Tuesday, June 29, 2010

JULY'S PIG OF THE MONTH-Jujube!

Meet Jujube from
VA rescue

Jujube is a very special guinea pig to MGPR. She came into the rescue with her mother and littermates at a few weeks old. It wasn't long before her foster mom noticed she had very strange behavior and wasn't nice to other pigs. Jujube's behavior grew even stranger as she got older and moved to one foster home, then another. Her foster moms all noticed and remarked on how strange she was. Jujube spent most of her time in her cage in a "trance," standing on her toes and hunched up.

Fortunately for Jujube she had observent foster homes and an excellent vet. During her pre-spay appointment her behavior was discussed (as was the unexpected death of Jujube's mother post-spay) and the vet postponed her spay and ran blood tests.

Jujube has been diagnosed with Portosystemic Shunt Syndrome (PSS), caused by an abnormal blood vessel that allows toxins in blood to bypass the liver and flow back through the body without being cleansed. The vet said the "trance" was actually the pain Jujube was in because of the toxins circulating through her system.

The PSS is being medically managed with twice daily doses of Lactulose, which she will be on for the rest of her life. She has made remarkable progress since being diagnosed--the trances have disappeared and she even puts her head down to sleep, which she had never done before!

Unfortunately, Jujube is still quite strange and does not get along with other pigs, so she probably also has inbreeding problems. She has made tremendous progress since treatment began and now, at almost 7 months old, is a completely different guinea pig than she was so recently.

Jujube hasn't been spayed yet but the vet says the procedure is now possible since she is on the Lactulose. MGPR hasn't decided whether to spay her and whether to make her a sanctuary pig or adopt her to a very special home. Jujube is very charming in her own peculiar way and has captured hearts in all her foster homes.

We are hoping to fundraise enough for four months of her care, totaling $287. This includes $47 for a blood test to determine she is ready for her spay, $110 for the pending spay, and $7.50 per week in regular care (carefresh, veggies, hay and pellets), plus $10 for a six month supply of Lactulose (her medicine).

This month $7.50 is again the magic number, paying for one week of Jujube's care. Feeling generous? Why not donate $10, enough for her medicine for six months!


Please contact me at sponsoraguineapig@gmail.com if you would like to make a donation via check. Otherwise, click donate below!


Monday, June 7, 2010

UPDATE FOR HONU

So far we have raised $301 out of $246! What a great month!


Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and passed along Honu's story. SAGP would not be possible without you!

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

JUNE'S PIG OF THE MONTH-Honu!

Meet HONU
from WA rescue


Honu is an adorable guinea pig who is blind, has some brain damage, and legs so completely atrophied to the point that he cannot bend them at all. Honu is Hawaiian for "Sea Turtle." This little boy is about 4 1/2 years old, but still full of energy, despite his disabilities. Honu was dumped at the Seattle Animal Shelter 3 years ago this month, because "something was wrong with him" and his family didn't want him anymore. He came in alone, but was paired with another guinea pig named Koa.

Honu immediately took to Koa and depends on her greatly. Honu MUST know where Koa is in the cage in order to function. Mary, Cavy Companions director, worries about how long Honu will survive if Koa were to pass first.

They now live with two other guinea pigs. Honu largely keeps to himself because he can barely move around. Mary puts the pellet bowl immediately beside his water bottle so he doesn't have to move from one side of the cage to another. She picks him up every night and puts him by the hay so he doesn't have to move around or be without. Occasionally, she finds him with his face in a corner of the cage because it's safer, as there are two sides he can sense.

His head bobs up, down and from side to side when there is food coming, and he sleeps with his legs stiff in front of him because they can't bend anymore.

He is a truly adorable pig who has been through far too much, but is now a very lucky boy in Mary's care. Any donations toward his upkeep would be greatly appreciated, as Mary independently cares for 28 guinea pigs and can find the rescue under financial strain at times.

We are hoping to fundraise $246: enough to recoup the cost of the two exams that determined Honu's medical conditions ($96), and $150 to provide five months worth of veggies, Carefresh, and pellets ($7.50 per week).

This month the magic number to donate is $7.50, or an even $15!

And, don't forget the below post about nominating your local rescue for SAGP!