Sam and Dean

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For the Love of Pigs

Post   » Sun Jul 23, 2023 1:53 pm


Happy belated bday, Dean! He's lookin' good.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Fri Sep 15, 2023 10:25 pm


Have to keep an extra eye on Dean. He didn't eat much of his lettuce this morning. He did eat the bell pepper and he ate his carrot treat and his hay. He is a bit picky about his lettuce and has been for some time. He only likes the greenest parts. The leaf I gave him this morning was a bit lighter green. At 5 years old, he is in what I call "the window". I'm always careful with what I give him, more so than with the younger pigs.

Another thing I noticed is that he's placed his hut by his water bottle and likes to hang out there. Mr Bubbles did the same thing during the last several months of his life. I'd say he's definitely slowing down. He doesn't just lay there all lethargic. He goes to and from the water bottle and drinks plenty. He'll go to other parts of his cage to forage when he's gotten all of the good stuff in his spot. He's reactive when I come into the room and he gets excited about food and treats, but he spends more time in that spot than anywhere else. I know this because that's where he always is when I go in to see and care for him. I think he moves around to do his business so that spot doesn't get too yucky. I can tell because his droppings are spread out. He's always been one to move his hut around to avoid laying in his droppings. All of my guinea pigs do that except for Val and Earl. That's probably because they're still too little to move that hut.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Sep 16, 2023 8:49 am


I think he moves around to do his business so that spot doesn't get too yucky.

That is cool! You have smart guinea pigs.

Hoping Dean still does well into his old age.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:31 pm


He's ok. Just think he's slowing down because of age. I made sure he got the greenest parts of the lettuce last night and he ate it all. Also ate his cucumber bits and hay. He went from eating the veggies to foraging through the fresh hay for the little pieces that he likes. It took him a while longer than the younger ones though. I spent some time loving on him and he really likes that. He's a really affectionate guy.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:37 pm


Image

Dean having a good siesta. I love it when they curl up under their hut. Mr Bubbles used to do that all the time. It gives me satisfaction that they feel safe and loved enough to sleep well and wake up refreshed.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Oct 01, 2023 9:33 pm


I just discovered my "exercise watch" in sleep mode has a "body battery" graph that, I'm guessing, tells you the quality of your sleep and how well you've recharged overnight.

Guessing Dean does lots of "recharging" when he sleeps so soundly!

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:52 pm


He does indeed. He's still got some bounce in his step when he hops to the front of the cage to greet me. He is a great guinea pig.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sat Nov 04, 2023 2:49 am


I finally got some of those oxbow haystacks with the carrots in them for the herd. Dean doesn't attack it like he did when he was younger. He eats the carrot out of it and then nibbles on it periodically. He also likes to move it around with his hut so that it's right in front of the entrance. It takes him almost a week to finish it off. The younger pigs love them too. They do play with them, but it doesn't take long for them to realize that they are made of hay and devour them. The stacks are packed pretty tightly, so the pigs have to pull on them to get the individual bits out. That sometimes leads to a friendly game of tug of war between the pairs. Muffin works at hers off and on. It takes her a day or two to finish it. There is literally no downside to giving these to the pigs.

Dean is slowing down on several things. He still eats well, but it takes him a couple of hours to finish his lettuce. He eats the bell pepper or cucumber right away, but nibbles on the lettuce until it's gone. He eats hay on the regular, but he's picky about which pieces to eat. The smaller bits and tops are what he prefers. The bigger and thicker parts make a very comfortable bed for him to lay in. Pellets are still a big hit with him. Oxbow are the only ones I give my pigs. He's still pretty active for an older pig. He has that excited little bounce to the front of the cage to greet us and he enjoys being held and cuddled. He's never been unhealthy or had any issues. I'm very thankful for that.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Nov 04, 2023 8:20 am


Those hay stacks sound like they are lots of fun for your guinea pigs! I'm all for making life interesting for pets.

RubySimon

Post   » Mon Nov 06, 2023 9:29 am


My guys really love those stacks. My rabbit does too. My chinchilla, not so much. But he is old and fussy.

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2023

Post   » Wed Nov 08, 2023 1:29 am


Millie likes the Oxbow stacks as well. I have a few kinds of hay and keep each in little bundles to see what she likes. I recently ordered a box of the Field & Forest orchard grass and timothy mix by KayTee. This is their premium brand and Millie likes it, but it didn’t seem real fresh and fragrant to me. I had some Oxbow orchard grass that smelled smokey and she wouldn’t eat it. I also bought a bag of Full Cheeks timothy from PetSmart and that was really fresh and green.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Wed Nov 08, 2023 7:50 am


Interesting how picky guinea pigs can be! But I do believe there are real differences in hay and they know better ;-)

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