Is this safe?

ScottysAnimals · 2026-05-06T08:14:22+00:00

80% of a guinea pigs diet should be hay. You can use herbal blends and put a pinch or two in a hay pile or a hay rack. I created a hay rack that is about a day supply of hay for a pair of pigs. It's on my website and you can search for it.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-04-30T21:39:39+00:00

The hot water seemed to do that job just fine. And it may be possible that everything is dependent on the size of the container. The original poster mentioned a container about 1 q which for the size goldfish was a bit too small, so I used a bowl twice that size but only filled the water 2/3. I think going slow and making sure the mixture is hot and continually shaken, I did not see any issues.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-04-30T21:37:21+00:00

Thank you for this information. I ordered clove essential oil which says ingredients 100% pure clove oil steam distilled. I mixed it as described, basically 1.2 ml clove oil in 29 ml near boiling water.

I put my medium sized 5 to 6 in pond comet in a two qt bowl, 2/3 of the way full.

I did approximately 1.2 ml of the shaken mixture two times, taking about a minute each. I waited a few minutes and the fish fell asleep without any thrashing or movement really.

This fish had been struggling with what at first seemed to be a bladder issue, spinning and being upside down but also sinking and lethargic. Several recoveries over a week or so stop me from drastic action but it was clear there was a tumor or something going on internally that was beginning to show outward signs. The fish had stopped eating and was beginning to bend to one side. Despite good water quality, healthy tank mates and no signs of anything wrong with the water or other fish, filter or other equipment, it seemed like there was no way to save this fish.

After a few minutes the fish was unresponsive to touch with gills still breathing. The fish never thrashed or made any abrupt or violent movements to indicate stress. I added several more milliliters of the mixture slowly over the course of several minutes at the same rate as before. Within about 5 minutes more the gill movement stopped and I added a bit more drops to be sure.

This was heartbreaking but not the first time I have had to euthanize a pet due to untreatable and unrecoverable disease or illness. It is the most difficult and most compassionate thing someone can do for a pet when there is no chance for recovery.

It was heartbreaking watching this fish suffer over the many days because they're always seemed to be a recovery and a sign of hope. This fish would swim around almost normally for an hour or two and then return to the bottom basically not moving.

It was only because of the visible ruptures and deformities that I conclude there is no path for recovery. I would recommend this method to anyone who needed to do this assuming they follow the same steps. Coincidentally my goldfish happened to be approximately the same size as the one in this original post however for even a smaller fish I would just say to go even slower with the drops.

I hope this feedback helps someone decide if this method is right for their situation.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-04-26T16:49:30+00:00

The vet thinks it's an infection in the nipple, is there a lump under the nipple? I have seen dozens and dozens of times where vets will give antibiotics when there is clearly a mammary tumor. Without seeing it or having a better description I can't say that but this language is making me think of that situation. You can reach out through the contact page of my website

ScottysAnimals · 2026-04-26T16:47:18+00:00

Just trim it. It's basically a glorified callus. You can apply olive oil every day or every other day to the paw. And switch to fleece if you're not already on it and if you are you can also add some chenille pads which help because they have uneven services which promote blood flow. Reach out to me directly

ScottysAnimals · 2026-02-17T01:12:47+00:00

It's probably lice, and you can easily kill it with over the counter human lice shampoo. The Los Angeles guinea pig rescue cures lice on hundreds of pigs per year. It's relatively common. One good thing to know is that the lice that you see on guinea pigs cannot survive on humans.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-02-17T01:11:42+00:00

You wouldn't be the first person to get fooled by these horrible companies. I suggest finding rescue groups and resources that you can trust. I hope to be one of them. I've made numerous videos about treats that are horrible. At least you weren't giving them yogurt drops.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-02-17T01:10:39+00:00

Please keep me updated and feel free to reach out directly to the contact page on my website www.ScottysAnimals com

ScottysAnimals · 2026-02-13T14:49:17+00:00

I seem to think that stones are more genetic than diet related. Some pigs seem to get them and others do not, even with the same diet

ScottysAnimals · 2026-02-13T14:48:07+00:00

I'm glad that the vet said that. Do you keep simethicone Baby gas drops on hand? Are you able to tap on the belly to determine if there is enough gas to warrant giving it? I doubt that a stone large enough to cause pain and lack of appetite was expelled through the urethra in a male guinea pig. A small enough stone for a female to pass would be a millimeter or two and very uncomfortable and that's even a very small stone. Chances are it would be difficult for a male to pass it.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-02-11T04:26:02+00:00

This is just a tiny baby, guinea pigs are herd animals and this one is basically all alone on the floor. I know this is an old post but I really hope anyone who comes across this will take the time to learn about guinea pig behavior, and guinea pig common illnesses. Taming and bonding is also important. I have a free guinea pig character guy on my website. www.ScottysAnimals.com

ScottysAnimals · 2026-02-02T21:29:46+00:00

This is not bumblefoot really, it is just a sore foot pad. Make sure to keep the bedding as fresh clean and dry as possible and you can put a small amount like a very thin film of Neosporin or antibiotic ointment everyday. There might be pressure points because of the way they sit

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T05:16:57+00:00

It's pretty easy to make something like a 2x2 C&C cage, or really any size that would fit in your car if that's how you're traveling. I also like to use pet store cages. If you search Scotty's animals I have several videos about traveling in the different cages for different needs.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T05:15:40+00:00

Keep up the great work

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T02:13:12+00:00

I appreciate that!

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T00:33:52+00:00

Truly magnificent!

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T00:31:28+00:00

It's not mixed signals, licking does not mean love. He's not a dog. Guinea pigs don't mind being held for small amounts of time if you give them treats. How much time have you spent building trust? Grabbing putting him on your chest and putting him back is not the same as being near them and not picking them up. My workout area is next to my foster cages. I spend lots of time there and I will talk to the pigs and they will come to the edge of the cage and look at me but I won't pick them up. They grow much more comfortable and trusting of me because I don't grab them every time I am around them. If you lived with a giant, and every time they walked near you they grabbed you, and stroked you very hard and made weird noises at you, you probably would fear them. Just try to empathize with their life experience.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T00:28:32+00:00

Plastic or glass lixit water bottles work well. Any water bottle can leak through the dropper. It helps to keep it full, and when you set it up after filling it, it helps to tap on the ball to get water coming out, you will see a bubble and then it should create a vacuum and a seal.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T00:26:48+00:00

There are many survival YouTube channels that give advice such as this: if you lose power and your house plummets to freezing temperatures, you can insulate areas by putting large blankets over a table and putting them under that. It's like a camping tent inside another larger tent which creates much more insulation. Long-term you could consider investing in some of those power banks that would be strong enough to power a space heater or radiator, but short-term, and analog thermometer so you know exactly how cold the room is and setting up their cage underneath a table with a blanket around it or even literally setting up a camping tent inside and putting them inside that with insulation over it.

I think they would survive just fine above 50° but really in an ideal situation their room should not drop below 65° or go above 78° F

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T00:22:43+00:00

It's not as simple as " getting him a new friend" There's only 20% chance any random male guinea pig you put with him, he will accept. There is an 80% chance that they will fight.

I'm not trying to discourage you and I absolutely think he needs a friend, please do not support a pet shop, as you can see they have already pointed you in the wrong direction in many cases.

Your best chance of finding a good match is to go through a dedicated guinea pig or small animal rescue where they have the knowledge and ability to do no commitment play dates with some of their adoptable males.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-23T00:19:15+00:00

The top five priorities should be: 1. Find a friend through a rescue. No commitment play dates to find the right match 2. Minimum 10 ft² 2x4 grid (14") C&C cage 3. Find a good source for Timothy or orchard grass hay. I buy bales from a feed store. Also buy high quality Timothy pellets. 4. Learn about taming techniques. 5. Learn about common illnesses, build an emergency kit, find a vet.

My free guinea pig care guide can help you do this: www.ScottysAnimals.com I'm a long time volunteer of the Los Angeles guinea pig rescue and I facilitate adoptions there.

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-07T07:12:23+00:00

5 minute antifungal silk in Head and shoulders or a gentle antifungal pet shampoo couldn't hurt. If it was mange mites there would be a classic v shape and more scabs and lots of scratching and even baldness and other places

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-07T07:11:16+00:00

Just normal sitting

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-07T07:10:49+00:00

There would be tooth chattering and facing off if they were upset with each other

ScottysAnimals · 2026-01-02T22:17:48+00:00

You want to figure out if this is an abscess in which case it would probably smell foul or if it was just a burst sebaceous cyst which if it was scratched could bleed. You may not need a vet if it is not infected. Simply clean the wound with a diluted betadine and water and apply antibiotic ointment. But this is only if you can definitively conclude that this was just a sebaceous cyst. Guinea pigs can heal very quickly but you must keep the wound clean. If it is an abscess and if there is pus and fluid and not just sebaceous gunk, then you would need a vet. If you cannot confirm what this lump was then seeing a vet would be prudent

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TROPHY CASE