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Guinea Pigs - Cutiecavies Guinea Pig Forum :: CAVY FUN :: Introduce Yourself & your Guinea Pig :: The Cavy Caretaker Author Topic: The Cavy Caretaker (Read 184 times) sagerbils Guest The Cavy Caretaker « Thread Started on Aug 26, 2009, 11:48pm » Hi, my name is Spenser. I have, since January, been the proud owner and careful breeder of gerbils, but had never once thought about guinea pigs. (No offense, I more of a mouse-type person, and gerbils were the closest mom permitted me to ever get.) Then...G-Force happened. I'm sure I am not the only one to go through this dilemma since the accursed Disney branded guinea pigs as play things, but I will nonetheless share my story... So, the niece was THRILLED by G-Force. Couldn't stop talking about it. So, grandma takes the niece to the pet shop and buys her one. Yes. One. So, the thing is tortured and loved for...oh, about 1 week. I think she cleaned the cage once. And the thing had no partner and was scared as all hell to be touched. She was forgotten. So, one day, after about a week of neglect, I started taking her out when I wasn't busy, and just letting her roam around, because she is in this tiny litter-box-sized cage that everyone knows about. She quickly got to the point of taking lettuce from my hand, and soon thereafter would snuggle up to me and just be content to lay there. (I'm not used to that--gerbils are wonderful creatures, but don't snuggle.) Then, I noticed that the food was out. This was my test. No worries, I fed her large handfuls of the pellets and yummy fresh foods so she didn't starve; I just left the feed dispenser empty to see how long the niece would take to notice. Three days pass. And the grandma notices--not the niece. So, care has fallen to me. I refuse to watch the animal suffer. I clean her cage, feed her, play with her, bathe her, etc. I even got her a friend once I learned they were social: a rescue pig from an out-of-home shelter who was skin and bones with protruding hips and what I think was multiple barbering sores from being cooped up. She had been pregnant at a terribly young age because the previous owners got "2 females" and didn't know sscrap about guineas. Squeakers, the original guinea, hasn't been so active and talkative since we got her! The new one (I think named Juarez after...you guessed it, G-Force...) has gained a lovely amount of weight...and I'm worried might also be pregnant? She has a strange bulge on the sides that Squeakers doesn't have, and it moves from side to side. Plus, this thing guzzles water like a camel!!! Anyway, that's where we are today. I will add pictures of the wonderful love bugs later when the camera decides to work. « Last Edit: Aug 26, 2009, 11:48pm by sagerbils » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged vivian Junior Piggy member is offline My Milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. And they're like, "Squeakity squeak squeak!" Joined: Jul 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 71 Location: Maryland Karma: 0 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #1 on Aug 27, 2009, 12:56am » That's awful! I can't believe parents would get their child a pet just because of some Disney movie. It's good that you tended to the poor piggie, I'm sure all of us would like to see some pictures of them! Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #2 on Aug 27, 2009, 1:40am » Apparently it happens more often than people know. I was reading another post about G-Force and its effects--rescues getting filled with so many piggies, they don't know what to do! It's terrible! « Last Edit: Aug 27, 2009, 1:40am by sagerbils » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Dawn - Admin Administrator MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007 member is offline Dawn and the Cutiecavies Joined: Sept 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 22,554 Location: Hyde, Cheshire UK Karma: 79 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #3 on Aug 27, 2009, 9:44am » Well I knew it would happen, that is the thing with these films they bring out with not a thought for how it will influence people. I think I am going to add a link to this post on my website so that people will hopefully read it first before making a rush decision. I hope you don't mind Spenser? « Last Edit: Aug 27, 2009, 9:54am by Dawn - Admin » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged [YmP:http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj190/grosvenorguineas/P1060109-1.jpg][MpB:http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:pev0daQUy6o_IM:http://bluebison.net/backgrounds/2006/0806/guinea_pigs_1024.jpg]W hy not visit: www.grosvenorguineas.bravehost.com www.cutiecavies.bravehost.com Orlaith Cutiecavies Special Staff TPOTM Feb 2009, TPOTM June 2009 Cavy & Owner 'OTM July 2009 member is offline Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 2,132 Location: Dublin, Ireland Karma: 13 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #4 on Aug 27, 2009, 9:50am » Well done on looking after poor Squeakers and taking in Juarez. I bet there are lots of piggies out there who are in the same situation after kids seeing that film. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #5 on Aug 27, 2009, 2:06pm » @ Dawn: I don't mind at all, go ahead and link this. Most piggies won't have an animal lover available to take them in! @ Orlaith: And I couldn't help but take care of them. Squeakers is nothing but a sweetheart--she snuggles and even licks me (which I didn't know a guinea pig could do)! Looking for a rescue pig seemed logical--maybe the pigs can talk about what's happened to them and feel comforted or something. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #6 on Aug 27, 2009, 3:44pm » Finally the camera got over itself and now takes pictures! Here's Squeakers and Juarez enjoying out time and a salad. Squeakers is what I believe is a teddy tortoiseshell and white, and Juarez is a satin tortoiseshell. Squeakers enjoying a carrot, and a fuzzy top-down view of her. Juarez had prominent hip bones and a sunken belly when we got her from the rescue. She also had quite a few barbering sores that I feared were mites, but turned out to go away with a couple nice baths. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Dawn - Admin Administrator MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007 member is offline Dawn and the Cutiecavies Joined: Sept 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 22,554 Location: Hyde, Cheshire UK Karma: 79 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #7 on Aug 27, 2009, 3:55pm » Thanks Spenser they are very lucky piggies, they look like they are very well cared for now they have you Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged [YmP:http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj190/grosvenorguineas/P1060109-1.jpg][MpB:http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:pev0daQUy6o_IM:http://bluebison.net/backgrounds/2006/0806/guinea_pigs_1024.jpg]W hy not visit: www.grosvenorguineas.bravehost.com www.cutiecavies.bravehost.com sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #8 on Aug 27, 2009, 4:00pm » I just hope they're happy. I absolute despise animal suffering because of the carelessness and neglect of their owners. I hope their story helps save future piggies! They're growing on me. xD Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Orlaith Cutiecavies Special Staff TPOTM Feb 2009, TPOTM June 2009 Cavy & Owner 'OTM July 2009 member is offline Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 2,132 Location: Dublin, Ireland Karma: 13 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #9 on Aug 27, 2009, 4:13pm » They're gorgeous! Wow, no wonder you had to take them in Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged piggymomma Extra Special Piggy TPOTM July 2009 member is offline Joined: Jul 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 476 Karma: 5 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #10 on Aug 27, 2009, 8:49pm » My goodness what adorable pigs! BRAVO for stepping in and caring! Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged SQUEAK! sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #11 on Aug 27, 2009, 11:20pm » Yeah, they kinda are growing on me. I'm trying to get the niece involved with them a little bit again by building them a cubes and coroplast cage. I figured if the girl actively constructed their house, maybe it'd be cooler or something. Plus, they NEED more room--I get them out and let them romp, but I can't do that 24/7! O.o Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #12 on Sept 1, 2009, 2:18am » ***Update*** So, here's everyone enjoying a salad. :] My question is...is there anyway someone can tell me if Juarez here is preggers? O.o She's gotten exponentially bigger since I've had her, and I cannot weigh her... (she weighs more than the 500 gram scale, though) She also drinks a LOT more than Squeakers EVER did. Here's some belly pics.. bigger than last week. Any guesses? Or too soon to tell? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Orlaith Cutiecavies Special Staff TPOTM Feb 2009, TPOTM June 2009 Cavy & Owner 'OTM July 2009 member is offline Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 2,132 Location: Dublin, Ireland Karma: 13 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #13 on Sept 2, 2009, 4:11pm » Hmm, it's hard to tell. She could be pregnant but time is the best answer for this question! If she is pregnant then she'll start to really balloon in the last few weeks. How long have you had her? If she hasn't had any or isn't showing a definite pregnant belly by about six or seven weeks since you got her, then she should be okay. It's really frustrating (I've been there wondering about one of mine too!) but all you can really do is wait it out and in the mean time make sure she has lots of nice veggies and hay and some dry food so she gets enough nutrients for the possible babies Also, she definitely looks plumper than in the first photos you posted, but since she was quite bony I don't know is she just getting her natural piggy-chubbiness back. They're both gorgeous girls, by the way. « Last Edit: Sept 2, 2009, 4:13pm by Orlaith » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #14 on Sept 2, 2009, 6:44pm » We've only had her for a few weeks--a little less than a month, I think. She's a real sweet girl, and lets you know when she's out of something. She kept squealing really loud the other day when I'd walk by the cage--I was worried she was hurt or something, but when I stopped by and checked, there was no hay; after refilling the hay, she just happily chewed away. It's kinda cool. :] But anyway, I've been trying to keep them on pretty varied diets, and making sure that they got their daily vitamin C along with their exercise. Still looking to build a C&C cage. But Squeakers is just a healthy weight while Juarez is bulges out. Oh well, thanks for the help. I will keep everyone updated and start reading about pregnancy, etc. to ensure that her and her potential babies are healthy as can be. :] Thanks muchly. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Kayleigh Supreme Piggy member is offline Pip, Lola, Tia, Toe, Squeak Joined: Aug 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,227 Location: Scotland Karma: 3 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #15 on Sept 4, 2009, 6:35am » I just thought i would say well done its fantastic what your doing!!! The piggies are lovely!!! I also thought i would mention there is no need to supplement vitamin c aslong as the piggies get enough fresh veggies/hay dry food etc Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged [MpB:http://profs.info.uaic.ro/~busaco/photos/green/images/24.TheSkyIsFalling.jpg] sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #16 on Sept 4, 2009, 6:14pm » Oh, I just meant adequate vitamin C via fresh veggies, etc. ^_^ I remember that vitamin drops aren't useful for piggies. I use them for my gerbils, though. Anyway--yeah, I just mean lettuce, celery, carrots... Oh! They got a couple of chunks of watermelon last night and they loved it! Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #17 on Sept 4, 2009, 9:59pm » Update on Juarez's pregnancy watch: She just drank one of those big water bottles dry within two days... It's amazing how quick the water goes! Not sure if this data is relevant, but I remember that drinking a lot of water is a sign of pregnancy. Just keeping everyone updated. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged sagerbils Guest Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #18 on Sept 5, 2009, 9:03pm » Okay, so for a while I thought that Squeakers and Juarez were fighting. They were making strange gurgling noises and jumping about, but there was never any biting or showing off teeth. Then I read about it, watched a few videos, and discovered...they're popcorning! I guess they really are happy together. Yay! Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Dawn - Admin Administrator MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007 member is offline Dawn and the Cutiecavies Joined: Sept 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 22,554 Location: Hyde, Cheshire UK Karma: 79 Re: The Cavy Caretaker « Reply #19 on Sept 5, 2009, 9:07pm » Oh how lovely yes they must be very happy if they are popping hehe well done for taking good care of them Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged [YmP:http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj190/grosvenorguineas/P1060109-1.jpg][MpB:http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:pev0daQUy6o_IM:http://bluebison.net/backgrounds/2006/0806/guinea_pigs_1024.jpg]W hy not visit: www.grosvenorguineas.bravehost.com www.cutiecavies.bravehost.com Forum Jump--------------------» Home--------------------» IMPORTANT--------------------- Posting Guidelines & Forum Help- Staff Profiles- Staff Board--------------------» CAVY INFO--------------------- What you need to know if you have decided to keep a Guinea Pig- Breeds & Varieties --- Breeds 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