Cane and Bamboo
Okay, so I was wrong when I said ‘no more’! But I hadn’t anticipated finding these two little chaps. They were in a place where they ought to have been well cared for and well fed, but when I found them, they were malnourished, dehydrated and on the verge of becoming very sick indeed.
Cane, a Netherland Dwarf, was a bag of bones. His fur was almost ragged, not sleek and thick, so it was a risk putting him outside near my other bunnies, because it was winter. However, I knew if he could see the others and communicate with them, he’d have a much better chance of recovering and making good. Thankfully I was right. He needed a good feed, so with as much variety as I could find, I have gradually fed him up and am happy to see his improvement with each passing day. He was seen by the Vet and had is Calici virus vaccination last week, and was declared to be in robust health for a little chap of his age.
Baby guinea pigs are independent of their mothers within a very short time of being born. Yes, they suckle for a short time, needing the fat from their mothers milk, but very soon they are out, nibbling on fruits, veg and seeds. This little chap, Bamboo, was very tiny and undersized though. The diet he was offered wasn’t sufficient to support the growth of his bones and organs. He had also been placed with another mature male, who attacked him mercilessly. He came to me with 17 huge bites on his back, all weeping and mucky, and a badly torn and infected ear.
I treated him the best way I knew – with love, kindness, good food and some liberal dustings of a good antibiotic powder. I kept his bed clean and dry and made a point of handling him every day – to gain his confidence and enable me to check the healing of his wounds. Again, when the Vet saw him, he said what a fine specimen he was. He is an Abyssinian guinea pig, with tiny rosettes dotted through his fur. His colour is absolutely solid and very attractive.
Soon I will have to re-house them as the little hutch they are in is better designed and suited to a couple guinea pigs, not a dwarf rabbit. Both will need more space soon, so it’s my intention to actually try making a hutch rather than buying one! Who knows – I might actually design something that is better suited and much easier to clean! Watch this space!
The condition of these animals was not down to intentional neglect or cruelty. Two factors came into the equation; ignorance and over-commitment. If you are taking on ANY animal, learn about them first, find out how they need to live and why, check the costs of proper care and make sure you can meet them.
Rabbits can live to 8 or 9 years and guinea pigs often make it to 6. That’s a long commitment and regular health checks and some vaccinations will be unavoidable. Feeding them correctly can cost a lot, too. They need a quality dry food, adequate supply of clean water and fresh food like