Post by paperpapillon on Jul 20, 2016 2:06:31 GMT
Hi everyone! I'm new to guinea pigs but have owned just about every other pet imaginable! I've been looking for a fun/friendly forum to join since I got my first piggie about 6-7 days ago. A little about me first - I'm a veterinary technician and currently have 4 dogs (Papillons & Belgian Malinois), 1 cat, and a bearded dragon. I participate in dog shows (conformation, agility, obedience) and am very active in animal training, behavior, and also medical topics. I really look forward to making friends here because I don't think anyone else would understand how exciting and ADORABLE my little guy is!
Let me get this out of the way....please don't flame me or lecture. I've broken just about every cardinal rule about pig ownership - First, he's from a petstore, and second, he's a single male young pig. He is a young male Abyssinian (I believe!) who I got from a local family run pet store. The only reason I go in there is because the vet I work for is friends with the owner and sometimes we pick up/exchange supplies, clients, and other things from them. I personally don't support them or buy from them...normally. About a year ago I went in and always check out the small animal section in the front of the store, and they actually had a young male Texel that was just beautiful...black and white and sweet. Days later I decided I HAD to have him, but he was sold when I went back. Ever since then, I've been wanting one but not really in the market for one - if I was I would have gotten one from a responsible breeder. ANYWAY, last week I stopped in and started walking around the cages trying to pet the pigs while I was waiting for someone. All of them ran/scurried/screamed so I let them be. One little black/white one didn't run - he sniffed my hand while curiously looking up at me, put his little foot on me as if he wanted to be picked up, and was SO calm. He was in a tiny but clean section all by himself. I was told he was a "bully and didn't get along with anyone." I held him for a while and loved on him and put him back. On my way home from work 2 days later, I stopped there again. Tried to pet and watch the piggies, and again saw this little love. Held him some more and tried to talk myself out of supporting a pet store in this way. After talking to my boyfriend and much thought we decided to go for it. The worker brought out a little booklet and showed the supposed breeders names and said they only use a few local breeders that they "know." Supposedly they get the pigs when they are 4 months old....and this guy has been there about a week (bull). The only thing I bought there was the pig, and got all his cages and supplies elsewhere. I would like to get him a friend sometime down the road. Right now it's not possible but in the near future I will definitely consider it for his wellbeing.
Now that that's out of the way - I'd love for some friendly advice or tips with this little guy. We decided his name is Vinnie (Vinnie the GUINEA pig...LOL). I can't do a C&C cage although it looks nice. I'm on a limited budget & space because I was out of work for a while with health issues (that I still have) and am only working very part time now. I have a prey driven dog and a curious cat, so I figured the safest option for him was a pre-made sturdy cage. Decided on a "National Geographic" cage designed for a rabbit (and other small animals) because the size was nice and the max that I can have right now. I believe its 40in L x 22in W. It came with a glass water bottle, hay manger, bowl, hidey/ramp thing, and I bought some tunnels, chew toy/kabobs, and made some of my own toys and hides. He's going to be spoiled and loved on, but I've been very slow to do much with him. I want to do it right, and let him get used to his new surroundings and be comfortable. It's a little over a week now, and I talk to him as much as possible, gently pet him, and hold him throughout the day. About 1-2x daily I've been setting up a play area for him on the couch with some of his hides/tunnels/toys and he's really starting to love it! No popcorning yet, but he does get excited and run around like a maniac before settling down again! I'd like to switch to fleece bedding soon.
Now about his personality - I think he's defective! He has not made one loud wheek, ever. He didn't make ANY noises at all until the 3rd or 4th day, and it was the small talkative little mumbles as he was curiously checking his play area out. He does that from time to time, but never anything louder. So strange! I find it a GOOD thing though LOL. I wanted a quiet, calmer/sweet pig and I think I may have lucked out?! Also I've noticed he's a really calm pig which I find a little strange. From the beginning he does NOT run like he just saw a ghost when he sees people. He stays pretty calm and still, and lets me reach in to gently pet him or even pick him up. He doesn't even try to run when I go to pick him up....he has maybe a few times but is really good about it. He doesn't seem fearful about much really. I can pet him everywhere, hold him, do his nails, etc. I'm sure freezing can be a fear response but I really don't think it's that. He curiously sniffs the air when the dogs are around (they are kept away so he's not too freaked out by them yet). He doesn't back up in fear or anything like that. He takes treats out of my hand. He is a PIG.....he eats anything and everything I've given him so far! He eats very well so I don't think we have any health issues. He feels a bit skinny to me BUT the only food he had in the store was pellets, nothing else...UGH. They said he was not there long, about a week but I'm sure it was a few. He is mildly itchy and grooms himself a few times while he's out playing. Going to brush him with a flea comb to check him out later. I think the grooming his face/front area means he's comfortable. I plan on giving him a bath soon (he kind of stinks, and I want him to be clean and fresh out of that nasty petstore). He weighs 1.7lbs, 777grams, or 24.7oz. Seems like a pretty big guy, any guesses on age? He was def smaller than the adult pigs they had there, but slightly larger than other babies that looked to be from the same litter as him.
Anyway, I'm so sorry this is so long! I just wanted to cover everything. I'll be posting questions soon but wanted to intro first. Maybe with my questions I can link back to this post so people can see my setup etc. I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts on what kind of piggie he is (Aby I believe?), if he looks healthy, if his cage setup is acceptable (I know it's not ideal), etc. Any ideas or opinions are welcome. I have TONS of pics and love taking them. You'll see he looks exactly like a baby skunk. Maybe he isn't a piggie at all and I got ripped off...LMAO. I really look forward to making friends on here and sticking around!
-Lauren &
Chloe, Austin, Raven, Enzo, Ava, Ivan, Vinnie
Let me get this out of the way....please don't flame me or lecture. I've broken just about every cardinal rule about pig ownership - First, he's from a petstore, and second, he's a single male young pig. He is a young male Abyssinian (I believe!) who I got from a local family run pet store. The only reason I go in there is because the vet I work for is friends with the owner and sometimes we pick up/exchange supplies, clients, and other things from them. I personally don't support them or buy from them...normally. About a year ago I went in and always check out the small animal section in the front of the store, and they actually had a young male Texel that was just beautiful...black and white and sweet. Days later I decided I HAD to have him, but he was sold when I went back. Ever since then, I've been wanting one but not really in the market for one - if I was I would have gotten one from a responsible breeder. ANYWAY, last week I stopped in and started walking around the cages trying to pet the pigs while I was waiting for someone. All of them ran/scurried/screamed so I let them be. One little black/white one didn't run - he sniffed my hand while curiously looking up at me, put his little foot on me as if he wanted to be picked up, and was SO calm. He was in a tiny but clean section all by himself. I was told he was a "bully and didn't get along with anyone." I held him for a while and loved on him and put him back. On my way home from work 2 days later, I stopped there again. Tried to pet and watch the piggies, and again saw this little love. Held him some more and tried to talk myself out of supporting a pet store in this way. After talking to my boyfriend and much thought we decided to go for it. The worker brought out a little booklet and showed the supposed breeders names and said they only use a few local breeders that they "know." Supposedly they get the pigs when they are 4 months old....and this guy has been there about a week (bull). The only thing I bought there was the pig, and got all his cages and supplies elsewhere. I would like to get him a friend sometime down the road. Right now it's not possible but in the near future I will definitely consider it for his wellbeing.
Now that that's out of the way - I'd love for some friendly advice or tips with this little guy. We decided his name is Vinnie (Vinnie the GUINEA pig...LOL). I can't do a C&C cage although it looks nice. I'm on a limited budget & space because I was out of work for a while with health issues (that I still have) and am only working very part time now. I have a prey driven dog and a curious cat, so I figured the safest option for him was a pre-made sturdy cage. Decided on a "National Geographic" cage designed for a rabbit (and other small animals) because the size was nice and the max that I can have right now. I believe its 40in L x 22in W. It came with a glass water bottle, hay manger, bowl, hidey/ramp thing, and I bought some tunnels, chew toy/kabobs, and made some of my own toys and hides. He's going to be spoiled and loved on, but I've been very slow to do much with him. I want to do it right, and let him get used to his new surroundings and be comfortable. It's a little over a week now, and I talk to him as much as possible, gently pet him, and hold him throughout the day. About 1-2x daily I've been setting up a play area for him on the couch with some of his hides/tunnels/toys and he's really starting to love it! No popcorning yet, but he does get excited and run around like a maniac before settling down again! I'd like to switch to fleece bedding soon.
Now about his personality - I think he's defective! He has not made one loud wheek, ever. He didn't make ANY noises at all until the 3rd or 4th day, and it was the small talkative little mumbles as he was curiously checking his play area out. He does that from time to time, but never anything louder. So strange! I find it a GOOD thing though LOL. I wanted a quiet, calmer/sweet pig and I think I may have lucked out?! Also I've noticed he's a really calm pig which I find a little strange. From the beginning he does NOT run like he just saw a ghost when he sees people. He stays pretty calm and still, and lets me reach in to gently pet him or even pick him up. He doesn't even try to run when I go to pick him up....he has maybe a few times but is really good about it. He doesn't seem fearful about much really. I can pet him everywhere, hold him, do his nails, etc. I'm sure freezing can be a fear response but I really don't think it's that. He curiously sniffs the air when the dogs are around (they are kept away so he's not too freaked out by them yet). He doesn't back up in fear or anything like that. He takes treats out of my hand. He is a PIG.....he eats anything and everything I've given him so far! He eats very well so I don't think we have any health issues. He feels a bit skinny to me BUT the only food he had in the store was pellets, nothing else...UGH. They said he was not there long, about a week but I'm sure it was a few. He is mildly itchy and grooms himself a few times while he's out playing. Going to brush him with a flea comb to check him out later. I think the grooming his face/front area means he's comfortable. I plan on giving him a bath soon (he kind of stinks, and I want him to be clean and fresh out of that nasty petstore). He weighs 1.7lbs, 777grams, or 24.7oz. Seems like a pretty big guy, any guesses on age? He was def smaller than the adult pigs they had there, but slightly larger than other babies that looked to be from the same litter as him.
Anyway, I'm so sorry this is so long! I just wanted to cover everything. I'll be posting questions soon but wanted to intro first. Maybe with my questions I can link back to this post so people can see my setup etc. I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts on what kind of piggie he is (Aby I believe?), if he looks healthy, if his cage setup is acceptable (I know it's not ideal), etc. Any ideas or opinions are welcome. I have TONS of pics and love taking them. You'll see he looks exactly like a baby skunk. Maybe he isn't a piggie at all and I got ripped off...LMAO. I really look forward to making friends on here and sticking around!
-Lauren &
Chloe, Austin, Raven, Enzo, Ava, Ivan, Vinnie