THIS STORY IS FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Paddy was given an on the spot “household” of pets by a classmate in school who was returning to Canada and couldn’t take his animals with him. There have been three guinea pigs and one rabbit, who all lived fortunately collectively. Strictly talking, rabbits aren’t meant to be stored with guinea pigs as a result of they don’t at all times get on, however all 4 animals appeared to be good mates, so Paddy determined to proceed to maintain all of them collectively. The creatures got here with their very own purpose-built two-storey hutch, which incorporates 4 separate bedrooms (one for every animal). It has a safe, fenced-in, metal run connected, in order that animals are secure from predators whereas they graze on the garden. The hutch is cleaned out each couple of weeks, and the run is moved on to a brand new space ever week, so the little animals by no means run out of recent grazing.
WERE ALL THE GUINEA PIGS BOYS?
Paddy had been informed that each one 4 of his new pets had been boys, and he had no purpose to suppose in any other case: previously three years, there had been no signal of any infants. The guinea pigs, particularly, are playful creatures, typically working and leaping collectively. Paddy had seen that the 2 different ones typically appeared to select on Troubles, leaping on his again, however he presumed that this was simply the best way that guinea pigs performed, and Troubles by no means appeared to thoughts.
This summer season, the household went away for a few weeks on vacation, so Paddy’s grandparents had been caring for his pets. When Paddy went to gather them after the vacation, he seen was that Troubles had placed on weight. He had at all times been a trim, lean guinea pig, however now he had a giant pot stomach. Paddy’s first thought was that maybe Troubles had been given an excessive amount of meals whereas he’d been away, however the different guinea pigs appeared as slim as ever, so this didn’t actually add up. Paddy’s father got here out to the hutch to take a look, and he seen that Troubles’ nipples had been protruding greater than regular. It was solely then that questions started to be requested: was Troubles actually a boy, or may he presumably be feminine, and if he was feminine, may he be pregnant?
TROUBLES WAS BROUGHT TO THE VET
Paddy introduced Troubles as much as see me, and a fast verify confirmed that “he” was actually a “she”. After I squeezed her stomach, I may really feel a few onerous objects, the scale of marbles. To be double-sure, I took an x-ray image, and this eliminated any doubt. The tiny skeletons of two child guinea pigs might be seen in Troubles’ stomach. She was undoubtedly pregnant, as a consequence of have her infants within the subsequent week. Paddy rapidly arrange particular maternity preparations: Troubles is being moved to her personal cage and run, so she will be able to rear her younger safely away from the others.
Paddy isn’t but certain what he’ll do with the newborn guinea pigs, however he’s hoping a good friend will take them. He’s additionally undecided what to do with Troubles: one batch of unintentional infants is greater than sufficient. He’s most likely going to search out one other feminine guinea pig to maintain together with her, in a separate guinea pig home and run.
Within the meantime, he’s taking no probabilities with getting the intercourse of his pets unsuitable once more. I’ve double checked that his different guinea pigs are each male, and sooner or later, I’ll be checking Troubles’ infants. One batch of sudden infants is greater than sufficient.
