Charlie1800
New Born Pup
I had two guinea pigs, the youngest, Ella, died almost a year and a half ago now, while her mom Bella died this January... I did my best to care for them, fed them regularly, gave them plenty of treats, water and vitamins... however I often felt guilty trying to hold them. I got them when they were 3 and 4 respectively, and they were very against being held by me. Every time I'd clean their cage or feed them they'd squeak loudly and run for their hides. If I tried to hold them they'd freak out and try to squirm away, they often bit me, not gently but like "get the heck off me" kind of bites, slightly painful but not mean. When they finally did relax a bit, they just sat their frozen and never relaxed, seemingly terrified, I see people talking about their guinea pigs relaxing and sleeping on their laps and stuff, and that was never even on the horizon for me, all they would do is stare blankly at the wall, wide eyed as they breathed extremely quickly.
Eventually after a year of having them (I had them both almost 3 years, give or take 6 months), I was scared to try holding them anymore, I didn't want to freak them out and give them a heart attack or a stroke as they were older... I still tried, but not nearly as often, maybe once or twice a month. I just felt bad because I felt as if they clearly didn't want me to hold them, and felt insanely guilty for trying because of how they'd react, I tried just letting them hang out on my lap, wrapping them up in blankets (very loosely so they could still move), I tried holding them in slings... Everything I could think of on top of treating them as well as possible... And it never really changed. I talked to them constantly, and if I lightly pet them when they were on top of their hides they would tolerate it for a bit sometimes before freaking out suddenly and running away like I was about to throw them into a wall or eat them. I often wound up crying because I assumed I did something wrong to freak them out, honestly.
My mom (I'm 22, they were a birthday present after a while of asking for pets, 19 when I got them) said I acted like I hated them but I adored them to bits and even still I cry when I think about them and losing them... I know I could've done better but her saying that really makes me feel like I was the worst possible owner for them for not trying more. I feel like I should have just rehomed them since I seemingly treated them so badly.
I feel it's important to include that I have some mental health issues, and while I never neglected their cages, I did eventually let my own fears of upsetting them influence my attempts at getting them to like me... But after a year it truly felt pointless because I'd tried everything, it seemed. We got them from a pet store, and I have no idea about how their previous owners treated them, but at this point I refuse to ever own any pet ever again, let alone prey animals, because if my genuine attempts at trying with them were obviously seen as hateful I just... Don't know how to try any better or harder.
I don't know if I could have done anything differently or tried any harder, and I just need an external third opinion, to be honest.
Eventually after a year of having them (I had them both almost 3 years, give or take 6 months), I was scared to try holding them anymore, I didn't want to freak them out and give them a heart attack or a stroke as they were older... I still tried, but not nearly as often, maybe once or twice a month. I just felt bad because I felt as if they clearly didn't want me to hold them, and felt insanely guilty for trying because of how they'd react, I tried just letting them hang out on my lap, wrapping them up in blankets (very loosely so they could still move), I tried holding them in slings... Everything I could think of on top of treating them as well as possible... And it never really changed. I talked to them constantly, and if I lightly pet them when they were on top of their hides they would tolerate it for a bit sometimes before freaking out suddenly and running away like I was about to throw them into a wall or eat them. I often wound up crying because I assumed I did something wrong to freak them out, honestly.
My mom (I'm 22, they were a birthday present after a while of asking for pets, 19 when I got them) said I acted like I hated them but I adored them to bits and even still I cry when I think about them and losing them... I know I could've done better but her saying that really makes me feel like I was the worst possible owner for them for not trying more. I feel like I should have just rehomed them since I seemingly treated them so badly.
I feel it's important to include that I have some mental health issues, and while I never neglected their cages, I did eventually let my own fears of upsetting them influence my attempts at getting them to like me... But after a year it truly felt pointless because I'd tried everything, it seemed. We got them from a pet store, and I have no idea about how their previous owners treated them, but at this point I refuse to ever own any pet ever again, let alone prey animals, because if my genuine attempts at trying with them were obviously seen as hateful I just... Don't know how to try any better or harder.
I don't know if I could have done anything differently or tried any harder, and I just need an external third opinion, to be honest.
