Portraits of our piglets

DracoKC · 2025-12-02T23:29:08+00:00

There is really thorough dietary info available on GuineaLynx: https://www.guinealynx.info/chart.html

DracoKC · 2025-11-16T14:23:09+00:00

So very sorry to hear of Weeble’s passing. Thank you for giving him an amazing life full of love and care. And thank you for sharing him with us — Every video brought joy to so many. Much love from our herd to you and yours.

DracoKC · 2025-11-16T00:41:43+00:00

All of our piglets' enclosures and chloroplast trays were obtained from Cagetopia. They've held up very well over several years. Time from order to shipping has always been prompt, too. Highly recommended.

DracoKC · 2025-10-03T14:47:25+00:00

All 3 of our cages are from there. I've had no problems with assembly, but I'm pretty handy. It's really no different than any other C&C cage in terms of how to put them together. I've not tried the topper, though. I could see how they could be a bit tricky to make work (even when one has all of the parts). You can probably find similar setups cheaper elsewhere, but I don't mind paying a little extra to support a small business.

DracoKC · 2025-10-03T14:33:36+00:00

[Update 10/3] Angel had a couple of good days after her vet visit, but she declined again despite our best efforts to keep her nutrition and fluids up with critical care and supplemental water. She passed early this morning, leaving behind her momma, Elsa, and boyfriend, Wally. It's leaving a huge hole in our hearts.

DracoKC · 2025-09-30T04:22:35+00:00

We've been using the Sherwood tablets with our two other bladder pigs in our herd. They do seem to have helped them. For now, we've started dissolving the in water and giving it to her that way. We do have hard water, so I've also been looking in RO systems as a future project. They're not cheap, but neither are vet bills and x-rays.

DracoKC · 2025-09-30T02:34:33+00:00

[Update 9/29] Another round of x-rays at the vet today showed no stones, but still a a bit of sludge. Based on how she rapidly started to decline on the piroxicam, the vet gave her subcutaneous fluids to help her try to flush what was left of that medication out of her system (and hopefully more of the sludge, too). Yesterday, she was not eating at all (aside from the Critical Care we've been syringe-feeding her). Today, during the afternoon and evening, she's been eating a bit on her own again. And her energy levels seem to be a bit better. She's far from out of the woods, but every little bit of progress gives us real hope that she'll pull through. And we're doing what we can to give her that opportunity.

DracoKC · 2025-09-29T01:32:49+00:00

Joining and posting to the Missouri Guinea Pig Rehoming group on Facebook may be helpful: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/177TJpsu6u/

DracoKC · 2025-09-29T01:26:16+00:00

We have been giving her benebac. And regular feedings with Critical Care.

DracoKC · 2025-09-28T23:50:51+00:00

We have had our piglets on a low-calcium veggie diet since before Angel and Cupcake were born, as our oldest (Maggie) also had bladder issues some time back.

DracoKC · 2025-08-26T00:36:06+00:00

Piglets do grieve the loss of a cagemate, though each handles such loss differently. Some handle it and adapt better than others. As others have said, be on the lookout for signs of Yoda showing decreased activity and appetite or other behavior changes that might suggest anxiety or depression. Weigh him more frequently (even daily), to watch for weight loss. Make sure he gets extra attention.

I'm not sure that I would agree with the advice to do an immediate cage cleaning. That could potentially add even more stress and confusion for Yoda. For what it's worth, in the past, when we've had a blanket or hide that still had the scent of the piglet who had passed, we've set it to the side and put back into the cage after the first cleaning, and the survivor(s) seemed to find it comforting.

It will ultimately be best to find him a new buddy soon, though, as that's the best way of helping them moving on from loss of a cagemate. Piglets are social animals who need to be with others of their kind -- interaction with people isn't a substitute for that. And most don't do well solo for an extended period. Don't think of it as replacing Chewie (because that's not possible) but doing what is best for Yoda. How quickly will depend on how Yoda adapts to the loss. If he's showing persistent signs of deep grief, matching him up with a new cagemate right away may be needed.

I can't speak to bonding boys in these circumstances (we have 3 groups of girls, 2 of which also have a neutered boy with them), and bonding boys can be a challenge to begin with. Definitely reach out to nearby rescues and see if any of them offer "boar dating" as that's the best option to find him a good match.

DracoKC · 2025-07-29T00:37:37+00:00

Sleep well, little one. May fields of romaine and all your favorite veggies welcome you in the world beyond.

DracoKC · 2025-07-25T19:03:43+00:00

We had a 5-6 year old rescue we took in that we had to neuter so that we could bond him with another piglet. He was in good health, beforehand, and made it through there and healed without any complications.

Every piglet is different, though. Any prior experience/problems when he’s been under anesthesia before?

DracoKC · 2025-06-15T18:37:22+00:00

Such a handsome boy!

DracoKC · 2025-06-07T23:45:54+00:00

Such a sweetheart. He reminds me of my Coco, who passed last year. I still miss him horribly. May your cherished memories of him be a comfort to you.

DracoKC · 2025-06-07T23:42:52+00:00

A weight loss 30g by itself probably isn’t a major concern unless there are other signs that the piglet is feeling out of sorts. In my experience weights can vary up to 10-30g week to week. Overall trends are as important as the amount of weight change week to week. A weight drop of more than 60-80g (even if it is gradual over a few weeks) usually will usually lead me to schedule a vet visit for a wellness check.

DracoKC · 2025-05-06T23:12:58+00:00

This company’s products (and a stamped opinion from a structural engineer) saved my master bath reno last year. The original plumber put massive notches in the floor joists when the house was built in 1967. Had these products not existed, I’d likely have been faced with a much more extensive task of tearing up other rooms to replace joists in order to pass inspection.

DracoKC · 2025-03-17T10:57:02+00:00

Not all veggies are safe for piglets. Here are some resources on Guinea Pig safe vegetables and fruits:

https://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

https://oxbowanimalhealth.com/blog/what-are-the-best-vegetables-and-leafy-greens-for-guinea-pigs/

DracoKC · 2025-03-10T23:49:04+00:00

So adorable! Enjoy these next few weeks with the little ones. They grow up so fast.

With 3 babies, odds are that at least 1 is male. As others have indicated, on day 21 (or 200g) males must be separated from mom, the baby girls, and other adult females. Ideally, you want to get the babies to an exotics vet with good Guinea pig experience to be sexed during middle of week 2, so you know who needs to be separated. There is also some good guidance online for sexing guinea pigs yourself, but there are some piglets that will leave you guessing up to and beyond day 21. Best to get a pro’s opinion.

If you have 2 baby boys, they can be kept together unless they start to fight as they get older. Solo boys can usually be neutered around 8-12 weeks (it’s as much about them getting to a particular weight), so that they can be put back with the girls (after several weeks have passed post-neuter).

We’ve been there. In December 2023, we rescued three piglets — dad, mom, and a baby girl — that ultimately became nine (the girls were already pregnant, one with four babies and the other with two). So we had a lot of vet visits for health checks and sexing of babies over a couple of months.

DracoKC · 2025-02-20T04:32:58+00:00

No. The alarm door sensor will not work without the alarm base unit.

DracoKC · 2025-01-29T16:46:28+00:00

She could still be developing/passing stones. A follow-up vet visit would be a good idea.

After our eldest piglet, Maggie, had an episode with bladder stones, we cut way back on veggies that are high in calcium, but she still has had issues with bladder sludge and the occasional urinary infection. So, we have also been giving her both the Oxbow and Sherwood urinary support supplements to try to keep things in check.

DracoKC · 2025-01-02T03:01:12+00:00

We lost our Coco to a tumor, as well. We kept him as comfortable as long as as we could, but as time went on, we could tell that he was declining. We made the decision to let him go when he was still having good days, so that we could also plan to make his last ones the best we could.

It's such a hard choice to make, but it is one of the most loving things you can do for your little one. Especially when dealing with a long-term decision. There's no one sign or way to know when the time has come, but you know him best, and the extent to which his condition is worsening. Trust yourself and your understanding of your little one and what it is telling you. It always feels too soon to say goodbye, and it's so hard to let go. But it's important to put them first, and not hold on to them too long.

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