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Deleted member 149618
Oh Gosh I'm so sorry for your experiences. And well done for fighting for her after your big shock and getting a vet appointment. I must say that sometimes Moms and Dads can be far too indulgent allowing siblings to pass pigs around and will have a go at the 'owner' for not sharing - it can feel easier that way. But these little animals aren't toys and accidents happen all the time (we see the sad results on here). I'll tell you, those parents who've had the shock of a sudden vet bill will find themselves suddenly tougher than they ever thought enforcing those rules!
Let your parents know that they wouldn't be getting a second pig for you - it would be for her. Pigs need the company of their own kind if you really want to see their full range of behaviour. They want someone to talk to and have fun with... they are a herd animal and a prey animal so they don't want to be alone because they are frightened all the time. I know that they are sold as lone pigs over there in the US - over here UK shops/rescues and even breeders will insist on at least two of the same sex... if you are the look out for one you have to be able to prove you have a companion at home. In countries like Switzerland it's actually illegal to keep just one of them! 'In the wild' a lone pig would be a lost pig (and easy pickings for predators) or even the last pig because all the others had been eaten. No wonder they get scared! What you have there is a very brave little girl x
Personally our pigs were only handled by the kids at floor level. I didn't let them sit on the couch or go into the beds. I've kept various piggies for about 10 years and even ones that know you well will make a sudden blind jump if they panic. Their eyesight isn't great so they don't realise how far they have to go. Putting them back into their enclosure can actually be the greatest time of risk as they smell they are nearly home. But it's a wonderful thing to sit comfortably with a piggy that could easily choose to climb down and walk away... but chooses to stay
Good luck and I really hope things go well. We are all learning all the time x
Luckily, they’ve finally agreed to take her to the vet. They thought I was overreacting and just hyper-fixated, because, the last month or so, I’ve been really set on giving more care to my guinea pig about getting her fleece lining, cleaning her cage much more often, giving her toys and more hay, along with veggies for breakfast and dinner, and with getting her a cagemate. My parents and my boyfriend all thought I was just obsessing over her, and claiming that, “She’s given enough attention with us! We care for that pig every day and the first thing your brothers and you do when you get home from school is say hi to her.” Or they say. “Stop watching those youtube videos, they just want your money. Peaches will be fine, she doesn’t need another cage mate.” No matter how much I beg and plead. But finally, they said that I will be getting another pig at the end of the school year (2 weeks) if I get good grades and don’t fail. My parents have always enforced rules, but unfortunately, my brothers aren’t the great at listening. The brother that dropped the guinea pig is autistic, but he’s very kind and
calm with Peaches, and so is everyone else. It was an accident, but it will never happen again. The most I am allowing them to take her is into the living room and on the couch. No more going upstairs with her UNLESS it is me or my parents. I hate that I had to learn it this way, and I really hope her vet visit goes well today.. I could barely sleep last night from the fear of losing her. She means the world to me and my family.
