Other pets

[Emma]

What other pets do you have?



This is Harry the Labrador (who inherited his name from a long line of Harry the Hamsters!)





And Rufus the Guinea-pig - having a bath for his skin, and not best pleased about it!





I have three other pigs too, Matilda, Fievel and Bronwyn. Rufus and Matilda came from a rescue centre along with Matilda's sister Daisy who died before xmas. Rufus was on his own but had just been neutered, so I got all three and he had a little harem . Fievel came into the vets whilst I was working as a nurse - sad story, he was sold from a pet shop (P@H ), and returned 6 weeks later, the new owners wanting to return him as he was "defect". He had a broken leg, which had healed in an awkward position - basically imagine your forearm snapped in the middle and then healing at a right angle pointing in towards your body. The pet shop believe it or not gave them their money back! Then bought him to us to be put down! Their was nothing else wrong with him, and he could walk fine (with a bit of a limp), his only problem was he was absolutely petrified of people. I had a spare hutch so he came straight home with me. Rufus didn't like him though so we neutered Fievel too and I got a girlfriend for him (Bronwyn) from the pet handling barn at uni - I chose quite an outgoing pig to try and bring him out of his shell a bit - but now she just bosses him around! He is much better with people now, will always be a bit more nervous than the others I think.



That's my lot at the moment

[babyboos]

Did he break his leg when they had him or when they bought him How bizarre but lucky for him as he gets to go home with you Is there anything that could be done for the leg - like rebreaking or something, although sometimes it may not heal properly and have to be amputated. I imagine if he is able to get around fine without it they may either just leave it alone or remove it if it is causing him any discomfort

[Emma]

Well - it's highly suspicious they only noticed he was "defect" six weeks after they bought him!



It was a year and a half ago I got him. It had already healed in position when he was bought in, and he was walking on it ok. Just watching him casually you hardly notice he's got it now, he shows no signs of pain now. He's developed a callus where his leg touches the ground, and it's hardened up. The only realistic option apart from leave it was to amputate, and we decided unless it caused him real problems or got infected, that leaving it was the safest thing. Until the callus developed a bit he was on vetbed instead of shavings. We have to clip his nails on that paw regularly too as they're pointing in/up and don't get worn down. Other than that, he's a normal happy little boy with a bossy girlfriend (who also looks after him - he often won't come out of the sleeping area when strange people are around, Bronwyn will pick some food out of the dish, take it into the bedroom for him, and then come back and get some for herself to eat, bless her).



Guinea-pigs are my second love after hamsters - they are brilliant animals.

[babyboos]

Aw she sounds lovely what a little sweetheart

You seem to have been quite lucky with your pet choices - all your little ones (including Harry) sound adorable

I have heard guinea pigs can not always be that easy to pair up

[hammydude]

I've got a minature cocker spaniel-Mandy, a cockatiel-Millenium, and of course my hammy-Biscuits.

[babyboos]

Wow how big is Mandy

I had a Jack Russel Terrier all through childhood called Mandy she was so great and her puppies were like Syrian Hamsters

My sister has a Blue Roan (Tweed) and a Lemon (Fleck) Cocker Spaniel - I think they are very pretty, intelligent, major furballs! They are just normal size though.

[hammydude]

Mandy is 9-10 inches tall and has a golden coat she is also about 7yrs.

[babyboos]

Oh my goodness you have to post a picture



PURLEASE???!!!

Three cats, the two girlies being actual sisters.

Pepper

Nutmeg - both 2 years old

Riley, our rescue, who is about 3 and a half years.

One african clawed frog - he really doesn't have a name, just Frog.

[hammydude]

Here she is