Cavy's Story: The Great Guinea Pig Rescue

[room onthebroom]

We also rescued my dog, Nigel. I was really young when we did it so I don't remember it very well. He's a great Pyrenees mix: Great Pyrenees/Airedale/Rottweiler. All I remember is seeing him and a large black snake right in front of me.

Ooooh! I've always wanted a Great Pyrenees.

 

[room onthebroom]

Oh my.... So sad.....

Good on you for saving him!! Not many would have taken the time to get him back up to health. So glad he's feeling better now.

Banti, do you remember when this happened? We discussed it slightly on your Duck Diaries thread & that's when I fist saw your amazing pix of Stella & Tiki. I didn't go into too much detail because you know how much I don't like hijacking your thread. Hahaha!

 

[silkielover419]

We thought at first he was part golden retriever, you'll know why when you see him.

 

[room onthebroom]

We thought at first he was part golden retriever, you'll know why when you see him.

Oh totally! He doesn't look like Great Pyrenees, Rotti, or Airedale. Lol! He looks like a lovebug tho.

 

[room onthebroom]

That guy is such a JERK!i hate...I hate animal abuse, I hate when pepole do that

I know, me too! Its really hard to smile & wave when we pass each other on the road. I don't give him eggs anymore... That's my silent, little protest.

 

[room onthebroom]

So anyway, we had started Cavy on his meds... Three different oral injections & drops in the eye, all twice a day. He REALLY hated it. Two of the oral meds were tasty & he actually liked those, but the third was nasty tasting & the eye drops probably stung, because he would scream & scratch me trying to get away. I don't know how much 'Richard' ever held him, but he was very unsocial & didn't like being held at all. May in San Diego can be very sunny & warm during the day with a cold, wet, marine layer at night. We also have more predators than you'd expect & I think Cavy probably went a little savage during his exile into the wild. As much as he hated being held & the meds, we could see improvement right away. After a couple days of antibiotics he was well enough to be moved from the small aquarium into a much bigger cage. We couldn't buy him new stuff, so we had to use the cage that Richard had him in. I was reluctant to do this, but didn't really have a choice. DH scrubbed that cage hard with bleach trying to remove any residual hint of fear or desperation that might have been lingering on it. We also took the top off, because he didn't need it in the house & we hoped without the top he wouldn't recognize it. We put the 'new' house in the livingroom on top of the bunny condo. Not only was that the only spot available in my tiny house, but we also hoped all the family/animal chaos would give him that social connection that I read pigs need. That first couple weeks we all were taking a crash course in "Guinea Pig 101." I've probably had a hundred pets throughout my life, but none of them have ever been a guinea pig. I'll be honest, I'd never even held a pig before that night in the neighbors driveway. I had a lot to learn & probably still do. We originally put a pigloo in the new house along with his hidey hut and a hay trough, but the pigloo was making him even more antisocial. We ended up taking it out & replacing it with cardboard boxes that had multiple holes cut in them, plus a 4" PVC hub pipe with three holes. The vet recommended that we remove the shavings because they might accidentally poke out his other eye (D'oh!) They told us to use shredded paper, Carefresh, or old towels instead. We opted for the old towels because we have lots of those & wouldn't have to drop more $ replacing the Carefresh. Here's a few more pix...


We affectionately call this "The Rodent Condo." Cavy is hiding in the pigloo.


Peek-a-boo Pig-a-loo


Cavy's good eye. Still looking a bit ruffed up, but on the road to recovery.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

I know, me too! Its really hard to smile & wave when we pass each other on the road. I don't give him eggs anymore... That's my silent, little protest.

Then when you walk past just look right ahead, don't even look at him.

 

[BantyChooks]

Banti, do you remember when this happened? We discussed it slightly on your Duck Diaries thread & that's when I fist saw your amazing pix of Stella & Tiki. I didn't go into too much detail because you know how much I don't like hijacking your thread. Hahaha!

I sure do!! LOL, hijack away, it is boring otherwise.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

I sure do!! LOL, hijack away, it is boring otherwise.

LOL

 

[room onthebroom]

I sure do!! LOL, hijack away, it is boring otherwise.

Yours is my favorite thread to hijack.