[Gpdd] CARE: Ari's new baby piggies

[Penny Charlesworth]

Lovely pigtures of your piggies, Ari. That's a fine home that you have made
for them.

Babes are nearly always noisier than adult piggies and they are curious as
to what is going on so having them in your living room is good for them. It
will help to them to socialise.

I am glad that they are brave enough to take carrot pieces from your hand.
Keep at it and, given time, they will come running up for any slice that
you hold out for them. Keep adding a new veg so that they have a wide
choice. Cucumbers and broccoli are particular favourites of my herd.

In the summer, you could grow them some grass by sprinkling grass seed in a
tray of soil. Mine have grass every day but I can collect it from places
that are never sprayed or contaminated in any way.

My herd has plenty of Vit C from the copious amounts of veg that they eat
daily so I do not give extra in the form of tablets but if you want to
supplement their Vit C, you cannot give too much as any surplus is just
excreted.

You'll find worming info on our Ann's Piggyville website here.
http://piggyville.com/index.php?id=9

My worming protocol is simpler. I start babes off at three months of age
with a half dose of both Ivermectin and Panacur ( sheep wormer ). After
that, they are wormed every three months for all of their lives. When they
have reached adult size they get the full dose. I back this up with
occasional anti-parasite shampoos. I keep a little chart so that I am
reminded when each piggy's dose is due. Ann reckons that we have fewer
parasites to worry about in the UK so you may want to follow her protocol.

I had a Miss Piggy, years ago. She and her daughters, Poppy and Rosemary,
accompanied me to the RSPCA Pet Days, which were held in a local school. I
used to have a table there and talked about piggies.

You are right! Guinea pigs are unique. Not many pets talk back to you.

Penny and the Piggyfriends.