Pound Shilling & Pig
Adult Guinea Pig
Back in September two unexpected additions joined the pound shilling and pig household. And it has been quite a roller coster of emotions.
I hadn't been planning on new piggies but when visiting my local independent pet shop to get some stuff for my gang I took a peak at their piggies, as you do. Amoung them was a cheerful mostly white piggy (not a lethal) that was adorable. Anyway I moved along, selected my purchases, paid for them and was heading for the exit when the owner came in, who knows me quite well and that I have a lot of piggy experience. We stopped to chat and I mentioned the lovely white piggy, to be told that they believed her to be deaf and blind as she behaved and reacted differently to the others. They weren't going to sell her on to a random member of the public and also weren't going to return her to the (commercial) breeder to face an uncertain and most likely extremely short future. So asked me if I would like to have her, for free. Of course I said yes and added I would like one of her friends too (not free) so she would be with someone familiar while in quarantine. And so began my emotional journey.
By the time I got home I was thinking I may have said yes too quickly and feeling guilty I now had two pet shop pigs when I could have gone to a rescue. I woke up in the night having a panic attack and spent the next day with feelings of "buyers remorse". But she is the sweetest of pigs and also brought me joy. Observing her over the next few day it became clear she wasn't deaf or blind but did have a different way about her. So now I felt quilty at having two normal pet shop pigs and then instantly terrible at effectively wanting there to be something wrong with her to justify having her. I think I have a tendency to over think things.
After a few days I came to the conclusion that she may have had some neurological issue. She tended to be very unfazed by the world around her and also at times something of a fidget and walked with her head held high. She also had a habit of wiping her nose, despite not having any discharge. I had her vet checked and quarantined her for three weeks to be safe.
Since then her little quirks have remained but she has really taken to herd life and is full of energy but has never grown despite eating very well and weighs under 400g! The piggy I got with her now weighs nearly 800g. I have had a "dwarf" piggy before, who lived to three. They can have neurological issues as well as heart issues and I think my vet said also their livers.
Stargazer has dropped a little weight for last couple of weeks and is slowly showing more signs of something neurological. I am feeling worried about her in general and also hope she hasn't developed dental issues. I have a vet appointment in the morning.
I will share some photos of her tomorrow.
I hadn't been planning on new piggies but when visiting my local independent pet shop to get some stuff for my gang I took a peak at their piggies, as you do. Amoung them was a cheerful mostly white piggy (not a lethal) that was adorable. Anyway I moved along, selected my purchases, paid for them and was heading for the exit when the owner came in, who knows me quite well and that I have a lot of piggy experience. We stopped to chat and I mentioned the lovely white piggy, to be told that they believed her to be deaf and blind as she behaved and reacted differently to the others. They weren't going to sell her on to a random member of the public and also weren't going to return her to the (commercial) breeder to face an uncertain and most likely extremely short future. So asked me if I would like to have her, for free. Of course I said yes and added I would like one of her friends too (not free) so she would be with someone familiar while in quarantine. And so began my emotional journey.
By the time I got home I was thinking I may have said yes too quickly and feeling guilty I now had two pet shop pigs when I could have gone to a rescue. I woke up in the night having a panic attack and spent the next day with feelings of "buyers remorse". But she is the sweetest of pigs and also brought me joy. Observing her over the next few day it became clear she wasn't deaf or blind but did have a different way about her. So now I felt quilty at having two normal pet shop pigs and then instantly terrible at effectively wanting there to be something wrong with her to justify having her. I think I have a tendency to over think things.
After a few days I came to the conclusion that she may have had some neurological issue. She tended to be very unfazed by the world around her and also at times something of a fidget and walked with her head held high. She also had a habit of wiping her nose, despite not having any discharge. I had her vet checked and quarantined her for three weeks to be safe.
Since then her little quirks have remained but she has really taken to herd life and is full of energy but has never grown despite eating very well and weighs under 400g! The piggy I got with her now weighs nearly 800g. I have had a "dwarf" piggy before, who lived to three. They can have neurological issues as well as heart issues and I think my vet said also their livers.
Stargazer has dropped a little weight for last couple of weeks and is slowly showing more signs of something neurological. I am feeling worried about her in general and also hope she hasn't developed dental issues. I have a vet appointment in the morning.
I will share some photos of her tomorrow.
