Chantilly and Mr. Big

Chantilly and Mr. Big (44g) day 1

First Posted May 23, 2008

 

On Wednesday evening Chantilly gave birth to 3 pups, 2 were stillborn and one is extremely tiny yet seemingly fighting fit. The whole event was quite traumatic and it was the least I could do to stay with her until she was settled again. Compared to other births this one was quite bloody and Chantilly was intent on cleaning herself up followed by 2 hours of non stop eating. As the Little One was still very wet and getting cold I dried him off with a towel and gave him some massages. He was unable to hold his little head up or even walk as a newborn guinea should be able to do. The majority of guinea pig births go well and no interference whatsoever is needed.

Periodically he was put back in with Mum to check whether or not she was ready for him. Eventually she came over and lay by him and washed him thoroughly. No suckling seemed to happen that night- at least not while I was there but Chantilly was showing a maternal interest and it was the most that could be hoped for.

The next morning I was prepared for the worst but was ‘greeted’ by a bouncing baby! The transformation was amazing :) His head was now held high and he had sorted out how to co ordinate those large feet of his :) Still no evidence of suckling from Mum but he tried his best to follow her around, despite getting tired out rather quickly.

That evening he weighed in at 1.6oz/44g, I have been ‘brought up’ to belive that babies under 2oz do not stand a good chance of survival. For Chantilly’s sake I hope he makes it, she has been through so much- you really had to be there to know and feel the panic in her. She has settled into being a doting Mum but isn’t forgetting her own needs and is not backwards in coming forwards to ask for her food.

This evening (Friday) Little One has been showing an interest in Timothy Hay and Spring Greens but can’t quite manage to eat them yet- unlike Bertha and Solo who were eating within hours of being born.

At this moment I am hopeful for Little One, he’s showing every sign of being ‘OK’, who says size matters?!

January 12, 2013   Posted in: Inside The Hutch, Planet Guinea  No Comments

Inside The Hutch…

Agouti Pigsta, Wilma

“Inside The Hutch” is the Guinea Pig Welfare theme for 2013, each month we will be focusing on a different topic with a relevant story to go with it. To kick off January we have enlisted the help of Agouti Pigsta Wilma, who will be telling her own story so far. Wilma found Guinea Pig Welfare on Facebook and offered her services but was previously known to us, a few months ago, through Gorgeous Guineas!

“We first heard about Wilma through my step daughter Katie and the story was that she was now living alone and outside in the cold with very little basic comforts. My step daughter suggested to her owner tactfully that myself and her mum (Sue) were very fond of Guineas and that we could give her a good home with our other Guineas. She came to live with us shortly after we returned from our Christmas holidays last year and understood from the information given that she was a he! Therefore we called our new Guinea Wilbur and arranged for him to have a pamper session with Chrissie Slade at Gorgeous Guineas. Chrissie phoned us when Wilbur was ready to collect and told us that actually our new Guinea was a she and suggested the name Wilma. We were delighted with the news actually as this meant that Wilma could eventually join our other Guineas, a sow Winnie and Piglett our neutered boar.
Since that day Wilma has settled into her new home very well, she is a joy to own and has very much established her own place within the group. She especially loves to play and hide in plenty of hay and is always first to jump in when fresh hay appears!!”

Margaret and Sue

During January Guinea Pig Welfare will be focusing on the similar, same and completely different needs of boars and sows and emphasisng that the 2 genders need to separated by 4 wheeks of age to prevent further pregnancies from occuring!

Wilma and friends, Piglett and Winnie

 

January 1, 2013   Posted in: Inside The Hutch, Planet Guinea  No Comments

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone and their Guineas a very happy and prosperous New Year! Thank you goes especially to Active Vetcare, The Hay Experts, Supreme and Gorgeous Guineas for their continued support. We would like to thank Scottish Timothy Hay, Burns and  Deanes Farm for their support this year at Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek.

We look forward to everything the New Year brings! Keep bang up to date with all the happenings by joining our Facebook page: Guinea Pig Welfare.

 

 

December 31, 2012   Posted in: Planet Guinea  No Comments

Wheekback for Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek…

Feedback, facts and figures from Clinical director Jenny Towers of Active Vetcare:

“We checked about 25 pigs (some together!) and found that a lot were healthy :) but also dental problems (incisors and molars ), skin disease – mostly fungal. Lumps and bumps and one that had signs of cystitis.”

Jenny agrees that next year we need to encourage the other practices in the group to actually do the health checks themselves. This will increase the number of guinea pigs they see and will benefit everyone in the local guinea pig owning community, particularly the pet owner (as opposed to enthusiast) who is most in need of good and accurate information. Furthermore it will increase the knowledge of the vets and their familiarity with guinea pigs. Several guinea pigs were referred to Tilehurst for a health check by other practices.

Feedback from Chrissie Slade of Gorgeous Guineas:

“Hannah checked Jupiter over and said that there was a thickening around the stifle (knee joint) causing his limp. No signs of any pain but if there is in the future, Rimadyl will take care of that. Also discussed castration (her suggestion) as she knows most of my other boars had been done. The following week he had his little op, sailed through it despite being (old at) 4 and was signed off yesterday at his post op check.”

I find it quite a breakthrough that Hannah has addressed the emotional well being of a guinea pig here, thinking ahead and looking at the bigger pigture. Jupiter is currently being introduced to 2 other boars but if that doesn’t work he will live with one boar, being castrated means that should he ever need to find a friend in the future he has more options.

Thank you to everyone that has given feedback and supported the Wheek, some very pleasing comments on our Facebook page too, as well as pigtures!

Must:

  • Provide goody bags
  • Have a display board to illustrate current message/theme
  • Only provide guinea pig friendly products
  • Put a warning about removing handles on carrier bags before giving to guinea

Should:

  • Advertise the event more: in local pet shops, shops local to the practice
  • Get facts and figures from the practice
  • How many guinea pigs attended?
  • What benefit to humans and guineas is the healthcheck? State this in advertising
  • A consult fee is £30 normally, so Active Vetcare have donated lots!
  • Ask Jenny and team what can be improved for next year
  • Ask people to spread the word by putting up posters and by word of mouth
  • Advertise benefits of meeting your vet and talking to them when you haven’t got a sick guinea pig

Could:

  • PDF posters and put on the website to make available for future Guinea Pig Welfare Wheeks people want to organise in their local area.
  • Encourage local practices within the group to carry out the health checks themselves rather than refer clients to Tilehurst.
  • Format a template with Jenny to help the other practices carry out Welfare checks themselves.

Last but not least I have had some terrific news from someone who is trying to get a Welfare Wheek going in her own local area. She has a good relationship with her vet and is willing to put in the time needed to help them hold a similar event. I am more than happy to provide any literature/posters or whatever help is required. More on this event will be posted on our Guinea Pig Welfare Facebook page.

 

Jupiter, with his friend Ice, whose emotional wellbeing was considered at his healthcheck

 

November 18, 2012   Posted in: Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek  No Comments

Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek 3, 2012

 

The third Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek was held from 12 to the 16 November at Active Vetcare, Tilehurst. The aim is to provide quality healthchecks and information to the local guinea pig community, be they pet owners or enthusiasts. The preparation begins well in advance, as well as the free health check we think this is the ideal time for guinea pig friendly businesses to promote their products. Guinea Pig Welfare will only supply products that are guinea pig friendly in the Goody Bags and this year we decided that we should pursue the importance of hay in a guinea pig’s life. We achived this by providing a variety of hays and presenting them in Bags of Fun, paper bags stuffed with hay that can be put straight into the cage for guinea to play in.

Donation from The Hay Experts

Donation from Gorgeous Guineas

Labels for Bags

Bags of Fun

We combined this with our “One Is Not Enough” message. This was displayed on the goody bags and on the big display board in the waiting room.

One is not enough!

 

Display Board

Goody BagS because 1 was not enough!

There is also the free health check with a guinea pig competent vet. Tilehurst Active Vetcare see many guinea pigs every week and have excellent and experienced surgeons that are used to operating on guinea pigs. They have done over 70 castrates for Reading Guinea Pig Rescue (now closed) alone.

Waiting for their healthcheck….

 

 

 

Back home the guineas can tuck into their goodies…

Guineas with goody bag

Fudge and Nougat enjoying their Green Oat Hay

 

Many thanks to: Gorgeous Guineas, The Hay Experts, Burns Pet Nutrition, Deans Farm and Scottish Timothy Hay for their generous donations.

November 17, 2012   Posted in: Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek, Health, Miscellaneous, One Is Not Enough, Planet Guinea  No Comments

That was the pig that was…

Zola…

On Ninth November 2012 the lovely Zola went to be a Star on Planet Guinea; she’s the dark but prominent one, soft, blunt edges, still and silent but capturing your gaze with hers…

Missing You is easy,

Remembering You is not,

I want to feel your gaze,

Smell your warmth,

See your thoughts as I walk through the door…

Head high,

Eyes speaking your mind,

Wondering what’s there to find…

You stand away from the crowd,

Though know your place,

At the top of my list 🙂

And I can feel you wheeking

When I’m thinking of You…

I first met Zola at a friends, wandering around her large pen with her friends. Her friends moved over to the other side and into houses but Zola stood and captured my eyes, commanded my gaze, that achieved she then let me pick her up for a cuddle. My friend said I could have her as she had had her 2 litters and deserved a nice pet home. As much as I wanted to there was no room at the inn so I came home empty handed and secretly not wanting to visit again soon and have to leave Zola yet again. On my next visit  I did have room and Zola came home with me 😀 She brought her long gaze with her and it was put to good use when she wanted some of her favourite Baby Corn!  Her long looks making me feel guilty if there wasn’t any.

At one Piggy PM Zola was in great demand by one little boy in particular! A young boy (about 8) insisted on holding Zola in the guinea pig room; Zola was happy to be held but on her terms and when she’d had enough she had to get down! It was suggested that one of the others would be much better to hold but the lad was having none of it and eventually compromised that if he held Zola he would have to give her back when she wanted to go. It seemed there was some sort of connection going on- Zola sat for the longest and was the most relaxed she had ever been!

Karen, Missing the black nose…

Zola Summer 2012

With her friends, 2012

November 11, 2012   Posted in: Planet Guinea  No Comments

Fireworks and Guineas… Or Not.

A Few Firework Related Facts:

  • But first, fireworks are NOT fun for guinea pigs, fireworks are loud, sudden noises that come from nowhere. It’s the fact that they come suddenly, with no warning and are unfamiliar that frightens guineas.
  • Whilst Guineas adjust to the sound of the vacuum cleaner and other household noises this is because eventually they become everyday familiar sounds, though guineas do not, by any means, become totally bullet proof!
  • Some people recommend putting a radio on while fireworks are being let off and although this may help muffle some sounds often it cannot muffle the sound of fireworks going off nearby.
  • It seems fireworks will happen, and the only thing you can do is to move the guineas away from the sounds if possible (or as far away as possible) and/or provide lots of hay in hidey hole such as fiddlestix or cardboard boxes with holes cut out etc for them to hide in so they can, at least feel safe and secure until the noises have stopped. You can’t stop a guinea pig feeling frightened, but you can help them cope with the situation.
  • It should go without saying that NO guineas should be outside at this time of year anyway because of the damp air (UK), where guineas are outside they should be moved inside and care taken that they don’t undergo a big temperature when being moved out. Fireworks going off are another good reason for not housing guineas outside.
  • It should also go without saying that NO guineas should be on their own anyway, let alone during fireworks night! If your guinea pig lives alone maybe fireworks night will demonstrate a good reason for them needing to be with a friend. If you no longer want to keep guineas and this is your last one howabout considering asking a rescue if they would let you foster one and return it when it becomes a single guinea or even surrendering your current guinea to a rescue?
  • Guinea pigs come in an explosion of colours, just like fireworks, in fact I would guess that there are more guinea pig colours than there are colours of fireworks. Guinea pig colours can be from Lilac, Slate Blue, to Red, Buff, Caramel, Golden and a whole host of marked varieties from Dalmatian to Dutch, Agouti to Tort and White…
  • Although the Catherine Wheel may seem a fairly sedate firework to Humans to guinea pigs the prolonged noise can be very scary. Talking of wheels, guinea pigs do not use wheels to play on, those are for hamsters.
  • Have fun this fireworks night but consider a display rather than home fireworks that will be close to neighbouring animals/pets and consider your guinea pigs’ wellbeing by putting in a massive pile of hay (as opposed to big!) for them to hide in.

Don’t forget this link: http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/documents/Rescue%20Remedy.pdf for Rescue Remedy.

November 3, 2012   Posted in: Health, Miscellaneous, Seasonal care  No Comments

Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek 2012

Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek evolved from a Piggy PM I did at Tilehurst Active Vetcare, afterwards we were discussing how rabbits have a welfare week and not guineas. It was suggested that we trial one along the same lines, in fact it turned out to have more clients than the rabbit one in the same year! This will be our third Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek, during the Welfare Wheek guinea pig owners can make an appointment for a free health check for their guinea pigs, and, once again, companies have donated guinea pig goodies for the free goody bags.

Gorgeous Guineas and The Hay Experts have been supporters of Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek from the beginning, they were in fact the companies that supported me for the Piggy PMs too. Gorgeous Guineas have donated some of their handmade shampoos and from The Hay Experts we have a selection of yummy hays! Deans hay and Burns hay have also donated some hay this year which will be packed in colourful Bags of Fun for playing in. Hay is not just for eating! It is for sleeping in, tunneling in as well.

The Wheek runs from November 12 until the 16 November inclusive. Health checks are with vets that see lots of guinea pigs every week from all over the South. You will be advised if further treatment for anything is necessary. Please take guineas for their checks in pairs, this should be true whenever a vet visit is needed.

To book an appointment with Tilehurst Active Vetcare for a free health check (s) for your guinea pig(s) Tel: 0118 9428240 and ask for an appointment for a Guinea Pig Welfare free health check.

Tilehurst Veterinary Centre
19 School Road,
Tilehurst,
Berkshire
RG31 5AR

Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek 2012 Bee there

More information about the practice and vets here: http://www.activevetcare.co.uk/practices/tilehurst.asp

If you are travelling by train get off at Reading main station and catch the number 17 bus from the town centre outside Broad Street Mall to the White House Stop which is directly outside the surgery.

Thank you for your support! Without it there would be no Welfare Wheek, lets keep it happening 🙂

November 1, 2012   Posted in: Guinea Pig Welfare Wheek, Planet Guinea  No Comments