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Original poster

help my guinea pig hutch blew over and...

21 replies

flossie64 · 08/03/2009 18:05

We went out for lunch and came home to find the hutch face down on the path and 1 of our GP's missing. I found it in the front garden but he has a cut on his lip and seems very shaken as does his brother(not wounded as far as we can see)
I will go to the vets and have them checked tomorrow ,but would like to know if I should treat the cut in any way. they both do not seem to have any broken bones as I first feared . I just feel so sorry for them.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 08/03/2009 18:10

Perhaps bring the hutch in the house. Do they like being handled?

I'd leave them in peace now and long cuddles this evening after the dc have gone to bed but only if they ike being cuddled IYWIM

wotulookinat · 08/03/2009 18:10

you could clean the cut with cooled boiled water, and a teeny bit of salt mixed in.

Original poster

flossie64 · 08/03/2009 18:27

thanks for that we have put the hutch in the garage for tonight( we don't keep cars in it so no fumes)
Also DH and I have been giving them cuddles for about an hour, they are still shivering , and 1 of them managed to wee on Dh.
I just can't believe it blew over, its in such a sheltered spot.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 08/03/2009 18:29

We lost the roof top box (weighs a tonne) off the top of the flat roofed shed - it's lived there for a year almost!

wotulookinat · 08/03/2009 18:35

Putting them in the garage is a good idea so they are sheltered. I wouldn't bring them inside as the sudden change in temperature could be harmful, especially when you put them back outside.

Original poster

flossie64 · 08/03/2009 18:38

where are you cos it didn't seem that windy here (lincs)

OP posts:

wotulookinat · 08/03/2009 19:13

I'm in West Yorks and it was REALLY windy here last night and today.

CarGirl · 08/03/2009 21:11

Surrey, it was like a freak storm for about an hour!

onepieceofcremeegg · 08/03/2009 21:15

flossie I am hesitant in posting this (don't want to worry you) but I used to have rabbits and one day left them out in their run with a small attached "shelter/hutch". The shelter part blew over for no apparent reason. The rabbits escaped but thankfully were found unharmed and safe. There was no way the rabbits could have done this themselves.

Is there a chance that perhaps someone has tipped it over, local teenagers or something not realising it would harm them? (if it hasn't been that windy where you are). That's what I suspected with our mishap.

So sorry to hear that one of them is injured.

wotulookinat · 09/03/2009 08:27

We had strong winds again last night up here. Out rabbit hutch sits on top of a very old double hutch - that collapsed last night!!

Original poster

flossie64 · 09/03/2009 10:25

I'm not sure that anyone had been in the garden as the gates were all still shut ,and last night on facebook a friend of mine posted about a mini whirlwind here. It now sounds likely thats what caused it to happen.
They are still alive this am and I called the vet who said if they were still in shock and not moving it would be more of a worry.
also the cut seems to have scabbed over.
they are still in the garage as its still very windy .

OP posts:

wotulookinat · 09/03/2009 10:31

Keep them in the garage for at least a few days. Have they stopped shaking?

Galava · 09/03/2009 10:38

Aaah. Guinea pigs canget quite stressed after a trauma. Mine died after moving house and we didnt pack him up in the removal van in case you were thinkingg along those lines.

I'd keep them in the garage for a few days in peace and quiet.

Original poster

flossie64 · 09/03/2009 10:52

I think I will leave them until Friday when my DH comes back from work, As I cant move the hutch on my own anyway. He wanted to put them back out tonight.
wotulookihat- I hope your rabbit is ok,this weather is wild.

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wotulookinat · 10/03/2009 10:58

Roxy the rabbit seems ok. She was a bit shaken up but has come out of it unscathed. Her hutch is now on a much more secure picnic table!
How are the guineas? Has the cut healed up?

Original poster

flossie64 · 10/03/2009 12:39

the guineas are not too bad ,after a trip to the vet.
She checked them all over and said they were very shaken. also the fact they did not eat, wee or poo for 24hrs, was a big concern.
they got painkilling jabs( and did not even squeak0 and some medicine to get their bowels working again. She said it would be touch and go , but if they started eating pooing etc things would be ok.
thank god they are cos my DD would have been devestated ,and i don't know how i would have dealt with the bodies.

OP posts:

wotulookinat · 10/03/2009 12:52

are they eating again now?
When my previous rabbit (in fact, and my hamster) died, I took the bodies to the vets and paid for cremation.

Original poster

flossie64 · 11/03/2009 18:25

They are still alive, not eaten much at all so not sure if they will last but keeping my fingers crossed.

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wotulookinat · 11/03/2009 18:30

I would keep them in the garage for the timebeing, at night. Is there a sunny spot where you can put them in the day?
Hope they are ok

kid · 15/03/2009 21:41

How are they now flossie64?
I love guinea pigs, hope they are back to eating plenty.

Original poster

flossie64 · 18/03/2009 10:11

They are picking up slowly.
They are eating, just not as well as before and still quite jumpy when you go to the hutch.
I think they will be fine though , I would be shook up if i had fallen the equivilent height of my upstairs window.
Lets just say the hutch has a lot of extra weight on its roof now, so we have no more scary moments.

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