Pig Planet: The Adventures of Baozi and Ace

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pigwidgeon

Post   » Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:37 am


Thanks, Lynx. I think I was writing as you posted. I pointed all this out to my Mom but she cited the many ignorant owners who buy just one pig from the pet store as proof that they're fine on their own. My sister-in-law adopted just one pig, and I keep encouraging them to get him a friend.

I am weighing Ace and she's lost a bit of weight, but it started before Baozi passed. If she loses any more I'm taking her to the vet. Thus far, she's still eating/drinking just fine.

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:23 am


"Mom, your choice in film sucks! My choice next time"

Hopefully someone can comment on the yarn. I'd probably use it and just watch her like an eagle with it, just to make sure she's not going to chew it.

My new pig, Jon Snow wheeks really loudly for food. He briefly lived with Toki but is now on his own for the moment, until I can try to get him to live with Anselmo again. He didn't shout as much when he was with Toki. He's bright, alert, eating lots, and doing lots of zoomies but I do think he misses the company.

I completely understand your frustrations. I left home when I was 30 and up to that date I was treat like a child, being allowed or not allowed to get a new pig. So unbelievably frustrating!

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AldenM1
Supporter in '21

Post   » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:54 am


Fleece is basically acrylic, so I don't see where yarn would be that different. I'd take it out if you see Ace actively eating it, but I'd imagine that if you knit tightly enough (no real holes for feet or teeth to get stuck in) and don't expose filling (which is probably even less healthy) it's pretty safe to knit a friend.

As for the squeaking: there is a set, known amount of squeaking that has to be done to maintain a slave. If one pig fails to do the squeaking, the other pig(s) have to step up, but there's no point wasting effort if someone else is already doing it. This is why you often have a designated squeaker. And obviously Baozi was your designated squeaker, but Ace knows you need to be kept in line!

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pigwidgeon

Post   » Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:49 pm


Last night I brought Ace out to sit on the bed next to me and watch Person of Interest (it's a really great show; I highly recommend it). She took a peek while nomming her cucumber

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But ultimately decided she would rather nap in her cuddle sack (and put her best side forward)

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Well, except her curiosity got the better of her and she had to see how the episode ended:

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She started to watch Chicago Fire afterward, but then she decided to pee all over the puppy pad so I had to put her back. :p Perhaps she was imagining putting out an imaginary fire with piggy pee. (yes ik I need to cut her nails. She puts up such a big fight though so I was procrastinating lol)

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:46 pm


Person of Interest is a big hit in our house! (though we don't have any pets to watch with!!!)

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AldenM1
Supporter in '21

Post   » Thu Oct 17, 2013 1:52 am


I like it too. It's boilerplate cop drama, except it isn't.

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Jessie
Supporter in '13

Post   » Thu Oct 17, 2013 1:22 pm


You have excellent taste in TV shows Ace.

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:15 am


How are you and Ace doing?

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pigwidgeon

Post   » Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:37 am


We're doing OK, I suppose. Thanks for asking. Ace is still my little TV buddy. She likes to snooze against my leg under my lap desk.

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I was missing Baozi tonight, and decided to watch some old videos. I was struck by how much more active the pigs were then, especially Ace. I understand Baozi being less active toward the end, because the poor thing was probably in pain. :( I still wish I had discovered her teeth issues earlier, although I'm not sure I could've done anything more about them. Right before her teeth surgery, I remember her wheeking and putting her feet on the edge of the cage as she always did, and I saw a little popcorn, too. :'(

I'm not sure when it happened, but Ace hasn't been as active, either. She used to run laps around the cage, popcorn, and waddle around making squeaky-chutty sounds. Sometimes she'll have a burst of activity (usually running across the cage after eating hay and/or pellets) but she's generally very quiet. I miss playful Ace. :( I wonder if she has piggy depression or would benefit from a new friend, but my Mom is still being a thorn in my side. I figured out that it isn't about me, though. She can't handle another loss like Baozi's. Her response is to avoid any pets altogether. I have given up on trying to reason with her and am hoping if I let a little more time pass I can just pick up a new pig and she'll be mad for a while and then get over it (this is usually how I deal with my Mom--I try to explain myself and reason with her first, but it inevitably fails).

I still miss my sweetie girl so much. She brought so much joy into the lives of everyone who knew her, both human and piggy alike.

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She was with us far too short of a time. Popcorn and squeak on the bridge, little one. Someday I will give you cuddles again.

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Jaycey
Supporter in 2014

Post   » Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:03 pm


She'll be happy and pain free where she is now pigwidgeon. She'll have made lots of new friends there too.

I'm glad to hear you're both doing okay. Ace has the best piggy mommy ever. You can see that she enjoys your company from the photo.

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pigwidgeon

Post   » Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:52 am


Today I brought fat Ace to the vet. I was a little worried about her due to her weight loss over the past few months. The vet is the specialist I was supposed to bring Baozi to if she hadn't passed first. I found out all sorts of issues I didn't know about my little stanky leg.

I thought she was just a lazy piggy, but it turns out she must have had some kind of spinal injury in her past, because she has hip pain and difficulty moving her back legs. It's why she can't sit on her haunches and groom like Baozi did, and why she always pancakes like a cashew when I take her out of the cage (whereas Baozi used to explore and make sure to chew on things she wasn't supposed to :p). It's also why Ace sticks out her little stanky leg all the time.

She also had a slight wheeze and I told the vet I hear her sneezing every now and then, along with perma crusty eyes. The vet suspected a minor respiratory infection and gave me some antibiotics for her. She also suggested I start Ace on metacam for her hip pain. Ace also has cataracts in both eyes. She's not blind, but her vision is impaired. On the bright side, her teeth are fine and there are no other problems.

My vet suspected that Ace was an older pig due to the mobility issues and other signs. I didn't know how old Ace and Baozi were when I took them in, but it seems I might've taken in two elderly pigs. I call them the Golden Girls now. Baozi always seemed to have such a youthful spirit, but my vet's son has a 9-year-old pig that still squeaks and runs around.

Our vet recommended getting Ace a friend after seeing how she does on her medication and once she stabilizes. An older pig would probably be better than a baby, but that's OK because our local humane society has a few adult female guinea pigs. I need to make sure to find a pig who will be kind and considerate of my little old lady.

Meanwhile, Ace hung out with me tonight while I watched my TV shows.

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She napped in her cuddle cup, munched hay, and flopped down against my leg as always. (That's a hay chew in the cuddle cup with her)

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:19 am


Aw, what a sweetheart!

You might want to read www.guinealynx.info/.html closely.

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