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The HappyCavy webcams and Guinea Pig Treat Machine went offline on April 8, 2024.
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Hammy the Guinea Pig: Healed and Happy
Follow This Story
Follow Hammy’s guinea pig surgery story below:
5/20/14: Hammy’s Guinea Pig Surgery: Healed & Healthy
4/14/14: Update: Hammy’s Recovery from Guinea Pig Surgery
4/7/14: Prelude to Guinea Pig Surgery: Hammy & The Cystic Ovaries
On Wednesday, April 9, Hammy underwent a surgical procedure called an ovariohysterectomy to remove cystic ovaries that were discovered earlier this year.
After a month of carefully monitored recovery inside the HappyCavy Forever Home, we are pleased to announce that Hammy has fully healed and has resumed her daily routine on the HappyCavy guinea pig webcams. Plus, her shaved belly has grown back nearly all of its signature tri-colored pattern!
Hammy shows off her regrown tri-colored belly fur
Re-Introduction to the Herd
The only road-block during Hammy’s recovery was her re-introduction to Buttercup and Feebee on April 16.
During the first introduction attempt, Feebee did not play very nice at all. With a wild and assertive personality, Feebee’s interest in Hammy’s whereabouts during her absence quickly escalated from friendly curiosity to chattering and aggressive posturing. Hammy, unsure of what to do and still wary of her surroundings, didn’t like this attitude form Feebee one bit.
While Hammy got along with Buttercup after just a few minutes of play, whenever Feebee would get near, Hammy would squeal, cower, and then run as far away as she could.
Hammy's return to the guinea pig webcams at http://t.co/b4eKv7T1SQ has been delayed due to "personality conflicts" between her and Feebee 🙁
— HappyCavy (@happycavy) April 17, 2014
After several of these uncomfortable encounters, The Humans took a break from re-introductions, while Hammy and Buttercup spent floor-time together and Feebee cooled off.
Several days later, on April 19, The Humans conducted a second re-introduction. This time, Hammy, Feebee, and Buttercup spent over five hours together during floor-time without any major incidents. After an entire afternoon watching them play and eat together, The Humans placed each of them back inside the HappyCavy Forever Home.
They have been living together comfortably ever since.
Surgery Success
Hammy and her post-operative paperwork
The Humans attribute Hammy’s speedy surgery recovery to two major reasons:
- Healthy habits. Hammy is over five years old, which is considered an “advanced age” for a guinea pig. But with frequent floor-times, a healthy guinea pig diet, and Humans who adhere to a consistent care schedule, Hammy was set up for success with a healthy weight, strong muscles, and a positive disposition.
- Diligent post-op care. Knowing what to do and when to do it was a vital step in ensuring a speedy recovery for Hammy. If you find yourself having to help your guinea pig heal from surgery, take the time to make sure you understand everything you need to do to help your guinea pig recover fully. Remember: There is no such thing as a dumb question, and veterinarians appreciate it when their patients’ caretakers reach out with questions if they are unsure of what they should be doing.
A few of the things you should consider when developing an appropriate post-operative care plan with your vet are to inspect the surgery incision daily, closely monitor food and water intake, stock up on Critical Care, check weight daily, and familiarize yourself with the post-op medications and their recommended dosages and frequencies.
Do You Have Surgery Secrets?
What have you done to help your guinea pig recover from surgery? Were there any lessons you learned from your experience? Please share your story with us in the comments section below!
