I don't have a guinea pig yet, but i love hearing stories about other people's cavies. Can anyone share a funny story about their guinea pigs? i would also like to hear about the first time you got your piggy and how they acted. then i would know what to do when i get my guinea pig.
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your piggy
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 piguinea101 |
your piggy |
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Posts: 300 12/20/05 11:00 AM |
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GypsyFury |
Mine | #1 | ||
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Posts: 7 12/21/05 12:41 AM |
When I first got my pig, she was terrified of me for about a week. That's normal; most pigs don't like change of scenery and it takes them a while to get used to something different. After three years she still runs from me when I try to take her out of her pen.
Just keep petting them and talking to them, spend time with them, feed them nice things, let them exercise.. and you will have a very kushti (happy) pig indeed. :) Good care is often rewarded with happy "popcorning" and jumping about. It's quite funny to watch. Good luck! |
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AmeliaDaisy |
Re: Mine | #2 | ||
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Posts: 1498 12/21/05 02:39 AM |
I like the way the all have different personalities. And after a while you can tell what they are communicating. They can really tell you so much. And they can understand simple commands too. I had one that would come when I called, Stop when I said NO, toilet on command and put its head up when I asked for a pat. They aren't all like that, but it was an only for a year and thought it was human. I think they bod closer to you than when in a herd. Mind you, many would like the company of another pig. Depends whether you are with them a lot. It is also funny to watch them when you put the food down. They are absolutely ruled by food!
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piguinea101 |
question | #3 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/21/05 03:45 AM |
When i first get my guinea pig should i leave it alone and try to lure it with food? Or, should i let 'em have some time alone and then after a while try to catch him and put 'em on my lap. i've seen how fast some guinea pigs move and i dont wanna chase after them and frighten them!
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piguinea101 |
Re: question | #4 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/21/05 03:59 AM |
also, should guinea pig pellets be stored in the fridge? What temperature should a guinea pig live in?
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GypsyFury |
Re: question | #5 | ||
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Posts: 7 12/21/05 05:40 AM |
I'm not sure whether or not pellets should be stored in the fridge. I've never done that.
Room temperature is pretty good for a pig. Try to keep the temperatures at a constant range though; they don't like fluctuations. They catch colds really easily. Guinea pigs like being held, and I've found it's a good way to bond with them, but be careful when you pick them up. If they don't know you well (or even if they do know you --;) they'll probably squirm a lot. Use both hands and hold them firmly, preferably without the hind legs dangling. You tend to learn as you go along, really. I'm sure you'll do fine; you're obviously very concerned for your future pigs wellfare. :) |
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piguinea101 |
Re: question | #6 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/21/05 08:06 AM |
ok thanx!
i have never been to the the vet before so if i discover that my future guinea pig is ill, how do i get imediate attention for her? do i drive all the way to the vet and anounce that my pig needs imediate care? what do i do? and did i spell imediate right? it doesnt look correct. |
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PooksiedAnimals |
Re: question | #7 | ||
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Posts: 3490 12/22/05 12:43 AM Moderator |
Its very helpful to look for a qualified vet as soon as (if not before) you get a guinea pig. Not all vets know how to deal with guinea pigs. Guinea pig vets are often listed as an "Exotics Vet" (lumped in with birds, reptiles and rabbits).
If your guinea pig gets sick, it is appropriate to call the vet first to make an appointment. Be prepared to describe what the problem is. They can squeeze you into their schedule if its something that needs to be addressed quickly. Sometimes, the can give you instructions on how to help your guinea pig in the short term, before you can get them in. If its truly something bad, and needs to be seen immediately - a true emergency - then you should bring your guinea pig directly to the vet. |
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piguinea101 |
Re: question | #8 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/22/05 10:25 AM |
Oh thanx!!! i feel better after knowing what to do and i know how to spell immediately. Does anyone know how much a bag of carefresh cost?
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PooksiedAnimals |
Re: question | #9 | ||
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Posts: 3490 12/22/05 03:03 PM Moderator |
I know its expensive! Which is why I buy pine at the feed store - its a *huge* bag for $5. A similar sized bag of carefresh probably costs between $15-20.
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WritingLife |
Re: question | #10 | ||
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Posts: 99 12/23/05 07:31 AM |
I acquired my piggy, Pinkerton, when I spotted something small and white running alongside a country road as I was driving home. I knew it wasn't something wild and stopped to see what it was, and found it was a baby white Guinea pig.
After discovering it was harder to give away a Guinea pig than a kitten, we decided to keep him. But the minute I got him home, I started searching the web for Guinea pig information to learn what to feed him and how to care for him. As soon as we decided to keep him, I went in search of a vet who knew how to treat Guinea pigs. Our nearest walk-in veternary clinic was convenient, but they didn't have a small pet specialist, so I searched websites such as www.guineapigs.info/vets/.../index.php , which weren't all up to date, but they got me in contact with a clinic where they had an up to date list of vets who specialize in exotics. One was at the clinic where we take our birds, so I took Pinkerton there and got him checked out, weighed, treated for parasites, and given a blood test to make sure he was healthy. VERY painful to the wallet, but I'd rather get my pets off to a good start. I've started collecting materials to build a big C&C cage (see www.cavycages.com/ for information on how to build or buy these), and when I get that built, I'll call the Humane Society and see if there are any more young males so I can get Pinkerton a companion. He needs more company when we're at work all day, and while the cats would love to "play" with him, I don't think he'd like that very much. One more thing -- please consider adopting from a rescue or a shelter rather than buying from a pet store. I've read lots of horror stories about piggies that are poorly cared for in pet stores. And there are people who unthinkingly breed just for the pet store trade while there are piggies sitting in shelters begging for homes. Our piggie and our older cat were both abandoned animals, and it feels pretty good to give a poor unwanted animal a nice home. |
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piguinea101 |
Re: question | #11 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/23/05 07:55 AM |
That is so sweet!...Your found a hopeless guinea pig on the side of the road and took 'em in. Well i am also surprised that CareFresh is so expensive! I have feeling that when i do get my guinea pig i am going to spend a lot of money to get started! *sigh* oh well...it will be worth it.
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kristen |
Re: question | #12 | ||
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Posts: 165 12/23/05 03:13 PM |
CareFresh is expensive, but it's got great odor protection and it's really absorbent. I much rather would use CareFresh over pine shavings, but it all really depends on what you like. Try getting a small bag of CareFresh, which is about $8, and see if you like it. If not, try something else until you find out what you and your piggie like.
As for me and my piggie, I never had a pet until August of 2005 when I got Coco. I'm 18 years old and for as long as I can remember, I was always jealous of my friends at elementary school who had pets like hamsters and rabbits and guinea pigs. So when I finally got mine, I was very happy. Coco is almost 7 months old and she's a teddy. One of the cutest things she does is stand on her hind legs to beg for carrots! I love that. And she also looks adorable when she curls up and falls asleep. You'll begin to discover and understand all the behaviors your own piggie has very quickly, and you'll end up loving it more than you expected. They're great animals! Good luck with yours! |
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piguinea101 |
Re: question | #13 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/23/05 11:43 PM |
Last night i was thinking about my future guinea pig. I became worried that i would make a mistake and that mistake would cost my pet's life. I just need to be more confident in myself. Since CareFresh is so expensive i wanna know about using fleece. Do you only put one layer of fleece then a towel and then newspaper?
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piguinea101 |
Re: question | #14 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/24/05 12:02 AM |
Oh yeah, Do guinea pigs see in color? I want to make my guinea pig's cage colorful to make it look more interesting.
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kristen |
Re: question | #15 | ||
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Posts: 165 12/24/05 01:21 AM |
I read that guinea pigs have blurred vision, but they do see in color. It might not make much of a difference whether the cage is colorful, though; if anything, try to focus on making the cage interactive for your piggie.
As for the fleece - I don't use it, so I have no idea. But there are people on this board who use it and will be able to help you out with that one. |
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PooksiedAnimals |
Re: question | #16 | ||
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Posts: 3490 12/24/05 01:22 AM Moderator |
Yes, guinea pigs do see in color. I don't know how well they see the colors, but I do know its more than black and white.
Some people just use fleece, with nothing under it. Others use newspaper under it. Others will put wood shavings under it. Basically, people try different things until they find something that works. Check out guinealynx.info/bedding.html for a ton of information on bedding options. |
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Artagiel |
Re: question | #17 | ||
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Posts: 80 12/24/05 09:47 AM |
Hi,
I have paper, towels and then fleece on top in my cages, it works pretty well as I also have a hand vac to suck up poopies and old hay and then every couple of days I clen tha whole shebang up and I can roll the stray pooies that roll off the fabric up in the paper and into the trash it goes. I like the fleece as Fluffy was getting bedding in her ummmm....tender spots before and it was causing her some irritation along with her getting a bit of a kidney sludge issue that the fleece and towels let me on too as I use white towels under and her pee was coming out pink so I could see something wasn't right and got her to the vet to get it straightened out. I have used carefresh, aspen and now the fleece and I think the fleece is the best for them or carefresh but with 11 pigs I have to use the fleece or go broke lol. Ordering hay online can help too as they need lots of it and I find that if you buy in bulk even with the cost of shipping it saved me 30 bucks on the same amount of hay(30 pounds!) if I were to drive to the store and buy it in smaller bags not to mention I didn't have to pay for gas or lug it home in the car and pester Tom my fiance to help me with it lol. Haley, Fluffy, Fudge, Truffle, Silk pie, Ember, Hope, Dolly, Charlotte, Jack, Mr. Munch and Chewy. |
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piguinea101 |
... | #18 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/24/05 10:00 AM |
Urgh...i am so mad!! I typed a whoole paragraph and then i found that i didnt sign in properly so my whole paragraph became erased!! Well to cut things short i am so excited because each day i am am getting closer to getting a giunea pig!! OK, so i have to wait 3 more months, but hey! Atleast it isn't 4 more months!! So everyone tell me about your guinea pigs to get me excited about mine.
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Tere H |
Re: ... | #19 | ||
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Posts: 276 12/24/05 07:03 PM |
It's equally exciting for us to see another person drawn into the intoxication of guinea pig ownership. I am always encouraged when someone waits until the time is right for them.
There are many postings on this board about fleece, so I won't take up too much space here. When I first joined this board, I took a lot of time to read the older postings and found them very helpful. I do use fleece with some of that lined tablecloth fabric under it so I can clean it easily if there are "accidents." I have small plastic pans in the corners with pine bedding that I can easily and frequently dump. My piggies tend to use the pine box that is under the hay hanger. Pine is very inexpensive. I scoop poopies frequently off the fleece, but only change it once weekly for my two pigs. My girls eat hay and orchard grass but do not bed down in it. I have a rubber pan in one corner with pieces of scrap fleece that they love to burrow and sleep in. Best of luck to you! Tere H |
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piguinea101 |
Re: ... | #20 | ||
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Posts: 300 12/26/05 04:54 AM |
i know that some people use a wadding pool as their guinea pig cage. Is it ok to use an inflatible pool? Would a guinea pig try to chew the pool causing it to deflate?...Merry Chirtmas!!! Happy holidays!!! Did any one get a present for their guinea pig?
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