It all started with Gordy...
Your piggies are just so adorable. I love abbies. They are my favorite, I think. Not that I wouldn't love another breed of guinea pig, obviously. I just have a soft spot for abbies. :)
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Jaycey
- Supporter in 2014
So, I have some wonderful piggies and brilliant photos that I want to share with you guys, but I need to get upto date with the story first.
Back to it then!!
17th May was the date I was given Arnold J. Rimmer, so I didn't know his birthday. As he was small when I got him I decided to celebrate his birthday in early April.
April 2011 - Arnold J. Rimmer's birthday
We all got up early to share a nice breakfast:
Then it was present time. Any ideas how old he is?
Birthday boy:
"Be gone now please"
Back to it then!!
17th May was the date I was given Arnold J. Rimmer, so I didn't know his birthday. As he was small when I got him I decided to celebrate his birthday in early April.
April 2011 - Arnold J. Rimmer's birthday
We all got up early to share a nice breakfast:
Then it was present time. Any ideas how old he is?
Birthday boy:
"Be gone now please"
What a lovely, silly wee face he has! And hello you!
Love the fabric in his cosy! :)
Love the fabric in his cosy! :)
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Jaycey
- Supporter in 2014
Although the other two didn't want to take part in Arnold's birthday celebrations (except for the eating of course), they were still getting on well
It was at this photo session I got one of the best guinea pig photo's ever. It's so funny. Although it was taken 3 years ago now I used it for my boyfriends birthday card this year. Silly Toki Wartooth
It was at this photo session I got one of the best guinea pig photo's ever. It's so funny. Although it was taken 3 years ago now I used it for my boyfriends birthday card this year. Silly Toki Wartooth
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Jaycey
- Supporter in 2014
It wasn't long after his birthday that the start of Arnold's problems started to show
You can see from the photo how slim his back half is. He had an xray and was diagnosed with quite severe arthritis. He had started to hop a little bit and was walking on his heels.
Although the xray said that his knee joints were almost non existent we decided to to try to help him. He was given Glucosamine and Metacam. Unfortunately he had a terrible reaction to the Metacam but was sucessfully swapped onto Rimadyl.
He ceased to hop and seemed to get around the cage a lot easier.
Due to the arthritis he had a loss of muscle tone in his rear and as you can see from the photo he suffered quite badly from impaction.
Man, the poops I got out of him were huge! I'd expect that size poop to come from my parents dog!
He didn't seem to be fussed by me cleaning him out and he was still quite happy in himself. He could still get into that hay box in the photo.
In the meantime Toki still looked like a cloud:
You can see from the photo how slim his back half is. He had an xray and was diagnosed with quite severe arthritis. He had started to hop a little bit and was walking on his heels.
Although the xray said that his knee joints were almost non existent we decided to to try to help him. He was given Glucosamine and Metacam. Unfortunately he had a terrible reaction to the Metacam but was sucessfully swapped onto Rimadyl.
He ceased to hop and seemed to get around the cage a lot easier.
Due to the arthritis he had a loss of muscle tone in his rear and as you can see from the photo he suffered quite badly from impaction.
Man, the poops I got out of him were huge! I'd expect that size poop to come from my parents dog!
He didn't seem to be fussed by me cleaning him out and he was still quite happy in himself. He could still get into that hay box in the photo.
In the meantime Toki still looked like a cloud:
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snowflakey
- E's Moriarity
It's hard to watch them get old! It sounds like you have a good plan to keep his quality of life good.
I am sorry to hear he is having these issues. Arthritis can get really awful with these guys. Good luck with the pain medication. He is still handsome as ever though.
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Jaycey
- Supporter in 2014
The pain relief was almost like a miracle cure. He had a bad reaction to the Metacam, he bloated and got diarrhea. So, the vet swapped him over to Rimadyl.
It was almost like he didn't have arthritis anymore. He kept on walking on his heels but the hopping disappeared and he was able to run quite fast when he wanted too.
Unfortunately the Metacam had a lasting impact on him and he could only eat certain foods or else he'd bloat up again. Green peppers were a big no. Poor guy had quite a limited diet after that, but thankfully he could still eat the majority of lettuce types.
It was almost like he didn't have arthritis anymore. He kept on walking on his heels but the hopping disappeared and he was able to run quite fast when he wanted too.
Unfortunately the Metacam had a lasting impact on him and he could only eat certain foods or else he'd bloat up again. Green peppers were a big no. Poor guy had quite a limited diet after that, but thankfully he could still eat the majority of lettuce types.
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Jaycey
- Supporter in 2014
Seeing as it's such a lovely, warm few weeks over here in the UK, thought I should update the chronicle.
And outdoor piggies is the best way to continue. This was in June 2011.
The piggies didn't get to go outside very often. I had a full time job and my mum wasn't able to catch the piggies due to her arthritis. And as we have lovely British rainy weather, and lots of local cats that meant the piggies could only go outside when I was off work:
Toki Wartooth
Anselmo
Arnold J. Rimmer
And "Guard Dog" Jessie helps keep watch:
And outdoor piggies is the best way to continue. This was in June 2011.
The piggies didn't get to go outside very often. I had a full time job and my mum wasn't able to catch the piggies due to her arthritis. And as we have lovely British rainy weather, and lots of local cats that meant the piggies could only go outside when I was off work:
Toki Wartooth
Anselmo
Arnold J. Rimmer
And "Guard Dog" Jessie helps keep watch:
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Jaycey
- Supporter in 2014
During the warmer weather I liked to give the guinea pigs a bath as the white ones especially liked to get filthy.
Arnold J. Rimmer wrapped up warm and snug. You can see the start of his cataract in this photo
Toki Wartooth is definitely not a fan of baths:
Anselmo is patient for so long, then he starts to try to escape.
During this time I was having discussions with my boyfriend. We had a long distance relationship and as I was the only one who drove I was the one that went to see him.
Which meant I had to leave the piggies at least once a month for a weekend. My Mother was happy to take on the task and she did the very best she could. Unfortunately she suffers with osteoarthtis and so looking after piggies is a difficult task for her. I could guarantee what they'd be fed and watered in my absence. But, cleaning out was a strain on her.
We needed to think of some other way. My boyfriend wanted me to move and live with him. It made sense as he had a house already (rented, but still his own place) and I had better qualifications so I should be easier for me to find a job.
But, there were things holding me back. This included the family dog. Although she was a family dog I was the main walker. I took her out every morning before work, and again at night.
She was getting old now, she was 14 and taking her for a walk didn't really take long. We would slowly walk to the local field and back. Her days of chasing her tennis ball were over.
I just couldn't leave her behind.
Arnold J. Rimmer wrapped up warm and snug. You can see the start of his cataract in this photo
Toki Wartooth is definitely not a fan of baths:
Anselmo is patient for so long, then he starts to try to escape.
During this time I was having discussions with my boyfriend. We had a long distance relationship and as I was the only one who drove I was the one that went to see him.
Which meant I had to leave the piggies at least once a month for a weekend. My Mother was happy to take on the task and she did the very best she could. Unfortunately she suffers with osteoarthtis and so looking after piggies is a difficult task for her. I could guarantee what they'd be fed and watered in my absence. But, cleaning out was a strain on her.
We needed to think of some other way. My boyfriend wanted me to move and live with him. It made sense as he had a house already (rented, but still his own place) and I had better qualifications so I should be easier for me to find a job.
But, there were things holding me back. This included the family dog. Although she was a family dog I was the main walker. I took her out every morning before work, and again at night.
She was getting old now, she was 14 and taking her for a walk didn't really take long. We would slowly walk to the local field and back. Her days of chasing her tennis ball were over.
I just couldn't leave her behind.