First World Problem

Expensive visits to the vet are part of the package.

Pets improve owners' physical and mental wellbeing by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, stress, and depression.

The corollary is that having a sick pet can negatively affect owners' health. [bold added]

New research suggests that when people care for ill pets, they have more depression, anxiety and caregiving distress: symptoms that are similar to how people report feeling when caring for sick relatives, the study authors say...

Depression was an especially pronounced problem for these pet owners. Depressive symptoms were even worse for people who belonged to pet disease social media groups, which the researchers say could indicate the members were seeking support for their distress.

The people in the study were mostly white, female, highly educated and in a relatively high socioeconomic class.

After having nursed several generations of guinea pigs through sickness and health, I can vouch for the happiness they bring to a household. However, the burden near the end of life can be heavy (unless one is an euthanthusiast). Just know what you're getting into.

Love Isn't Logical

Our household has been home to guinea pigs for over ten years. Affectionate, quiet animals, guinea pigs demand little attention (unless they're sick).

Through the local Episcopal Church we have been long-time contributors to the Heifer Project, which donates farm animals to Third-World villages and instructs recipients on how to care for, use, and breed the animals under the "teach a man to fish" principle. We've taken field trips to the Heifer Project's demonstration farm, now closed.

"Cuy" = guinea pig; a cuyeria serves...(World Ark)

These two of our interests converge in South America, where guinea pigs are a source of protein in the village diet. The Heifer Project has an active guinea-pig program in Peru.

In 2013, Heifer Peru started working in Ccorca to help families raise and sell guinea pigs. The animals, which are indigenous to the Andes, have been a food staple in the region for thousands of years, and are an important part of local culture.

Unlike large animals, guinea pigs are eaten in one sitting and do not require refrigeration. Yes, that's a very practical point of view, unlike incurring pocket-pet medical expenses that vastly exceed the cost of the pet herself. But love isn't logical.

No Clip Job

Our guinea pigs had been losing weight over time; they each had dropped more than 100 grams over the past year and their weights ranged between 750g and 850g. They were overdue for a checkup at Adobe Animal Hospital anyway.

The veterinary assistants stuck the thermometer in their nether regions to obtain a stable reading. There was a lot of pitiful squealing, reminding me of my own doctor's visits. One guinea pig's temperature was 107 degrees F., which an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treated after a couple of days.

The doctor suggested that we hand-feed both with a liquid formula for a week until they got their appetites back, which we did and they did. The assistants clipped their nails, again to more squealing.

The hospital charged us less than $100, including medications, for each guinea pig, a lot when the price of a new animal is about $20, but much less than the cost of a visit for a dog. (Every vet we've been to scales down their rates for these common small animals.)

Love may have a price, but we're not close to reaching that limit.

Know What You're Getting Into

Welcome to the 21st century: guinea pig ultrasound.

Our adopted guinea pig had been losing weight steadily. A blood test and X-ray had not revealed the cause, so the next step was an ultrasound exam. (We had decided that if six-year-old Pumpkin had cancer, it would be time to say goodbye.) The images showed that she had a couple of small (6mm) ovarian cysts. They were not malignant but could diminish appetite. The vet proposed spaying, a riskier procedure on an older pig but one which we will consider if the weight loss continues.

We have written before about the financial and time commitment involved in taking care of pocket pets. They're cute, but know what you're getting into.

Novato Errand

The big-rig crash in the North Bay disrupted our plans somewhat, but we did manage to be on time for the appointment. The Novato veterinarian examined our adopted guinea pig, who turned out to be problem-free.

The guinea-pig rescue lady was relieved to hear the report. She reconnected with her former charge by trimming her hair. The animal lovers in the group chatted amiably about all matters cavy for about an hour.

Meanwhile, I silently gave thanks to Steve Jobs for inventing the iPhone.

No Quake Today

All's quiet, no quake today

For thousands of years it's been widely believed that animals can predict earthquakes. However, there's been little scientific evidence to support that theory...until now.

Animal movements dropped off significantly in the weeks prior to the 7.0 Peruvian earthquake of August, 2011:

Well ahead of the tremor, the traps recorded up to 18 animals a day, but that number began to drop off steeply as the earthquake approached. In the five days immediately before it, the traps snapped just three animals. The park’s fauna, it seems, had stopped moving around.

The leading explanation is that animals can detect electromagnetic signals from faults that are about to rupture.

In any case it can't hurt to head down to the local SPCA and adopt a furry or feathered friend. Like a smoke alarm, a rescue animal can save your life, but unlike a smoke alarm, it will love you back.

Rescued from San Quentin

The beach at San Quentin village 

We visited the lady who runs a guinea-pig rescue service in San Quentin. She has a view overlooking the beach, where swimmers frolicked in San Francisco Bay.

(The beauty of San Quentin village stands in sharp contrast to the infamous prison, home to the largest death row in the United States.)

There were six potential companions for our female, who has been alone since December.

Five GPs mingle on the upper deck

A four-year-old long-hair named Pumpkin seemed suitable--they didn't fight after two hours together in close quarters.

Pumpkin is now ensconced in her own cage in the guinea pig room; as a precaution against infection or incompatible behavior, we will keep them separate for a week. It's early, but the results are promising.

Guinea Pigs in Dolores Park

(SF Gate photo)

Another example of the cruelty of man--a family of guinea pigs was abandoned in Dolores Park, San Francisco:

When the train rustled by, the furry rodents darted into bushes but as soon as quiet fell they came out from hiding to nibble on grass. The lead gardener at Dolores Park....says about six or seven guinea pigs were left in the park overnight.

Guinea pigs are domesticated animals and don't last long in the wild. Perhaps the former owner knew that they would be spotted quickly at Dolores Park and gave them a fighting chance. Maybe he or she is not 100% cruel.

Note: we are biased because guinea pigs have been members of our household for years.

{Update, 2/27 - guinea pig lovers are coming out of their hutches:

More than 50 concerned locals have called Animal Care & Control asking about the guinea pigs.

“Our phones have been ringing off the hook with people asking if the guinea pigs are OK,” [Animal Control spokesperson Deb] Campbell shared. “Someone donated two cages so the guinea pigs have a good start in life. People are asking when they’ll be up for adoption.”}

Christmas Mourn

So-called pocket pets (rabbits, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs) are for the most part easy to maintain and inexpensive to acquire. Pocket pets have an abbreviated existence; one visit to the vet can easily exceed the cost of the animal, so many owners don't bother treating illnesses. If it dies, they'll just buy a new one. In our case sentimentality overwhelmed cold calculation.

After her second birthday Velvet began to experience painful urination. Unlike most other guinea pigs she had a genetic predisposition to form bladder and kidney stones. Over the next three years we visited the vet to treat her pain (Metacam), urinary-tract infections (Baytril), and lack of digestive motility (Metoclopramide). We put her on a low-calcium diet and even had surgery performed to remove bladder stones when her life was in jeopardy. We probably would not have gone through the trouble and expense if Velvet had not been so affectionate, stoic in taking her meds, and responded so well to treatment.

This month, however, she stopped eating and resisted attempts to force feed her a liquid diet of Critical Care®. We said our goodbyes to her on the morning of Christmas Eve. I like to think that was her Christmas gift---freeing us from our (willing) burden of tending to her. With so much human tragedy in the world, including the recent death of people in our own extended family, no one should mourn the passing of a little guinea pig. But we do.

Afternoon at Half Moon Bay

Fish and chips (Flickr, lfstewart)

We pointed the car west to Half Moon Bay. The first stop was Barbara's Fish Trap, a very popular seafood house in Princeton-by-the-Sea. Barbara's Fish Trap has the no-frills ambience of the fishmonger's restaurant. It doesn't accept credit cards, the fish is very fresh, and there's a wait for a table even at 2 p.m. on a weekday. The fellow in front of us said that he always comes to Barbara's when he visits from Riverside, 434 miles to the south.

Yes, the price of the saddle is $3,000.

We ordered the fish- or calamari-and-chips, and the food tasted as good as it looked. The hot, crunchy crust married with a moist, tender interior rivaled the best Japanese tempura. We shared an appetizer of clam chowder in a bread bowl. Dipping chunks of sourdough into a thick mixture of clams, spices, and celery (but no cream, the chowder is ideal for the lactose intolerant) is the quintessential experience on the Northern California coast. Four fish entrees, clam chowder, three soft drinks, tax, and a 16% tip cost an even $100.

Our next stop was the Half Moon Bay Feed and Fuel store on Main Street. Live chickens were on display in coops close to the sign "The Best Place to Pick Up Chicks."

On the front door was a Romney-Ryan sticker. Inside, scattered among the feed and livestock paraphernalia, were politically incorrect signs and cards. A moosehead was mounted over the front door. The sensibility of the store in these parts is, to say the least, unique.

Prices, except for a few outliers like a $3,000 "show saddle," compared very favorably to those in the closer-in suburbs. We picked up some supplies for our guinea pigs. A large bag of grass was $5, a fraction of the cost online or at PetSmart. When we complained to the owner that alfalfa was mixed in with the grass (calcium in alfalfa can cause bladder stones in small animals), she promptly instructed the workers to fill a new bag from the pristine bales outside.

Half Moon Bay Feed and Fuel is on historic Main Street.

Our final stop was the New Leaf Community Market, an organic-food chain that is slowly expanding into the Bay Area, though it's unlikely that we'll have one on the Peninsula any time soon. The prices were equal to or less (in some cases much less) than Whole Foods, so we bought three shopping bags (recyclable, of course) full of groceries.

I was in Half Moon Bay just over a year ago for a charity function. We won't wait as long for our next visit. © 2013 Stephen Yuen

Adobe Animal Hospital

It's early morning on Super Bowl Sunday. Customers stream through the double doors at Adobe Animal Hospital . Many of them don't want to be here and howl their objections.

The emergency room is open 24/7. However, if the customer is not a dog or cat, the staff may not be able to take her immediately; "exotic" specialists aren't always present. Our guinea pig was sick last night, but we couldn't bring her in until today. Turtles, birds, fish and guinea pigs are second-class citizens in a canine- and feline-dominated world.

Our animal's breathing has improved greatly. The doctor prescribed Baytril prophylactically. We are aware of the dangers of over-administering antibiotics, but guinea pigs are sensitive creatures who can go downhill quickly. At the margin, we'll opt for the medicine.

We were done after 90 minutes---a minor digression from the day's plans, and an excellent result when one considers everything that could have gone wrong.

Go Patriots, go Giants Oh, heck, I just hope it's a well-played, competitive game.

Bubbles

One of our guinea pigs died the week before Easter. On a visit to treat an infection she was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Bubbles was extraordinarily patient. She endured chemotherapy injections and daily doses of prednisone and antibiotics without squirming. We hand-administered liquid foods for several weeks, and she appeared to regain her appetite for solids. On her second visit to Adobe Animal Hospital the doctors were surprised not only that she had survived but was acting livelier.

Alas, it was a false rally. One Friday evening her legs twitched uncontrollably, and she gasped her last before we could arrive at Adobe.

Bubbles was an intelligent guinea pig. She came running to her name and ignored our summons to other animals. She performed simple tricks and seemed to enjoy watching TV with us in the family room, purring her contentment.

Although I'm not sure about the theology, I like to think that she's frolicking in a peaceful meadow munching on her favorite sweet lettuce leaves. We'll miss her.

We held a short service for Bubbles. Her ashes sit on our mantle.

Beauty Without Lipstick

Two guinea pigs roam freely in our bedrooms. They are clean, doing most of their business in the litter boxes.

The GP’s have learned that we often have a baby carrot or juicy strawberry when we enter the room. They come running, emitting little squeals, and we have to tread carefully. They sit quietly while we rub their back and neck and watch the evening news; a half an hour of sitting still is their limit, longer than many toddlers.

Our guinea pigs are part of the family. The spread of the swine flu has made us become very cautious about washing our hands and avoiding unnecessary trips out. But our concern is not for our sake but for theirs.