Not that my babies ned to take a bath, because they don't smell or anything, but after the vet applied the frontline on them (which I know now is not good for pigs, so I won't use it again) their fur looks thick and it doesn't shine anymore, you know?

Here's the matter:
I lost a rabbit last year because I took him to a different pet shop for a bath and they just bathed them as you do to dogs, and he died due to stress and everything. I used to take them do another pet shop for baths and they always loved it, but it closed. I've been really traumatized about that and they've never been bathed again. I don't know how to do it right and I am afraid to hurt them. I tried once, but I started crying even before touching them.
Can I bathe the pigs? If yes, how? I will never, ever take them to a pet shop to be bathed, no matter how good or specialized they are. I'd rather have dirty piggies!
Is it OK to bathe them? Which products should I use?

I live in Washington, and my mom has polished wooden stairs outside, they get really slippery in the rain, and I was walking down the stairs, holding the rail because I fall alot and well, I slipped, my fiance said I had about 1 1/2 feet of air and flew about 4 feet and landed right on my tailbone, I heard a snap and then I couldn't breathe. It completely knocked the wind out of me. I told my mom to call 911, I've never had that sensation before, I couldn't move, walk- the fire truck showed up first, and the ambulance second i was able to stand and pivot- went to the emergency room had xrays they say I didn't break anything.

October 2008 I slipped on a bus and fell, the air went out of me for a second, and I didn't realize I was sitting in the middle of the aisle, I was ok- until the next day I had a tailbone injury, it never healed- now this one was way worse, and it takes forever to stand up, it's alot of pain. On top of that, certain ways I move my arms give me that " knocked the wind out of me" feeling again- before all this I had some back problems here and there but nothing so extreme. Has anyone ever had this sensation? What would you recommend I do? Do you think a Chiropractor would fix the problem? I don't want to live like this the rest of my life.

Thank you

Since taking a new job in February my piggy has seemed a bit lonely so for a while I had contemplated getting another piggy friend for him. Up to a couple of weeks ago I had been always put off by pet shops insisting I could not introduce two males but after reading about it being a myth I decided to give it a go.
I bought a baby piggy called MoJo and have had him quarantined in another room and I am now starting the introduction process. This morning I sprayed both pigs with an aloevera spray and placed them in pens next to each other. At first they didnt notice but once they did they were sniffing at the bars and even chutting a bit. The baby kept trying to clime over the pen wall and my older piggy Percy would then also raise up to peer over. So far no teeth chattering of anything bad so I wondered if anybody else found this on the first introduction and where they went from here?
:)

Hello,

I'm new to these forums, but I'm hoping that someone here might help me better understand my cavy.
Alvin is my first cavy which I've had for about 1.5 months now. At first he was very friendly. He never loved being picked up, but he would let me pick him up without too much fuss.
After reading more about cavies online, I knew that his cage was too small (although it was at least twice the size of what he was in at the store) and so I decided to buy the largest cage on this site for just him. When I put him in the new XL cage, he was very happy. He runs laps in circles, popcorns like crazy, and generally seems to be much happier. However, I can not pick him up anymore like I used to be able to.
Perhaps now he has more room to scramble and to get away, but laptime with him (if I can ever manage to scoop him up) is really no longer enjoyable. He constantly nips me and my clothes almost from the second I have him (unless I have a treat for him). The problem is, I don't even like giving him treats because he almost gets aggressive about it. He'll scarf it down in just a few seconds, starts biting around (which I can understand because he still smells it) but he acts like he's going to walk off the arm I'm cradling him with because he is so crazed for more of the treat. He almost acts like he's starving and I never feed him although he receives plenty of pellets, hay, and fresh organic vegetables every single day.
He's still cute, I can reach in and pet him, but laptime, since the new cage, is dreadful. I can tell he is happy because he runs around like a maniac, but it's really sad that I can't even hold my pet anymore.

Has anybody else ever experienced this? Is this something that will ever relax? He's been in his cage for about 3 weeks now, and it's only seeming to get worse. ... so bizarre.

I have a question for the veggies, on this forum that are in menopause. Has your physician ever been concerned regarding the amount of soy that you have in your diet? Have you experienced any ill effects from a diet high in soy?

I ask this becuase my mother is eatting primarily veg, and her diet is high in soy. A short while after she started consuming a large amount of soy, her hair begain to fall out. She has since reduced the soy in her diet, and the problem is resolving.

Could have sworn I amde a topic about this... oh well.

Anyone ever heard of this? I was trying to help someone out with their pigs as they had mites and they read somewhere that bag balm was good for them. I suggested against it though as I've never heard about it on here or on guinea lynx.

Wiki page: Bag Balm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

thoughts?

So once I got my job I really got to work preparing physically for having guinea pigs. The cage is stable with a cat proof top. My father gave me the okay, My mother is impressed with the cage and is okay. (I am an adult, 22 years old but I live with them so- courtesy and all). I still have a small list of needs like two more water bottles so I have three, and another two houses for the guinea pigs. But all of those are little things.

My sister, 20 years old, is debating on getting one or two (which is why we are looking for three or four, I will be getting three regardless to if she decides to get one or not). My mother is hoping that we get young ones, under a year old, because she would like them to last longer than a couple years. Gender is not imperative.

I have been keeping an eye on Craig's list and occasionally looking at other classifieds though most are breeders "culling" herds or advertising for newly coming births.

The cage I have is essentially a 2X8 with a 2X6 arm, making it L shape, all one level. Newly enclosed cage (just did that today, have not put up pictures of the "lid" but can). Fleece bedding, Windows now covered in plastic to prevent drafts, and extra coroplast that I can baby proof with if very young guinea pigs are found. I am going to keep looking but I thought I would post here in case someone knows someone who needs to re-home. I do call shelters on occasion but none I have called have them in. There is one rescue in Ohio that I am aware of, This little piggy and me, There used to be another but it has closed.

So to make things short in this last paragraph.... I want guinea pigs.

Hello everyone as you might have gathered from the title I have a bit of a question concerning the introduction of my two boars. After having my first boar for about a year and a half now I finally found a partner that I hoped to pair him up with. After quarantine and everything was finished, today was finally the day to introduce the two boys. I got a younger boar to introduce with my older boar as I felt that would be easier as well as the fact that many of the older (or same age) boars just didn't have the right personality that I felt would mesh well with my current piggy.

Anyways, I did the introductions in a neutral area like suggested and things actually went really well as I was preparing myself mentally (and physically) for the worst. There was the normal rumble strutting (by the older boar) and just some strutting from the younger, followed by mounting behavior (mainly my older boar but the younger tried his hand at it too...didn't go so well for him hehe) and chasing but no attacks or any squeals from the younger boar (or the older for that matter). That being said the younger boar actually made virtually no sounds at all and it was just my older boar doing all the 'talking', and boy did he talk. I watched the two for a couple hours in the neutral zone just letting them get to know one another and making sure they were okay with one another. Eventually I did move them to the single cage they will (hopefully) be sharing. Its actually a rather spacious four story ferret cage that has been slightly modified for guinea pig use. Things went well in the cage with only some more dominance mounting and strutting on the part of my older boar and the two chased each other around a bit trading off on who was doing the chasing. They settled down for a bit to munch on hay and I've been watching them for another several hours now in the cage together.

So, if you've managed to read this far it probably seems that things are going well so you must be asking yourself what's my question right? So here it is. Like I said I've been in the room the whole time close at hand to watch them and step in if needed but never saw or felt it was necessary however just now I saw just a couple tiny dots of blood in their cage. I was really surprised seeing as neither has squealed or shown any distress but quickly looked over both my boars but couldn't find any wounds on either of them. They are currently sleeping on the same level but in opposite corners. I'm wondering should I separate them for the night because I can't watch them or leave them be? Also the younger boar has been virtually silent throughout (though he isn't too chatty of a pig anyways) and seems to be subservient to my older male but my older one is still sometimes rumble strutting around on occasion.

For the first day of meeting I thought things went really well and was prepared to have to keep them in separate cages in case my older male felt that he didn't want to share but this really doesn't seem to be the case. So...any suggestions on if I should separate them and any tips or comments would be appreciated. Thanks in advance if you read all this and reply. :)

I know it is long, but please read. This is really weird piggy..


Ok, So I went to visit my boys at my cousins house today. Those of you who dont know, I had to give my boys to my cousin because of multiple reasons and for those who do know about that, They are doing wonderful and it was so nice seeing them!

Anyways, when I went over she pulled out this little piggy I had never seen ebfore, she continued to explain to me how it was "new' and she adopted him from a overloaded shelter. I thought that was nice but I got looking at him, He looks way weird, like not a normal piggy. I asked her "Doesnt he look a bit odd to you?" and she came back with "Yup, thats why I got him! No one wanted him cause they thought he was ugly".

He isnt ugly, just..He is the weirdest guinea pig I have ever seen. He is pure white with a patch or black on one ear and has darke eyes, but the weird thing is, he has huge eyes:eye-poppi and a smushed in face, like his eyes are almost touching his nose thats how flat his face is! He looks almost like a pug dog lol I dont know if he is cute or ugly haha. But he was sweet any how.

y question is, Does anyone know why he looks like this? Is there different "types" of guinea pigs? Is he just a sertain breed? I have no clue but I told her Id research a bit for her. I am in the process of trying to get ehr to join the forum as well.

My cavy is currently on unlimited timothy pellets, as she's only 4months old.
However, I was reading that once they reach 6 months that they should be limited to 1/8 of a cup of pellet. We don't measure in cups here, but in grams or ounces, could someone convert that for me? She's on Burgess Excel Guinea.

Another question is, why limit their pellets?
I'd understand if they were prone to over eating, or if they had a cage mate and felt like there was competition for food, but Suzie lives alone.
She's not really a big fan of eating pellets either, she prefers hay and veggies.

(I'm new to this site but have been reading up on cavies since the "norm" has changed since I last had cavies. We never limited our guinea pigs mix food before, they used to have a gravity feeder. But I just wanted to ask.)

Note: please don't go off on your high horse about gravity feeders and mixed foods, as I said - this was back when people thought cavies could have tiny cages and whatnot. Thanks.

Hey guys! I figured this was the best place to start posting. We're getting a piggy, in about a week. We had one about 6 years ago, he was lovely, but he died at age 2. I have no idea why :( I never did get another one. My husband and I were in a petstore the other day getting parrot food and noticed a Mom with her four babies, and we both were like omgosh, lets surprise the kids and get another one...they are too cute. They wont be hold enough to go home for another week, which is okay so I have time to prepare. I had one of those smaller store bought cages in the past, Id like something bigger this time around for him. I am noticing home made cages, and I will look into that after I post this. What is with using towels and fleece? This is something I would be interested in trying. I also am in a little delimia... I am reading that they really like to be with a cagemate. Our previous piggy was by himself , he seemd happy? Would it be okay to just start with him, and add another later? Or should I look into buying one of his brothers (IF there is another boy)?

I just got a new, bigger sheet of coroplast today to expand my girls cage. I am wondering, though, before I set the new cage up, is there any methods that you have found to be effective in protecting or covering the coroplast? I find it gets very wet, especially in the corners, and sometimes poo will cake to it as well. I was thinking of using a vinyl shower curtain but am clueless as to how to tack it down (not to mention its too small - oops!) Also, is this necessary anyway? I just want this sheet to stay clean and last a long time; it was $55!

I went to order some Zorb fabric from Wazoodle today and they are completely sold out! lol Does anyone know of any other places that sell Zorb fabric (by the yard) ??

I have a 2 year old female named Peanut who needs a loving home. She will come with a store cage, bottle, pigloo, and as much hay as you want (I bought a bale this summer and we've barely dented it).

Her cagemate recently died and my mom, whose house she lives at, is no longer willing to let her live there anymore.

I'd prefer she go to a home where she would be living with another pig, as she seems very sad without her friend and is more social to other guinea pigs than to humans, but it's not a deal-breaker.

A little about Peanut: she is a calico guinea pig and fairly small compared to her former cagemate. She doesn't particularly love to be handled, but she has a ton of personality and is very entertaining with her antics in her cage and on the floor. She would do fine with a more dominant pig as she is more passive (about everything besides apple slices).

Please contact me if you have room for a sweet pig!

I printed out the chart on guinealynx for the oral Ivermectin horse paste. I will be mixing this with vegetable oil and I should be okay with that since my son has a graduated cylinder. My main problem is a syringe to administer the Ivermectin. What do you use and where did you get it? I tried CVS and the pet store but neither had one small enough. I'd rather not have to drive 40-45 minutes to his vet just to get a syringe if I don't have to.

I'm smacking my forehead for not keeping one of the two that I had from Doc's antibiotics

I am employed at a 24 hour CVS/Pharmacy. I am the Jane-of-all-trades, so-to-speak, and master of none. While 20 hours of my 40 hour work week I am actually the inventory person, (cycle counting, scanning overstock upstairs to fill shelves downstairs, pre-order, etc. and so on) I also double as a photo technician up front,pharmacy cashier, and shift leader when necessary. Anyways, you get the gist of it-- I am a large piece that keeps this particular store in order. Anywho, getting to the matter at hand.

I'm an all-out animal lover. With the exception of arachnids (like tarantulas) and certain species of lizards, I love all animals. Of course, being on this site, I have the softest place in my heart for guinea pigs and other rodents. I was, however, born and raised around dogs. While I claim to be no expert or veterinary-savvy person, I know quite a few old-wives remedies that have worked in addition to modern medicinal recommendations by my grandfather's dogs' veterinarian. However, I had a lady come in the other day asking SPECIFICALLY FOR an oatmeal shampoo for her dog. I asked her to be a bit more specific, I.E., was she looking EXACTLY for oatmeal soaks or for an actual oatmeal-based shampoo? She gave me a perplexed look and responded with, "Here's what the vet gave me." Lady hands me the slip of paper. All it says on it is Selsun Blue Sensitive Shampoo and oatmeal-based shampoo. The shampoo part was underlined THREE times though. I rubbed my head and contemplation, and then showed the lady that we recently (within the past six months) started getting in Aveeno shampoo with a small bit of oatmeal and wheat base within its contents. The lady adamantly shook her head and replies, rather abrasively: "NO! That is NOT what the veterinarian SAID! She told me SPECIFICALLY that it HAD to be comprised MOSTLY of oatmeal, not just some extract." Soooo... as patiently as I could muster given her uncalled for attitude problem, I walked her over to our skincare/soap aisle and showed her the regular boxed Aveeno, which, any of you with children or who have had poison ivy or chicken pox is very well familiar with. She again stubbornly shook her head and retorted, "NO NO NO! It's a SHAMPOO consistency, NOT a gritty mixture of oatmeal." At this point I was becoming frustrated. In all honesty, when my dog Casey, (may he rest in peace--02/20/1987-01/28/2005) had an episode that required an oatmeal bath, the Aveeno grits inside the box was what his vet recommended and worked just fine. This lady was quite obstinate and insisted that her veterinarian SWORE that CVS, Walgreens, or Rite-Aid would carry what she was looking for. I continued to ask the woman if the vet gave any more specifics, I.E., an actual marketed brand name. She then rehanded me the slip of paper, which simply said, "Oatmeal shampoo twice a day for four days; Selsun Blue every other day for one week." I finally threw my shoulders up in a huge shrug and encouraged the lady to go on the internet and order something through Doctor's Foster and Smith. The lady scoffed, "I DON'T have that kind of time. Chancy <presumably the dog's name> can't wait for this treatment, it needs to be started ASAP because he's been scratching and itching and causing scabbing and bleeding for too long now. I GUESS I WILL JUST HAVE TO GO TO PETCO." The lady was getting ready to storm out, and being an opponent to Petco (unless my grandfather sends me there with his own money and tells me to pick up food for his dogs) I tried getting her to just purchase it directly through her dog's veterinarian. The lady, in an overly huffy tone goes, "WHAT, DO YOU THINK I'M MADE OF MONEY OR SOMETHING? Let's go, Betty! <probably her friend that she was with>" And off she stormed.

GAAAAH!!!! What the :censored: did this lady want me to do, walk on water for her? Seriously, folks, I was nothing but helpful and kind to this lady, but she was hell-bent on finding the PERFECT shampoo for her dog. Which I understand completely, I do, as we should all be doing this for our animals. What I DON'T understand was why she was being so obtuse and vague with me, and moreover, why the veterinarian didn't give her any specific names for the "oatmeal SHAMPOO" as opposed to just "oatmeal BATH". Can somebody here who knows a lot about dogs help me out here? Also, what advice can I give to a customer who comes in and then wants to go to Petco because, *gasp*, CVS'Pharmacy is just that--a PHARMACY! :eek: (I meant no sarcasm towards any of you here in that last statement--this was just directed at my general annoyance over the situation I was placed in last night.) If anyone could help me out, I would be very much so grateful. Thanks, folks.

Hi
I have come a cross pictures of teddy bear piggies and rexes and have fallen inlove with their look (I'm also pretty sure Moo gave birth to a teddy or rex x) I've also read that teddys are supposed to have softer coats and really nice temperaments. But besides this, I really havent been able to find much information about the two breeds, specificly what the differences are between the two.

I am looking to adopt either at teddy or a rex, but would like to know as much about them as possible, besides that they are hard to find!

If anyone could help me out when it comes to breed identification (particularly in pups) and anything eles that sets then apart, (I here they can be easy to confuse with texels as pups) that would be great.:)

I've had my guinea pig Fred for three months now and lately he has become very difficult to handle during floor time and especially during lap time. In the past he has squirmed a little as he was being picked up but settled down with a few easily stopped escape attempts during lap time. He's really geared it up this week though, causing me to nearly drop him several times (more accurately he's been taking flying leaps from my arms while being transported to and from his cage, all of which thankfully have been stopped). I was only able to have lap time with him for five minutes today, as I was unable to get him to sit still. He was constantly trying to get away, clawing at my arm, and being generally uncooperative.

I want to be able to continue lap time with him, but this is just getting to be too much to handle. A piggie elevator might help in transportation, and my only concern is if I use the tunnel I leave in his hidey, he'll relate that with being picked up and won't use it while he's in his cage. But I don't see that helping during lap time, and I'm not sure what I can do then to calm him down and keep him still. I've considered doing lap time in his floor time playpen, so that even if he does manage to get away he'll be safe, as the room he is kept in would be very difficult to pig-proof.

I know that the constant cycle of trying to have lap time with him, him trying to escape, and me adding extra stress to him by not really knowing how to handle it is just making this worse. Does anyone have tips for handling less than cuddly pigs during lap time?

A question for the group: Our litter of (4) pigglies was born extacly 3 weeks ago --- three girls and one boy. So including our 2 adult females we now have 5 girls and 1 boy. But, what do we do with the boy?

We don't want him to be lonely, so we thought about adopting him a male companion. But, if the females are nearby (but separated), will the males fight? Would the new male have to be neutered to prevent fighting? Or, would it be better overall to keep him alone, separated from the females (but able to touch noses), until he's of neutering age? What is neutering age?

Thanks -- all advice appreciated !

Elliot has this kind of gormless/disgusted/confused look - wide eyes, mouth slightly open, front legs splayed.
Ollie's eyes are even wider and he looks constantly terrified.

:love: