Several months ago, a mange-infected guinea pig was found alone in a park in Somerset West. A good Samaritan picked her up and brought her to Country Animal Clinic where our vets and clinic staff sprang into action.
This almost hairless little girl was given medication and a bath, a warm, safe bed and plenty of food. As she healed, so we searched for a new home for her and to our delight her new mom is a vet.
Mange-ridden, the guinea pig arrives at Country
Dr Aileen Pypers’ love affair with guinea pigs started when she was university. She adopted a guinea pig called Onyx when she was studying veterinary science. “He was my study companion and sanity maintainer,” she says. Her best friend adopted his sister and the two guineas had regular play dates on the university’s lawns.
After graduating Dr Pypers adopted Onyx’s great nephew and named him Badger. “It’s like an episode of Generations!” she says. Badger and Onyx became best buddies but sadly at the age of five Onyx developed cancer and had to be put to sleep. “I was heartbroken. I wanted another companion for Badger but didn’t want to buy a guinea pig from a pet shop or breeder so kept my ears to the ground for a ‘rescue’ and then along came this little girl.”
She named her Cotton and Badger loved her from the first day they met. “He is sterilised so we don’t have to worry about the family increasing,” says Dr Pypers. Cotton’s fur has grown back beautifully.
Tiny Cotton meets big Badger
Cotton’s fur begins to grow back
“She has the cutest, cheekiest little face and the appetite of a horse. She and Badger get half a carrot in the morning, guinea pig pellets in the evening and oat hay during the day. They also mow the lawn a couple of times a week when we have supervised grass time,” says Dr Pypers.
“Cotton also loves getting fresh spinach from our garden and every now and then gets a bee in her bonnet and boots Badger out of their communal house.”
Cotton the guinea pig restored to good health
A great big thank you to Dr Pypers from all of us at EberVet Country Animal Clinic for rescuing Cotton and giving her such loving, tender care.
