22/04/2014
A guinea pig rescue in Essex has asked for help to place 200 neglected guinea pigs currently living in an aviary with birds flying around them. Boars and sows have been running together as the owner was unable to sex them correctly, all are suffering from severe mites, malnutrition and a large number have birth defects due to inbreeding/ breeding the wrong colours of guinea pigs together.
Microphthlamia or better known as the 'Lethal' gene is caused by breeding a roan x roan or Dalmatian x Dalmatian together. 'Lethal' guinea pigs are always born completely white with red eyes. This is not just a colour but because they are born without any skin pigmentation. 'Lethals' are often born blind in one or both eyes, with no eyes, born deaf in one or both ears, have missing teeth or teeth deformities, poor immune systems, and neurological problems.
One of the guinea pigs has also got a twisted foot, and some of the colour guinea pigs also have eye deformities.
EPGPR and two other rescues (Palace Piggies and Crawley GP Rescue) travelled to Essex to collect one of the first batches of guinea pigs to have been brought out (about 50). The state these little ones are in is appalling, there are recently littered sows without their babies, babies without their mums and about 20 boars all in terrible condition.
EPGPR have 8 girls here, all now on pregnancy watch, whilst we try to get them fit and well again. All the girls are incredibly skittish, having probably never been handled, they have now been treated for mites and in a few days time they will have a bath which hopefully help to make them feel a little better. On a positive they have discovered the food bowl and hay.
Pamper day!
Life should be valued and every life born is a gift :)
The girls have moved into the shed and now have a bit more space. They are all eating well, love their veggies and hay and are now coping well with the water bottle.
28/04/2014
Willow had 2 beautiful babies.
Meet the gorgeous Rose and Mimosa (aka Mimi)
Meet the gorgeous Rose and Mimosa (aka Mimi)