Digest Safety Net - what is it? The Digest Safety Net (DSN) was started when Carlo (the list-owner) needed to shut down the GPDD for a while due to computer problems; it was designed as a way of having help always available to piggy people even if the Digest was 'out' for some reason. It consists of a list of several piggy people (all GPDD subscribers), all of whom are highly knowledgeable in various guinea pig matters and are willing to answer questions on pig-related matters. The DSN members are a mixture of all sorts of people who have owned pigs long enough to gain expertise in one area or another - they include breeders, rescuers, breeder/rescuers, and so on. The DSN is _not_ intended to replace the advice of a qualified veterinary surgeon, but is there as an aid for worried owners; sometimes you aren't quite sure whether a pig needs to see a vet or not for example, and asking someone with experience may save a piggy's life. Perhaps the vet has said something that you don't quite understand, or you aren't too sure that your vet is good with pigs and want to ask someone who knows, so that you can change vet if necessary. You do not need to subscribe separately to the DSN; it is published in the GPDD around the first of every month. - DSN maintainer The actual list: **************** DSN master copy updated 07 April 2006 changed since last issue? Yes ****************** POSSIBLE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS: If your pig is bleeding from anywhere, is making any kind of noise when it breathes, seems to be in pain, cannot or will not eat, or cannot or will not drink or lethargic, you should contact a vet _immediately_. ****************** SPECIAL NOTE: when you write to a DSN member for help, please make sure that you put 'DSN HELP' in the subject line of your email. A lot of people have very busy email accounts, and it will make it easy to spot urgent messages. Thanks. ****************** ADDITIONAL NOTE: If you need emergency advice, please make sure that the person you ask has listed B in their specialities - some of us do not go into our email every day and time is of the essence in a guinea pig emergency. ******************* How To Read the DSN: To conserve space, use the following key to identify information about each individual. Print out a hard copy of this list each time it changes, and keep it handy - it may save your pig's life. This list will be published on or about the first of each month. ********Key******** 1. Name 2. E-mail 3. Location (USA unless otherwise noted) 4. How often e-mail is checked 5. Specialities, listed by letter A. births/breeding (including pregnancy) B. emergencies/sudden illness/accidents C. dietary problems/changes D. surgeries/what to expect E. fighting/aggressive behaviour/introductions F. appropriate housing G. death H. other 6. Listed on the web page? *************** Important Disclaimer ******************************* NO ONE ON THIS LIST CLAIMS TO BE A VET. THIS LIST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR QUALITY VETERINARY CARE. **************************************************************** 1. Mary E. Barr 2. me@buddies.org 3. Southern California 4. 2-4 times daily 5. C, E, F, cavy companion since 1972, extensive guinea pig library, experience with treating a diabetic guinea pig 6. No *************** 1. Victoria Batsford 2. vicki_batsford@hotmail.com 3. UK - England 4. at least once or twice a day 5. B, C, D, E, F, G, H - experience with vet surgery and what it'll be like for your piggie, tips on getting the most out of your vet. 6. Yes *************** 1. Brion L. Davis 2. webmaster@cavycompendium.com, scibax@aol.com 3. Charleston, WV USA 4. At least once daily 5. B, C, E, F, G, H - long term illness, housing, bedding, diet, training, cavy cognitive, physical and sensory capability, cavy first aid and reaction in case of sudden illness or accident and cancer in cavies. 12 years of cavy experience 6. No *************** 1. Susan Firestone 2. Nov26scf@pclink.com aol IM msg- fionaandSusan 3. St. Paul, Minnesota 4. every day to every 3rd day 5. B, C, D, F, G, paper training, working handicaps (deafness, mentally challenged), access to local rescuers and several guinea pig vets 6. No *************** 1. Tex Green 2. texg@cavyinfo.com cc/backup email - cavyinfo@aol.com IM ID: Cavyinfo 3. New Jersey 4. 2-3 times daily 5. B, C, D, E, F, G, H Bladderstones and related problems (Stones list@ ). 20 years experience with guinea pigs, general health questions, alternatives/herbs 6. Yes *************** 1. Cheryl Hustwith 2. cherylhustwith@aol.com 3. Norwich, England 4. daily 5. A,B,C,D,E,F,G, runs guinea pig rescue 6. Yes *************** 1. Erin James 2. odyssey@bluemarble.net 3. Indiana 4. once a day 5. F, general care, housing 6. No *************** 1. Kirstin Key 2. kirstinkey@yahoo.com 3. Seattle, WA USA 4. daily 5. A, B, C, D, E, F, H - have raised cavies for over 8 years, can help with most things. 6. Yes *************** 1. Judi Lainer 2. BUNSNPIGS@AOL.COM ( for extreme emergencies only) 3. Washington, D.C. 4. several times daily, and several times on weekends 5. A, B, D, E, F, guinea pig rescue 6. Yes *************** 1. Robert Laurance 2. lrlaurance@aol.com 3. USA 4. 4 or more times a day 5. C, E, F 6. No *************** 1. Sian Marlow 2. sian.marlow@lineone.net 3. Buckinghamshire (UK) 4. Always online during the working day (UK) 5. B, C, D, E, F, G, H - grooming long-haired guinea pigs, library of books on guinea pigs in a variety of languages, contact with the Cambridge Cavy Trust 6. Yes *************** 1. Barbara Paterson - South Tyneside Guinea Pig Rescue 2. barbara@paterson21.freeserve.co.uk 3. Tyne and Wear, England, UK 4. frequently 5. G, H - Adoption/Guinea Pig Rescue 6. No *************** 1. Nancy Peyton 2. iluv_cavies@worldnet.att.net 3. North Florida - 28 years experience 4. daily pm 5. A,B,C,E,F,G, general care, show tips & advice (licensed Cavy Judge), psychological help with cavies. 6. Yes *************** 1. Phoebe's Mom 2. gsbees@earthlink.net 3. San Francisco Bay Area, California 4. mail is checked daily 5. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, library of guinea pig publications, attends guinea pig shows 6. Yes *************** 1. Francine Rossi 2. FKRossi@aol.com 3. Rochester Hills, Michigan 4. daily 5. D, E, F, G 6. Yes *************** 1. R. Kelly Wagner 2. BunRab@aol.com 3. Austin, Texas 4. daily 5. B, C, D, F, G, research on bedding problems, guinea pig rescue, guinea pigs in the classroom, Guinea Pig Chat on AOL 6. No *************** 1. Hermann Wenzel 2. wenzels@wugnet.de, info@fraumeier.org-guinea- pig homepage: www.fraumeier.org 3. Pappenheim, Germany 4. 3-4 times per day 5. B, C, D, medications and dosages 6. Yes *************** 1. Amber Wood 2. Xtreme4gsus@cs.com 3. Knoxville, Tennessee 4. several times daily 5. A, E, F, H care and needs of guinea pigs 6. No *************** 1. Trina Pelham 2. piggiementor@msn.com 3. Littleton, CO 4. 2 to 7 times a day 5. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H Resident Mentor for the Cavy Care Inc shelter and Pigpals Coordinator and DSN Coordinator. 10+ years of extensive piggie experience. Can be IM'd via MSN and AOL, piggiementor 6. Yes *************** 1. Jake Tate 2. wjtate02@comcast.net 3. Libertyville Illinois 4. Daily or every two days 5. A,C,E,F,G,H 6. Yes *************** 1. Margaret Wells 2. mishkacavy@adelphia.net 3. Washington state(USA unless otherwise noted) 4. several times after about 4 p.m. 5. A. births/breeding (including pregnancy) I eliminate B only because I may not be online if during the day) C.dietary problems/changes F.appropriate housing H.other 6. No *************** Want to join the DSN? Need to be removed? Want to update your info? Any comments? Please contact: dsncoordinator@gpdd.org