New Guinea Pig Owner~ General Help Needed

[emyliine]

Here's the pic, it might work better attached to the actual post (I didn't realize that was a possibility but what a handy feature!). I found out tinypic images can be replaced by porn sooo... I'm deleting that other image, haha.

Jay is doing better! He's decided he is so much better that he no longer willingly eats his medicine. Didn't take long, pff. It's alright though, he's so small that I just wrap him in a little face towel and he has no choice. He's still such a sweetheart though urghh TT___TT even after I stuff gross medicine in his mouth and put him back in the cage he'll come running after my hand looking for treats and pets. He loves his back-mohawk being scratched!

PB seems to be doing better on his own?? Does that happen? He's stopped sneezing all together and his nose is clear. He is still scared of me and I'm not sure how to adjust his attitude. He'll take food from my hands but freaks out the second I try to pet him, let alone pick him up and hold him. It's strange to me how different their comfort levels are, I would think Jay's friendliness would rub off on PB or vice versa with PB's fear.

[Bean]

Awww they are adorable! I love Jay's mohawk!

Some pigs warm up to people quickly, others take ages, and some never really get over that 'Aaaargh!' feeling. But it always helps having another pig around to set a good example of how being chilled out around people brings nothing but good things! I've had nervy pigs calm down loads when they're around more relaxed ones. Just keep on doing what you're doing, and feeding him by hand so he gets confident approaching you. It might help to ease off on trying to pet him while you do that for a while, and just pet him when you have him out for a bit so he can build up his confidence with you.

I'm glad both boys seem to be doing better. I'd probably still be wary of not giving PB meds given he's shown URI symptoms, but genuinely hope he is okay.

[3piggles]

Love the picture! Adorable boys

Bean's right. It just takes time, and it takes more time for some than for others. Since you have to clip their nails and possibly give them meds, it's best to pick them up regularly, like once ever day or two, so they know they will get picked up, and it's not going to kill them. It won't make the scaredy pig any more scared, and it lets them know that something bad isn't going to happen to them every time they get picked up. You also don't have to hold them for long, but just cradling a pig in the crook of your arm, and petting him for a few minutes, or putting them in an open carrier and petting them in the carrier, gets them used to being picked up, touched and held. Always include small veggie treats, so they have something to look forward to, even if they don't like being picked up.

Ooh, that's great that the boys seem to be getting better. That makes me think it might be an allergy, so it could come back once the Baytril is done. Does PB still have a runny nose?

I had a guinea girl with a chronic rhinovirus(virus in the sinuses/nose). She always had a runny nose, always sneezed. Nothing could be done, so I had her on a low dose of Chlor-Timeton OTC allergy med, and it seemed to do the job. Pigs do get allergies, and the allergies can mimic a URI, it's just not in the chest. So don't panic, if they start it up again. It could just be an allergy.

[misspiggy01]

Sorry about your piggies. Hopefully they get better soon. They obviously don’t know how to not spread germs by the sound of it!