter is okay. xx
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jul 5, 2016 18:22:29 GMT
I know it's hard to reconcile, but the shelters can only guarantee that the pigs are healthy when adopted, not that they have no genetic flaws. Sadly, shelter pigs end up in shelters after being purchased from a breeder or pet store. They are so deeply inbred, we have no idea what we're getting. That's why I cherished Morty so much. He was at least 8 years old, and I've never had a pig live that long before. All we can do is give them the best forever homes possible, and love them for as long as we have them. I know it hurts terribly to lose them, so we have to concentrate on what we shared with them, and be ready to help another pig. Hugs I hope you have a great time in Colorado
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Jul 6, 2016 2:17:01 GMT
I'm not mad at the shelter; this was not something they could predict.
I'm just sad about losing another friend so soon. Vicki and I buried Theodore not far from Deo's grave. She handled it better than I did, I think.
Also, I might not be going to Colorado now (but that's another story for another time.)
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Jul 6, 2016 9:23:10 GMT
Given he was at a rescue, I'm guessing there was at least some disinterest in him at his previous home. So although your time with him was too short, I'm really glad he got to be in a home where he was safe, loved and appreciated for all those months. Every animal should know that feeling and it's thanks to you that he did - and that we all got to know him too.
Hope the trip can be taken another time if it doesn't work out now.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jul 6, 2016 16:20:21 GMT
I totally second what Bean said. Sometimes we only have a few weeks are months with them. We make them the best weeks or months of their lives, and know they were happy.
Did you want to go to Colorado? If so, I hope the trip happens for you.
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Jul 22, 2016 2:06:59 GMT
Oscar always loved to eat his hay before the pellets; now he's developed a taste for the pellets first. He still eats everything, he's just changed his order of eating. To be honest, I'm starting to love the smell of the OxBow brand hay- there's something almost "buttery" about it that makes me wish I could sample some.
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Jul 22, 2016 8:50:04 GMT
Who's stopping you, Baz?! Oscar's not strong enough! Do a video for us if you try it!
At feeding time, the preference order here is firmly veggies, pellets and then hay. Their hayrack is almost always full, so although fresh hay is apparently super exciting (even though it's just been sitting in an open bag by the cages instead of in the hayrack, so I don't get why it's better?!) it's like their dessert course and once they've gorged on everything else, they lie by the hay rack, lazily pulling strands!
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jul 22, 2016 18:54:34 GMT
Veggies top the list here, too, though in all fairness to the girls, they have a whole cage full of hay all day every day, and a bowl of pellets, so the veggies are the only thing I give them in small quantities. We used to chew on hay all the time when we were kids. I don't remember how it tastes, but we certainly chewed on a lot of it over the years Clover was a favorite of ours as a kid. The flowers really are sweet. Go ahead and try it, Baz
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Jul 23, 2016 3:09:42 GMT
The verdict is in, ladies... it tasted terrible!
Actually, no taste at all, but I sampled the tip that looks feathery; and all the tiny bits got caught in my teeth. Took me a while to floss them all out. This reminds me of back when I had a dog, and tried one of his treats. It looked like a tiny bit of meat, although it smelled like clay... ...it tasted like it, too. I had to ask Oscar how he gets so big and fat eating that stuff, but he paid me no mind.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Jul 23, 2016 19:49:53 GMT
Lol I admit, we picked it fresh in the field, and chewed on it. Can't say I remember a lot of flavor. More something to do than a tasty treat. Try clover. It's much better
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Aug 6, 2016 2:33:45 GMT
Oscar really does like being in his cage. I occasionally wonder if he's alright being cooped up so often, with it being too hot for him to be outside. However, I was cleaning his cage by myself (my daughter was out with my wife and time was running out) and I used to put him in a travel cage with some lettuce when I cleaned his home. Now I just put him on a blanket with his pigloo for shelter. He watches me do my routine, and when his home is fresh and ready he cautiously creeps up to it, sniffs around briefly and then scrambles up the lowered door like a ramp and jumps inside! I'd be willing to let him explore if he felt like it, or pet him for awhile. But, he's content to go back home after the work is done, it seems.
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Aug 6, 2016 7:07:06 GMT
How funny, when I take the tops off the cages for cleaning, Josh and Rock hop hurdle straight out and start exploring! Poppy and Cadders are a bit more demure - Cadders will sometimes psych himself up to jump out, but more often will go to the side and put his paws up on it and look up at me, waiting to be lifted out. Ladylike Poppy wouldn't do anything so ungainly as leap over a wall, but as soon as Cadders goes, she wants to follow him, so goes and waits with her paws up to be carried out too. She's the least confident exploring though - during floortime she likes to go from covered area to covered area rather than venturing out into the open. I suppose you can never tell when those hawks will appear!
|
|
|
Post by shades on Aug 6, 2016 12:59:37 GMT
What kind of ramp do you have to the floor? Or are your cages on the floor? Our cage is about half a metre off the floor with no door. Actually it's escape proof, so far so good
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Aug 7, 2016 1:53:54 GMT
What kind of ramp do you have to the floor? Or are your cages on the floor? Our cage is about half a metre off the floor with no door. Actually it's escape proof, so far so good The cage normally sits on a table a few feet above the floor, but I put it down so I can disassemble it for cleaning. (I remove the old bedding & newspaper, and wipe the bottom down with alcohol wipes) I'd be worried if Oscar could leap up a meter in the air to reach his cage!
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Aug 8, 2016 14:12:50 GMT
There are some items you can use for ramps. Most C&C cages show grids used as ramps. Bend the grids on a solid, 90 degree surface, such as the edge of a kitchen counter or a step, to make sides. The problem with grid ramps is that they have to be covered with something, as they are open grids. Coroplast or Corex is the item of choice, but lino also works. Both are easy to clean with a wipe. They are also slippery, so something that gives the pigs grip is also used. I've used shelf liner and towels. Both need to be removed and washed or replace, so it's a bit more work. Also, they're only good for short ramps, not for connecting grids into a long ramp. I used Ferret Funnels www.superpetusa.com/product-list/habitat-defined-ferret-funnel-home-5-level.htm They come one section to a box. The sections are straight, T or corner pieces, to be combined. They have plastic connectors to connect the different sections together in endless configurations. The connectors are great for short runs, but if you wanted to build a ramp from the cage to the floor, you'd need to put the funnels on a board for strength. The funnels have ridges that give the piggies purchase with their hands and feet, going up and down the ramps. They are also dishwasher safe. They are opaque, so light gets through. There is a less expensive version of PVC pipe with holes, that has ridges for their little feet and hands to get purchase. I had to drill extra, larger holes, and the pigs still didn't like how dark it was. While it's the least expensive long ramp option, I don't really advise it unless you can somehow light the interior of the ramp. All of these options would be for free ranging, as they are an investment, and they require time and effort to install so they are safe. I'm sure there are other items that would make great long ramps, and the ramps have to be long enough to create a slope the pigs can manage.
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Aug 24, 2016 1:40:24 GMT
Currently in the process of observing the new piggy; I was hoping he would like all the vegetables I would give him as treats. So far, he likes lettuce and carrots the best, and tomatoes a close third. He left his cucumber for awhile, and eventually ate it. He seems to drift between eating hay and pellets simultaneously, too. He and Oscar have been studying each other whenever they get a chance. Oscar wheeks his head off, and Murphy will slink off out of sight into his pigloo. I've also noticed Murphy will silently creep out of his pigloo to see what's going on. He appears to have a suspicious look like Deo did. More about him later as I get to observe him. (Truthfully, I'm getting that guilty feeling again, because I miss Theodore.)
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 24, 2016 8:11:46 GMT
I think it is lovey getting to know their tastes and their lovely little ways. Do keep us posted love.
Hugs Jo xx
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Aug 24, 2016 14:15:42 GMT
Murphy is new to everything, the sights, sounds, smells and hierarchy, so he's being as careful as he possible can not to do anything wrong. Still, he needs to know about his surroundings, so while he flees as the first sign of trouble, such as Oscar wheeking, he tries to sneak as many peeks as possible. Once he realizes Oscar can't get to him, he'll stay out of his pigloo when Oscar wheeks, and continue to go about the business of adapting to his new environment. Don't feel guilty. You're giving piggies great lives they wouldn't have had without you. They pass through too quickly, and leave huge holes in our hearts, but that's the price of loving these little ones. You are doing for Murphy what you did for Deo. You're not replacing Deo Deo was his own pig, and Murphy will be his
|
|