I am temporarily without guinea pigs

[fortifiedwithtea]

I stress this is not permanent!

I follow on fb the local guinea pig rescue and sanctuary. They are currently treating a sow for fungal, very bald back. The vet had declared the problem hormonal where have I heard that before. Still believing we have not done everything we can for Shai, I contacted the rescue.

After photos and a phone conversation, it was agreed that rescue lady would treat Shai as an in patient and Millie would go to so they wouldn't be lonely.

It seems guinea pigs can have a fungal infection internally as well as on the skin. Shai needs daily medicine and so the girls are away for at least the next 2 weeks.

Rescue lady told us something interesting. The reason why grass is best cut with scissors and not ripped up by the roots. If guinea pigs eat soil they can get a bacterial infection in their gut which is difficult if not impossible to treat. I've always picked grass and snapped off ends that look rooty but from now on I will be more careful and use scissors as 70 does.

The house is not homely without the girls We've had a photo sent already showing Shai looking snug in a cosy after medicine. They are having the very best care.

Oh fortified I'm so sorry to hear you're in a sad, lonely, guineapig free home. You'll have to mow your own lawn too! Just think how much healthier you'll feel this week when you have to eat the huge mound of vegetables you'll buy (out of habit) yourself.

It's good that Shai is getting excellent treatment and absolutely right that Millie should go with her. I'd miss my boys like mad but would probably take the opportunity to do a thorough disinfect and cleanse of all their stuff. I'm sure they're loving their holiday and being spoilt. They'll also be very pleased to see you again when they get home but won't let on of course

Aww, the silence will hit you like a bolt of lightning tomorrow morning when there's no Fridge:Wheek Reaction

Interesting about the soil, could it be something like Tetanus ( I was told when I did First Aid that Essex soil is risky for tetanus)

They will miss you (of course) but it's good they have each other for moral support.
Hope you get some answers.

Shai might end up in the Guinea-Pig equivelant of "The Lancet" with a black rectangle across her eyes in photos.

The silence is horrible. I had no idea how often I go and have a chat with the girls during the day. Fair to say, a lot

I know they are being treated like royalty. Shai was very pleased to see she had a choice of dried pellets. She went for the multi-coloured muesli not the Burgess Excel she has at home little git I knew she will expect the same high standard and I look forward to the judgey look when she finds out a la carte is for holiday care only

How are you coping with your Temporary PigLessNess?

We notice when the pigs are on holiday, we take them in the day before we go, clean the Pighouse and disinfect it.

It's really weird not making their supper and breakfast.

How are they doing?

If you're getting too lonely fortified you can borrow mine! They've been winding each other up all morning with constant chasing and humping (Scruffypig) and sneaking up behind the other one to shove him (Ginger).

you can borrow mine

ha! too late Fernie I'm ducktaping the lid shut on a large cardboard box as we speak and courier posting my Rat Magnets to fortified

Little bu**ers were uncatchable at 9pm in their runs, poor DD was given the runaround by them, we cuddled them when Corrie was on then Bert dived into her fleece top and squawked like a parrot when we tried to evict him .

The new ladies were angels in comparison, easy to catch, cuddly , no lairyness (probably just wanted supper after a busy evening gardening)

Fernie and 70 I am enjoying your guinea tales

I am low key concerned I have not heard from them. I sent an e-mail asking for an update Wednesday but have not had a reply. I don't want to pester as Rescue is all done in spare time, the lady has a job and family too. I am missing the girls very much

Sorry to hear you're still pig-less fortified. Hopefully you'll get news this weekend and be reunited with them soon. Did the rescue say how long she'd have them for?

70 - pigs are never 'uncatchable', they are merely exercising and you're interrupting them. It's Olympic year, so they need all the training they can get - mine are training for the field events (they don't mind which one, they just like fields).

My guineas are ambivilant about Olympics this time around, they don't want to be selected and shipped over to Rio, in case it co-incides with the Huacho Guinea-Pig Festival.
They're all up for dressing up (they do it every Christmas) and getting fed (just like Christmas) but not quite so keen on staying for dinner afterwards.
Even though they're at the peak of their fitness right now, and in 4 years they'll be too knackered to do the next Olympics.

Seems they've all mysteriously lost their passports .....

fortified hope you get some news about your girls soon, as you say, the Rescues are run by volunteers and spare time . This time of year leading up to holidays is busy. Lots of new born animals and animals being dumped rather than their owners finding holiday boarding.

Any news??

No news

I sent another e-mail yesterday asking if there is any sign of hair re-growth. Waiting for a reply.

It's been a little while fortified, I'd phone them for an update. I think it's okay to pester them if they don't reply to emails. Hope you hear soon.

Any news from The Piggies?
How long are they planning to keep them for?
I'm guessing you're paying for the stay, so they'll be contacting you for money ?

Got an e-mail They are eating and drinking well but Shai is as bald as ever.

Payment for their stay is by donation, no formal amount. This lady loves guinea pigs and their welfare comes first. We did give some money for their bed and board. We should top it soon, I don't want her to be out of pocket. The medicine alone costs her £50.

I don't know how long the girls will be away. FB update tells me the other piggy who was signed over to the Elderly Pigs Sanctuary has only just started to re-grow hair.

In other news DD1 has a job interview with P@H this weekend.

The pigs are coming home Monday.

Shai is as bald as ever. She has has a course of medicine for fungal. We need to see if its worked and wait for hair growth. Meanwhile she has also been given mite treatment -again--.

Millie has acquired a taste for posh bags of readigrass. Apparently she sits waiting for it. DD1 asked me, does this mean we have to buy that for her. I think so she will be judgey if home food is not as good as holiday accommodation.

Rescue lady is a little concerned for Millie's ovarian cysts. She thinks they should be drained. She will talk to her vet for advice. Poor Millie

for Millie
for Shari's hair loss

And for fortified's bank balance due to the gps newly acquired expensive tastes

Sorry Shai not sure where the errant r came from

Yay . So pleased they're coming home - and they will be too, although they won't show it. Hope the treatment has worked.

It'll take a while though for the fur to grow back, take phtos to compare over time and keep an eye on her progress.

Will they get their vet to drain Millies cyst (then you won't get the Evil Eye from her?)

ReadiGrass is lovely, it smells all malty and warm, my pigs have a handful if they have no grazing time. They smell gorgeous after eating it.

If ever any evidence was needed that guinea pigs are thick, then this is it!!!

THE GIRLS ARE HOME AND THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN US

Millie has forgotten her name Shai is sticking to her bestie like glue. They guinea pig train everywhere, Shai with her nose millimetres from Millie's bum.

They seem to remember their run though

I think a few whisps of hair have grown on Shai's legs. We do need to take photos as we need to monitor any hair growth over 10 days. Rescue lady couldn't see any difference but she has been with them daily.

Well they are obviously teasing you for not giving them a home coming party.
🐹🐹🐾🐾🐾🐾 🍏🍉🍀🍀🍇🍎

Forgotten you or just completely ignoring you? They're probably making you pay for having the nerve to send them away somewhere (even if it was lovely, cosy and luxurious where they were spoilt, but they won't admit that). If they blank you enough, you'll have to bribe them with goodies. They're not daft, they're evil geniuses.

Sadie always ignores her name, and she's not been anywhere

YY they know how to make you pay Mwah ha ha
They'll suss out their run and house then after a couple of good meals, their paws will be under the table again.

@ Guineapig Train

It's good to have them home I'll bet

Their memories are returning. Millie will turn her head when she hears her name.

They both remembered they like digestive biscuit