shay
Newbie
Posts: 24
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Post by shay on Oct 11, 2016 2:04:23 GMT
Hello, I am new to this forum and I own 2 guinea pigs. I have one male and one female. My male is neutered! They are only about 6 months old. I am a first time guinea pig owner, although I have done tons of research. I want to add a third piggy (a female) to complete a trio of piggies. I recently got a 8 week old guinea pig but soon discovered it was a boy. I have been keeping it separate from my two anyways so it was not a problem. The people who gave me the piggy are taking the baby back this week and are giving me a little girl. Although I have noticed that the baby I have been keeping is drinking tons of water! I refill it's water bottle about 2 times a day and it is always empty or very close to it when I refill it. I googled it and it said there is a possibility of diabetes ?? Does any one else's pig drink this much or has anyone dealt with diabetes in guinea pigs before ??
Any feedback is appreciated !! thanks
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Post by Bean on Oct 11, 2016 11:51:06 GMT
Hello and welcome to Wheekers! Well done for checking the sex of the baby before you added her, now him, to the mix - disaster averted! Sorry to hear the baby is drinking so much though - it does sound like a lot. Just to check, have you made sure he is actually drinking it, and not just playing with the water spout, but spilling most of it on the floor? Some pigs do this! Drinking lots is a symptom of diabetes (this is a good page on guinea pigs with diabetes) but it can also be a symptom of something like an infection. Can you get him to a vet, or if he's going back to whoever gave him to you, will they be happy to do this? It'd be a good idea to start keeping a record of his weight as that sort of info can really help a vet. Good luck, please keep us posted with how you get on.
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shay
Newbie
Posts: 24
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Post by shay on Oct 11, 2016 13:52:26 GMT
thank you for the welcome! & yes I have heard too many horror stories about wrongly sexed guinea pigs! I could never risk getting my baby girl, peanut, pregnant I could not keep that many piggies and there are so many already in shelters and whatnot.
I have made sure he is drinking it, and he definitely is! I also woke up this morning to see his hay is untouched! & honestly I do not think the owners are the type to bring him to the vet, since they shared with me they did not know you could get a male guinea pig neutered. They also just did not seem that responsible, so I am just making an assumption. I only have him for one more day should I tell the owners what I have been observing ? and hope they take care of it or take it to see a vet today ?! Although I will not be able to bring it back, so any treatments or check ups are out of my control.
& thank you for the link on diabetes!
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 11, 2016 20:49:13 GMT
Can you keep the baby, and take him to the vet? Did you get him from a breeder? That is, unfortunately, why we do not advise people to buy animals from breeders. They breed animals for profit. If the animal is sick or injured, they usually dispose of it. Is there any place else where you can get a guinea pig? Rescues usually have their guinea pigs checked by a vet, who treats the pigs with any health problems. Pet stores and breeders don't.
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shay
Newbie
Posts: 24
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Post by shay on Oct 11, 2016 21:26:18 GMT
I live in an apartment with my boyfriend, who strictly does not want anymore space to go to animals, although he does love my two. & unfortunately, Rexy and the baby do not get along even through bars. So I can't keep the baby the only reason why he was okay with getting a third was because it could fit in the cage they are in now. But I may try and keep the baby for as long as possible to take him to the vet. & I actually got the baby from kijiji because the rescue near me had no single females. So I looked on kijiji to get one that needed rehoming and whatnot.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 11, 2016 21:36:00 GMT
Ooh, if there's a rescue near you, take him there, instead of giving him back to the breeder. At least you'll know he won't become snake food. I totally understand the space issue, and no, you'll never manage two males with one female. The rescue should take good care of him. Then he'll have a chance at a great forever home with someone else
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shay
Newbie
Posts: 24
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Post by shay on Oct 11, 2016 21:44:28 GMT
seeeeeeeeeeeeee that is where I am stuck, the do not take surrenders unless you have bought them there. they only take from the spca
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 11, 2016 21:57:51 GMT
Bummer I understand the problem. I wish there were a easy and obvious solution Best of luck
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shay
Newbie
Posts: 24
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Post by shay on Oct 11, 2016 22:05:40 GMT
Thank you!!!! I'm trying to do the best I can for the little guy
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Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 12, 2016 9:35:07 GMT
A very warm welcome to our happy family love. Best of luck from me too.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Oct 12, 2016 10:04:25 GMT
Maybe you could contact the rescue and explain your situation - see if they can find a way round it for you. If he'd need to be taken somewhere else first that's too far from you, then maybe they have people who can help with transport. It does sound like his needs won't be met if you hand him back to who you got him from, and that's a sad thought, so if they can help, that would be ideal and you can get him looked over at the vet in the meantime so they know what they might be dealing with.
I totally understand that space is a big issue and you hadn't banked on having two lots of pigs - it's really hard in situations like these as you want to help, but knowing your own limits is important. Good luck, hope you get somewhere.
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shay
Newbie
Posts: 24
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Post by shay on Oct 12, 2016 12:01:44 GMT
Yeah I will take your advice and still call the rescue and hope for the best, thank you!! & I will definitely take him to the vet though!
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 12, 2016 20:36:31 GMT
You've already fallen in love with the little guy, haven't you
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shay
Newbie
Posts: 24
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Post by shay on Oct 12, 2016 22:36:47 GMT
I'm trying not to for my own sake but yes, I have he's so sweet
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