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Post by 3piggles on Jun 21, 2019 20:01:15 GMT
Amber89, I think your pigs are still settling in, but as discussed before, it's good to get them out for a snuggle and a treat, even if they don't want to be picked up, just so being picked up isn't connected solely to getting nails clipped, meds given, or butt dunks Bean, I didn't think the discussion was about absolutes, and totally agree that it's geared to the people who overdo their loving on their pets, and treat them as if they're baby humans. So many rules are meant to curb the wrong actions, not regulate how everyone treats their pets, as many of us pay enough attention to our pets to get to know them. Sadly, many of the guinea pig groups on Facebook are all about their specific rules, and anyone who disagrees with them can find another group. That mentality led to the whole "don't pick them up," as much as dressing them in people clothes, and the sale of tiny cages in pet stores. I learn things about guinea pigs all the time, but feel I have a good grasp of how to read guinea pig feelings. We had the girls out last night, just for a few minutes. I was holding one, hubby the other, and the girls kept crossing back and forth between us, as we were standing right beside each other. After all the complaining and carrying on Oodles did when hubby picked her up, she was right in there playing with Noodles on our arms. When they got tired of that, they both jumped back into the cage, which was right beside us. They don't love being picked up, but they totally tolerate it, and make the best of it. We'll need to clip some nails soon, so it's good to be getting them out for some fun in the mean time Just an observation, but we've had some great piggy moms on Wheekers in the past, people who really read guinea pigs well, paid enough attention to them to be able to help socialize them and find the right partners for them, including you, Bean, and none of you join the social media guinea pig groups. Hmmm!
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Post by amber89 on Jun 24, 2019 7:30:45 GMT
It might be very well the case that they are still adapting. Pufu, even if he's with us for already 6 months, he has been through a lot of changes. Cupcake has also experienced her share of changes.
We clipped yesterday the nails of Marsh and Cuppy for the first time...that was a big fight. Since Cuppy has completely black nails, seeing the quick is actually tricky and the vet advised us to cut the nails only every 6 months (with Pufu we cut every 6 weeks, in average) and use a file if the nails are too long. But, Cupcake can't stand a file and i ended up being scratched as if we would have a cat, so after trying the soft way, we simply clipped them a bit. Marsh was also fighting like a wildcat while we were trying to cut her nails. Marsh also has a very long quick, so were scared to cut too much. I hope that they will calm down a bit. I remember that Pufu was also very scared the first time we clipped his nails. He actually managed to bite my husband hard enough to draw blood. Since then though, he didn't bit anymore. His front paws have rotated toes, so there we need to clip even more often.
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Post by Bean on Jun 24, 2019 7:39:57 GMT
Oh no, that sounds like a fraught afternoon. And of course with them being so new to you, and you knowing they haven't had a great start, you'll be really mindful of not wanting to distress them. I'm sure it was worse for you than it was for them!
I did my gang's nails yesterday and picked a bunch of dandelions first, to keep them busy. My original pigs don't struggle at all, but the new ones are a bit more wriggly. I think it's mainly a case of confident handling - knowing how to hold them securely but comfortably when they're struggling. And that can only come with experience really. Sometimes swaddling them up can help as if they find wriggling is effective, it really spurs them on to continue and escalate things!
As you say, hopefully next time will be easier. With you having to dole out medications and baths too, you've definitely been thrown in at the deep end, but as they settle in and you get more confident with them, I'm sure things like nail clipping will improve.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 24, 2019 18:22:28 GMT
We take ours to the vet nurse every so often so that they don't get too long. When I have done it in the past the shrieking was dreadful but they do not make any noise for the nurse. As a matter of fact, they are going tomorrow.
Hugs jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 24, 2019 21:26:41 GMT
Tonight is mani/pedi night at our house. Oodles has one black foot, and the nails show being long enough to clip, so nails and treats for them tonight. Hubby holds one girl at a time, and I hold the hand or foot, and clip the nails. I wish I had magnifying glasses, so I could make them bigger! Either way, I just clip what I'm comfortable clipping. If I don't clip as much as I want, we do it again in a week. Then they get a nice reprieve for a couple of months
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Post by bazookagoof on Jun 24, 2019 22:33:15 GMT
I'm going to be thankful my current herd is too timid to fight or just very relaxed for claw-trimming.
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Post by amber89 on Jun 26, 2019 9:29:10 GMT
i have followed your advice 3piggles and built them a "cooling shelter" for the piggies. We have here another heat wave, this time even worse than the last time. I have used some leftover walls from the play pen and as i roof i have the perforated ones that were used for the introduction. On top i have some cooling pads and everything is covered with old towels, so that as little cold as possible is lost upwards. The girls already use it. Pufu needs a bit more time, he has hidden away from me on the upper floor. Also, my girls received a hair trim, to help them cope with the heat.
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 27, 2019 1:04:24 GMT
Beautiful piggies, and so glad the shelter works for you Great job
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Post by Bean on Jun 27, 2019 7:03:39 GMT
That looks great Amber, and your hair cutting skills are far superior to mine - I'm more hatchet-job! My daughter was so disappointed with me over Tissue's last hairdo - even if it gets hot, I think she'll try to stop me trimming her again!
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Post by amber89 on Jun 27, 2019 20:17:57 GMT
Pufu is slowly starting to use the bunker, or at least stay behind it. The girls started to climb on top of it ). Bean, i can't believe that it's that bad. Plus, the piggies cannot see themselves, they are just grateful that the fur is away and it doesn't heat them up.
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Post by Bean on Jun 27, 2019 21:00:07 GMT
That's what I told my daughter, but she just keeps shaking her head at my butchery! I'll do it when she's at school as things are warming up again so she will need a trim. Her fur is just so thick!
Glad the bunker is getting some use! As you say, it's there if they need it, so if they don't use it, they're probably managing okay.
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Post by amber89 on Jun 28, 2019 16:30:48 GMT
Actually, the cutting was done by my husband.. i was just holding the piggies still.
Today was the last day of treatment for Pufu. I have also given a bath to the girls (the second one for them), just to be sure that they didn't catch it on. Sometime next week i will have an appointment with the vet to check all 3 of them. Fingers and paws crossed that it is over. Today the weather was nicer, there was no need of the bunker ( i put it in use when the temperature inside is above 28C), and i either way wouldn't have put it with the piggies still a bit damp. The kitchen tiles are in the cage 24/7 and they can use those ones to cool off.
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 28, 2019 18:43:31 GMT
It looks as if you have a temperature break coming Tuesday, which I'm sure will be greatly appreciated! Yes, if the pigs are climbing on the bunker, then they are comfortable. At least you know what to do, should you have another heat wave
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Post by Bean on Jun 29, 2019 7:40:56 GMT
Well, I gave Tissue a trim yesterday. I put her in the bath (no water) rather than doing it on my lap as before, and it worked really well, she hardly moved at all but didn't seem disturbed either (she has a tendency to flap).
I thought it looked okay when I did it, but a few hours later and her rosettes look like bald patches. My daughter came home and shook her head very sadly at me.
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Post by amber89 on Jun 29, 2019 18:12:19 GMT
I think that the rosettes always look like bald patches. Also for Marsh, i can see her skin all the time where her rosettes are.
Your daughter is a bit too harsh...what about doing it once together?
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 29, 2019 21:36:06 GMT
Kids, lol I'm with Amber, have your daughter do a better job
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Post by Bean on Jun 30, 2019 7:05:07 GMT
Ah it's only a bit of a laugh her making fun of me, but I'll offer her the chance! Tissue is thanking me anyway - we got up to 27c yesterday so having a handful or two less fur was much appreciated!
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Post by amber89 on Jun 30, 2019 7:42:53 GMT
Oo, i am sure that Tissue is more than happy with her new look
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 30, 2019 18:17:22 GMT
I'm sure your daughter would be more than willing to help, and any piggy with less hair in this heat is a happy piggy
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Post by Bean on Jul 1, 2019 6:57:18 GMT
It's so much better wee-wise too, as she tends to do really big wees and sit back on them, so however absorbent the surface she's on, it just gets mopped up by her bum fringe! With less fur, it's not so much of a problem.
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