Sophie, Oink, Jackie Brown and Candy with their new owner, Leanne.

Candy

The most common health problem we come across when rescuing small animals is tiny little mites. These parasitic insects can be seen under a microscope, and cause animals to be so itchy they can scratch their fur out and have scabs and dandruff. In February 2009, two guinea pigs came to rescue with such a problem. They were named Cody and Candy. Someone had caught them in their garden and taken them to the pound, or at least that’s what they wrote on the stray/seized animal form

Cody was much better than Candy, who had been under greater stress and therefore more susceptible to the mites. She came to us on a wet afternoon, and was extremely thin with little hair left. Had it gone on for much longer she would slowly have become weaker and weaker.

Mites are very easy to treat for, either with injection and/or oral administration of Ivermec, or a small animal tube of Revolution. Either way, with fresh vegetables providing a high vitamin C diet, we only had to wait for Candy to get better.

Candy (1) upon arrival and (2) waiting for her fur to fully regrow with her Teddy Bear.

In a couple of months Candy had new shiny fur, but it took four months before she found the perfect home. Since her brother had been adopted much earlier, Candy had joined the girl group and was friends with Jackie Brown and Sophie (a mother and daughter couple). These girls were adopted by a wonderful lady who had come to find a friend for her lonesome guinea pig named Oink, and she found three! They now live in a cavy mansion which includes a sandpit, carpet, newspaper, wood shavings and hay. Heaps of space to run and play with mosquito netting and covers for the night. Candy is a very special guinea pig who became so friendly during her time in rescue. We miss her running up to us for treats, and squealing happily for attention. But we’re so glad she has found a fantastic family along with her friends and are sure she’ll have many happy years to give her new owner.

Candy, happy and healthy before being adopted.

If you would like to help us continue to save lives, just like with Candy, we would really appreciate a donation. As a self-run, not-for-profit rescue, we are always facing medical costs associated with animals in care.