Guinea pigs and COVID-19
I thought about that too. They are waiving the adoption fee right now which attracts the unthinkable. I just have to hope that anyone with bad intentions towards these animals don't catch on. They do have one rabbit who's been there for several weeks and they just got a ferret in the day after the Abby girl was adopted. Hope they find loving homes too.
I live with my parents (I'm 29 but have health problems) and have been begging them to let me foster guinea pigs during this difficult time, but the answer is no. I don't understand their reasoning since I have 2 full size extra cages and plenty of room. I think their main thought is that I'll grow attached and they'll end up staying forever (which, to be honest, is probably what would happen lol). We do already have 4 cats (not fosters) but they just ignore the piggies. Except for my oldest cat, Penguin. She is their "protector." She sleeps next to their cages at night and the piggies love to groom her :) I've been trying to get it on video because it's adorable but you know how that goes...as soon as they see you they stop XD
I'm assuming everyone knows this already, but just to be sure, remember to clean under your fingernails! I have acrylics so I use a brush to get under them really good. I'm mentioning this partly because someone recently told me there is "no way" that I can be sanitary with acrylics and that I am exposing my pigs and other pets to germs. Obviously I did not take that comment well. I know how to wash my hands for surgical procedures (which is the way I always wash them, being immunocompromised) and no veterinarian has ever had a problem with it before (I keep my nails short. I only have acrylics to stop me from biting my nails.)
Are you guys washing fruits and veggies with soap and water, or just rinsing them well? I'm sorry if that is a stupid question, I just want to be extra safe. Normally I rinse lettuce very well (keep in mind, I share this food with my piggies, I would never give them anything I wouldn't eat), but I'm thinking maybe things like tomatoes and green peppers could be washed with vinegar water. Vinegar and water is my main cleaning product for literally everything because I know it's all natural.
Also, I had no idea about the Amazon thing, but I will use that link from now on!
I'm assuming everyone knows this already, but just to be sure, remember to clean under your fingernails! I have acrylics so I use a brush to get under them really good. I'm mentioning this partly because someone recently told me there is "no way" that I can be sanitary with acrylics and that I am exposing my pigs and other pets to germs. Obviously I did not take that comment well. I know how to wash my hands for surgical procedures (which is the way I always wash them, being immunocompromised) and no veterinarian has ever had a problem with it before (I keep my nails short. I only have acrylics to stop me from biting my nails.)
Are you guys washing fruits and veggies with soap and water, or just rinsing them well? I'm sorry if that is a stupid question, I just want to be extra safe. Normally I rinse lettuce very well (keep in mind, I share this food with my piggies, I would never give them anything I wouldn't eat), but I'm thinking maybe things like tomatoes and green peppers could be washed with vinegar water. Vinegar and water is my main cleaning product for literally everything because I know it's all natural.
Also, I had no idea about the Amazon thing, but I will use that link from now on!
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Bookfan
- For the Love of Pigs
"I live with my parents (I'm 29 but have health problems)" - we've got the same situation here.
Soap is not good to use on vegetables. It gets absorbed through pores. The latest I've seen on how to handle veggies is rinsing well.
I don't know about vinegar one way or the other.
Soap is not good to use on vegetables. It gets absorbed through pores. The latest I've seen on how to handle veggies is rinsing well.
I don't know about vinegar one way or the other.
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ItsaZoo
- Supporter in 2022
I just rinse fruit and veggies with water. I was using a watered-down dish soap spray on cukes since I hate that waxy stuff on the peels. Apparently that's not a good idea, so water it is.
I was aware of the fingernail thing for everyone since my friend's mom who was a nurse always kept her nail short and scrubbed underneath with a nail brush. I do too much crafty stuff to have longer nails, they get in the way.
I was aware of the fingernail thing for everyone since my friend's mom who was a nurse always kept her nail short and scrubbed underneath with a nail brush. I do too much crafty stuff to have longer nails, they get in the way.
Same with my fingernails. I have no choice but to keep them trimmed. As far as the cucumbers go, I just peel them to avoid that waxy stuff. Everything else gets a thorough rinse.
Sef -
I get all my pet stuff from Chewy.com and though they are running behind, they are working very hard to get their orders out when they say they will. I am posting here because we had to wait for the credit card to cycle before I could order pellets for my boys and I had to cut it pretty close with the deliveries being behind.
What advice would you offer to someone who runs out of pellets before a fresh supply comes? As someone who is at high risk for developing severe symptoms if I'm infected with Covid-19, my whole family is in lockdown and none of us can just nip out to the store to pick up a fresh bag.
I get all my pet stuff from Chewy.com and though they are running behind, they are working very hard to get their orders out when they say they will. I am posting here because we had to wait for the credit card to cycle before I could order pellets for my boys and I had to cut it pretty close with the deliveries being behind.
What advice would you offer to someone who runs out of pellets before a fresh supply comes? As someone who is at high risk for developing severe symptoms if I'm infected with Covid-19, my whole family is in lockdown and none of us can just nip out to the store to pick up a fresh bag.
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Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Can you harvest fresh clean grass from your lawn? Introduce slowly?
http://www.guinealynx.info/forages.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/forages.html
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Sef
- I dissent.
Oh good!
I got a bit of a scare today. I was running low on hay and both Chewy.com and Small Pet Select said they were experiencing delays in shipping. I decided to order 5 lbs. from Chewy (Rabbit Hole Hay) and another 3 lbs. (I think) from SPS to see which would arrive first. This was on Sunday.
Just now had a knock at the door, which is unusual. I grabbed a mask and went to the door, and a FedEx driver was standing there. No mask. He said, "Hi! I have a delivery for you!" and proceeded to hand me the Chewy.com box and then the Small Pet Select box. No signature was needed, but it surprised me that he was standing at the front door and handing me my packages. I was really glad I had grabbed a mask before I opened the door.
Anyway...got SPS and Chewy.com on the exact same day, only 3 days after ordering.
I got a bit of a scare today. I was running low on hay and both Chewy.com and Small Pet Select said they were experiencing delays in shipping. I decided to order 5 lbs. from Chewy (Rabbit Hole Hay) and another 3 lbs. (I think) from SPS to see which would arrive first. This was on Sunday.
Just now had a knock at the door, which is unusual. I grabbed a mask and went to the door, and a FedEx driver was standing there. No mask. He said, "Hi! I have a delivery for you!" and proceeded to hand me the Chewy.com box and then the Small Pet Select box. No signature was needed, but it surprised me that he was standing at the front door and handing me my packages. I was really glad I had grabbed a mask before I opened the door.
Anyway...got SPS and Chewy.com on the exact same day, only 3 days after ordering.
Sef, have you considered getting a bale of hay from a local ranch and farm supply store? Ours has a mix of mountain meadow and Timothy. My guinea pigs love it. It costs me about $20 and lasts for a few months.
It's easy to store and I can pull sections off of it. I fill up this garbage can I got brand new and transfer it from there into bags that I keep inside. It's far more cost effective and I don't have to wait and hope it gets delivered. Most of the stores in our area have drive up service. They wear masks and come to your truck to accept your payment. Then they load up your hay and send you on your merry way.
It's easy to store and I can pull sections off of it. I fill up this garbage can I got brand new and transfer it from there into bags that I keep inside. It's far more cost effective and I don't have to wait and hope it gets delivered. Most of the stores in our area have drive up service. They wear masks and come to your truck to accept your payment. Then they load up your hay and send you on your merry way.
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Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I think the big issue is the quality of hay. It can vary greatly when buying from a farm supply store. In the past, we have recommended sources (farms) that supplied hay to horses, as they need to be of better quality and more free of weeds.
http://www.guinealynx.info/hay.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/hay.html
I've never gotten bad hay from either of the feed stores I've been to. That could have a lot to do with the fact that it is grown very close to here. There are quite a few nice and fertile fields, all within a couple of hours drive from here. The hay; regardless of what strain is always fresh and green. Guess I should consider myself lucky.