Lynn asks: "About a week ago my guinea pig started not being able to walk very well and now she can't use her back legs at all. The guinea pig book that I have said something about "Guinea pig paralysis" some kind of viral infection. Can you shed any light on what may be wrong with my pig?"
Well, I think I agree with the book. I'm not exactly sure what causes paralysis, but if they're totally immobile then that's probably what it is. Just be sure she can get around to her water bottle and food dish alright.
Susan Perri says: "I purchased our Albino Himalayan cavy on August 22, 1999. The pet
store informed us that our cavy was female and that there was "no guarantee that she isn't already pregnant". We named our new member of the family Georgette. She began to get quite large, so I started
reading up on pregnant cavies. On October 7, 1999 Georgette gave birth to two VERY HEALTHY and adorable Albino pups. Mommy and babies are spoiled rotten and doing well. We named the pups Squeaker and Thumper. The pups are going on 3-1/2 weeks old so we figured we
better try to figure out their sexes. Well, Squeaker is male and Thumper is female. My question: The pups are not yet weaned, but Squeaker has begun to 'show his love' for his mom and sister. How soon can I safely move Squeaker to his own cage? He is very vocal about being away from his mom and sister for even short periods of time to be cuddled. All my books say anywhere between 4-8 weeks, but I'm afraid that if I wait too long, I may have more pups! I'm finding it VERY difficult having to give up these pups to loving homes, let alone any more! Help!"
Well, all pups should be weaned somewhere between 6-8 weeks. I don't think your little boy can do anything quite yet. But as soon as he's about 6 weeks you should probably take him out of the cage. Males become sexually active at around 4 months usually, but sometimes they do at younger ages. Just wait until he's old enough to be weaned, then move him to his own cage.
Michelle Brown asks: "I was just wondering if the pigs eat dog food if that is bad for
them or should I just trust that they know what they are doing?"
I don't really think dog food is good for cavies. I don't think it will hurt them, but they'd much rather prefer guinea pig food. I have heard of people giving their cavies dog biscuits, and that they love it. I suggest that you stick to their guinea pig food diet, it has all the nutrients and vitamins that they need to stay healthy, and staying healthy is the way to prevent a cavy from being sick :o)
MicheleY Counts says: "I came to pick up my Guniea pigs from my friend's house and I had to go the bathroom. She thought the guinea pig's nails were too long but I had to go really bad and told her wait for me to check. She did not listen. She clipped 1 nail and clipped the other. The other starting bleeding. I got really worried. I couldn't call anyone because the vets were closed. I didn't know what to do. It should bleed a little and I'm really worried what should I do? Please help me."
You might want to look into purchasing some "Kwik-Stop" powder for your cavy. "Kwik-Stop" is a special kind of powder that you put on the nail if you cut it too short. It stops the bleeding in a couple seconds. If you don't have any "Kwik-Stop", then you should get a paper towel and press firmly on the nail where it is bleeding, to stop it.
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a veterinarian, or an expert on cavies. I gather all of my information from my own personal experience, or by reading cavy books. If you have a sick cavy, I STRONGLY suggest that you take it to your Veterinarian, where they can diagnose it and treat it. I have this page to help any new or experienced cavy people with any kind of information they need.
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