My 'friend' is a cow and I need to rehome her guinea pigs!

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Okay, this is a desperate plea, my 'friend' says the smell of her piggies is making her sick and they need to be rehomed, she has asked at pets at home but they have no room, she has asked on facebook. No one wants them. Thats all the trying she has done! She is now saying they are going to be released over the common tonight! SHIT! My DH will go balistic if i take in anymore pets....running total of about 25, various animals, lots of vet fees and high food bills as it is so i can understand...but they will be eaten by a fox in minutes.

2 male negelcted piggies about to go to their deaths. Would anyone like them??

There is a 'super furry animals' section I think ?

Yes, it's a bit quiet in there though from what I can tell :(

I had a struggle to get them out of the run - started raining and by god those piggies can run! Bramble darted out and almost ran under a garden bush, caught her just in time. I must have chased Biscuit around the run about 10 times before I managed to fish her out. Looking forward to when they trust me a bit more and I don't end up terrifying all of us everytime I have to handle them!

I'm also a bit worried that I won't spot if they're not well or injured simply because they're hiding all the time - but I guess it's early days yet!

They've not drunk anything yet that I can tell. I put vit C drops in yesterday but didn't put any in today in case it was the flavour they didn't like, but still seem to be ignoring the bottle.

I had the same worry about the drinking with mine - was told by the lady that bred ours that when they are little they don't tend to drink much - but to make sure they are getting some water leave the veggies wet after washing them and give them some cucumber which has loads of water in.

We've had ours for 6 weeks now and they are easier to catch but wouldn't be brave enough to let them go free! Practising my whistling to them hoping one day they might come to it.

I've only twice in all the ten years I've had piggies heard them whistle - was quite eerie both times as was middle of the night . Teddy used to churr if I dropped keys on the floor though. Must be piggy equivalent of nails down a blackboard!!

Would love some advice, please!

I've noticed that Bramble's left eye is a bit gummy and partially closed (i.e. looks like the beginnings of an infection). I've pretty much gone on the basis of how I would treat a small child and gently washed the eye with a bit of warm water (amazingly, she lay there in my friend's arms while I did it, ever so still). Cleared away a lot of the sticky gunk underneath.

Should I continue to do that? At what point do I take her to the vet? I don't really want to take her to the vet quite yet if I can help it - don't want her being overwhelmed and taken somewhere ELSE brand new so soon.

this goes with the how you tell they're ill if they hide a lot as well - if they stop eating, take them to the vet, that's what they do when they're ill, they stop eating, that makes them worse and unless you sort it out quick you'll lose them (you quite often have to syringe feed ill guineas)

I'd clean it for a few days (2, 3 maybe) and if it didn't get any better then take her down, or if it suddenly gets much worse or if she stops eating, lol

Well I've definitely seen them both feeding on grass today and they've eaten some of their pellets. I know they're both eating :)

I did just open the sleeping area door and found Bramble stretched out with her eyes closed. Hopefully just cos the poor little thing is tired out from a VERY exciting day and not sickening!

Wish I felt like I knew what I was doing a bit more, even though I read everything I could get my hands on before getting them! Over-anxious new piggie parent

It's worse than being a new parent isn't it - at least you have the MW visit for a few times with a baby!

I've been using guinealynx.com loads - there's a bit there on discharge from eyes - sounds like bramble might be fine and it's a self cleaning eye thing?

It's definitely crusty as well as white - and she's keeping it half closed most of the time. I do think it's some sort of sticky eye.

I made the mistake of googling (I should know better - I've stopped for humans ) and found a fatal contagious guinea pig disease that starts with gummy eyes!!! Breathe. Breathe.

Agree re: MW visit - this is exactly the sort of panic I felt when I was told I could take ds1 home from the hospital

Great link though, thank you - shall bookmark for future panicking!

Heh, ds1 is just as over-anxious too. "Pleeease Mummy, take her to the vet even if she looks better. And tell them I love her."

sorry i carnt help you but! try a rehoming center!! good luck!!
:)