I went to Petco....

cowgirlskipper · 08-24-2014, 11:30 AM

And came out with a new fluff! Actually, its a guinea pig.

I never meant to add another furbaby, the whole reason we went in there was to look at investing in a heat lamp for my other guinea pig that is ill. I decided I atleast had to have a peek at the critters. I noticed him right away, due to the fact he had a goopy eye and was the smallest in the cage. He had just been shoved in with the other older boys. I told myself no, mom won't allow me another one. I forced myself to walk away, trailing my grandma to the heat lamps.

I couldn't get him out of my head. We had told an employee, but the "whatever" look he gave us told me he wasn't going to get cared for, he would be put in the back room until he passed. I decided I just had to call my parents. After about twenty minutes of begging, they said yes! I'm actually still in shock.

So, since all of my rodent type animals are named after candy, meet AJ! Short for Almond Joy. He is still terrified. Its a good thing we had an empty set up, it was meant to be!

So, how do I clear up his eye? I want to try the saline solution, how do I make that? Also, whenever there is pressure on his chest or anything, he makes this wheezing/snorting noise, I'm worried its something respatory. He's on pine shavings like my other boys, I'll try switching to fleece to see if that helps.

Also, I'm not good with colors. He is black with grey ticking in a ring around his eyes, with the same grey hairs along his entire tummy and paws, its adorable!

Pictures to come

SinNyx · 08-24-2014, 11:35 AM

Sorry I have no advice - poor little guy being kept like that. Well done you for taking him on, look forward to pictures

Esmy · 08-24-2014, 11:39 AM

Nice! Are you keeping them separate since they are both ill? I hope they both get better soon!

cowgirlskipper · 08-24-2014, 12:06 PM

Yes, they are definitely being kept apart, especially since I'm not sure if AJs eye thing is infectious. Unfortunately, and I'm devastated about this, I'm pretty sure part of the reason my parents let me rescue him was because we aren't sure how much longer our little Pucca has with us. If he doesn't fatten up and start eating his hay to grind down his teeth, my parents say we have to let him go

I feel he still has a strong chance and feed him as often as I can, so I'm really rooting for him.

That's one problem AJ and Pucca have in common. How do you (re)teach a guinea pig to eat hay? AJ acts like he's never seen the stuff ( which is probably true ) and doesn't know its food. Pucca tries, but can't seem to deal with the longer pieces. Both are on alfalfa for the moment since AJ is a baby and Pucca is ill, and plus its easier to eat.

Did I mention I have never had a baby piggie before? He is absolutely tiny, I'm wondering if he was taken from his mum to soon. I would guess maybe six weeks at most? He weighs a mere 442 grams! I was so surprised, and that's also why I was mad he was shoved in with way older cage mates. (They were all on sale because no one wants white guineas, I felt bad I couldn't save them as well, but with him being sick, we couldn't risk a cage mate rejecting him)

cowgirlskipper · 08-24-2014, 12:12 PM

I forgot to add, I was so excited to see this but my petco is now carrying chinese hams! I couldn't help but squee!

I was also extremely angry because they had about thirty mice in the same twentyish gallon tank. Seperated genders, but still. One house, one four inch wire wheel, one waterbottle. They were young and not fighting, but I was still fuming when I walked out with AJ. They also didn't give me any of his bedding or food to help him transition. Our petshop system is so messed up in the US, its crazy and makes my head ache. –.– grrr....

KMPlays · 08-24-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowgirlskipper

They also didn't give me any of his bedding or food to help him transition. Our petshop system is so messed up in the US, its crazy and makes my head ache. –.– grrr....

If it makes you feel better about the pet system in the US, the petshop i got my Syrian from wouldn't even tell me what food or bedding she was on, let alone let me have some! I've been worried she's been very stressed with the sudden change, but I can't do anything

.

HopefulHamster · 08-24-2014, 01:26 PM

Quote:

So, how do I clear up his eye? I want to try the saline solution, how do I make that? Also, whenever there is pressure on his chest or anything, he makes this wheezing/snorting noise, I'm worried its something respatory. He's on pine shavings like my other boys, I'll try switching to fleece to see if that helps.

You should check out Your Guinea Pig's Home (metric) if you haven't already. It has great information on pigs and a nice community. Just a warning, they are pro-adoption and will disapprove of your pet store purchase... Don't think they're 'attacking' you.

The goopy eye and the snorting noises could mean he has an URI, which means a vet visit.

Quote:

If he doesn't fatten up and start eating his hay to grind down his teeth, my parents say we have to let him go I feel he still has a strong chance and feed him as often as I can, so I'm really rooting for him.

That's one problem AJ and Pucca have in common. How do you (re)teach a guinea pig to eat hay? AJ acts like he's never seen the stuff ( which is probably true ) and doesn't know its food. Pucca tries, but can't seem to deal with the longer pieces. Both are on alfalfa for the moment since AJ is a baby and Pucca is ill, and plus its easier to eat.

What's wrong with Pucca? Also, he should still be on timothy even if he's ill, if I'm not mistaken.

Perhaps when AJ gets better and joins your others he'll learn.

HopefulHamster · 08-24-2014, 01:30 PM

Quote:

What's wrong with Pucca? Also, he should still be on timothy even if he's ill, if I'm not mistaken.

Ah, nevermind. I found your post about Pucca.

If he's having trouble eating hay, I would search the guinea pig forum for any threads about lethal white guinea pigs. There's probably some information about making hay easier to eat...

cowgirlskipper · 08-24-2014, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMPlays

If it makes you feel better about the pet system in the US, the petshop i got my Syrian from wouldn't even tell me what food or bedding she was on, let alone let me have some! I've been worried she's been very stressed with the sudden change, but I can't do anything

.

Yeah... the food they feed them on they don't carry in the store, and the bedding they use is about ten times as much as the stuff I use, I was saying no way!

cowgirlskipper · 08-24-2014, 02:40 PM

Thanks hopeful hamster. I did think about it being a URI, but as this isn't a full time noise, I'm wondering at something else. If I see it getting at all worse though, it will be an immediate trip to the vet.

Is the forum you are talking about called Wheekers? If so, I've already tried them when I first got guinea pigs, it was not a positive experience to say the least. I was called terrible names and was swore at by several members. I much prefer the experience of hamster central. Thank you though. Technically AJ was in the adoption center. He was marked down to a mere fifth of the price of the healthy ones, another reason I noticed him as different from the others.

Just wanted to mention pucca isn't a white guinea, he is white and black. I made it sound confusing. Sorry about that

I will go see which forum you are talking about, be right back!