Miss Piggys Guinea Pig Lair Inc.

30/01/2025

Tour Saturday - 3pm

To book please follow this link…
https://www.misspiggyslair.com/lair-tours

29/01/2025

Little Lethal White Bella visited Dr Cj last week - you may remember last April she had a stone removed from her va**na.

Bella is medicated twice a day everyday to help flush excess calcium from her system. When we do this she purrs, every, single, time! 🥰

Of late she hasn’t been, so I checked her over and sure enough she had gained another stone. This was easily seen by a lump in her privates.

Of course I had my concerns as Lethal Whites are deaf, blind, have neurological issues and sometimes dental problems. Fortunately for Bella she only has the first three, however surgery with any piggy is always a concern let alone with a Lethal White.

But it had to go ahead and she’s pulled through so well - even purring again!

Stones are often caused by high calcium and high oxalate diets. As long as I’ve known Bella I have had her and all the piggies within our care on lower amounts of this via their food intake. Dr Cj mentioned that this could be influenced by her Lethal White status but not entirely 100% sure.

We have been advised to add another medication to her regime with which she has accepted well.

A HUGE thank you goes out to Sophie for sponsoring Bella and her sister Snowy. 🥰

29/01/2025

Quick reminder…

Not that I am counting down or anything!

88 days 22 hours 19 minutes and 17 seconds! 😃

Please do your best to stock up on supplies prior to these dates and sort alternative help for holiday care of 🐹🐹 and 🐈 🐈‍⬛

Thank you! 🙏

28/01/2025

🐍 WARNING 🐍

Fellow Aussies…

Please be vigilant in regards being predator proof for our prey animal pets!

This is a video shared from Gold Coast Snake Catcher. They are hungry! What’s more concerning - this is an Eastern Brown - deadly even to humans.

If windows are open steel wool pushed into the cracks is a good deterrent for rats etc also.

27/01/2025

The myth of…

Older males not working out in trials.

If anything I find older males easier to pair than younger ones as they are past the point of testosterone causing issues and over and done with caring about what others think of them 😂

The age old “you need a baby to trial with” an older boy, while it may work out for some others end up fighting when their hormones kick in! And then they end up within shelters most likely requiring desexing.

Donald and Waffles here adore each other they even have a third male friend named Henri. Another issue that is difficult for younger males, a trio!

Pairing goes upon personality matching more than age. Watch your piggy/ies get to know their personalities, their likes their dislikes. It may take time but it is worth it.

And to walk out upon a dangerous limb…

If you have an older piggy and wish not to continue the “cycle” please don’t think you need to surrender him or her. If their appetite is good and they aren’t loosing weight during their weekly weigh-ins you will most likely find they will be happy. Far too many older ones are surrendered into our care after loosing their buddies, they then loose their family and they pass away here.

Yes, they are social animals but after many years YOU have become their family. If otherwise healthy, keep them they’ve relied on your care for their entire lives. 🥰

Thank you Susan for sponsoring Donald and of course the MacDonald family for sponsoring Henri (not pictured)

26/01/2025

Adoptables of the “Wheek!”

Meet seven week old brothers Bandit (left) and Jarvis (right) these fellas were born in our care via a their surrendered pregnant mother Liddy.

If they were females I could have adopted them out ten times over, sadly so many give the males a miss…

Being young they are fast on their feet, for this reason we don’t recommend them for young children as little hands chasing them around will only frighten them further.

However, with any age piggy we suggest to all families that an adult hand piggies to already seated children as a piggies spine is very fragile and if dropped could very well be disastrous.

Want to give these cuties a new loving home? 🥰

Fill out an application below!

A huge thank you goes out to our sponsors for naming and supporting these babies financially!

https://www.misspiggyslair.com/adoption-application

26/01/2025

Hours for the "Wheek!"

Keep up-to-date every Sunday...

Monday: 9am to 5pm BY APPOINTMENT
Tuesday: 9am to 5pm BY APPOINTMENT
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 9am to 5pm BY APPOINTMENT
Friday: 9am to 5pm BY APPOINTMENT
Saturday: 1pm to 5pm BY APPOINTMENT
Sunday: CLOSED

Want to adopt?
Here are our current adoptables with their application form...https://www.misspiggyslair.com/adoptable-piggies

Want grooming?
Message or email us for a booking!

Surrendering?
If adopted from us they are welcome back, medicals and strays also welcome. Otherwise currently closed to surrenders.

25/01/2025

You only need a valid email address and to verify your vote via email. No $$$ needed. Thank you so much for your participation! 🙏 🤩 🙏

https://mygivingcircle.org/miss-piggys-guinea-pig-lair-inc/vote

25/01/2025

Thank you everyone for your support in regards running by appointment and my need for privacy, I have now deleted the post as I am doing my best to keep this page positive.

I cannot control what people do in regards my boundaries, I can enforce them all I like but I cannot force others to care about them. I do know that when this shelter closes I won’t regret helping the piggies who needed it. Living with the shelter though, if you intend on doing the same I’d strongly advise against it.

Thank you again. 🙏

May Pips meme put a smile on your face as it has mine. 😊 💚

24/01/2025

The only thing that keeps me going is them! However, I am exhausted. There are so many unwanteds and I feel like I am drowning.

If you are on our surrender waitlist please do your best to re-home them while you wait - we’re doing what we can. ✌️ 💚

24/01/2025

🐍 🐍 🐍

Pablo here is the reason I have recently posted a snake warning. He was adopted from us only six weeks ago as a friend for a lonely male that was taken by a snake. His previous owner and myself did the best we could to snake proof her enclosure but sadly it happened again, Pablo’s new buddy was also taken. 😔

Snakes can and do come indoors, they will push through your screens so please make sure they are secure.

Sadly, they are hungry and don’t see Guinea pigs as pets only a food source and a way to continue surviving. Even the snake catcher couldn’t work out how the snake made its way into the boys enclosure.

So, for Pablo’s safety his owner brought him back to us. Australian wildlife is very unforgiving when it comes to these prey animals. Birds swoop in from overhead when watching them roam or even when holding them outside. Snakes and goannas take no mercy upon them when they are on the hunt for food so please keep watch.

Rocky and Caramel arrived in our care on Tuesday. They have been on our surrender waitlist as their family felt they could no longer give them the care they needed. They do have a little way to go to get to adoption due to weight and fur loss. Their owner was very broken over their surrender and has offered to help pay for their upkeep.

Welcome back Pablo, and welcome Rocky and Caramel 🩶 🩵 💙

Please note: Other than those on our surrender waitlist, those who were adopted from us or strays we are currently closed to surrenders.

24/01/2025

Please bring your piggies indoors.
Not just because of the heat 🔥
Two reports from two different families piggies taken by a snake 🐍
It’s not even 11am 😔

23/01/2025

Today Ginger who is one of our permanent medicals went to see Dr Cj.

Upon her last visit she required a stone removal, it was quite a large stone, due to this it knocked her around for a few days.

Recently, she has had signs of ovarian cysts.

• Swelling of the abdomen - when checked definitely cysts.

• Fur loss on her hocks.

Other signs can be…

• Crusty ni***es

• Mood swings towards their friends

Ginger doesn’t have crusty ni***es and I’m sure her friend Chino is happy that she didn’t become moody!
Due to her previous surgery taking its toll on her and her being almost five years of age Dr Cj and myself opted for a hormone implant (Suprelorin) the one we chose lasts for twelve months, you can also opt for six months however the twelve months works out more economical and means Ginger shouldn’t have to leave the shelter as often.

While, you can have females spayed for this which is the avenue we usually take within healthier females we decided against it seeing as Ginger is already a permanent medical.

Thank you Dewhurst family for sponsoring Ginger.

Welcome back girl! 🧡

22/01/2025

Tour tomorrow!

To book please follow this link…
https://www.misspiggyslair.com/lair-tours

22/01/2025

Welcome back Itchy and Scratchy…

I am trying to understand the best I can of your return and in saying this your return has instilled in me to stick the rules in regards adoptions. This goes for those who have adopted from us before, even my closest of friends.

Boys you were surrendered into our care back in early February 2022. I remember Itchy became unwell with Coccidiosis, both of you were treated accordingly and thrived to the point of adoption.

Here is where I went wrong…

A lovely lady arrived without an appointment she was sent our way via a pet shop as her children desperately wanted Guinea pigs. Instead of following my own rules that I have needed to make I went with my gut. I went ahead with adoption, no photos of where the enclosure she purchased from us would be, no adoption application.

Since then we’ve had the pleasure of caring for you a couple of times via holiday boarding. However this time you were booked in for much longer, your boarding quote was higher than anyone else who was booked in for boarding. Your owners were more than happy to pay!

Itchy, you were squealing quite a bit while urinating, I informed your owners that I had started pain medication along with antibiotics. Unfortunately, your squealing continued and your urine was accompanied by blood. I contacted your owner again and they wanted to know your options as they didn’t want you in pain. So with Dr Cj’s go ahead I added another two medications. Still you squealed and were loosing lots of weight. An X-Ray was suggested which I forwarded to your family, however without their go ahead we couldn’t proceed so I kept you on the medications.

Still squealing I made the suggestion of surrender so we could proceed with your X-Ray to which they agreed. Fortunately no stones! But your Oxalates are up due to how nasty your infection was.

We have been advised to keep the medications going and maybe you can both look for a new home afterwards. 👏

It has been a long road! This story isn’t to shame anyone, I have shared it in the hopes upcoming families will understand why we run by appointment. It is not only for your potential families benefit but your own! 🩵

A big thank you goes out to Dr Cj and her Husband Bill for sponsoring Itchy and Andrew who originally named and sponsored you both back in 2022 for sponsoring Scratchy!

21/01/2025

There are many that say that their piggies can take it, while this may be true the heat can very well shorten their lifespan!

As a shelter we are often at the frontline of hearing how many have passed due to the heat. It is utterly heartbreaking so please do heed the following warning…

• Ideally indoors with air conditioning set at 24 degrees Celsius. Or a fan oscillating - not pointed directly on them.

• If outdoors in the shade. Anything over 24 degrees can kill Guinea pigs. Provide bottles ie 1.25L of frozen water in a sock.

• No plastic houses, piggies go inside these for shade and they are very hot!

• Hydration - Have plenty of fresh, cool water throughout the day. Placing water bottles or bowls in different areas of your guinea pigs' home can encourage them to drink. Check the bottles regularly to make sure that the water spout is not blocked. Hydrating vegetables such as cucumber can also be fed in moderation to keep your guinea pigs hydrated, but feeding too much can cause an upset tummy. Watermelon is also hydrating, but it is high in sugar so should only be fed as a treat.

• Cooling tiles - Marble tiles or slates can help keep your guinea pigs cool, as they can lie on top of them if they wish. You also place tiles in the fridge to keep them extra cool before putting them in your guinea pigs' home. Making sure that any tiles remain in the shade, as they can become extremely hot if placed in direct sunlight.

• Grooming - Longhairs guinea pigs are especially vulnerable to the heat. Cut it off, or book in to have it clipper cut.

Heatstroke in guinea pigs
Heatstroke occurs when your guinea pig's body temperature becomes too high. Heatstroke can quickly become fatal, so if you notice any signs, act fast and contact your vet immediately.

Symptoms include:

• Weakness and lethargy (tiredness)
• Heavy or rapid breathing
• Restlessness
• Drooling
• Confusion
• Convulsions

If you suspect heatstroke dampen their fur with cool, but not freezing, water. This will help to slowly bring their body temperature down while you take them to the vet. NEVER place your piggy directly into cold water as shock can be fatal.

21/01/2025

The work that goes into each and every single male we have in our care is incomprehensible, I wouldn’t be able to tell you how many other single males I have trialled with Teddy, sadly to no avail.

Over the coming weeks I will be asking - if you can donate towards our 11 single males desexing surgery - please do 🙏

It is so unfair on these boys to be living out their lives within a shelter alone. So much so I have taken the plunge and already booked Teddy in! If he receives donations that will be wonderful! If not, it will take its toll on our shelter account but I just can’t look at these lonely faces any longer 😢

Desexing costs $200 but any donation over $2 (within Australia) is tax deductible. Times are tough, if you can’t donate please share 🥰

https://www.misspiggyslair.com/piggy-bank-donate

20/01/2025

Adopted after…

SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX DAYS in our shelter!

B1 and B2 were surrendered into our care on the 19th of March 2023 and adopted on the 13th January 2025 🩷

I knew when they arrived their adoption day wouldn’t come quickly for them. Three reasons why…

1. They’re pink eyed whites - the majority of the human population believe their distinct pink eyes make them evil.

2. They were surrendered in their older years. Many prefer babies.

3. A pair of males. Many prefer to adopt females over males as there is the notion that males will fight. While males can fight, so too can females. You just have to find the right pair. These guys never fought in the entire time they were with us.

Last April I did a tour for the Murray family, they visited us from Brisbane. We threw ideas around in regards enclosures and the position of an enclosure, then one day I didn’t hear from the Murray’s again, I figured that they had either gone elsewhere or decided piggies weren’t for them.

Then on the 8th of January I received an adoption application, there was a nine month gap between their previous visit so I’ll admit I forgot who they were 🤭

All boxes were ticked for their application and when they sent through pics of their enclosure I actually became excited 😂

They didn’t know who they wanted to adopt but were interested in an older calmer pair. Their seven year old Sophie fell for B1 & B2 even Mum Lyndal said “there’s a piggy for everyone!” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

All that patience by young Sophie, the Murray’s and of course B1 and B2 had finally paid off for them!

Thank you Susan and Jess for sponsoring the boys this entire time!

I for one couldn’t be happier. 🥰

Congrats boys!!! 🥳

Miss Piggys Guinea Pig Lair on the Sunshine Coast. Check out our site!