[Gpdd] Care: Piggies who reach 5+ years

[jude colangelo]

My Porky (devoted companion of the Jolly Rodent's Mr Cooders!) lived
to be just over 6.  She was my first guinea pig, and I made my share
of mistakes with her til I found the gpdd and learned the right way to
treat a guinea pig!
The first few years of her life, she ate Blue Seal pellets.  She did
very well on them until she developed a systemic fungal infection.
Around that time, Cavy Cuisine became readily available in my area,
and I switched the Haypile Honeys over. I immediately noticed a
difference in her coat, and her outbreaks of the infection became less
and less frequent.
Luckily, when I bought Porky from Petco, (I know, I was ignorant!) the
sales person was actually quite knowledgable about pigs and drummed
into my head two things ~ the importance of Vit C and the absolute
necessity to keep Porky away from drafts!  So her diet always included
lots of vit c supplements, both food and tablets.  Also plenty of
green leafys, apples, carrots.  Porky  adored bread crust and bran
flakes, so she got those as occasional treats.  I always had timothy
hay available, or sweet meadow hay, and used aspen, kiln dried pine,
or Carefresh as bedding.
I kept her strictly indoors, and covered her cage (as I still do with
the remaining Honeys) at night to avoid drafts.  In the summer a light
sheet does the trick, and in the winter I use a blanket.
Poor Porky always had some sort of minor problem.  As a baby she hurt
a rear leg (playing with Corky, I think) and was never able to jump or
pop after that.  She was prone to be gassy, and of course had the
fungal thing.  But over all she was in good health, and enjoyed her
days as a Haypile Honey.  Her motto?  "Dignity, always dignity!"
Oh, as a side note, for any of you who enjoyed seeing my pigtures in
Leah's book, please visit my website www.willoughby-square.com to see
my newest piggy delights, featuring Cavy Madness collaberations!

-- 
        Jude and the Haypile Honeys
         www.willoughby-square.com