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21 14:34:39

Question
Hello Annie! I am Henry, the pre-teen who asked you about Squeakers and Bush.I have some things to say. First of all, he DOES drink the liquid multi-vitamin water, which I mix with water and put in the cage. Also, I have two water bottles, one for water and the other for the vita-water. However, yes, my waterbottles are the ones that you attach to the outside of the cage, with the angled metal drinking part sticking to the inside of the cage. Another thing I have to say is that I, myself, suspect that the water hole is to small for him. The water hole in the water bottle is sorta small compared to the water bottles I see the guinea pigs driking from in pet stores.
Also, I THINK I am preety sure Bush is not a female, because Squeakers' private parts and Bush's parts are the same. Also, I looked in the internet to see if my pigs are male or not. I saw that both Squeakers and Bush's private parts look the same under the "male" picture.
Also, I wil mention how long i had my pigs. I had Squeakers first. Squeakers was six months old, according to the pet shop, when I bought him.(Also, both of my pigs are from Petco)I bought Bush about two weeks later, as a reward to myself for winning a piano competiotion. Bush was four months old when I bought him, according to the pet shop. I was cautious and observerd if they would fight, since they are both males, but in fact, they seemed to like each other, and played, ate, and slept together. I had both of my pigs for roughly two or three months.
I also put in a lettuce leaf two weeks ago in the cage. Next  morning, it was gone: a sign that my pigs ate it.
Well Annie, I observed Bush today. He is still not moving much, but he is moving MUCH more than yesterday, the day I sent the question to you. He is more active and more self-dependant on drinking water.
Annie, please send me another e-mail telling me suggestions.
Thank you!

Answer
Hi Again!

I'm sorry if I offended you, it was not my intent.  It is hard to trouble shoot problems when I'm not there, so I have to start from the basics.  If I didn't someone might lose their piggie to something really simple.

At this point it sounds like you are doing the right things - I would suggest just one water bottle with vitamins and not two, that way the pigs don't get a choice and you are sure they are getting vitamins.  See if you can get a bottle with a bigger spout.  I use 32 ounce bottles with wide mouths made by Lixit, you can use any 32 ounce bottle as long as you are careful to leave just a little air room at the top (too much will make them leak though :))

Maybe Bush is just not as active as Squeakers???  Certainly my guinea pigs are not all the same.  Some are lazy, some are active, some like other piggies, some don't - I have around 35 so I know that there can be a lot of personality differences.

Just in passing... Don't use Iceberg lettuce, it has no nutritional value and can cause diarrhea.  Romaine, red leaf, and green leaf are fine.  Again, you don't say what kind you've given them, so I'm just starting at the beginning - and you may already be doing the right thing.

I'm glad you are watching them closely.  If Bush seems like he's actually sick and not just lazy don't wait to take him to a vet.

Good luck,
Annie