Whimsy
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 3, 2017 16:19:58 GMT
My last guinea pig died in January and since I'm not really allowed to have guinea pigs where I live, I haven't got a new one and don't know if I'm ready for the commitment yet. I have thought about fostering some, if possible. I regularly go out to a sanctuary where a lady takes in unwanted animals - mainly bunnies, but she also has a lot of guinea pigs, some chickens, cats, birds, rats etc. I go there to get some guinea love, as I say :-) Yesterday I went and she had just gotten 19 new guinea pigs from a petting zoo, I think. I picked one random one up and he was the skinniest little guy ever. I asked her if she would consider letting me foster some of her piggies and she said yes, take him and fatten him up, so I said yes. I wasn't prepared, so she gave me a small cage for him and some hay. One my way home I bought some Critical Care from a vet and pellets and veggies later on. I have no idea how old he is, but he only weighs 750g. He spine is sticking out. He eats and eats and eats. I wonder if there was too much competition for the food for the little guy and he just didn't get enough. He might also be sick. He has some skin issues as well, so the lady gave him some medication and I will keep an eye on it. I cut his nails. One foot has a toe with almost no nail and one has an extremely long nail. His one eye is also a little crusty. The issues don't seem to bother him, but I want him to be well. He doesn't have a name, but I'm thinking Ollie (Oliver). I just picked him up yesterday, so I haven't had him out much. I will get some better pictures soon. Any advise on what to feed him to fatten him up or anything else you think I should do?? Attachment Deleted
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 3, 2017 20:19:45 GMT
He's gorgeous, and is one lucky boy to have been found by you. I hope you can get him a clean bill of health and fatten him up. You could try some alfalfa pellets mixed in with his timothy hay pellets. Alfalfa is a quick energy source, so I wouldn't add too many at a time. Add some baby food to the Critical Care, and that could help him put on some lasting weight, too. Keep a journal, if you have time. Weigh him at the same time daily, such as when you get up in the morning. Then once a week, add up all the daily weights, and divide by 7. You'll get an average weight for the week. Guinea pigs contain as much as 35 grams of weight in a full belly, bladder, etc., so weight can vary as much as 35 grams without there being any problems. The averages will give you a good indication if he's gaining, losing or holding, which the vet will want to know. I'll put some thought into weight gaining foods, and I'm sure the others will have some ideas, too. Thank you so much for fostering him. He's just darling! I tried fostering once. Didn't go too well, as I kept the girls, lol
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 4, 2017 8:52:44 GMT
He is adorable hunni.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Dec 4, 2017 10:05:25 GMT
Aww he's lovely and fostering is a great way to get a piggy fix and help out without committing to a pet for its lifetime.
If he's eating well on his own, it might just be worth seeing if he starts putting on weight (I'd go for daily weigh-ins too) rather than supplementing him. I'd probably go with unlimited pellets for now, but otherwise just lots of hay and the usual veg rather than any special foods.
If he's eating really well and not gaining any weight, then that's a good indicator that something else is going on that will need a vet. But hopefully it is just that he's not been fed adequately (poor chap) and that a good diet will let him catch up.
Keep us updated please - he's gorgeous and thank you for helping him!
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 4, 2017 14:45:50 GMT
He is getting more spunky and wants attention, so I built him a bigger cage last night. It's not huge, but better than the small one he had. He eats everything I give him, but of course mainly pellets and hay. I just weighed him and will do it every morning from now on. I would like to take him to the vet, but it's hard. He's not mine and the sanctuary can't afford to do it. They spend a lot of money on neutering rabbits and ofcourse food. The guinea pigs are separated, so no new babies are born unless a pig comes in pregnant. I can pay for a vet visit myself, but obviously I can't do that every time I foster one. I don't have the money for that. It's hard, you want to do the best, but you also can't get too attached since he will go home some day. It's just hard not to fall in love with them, no matter how scruffy and skinny they are ❤️ I'll keep feeding him and we will see what happens.
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Post by Bean on Dec 4, 2017 16:20:15 GMT
That's worrying that the rescue don't have money for vet visits. I know running and neutering etc costs can be high, but if it does turn out he's not too well then hopefully they would make that a priority rather than allowing him to endure an illness without help - if not, then they need to seriously evaluate how many animals they can offer to help.
We fostered for a local rescue a few years. I had my favourites who it was harder to say goodbye to, but knowing they were off to a lovely new home was a good feeling and we were soon distracted by some new furry faces! With the rescue we fostered for, they took total responsibility for any medical care - usually they'd take them back straight away if there were any health issues as they wanted to be 100% sure they were on top of what needed doing, but we did give medicines for some routine minor ailments. We never paid for that side of things though, just the food and bedding (which they did also offer to supply if needed, but we were happy to cover those costs and it was a way of helping them out a bit more).
I really hope all your chap needs is TLC and a good diet. It's great to hear he's settling in well and feeling more confident. I'm sure he will appreciate the extra space too. I hope the rescue are managing with the other 18!
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 4, 2017 17:13:51 GMT
I guess that's the downside to a rabbit rescue taking in other animals. It's great that someone will take in the other animals, but they are basically socializing, neutering, etc., rabbits, and the other animals just get to stay there and have a home, until someone adopts them. If there's a health problem that isn't solved by just getting some good food into him, discuss it with the rescue. They might have some extra funds. Just make sure he's going to get the treatment. If they can't really afford the guinea pigs, they may not get the piggies the treatment they need. It's very likely that he just wasn't physically up to fighting the huge herd for food, and he was starving. If so, he's in a great place to make a full recovery. Let him stuff himself, track his weight, than if you think there's a need for a vet visit, take all the info you've compiled, to the rescue, and ask them to help. They may know a vet who gives them a break on the prices. Good luck, and again, thank you for taking him and giving him a chance
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 5, 2017 1:45:50 GMT
This rescue was probably never meant to be as big as it is. The animals don't get adopted out, because she promises to give them a home for the rest of their lives. She is worried that animals go to a home and the owners later get tired of the pet and then who knows what will happen. It sounds like she has experienced that before, so now they stay with her forever. I know it's not ideal to have that many animals and not necessarily be able to give them all vet care, but I know she is doing her best and relies on donations to pay for everything. As sad as it can be to see that many animals in one place, I know the alternative is worse. They might not even be alive if it wasn't for her. I will do the best I can for him and hopefully he will recover and be able to go back home. Maybe he will stay with a smaller group of pigs, so he can get enough to eat, I don't know.
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Post by Bean on Dec 5, 2017 9:10:44 GMT
That's odd that none ever get adopted out, even if they're healthy - there are only so many animals you can take good care of, so it definitely puts a shelf life on how much rescue work you can do if you keep each animal you help!
I know from friends who have started rescues that getting that balance can be tricky though. I always thought that with fostering I'd worry about where the animals were going onto, but the rescue we fostered for (which was well established by the time we fostered for them) had rigorous adoption procedures. They always made it clear that in the event of any issues, there was always a place back at the rescue for that animal, that they shouldn't be rehomed by that person if their situation changed. Some people got the hump bout being asked about how much space they could offer and their ability to pay for vet bills, but it certainly weeded out plenty of people who weren't really up to the job. I don't think many did go back though, as having been thorough about about where they were being rehomed to, they did find lots of genuinely fantastic forever homes.
Was there another male in the group that this chap could be buddied up with sometime soon (if he starts putting on weight etc), or had he been put on his own for a reason?
I hope he's doing well anyway, and that you are enjoying having a little piggy around again!
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 5, 2017 14:46:35 GMT
I agree that the situation isn't perfect and the number of animals might be too high, but I'm just trying to help as much as I can. I know the owner has experienced that other rescues adopted animals out, saying they needed to bring the pet back if it didn't work out and people didn't. Later she would see the same animal in another rescue, which is why she is concerned, I guess. I think she will adopt to people that she knows really well, but of course that's not enough when you think of how many animals she has. Anyway, I'm not going to judge her. I know she is doing the best she can, rescuing from forest fires, petting zoos, feral cats, rabbits supposed to go to meat farms etc. I don't know ithe details of how much medical care they get, but most look healthy to me. There might be another little one I can foster, but I don't know. I'm not sure my current cage is big enough for two males either. I got rid of a lot of stuff when my piggie died, so I'm using what I have now and I only have so much room in my apartment. He's getting more and more spunky. He is super wriggly when I try to pick him up, but he will let me pet him in the cage and he loves loves loves his food!! 🙂
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 5, 2017 18:15:56 GMT
I understand her concern, and it happens to all rescues that adopt out. People seem so committed when they get the animals, but they lose interest, their financial situation changes, or something else, and they feel guilty about breaking all the promises, and going back on all the enthusiasm they showed at the adoption. They dump the animals, or take them to another shelter. I applaud her for trying to provide forever homes for all those animals, but she really needs some help, and some backup. What happens to them, if something happens to her? The Massachusetts SPCA, where I've adopted my guinea pigs for years, holds regular Clear the Shelter events. At the best of times, they don't do home checks to make sure the adopters have the space or the right conditions, nor do they require any financial information. I'm not even sure it's legal to request financial information. So a whole lot of animals get adopted, but there's no check on how many just go to another shelter, a little while later. I understand that when a shelter is funded by tax money, it's needs to show it's processing animals, as well as taking care of them. They regularly have Bunny Sunday, with greatly reduced adoption fees, when they get too many bunnies. They seem to have mostly bunnies and cats at the one we visit, both of which can easily be dumped That's why I'm so glad you've taken him in, are giving him some love and a chance to get healthy. He knows he's loved and cared for, and that's so important.
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 5, 2017 23:49:37 GMT
I think the owner wishes she didn't have so many animals, but when you're a caring person, how do you turn one away that needs help? It's so tough. I worry too what will happen when she is unable to do it anymore or if she got sick or something. It doesn't really do any good to worry though. All we can do is help the best we can and she has friends and volunteers that help fundraise, clean, foster, apply for grants etc, so luckily she's not completely on her own.
I'm happy to have the little dude here for now. It's fun to see his personality come out and hopefully he will gain some weight, I do think I kind of forgot how messy guinea pigs are. He's a pooping machine!!!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 6, 2017 9:02:52 GMT
I so wish I could help her with a substantial donation. People like she are angels and will always put the piggies first. I hope she manages to stay afloat.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Dec 6, 2017 10:28:41 GMT
You're right - it's people like you helping this lady out, whether it's financially or practically, that will make all the difference as to whether she sinks under and needs rescuing herself, or can continue to positively affect the lives of lots of animals. I hope there are some other lovely people like you around so she can continue to do positive work for our animal friends.
Glad your little guy is eating so well - does his weight seem to be going up day by day? I really hope so. It certainly sounds like he's settling in nicely with you anyway, that's great!
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 6, 2017 14:52:16 GMT
I just weighed him and he's up to 810 grams, so it's progress 😀
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 6, 2017 15:31:50 GMT
Ooh, that's definitely progress Come on, little guy, put on some weight I'm really glad she has help. I have a friend who runs a rabbit rescue, and he's pretty much on his own. He doesn't go after grants. I don't think he has time. He works full time to fund the rescue, which is in his house. He provides a great habitat for the animals, so animals move in, instead of trying to escape. He does adopt out an animal once in a while, but only after the person passes a really tough home inspection, as these are his babies. He had so many possums moving in, he became a rehabber. I donate when I can, which isn't as often as I'd like. He gets stressed over it, definitely, and I'm sure she does, too. You're doing a really wonderful thing. Oh, yes, they can poop. If poops were pennies... I'm putting as many as I can in the composter. Should make some great soil! Then there's the hay
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Whimsy
Bronze Member
Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 7, 2017 2:00:47 GMT
He drinks a huge amount of water everyday. Is that a concern? He really likes the pellets. He eats hay too, but way more pellets. His poos were kind of soft today, so I've cut down on the veggies.
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Post by Bean on Dec 7, 2017 8:01:37 GMT
That's great news he's putting on weight. Drinking excessively can be a sign of illness, especially if coupled with an inability to hold a good weight, but check first that he is actually drinking loads and not just playing with the water spout (in which case the bedding under the water bottle will be suspiciously wet).
Hope the soft poos pass with the dietary tweaks. Longer term you'd want him to be eating more hay than pellets, but extra pellets will help him catch up with the weight gains he needs to make. Have you tried different hays just to help tempt him?
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Whimsy
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Posts: 400
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Post by Whimsy on Dec 7, 2017 14:32:06 GMT
823 grams today! He's definitely drinking the water. The rescue lady gave me a bag of Oxbow hay, so I've been using that. I'll look for something else and try that. He just wheeked a little bit...which is only maybe the third time. Otherwise he's pretty quiet except for knocking over his cardboard box house all the time 🙂
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 7, 2017 15:06:52 GMT
Knocking over his cardboard box house is a really good sign of a pig with the energy. Excellent! I wouldn't be too concerned about the poos until you've kept the veggies away for a while. If he's drinking a lot of water, he doesn't need veggies or fruits with more liquid. You just need to find a balance. As long as he's gaining weight, is active and is talking, I think his progress is very positive.
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