New Guinea Pig Health Check

[Hel_p_99]

Just today we got a new Guinea pig from pets at home to be a companion for our other recently bereaved one. We have them in separate cages and have only handles the new arrival as he seemed so confident and forward and nor scared. Anyway, in handling my daughter found a longish scab in his lower back. I looked more closely and found some bald patches and a couple of other smaller scabs. Initially we thought the first scab could have been from a fight as it looked like a claw mark maybe but along with the small hair loss patches and other couple of scabs I am worried it is something else such as a parasite. I feel like I should take the new Guinea pig back to pets at home to show them but also don't want to lose him necessarily (I also have no idea of how they would care for a returned pet). I am also concerned for our original guinea pig. My daughter is distraught about either idea too and I am really annoyed that a proper health check was not carried out on the new pig at the store. I will see if I can add a photo but would just like some advice, either on the health issue itself or on how to deal with this. Thanks

 

[Hel_p_99]

 

[Hel_p_99]

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome. I am sorry that your new piggy appears to have a skin problem. If it were me, I would have him seen by a vet and ask pets at home to pay the vets bills (save the receipts) which they should do as they have effectively sold you a 'faulty product'. Please do not return him as he will just end up in the adoption centre.

He could have mites, a fungal infection or he could have been attacked by other piggies. If he has been in contact with your current piggy, both pigs will need to be treated if it does turn out he has mites or a fungal infection

 

[Hel_p_99]

Hi Claire, thanks for the welcome and for the advice. Might pets at home do this and pay the bills do you think? We have still not paid off the large vets bill from trying to help our 5 year old pig who died during an operation just before Christmas and it's so upsetting to think we have to head back there so soon. The pigs have luckily not been in contact yet as we just had their cages opposite each other. I have moved them further apart now

 

[Claire W]

Hi Claire, thanks for the welcome and for the advice. Might pets at home do this and pay the bills do you think? We have still not paid off the large vets bill from trying to help our 5 year old pig who died during an operation just before Christmas and it's so upsetting to think we have to head back there so soon. The pigs have luckily not been in contact yet as we just had their cages opposite each other. I have moved them further apart now

You could take him back to pets at home and have him seen by their vet and yes, they should fund the vets bills as like I say, they have essentially sold you a faulty product. I'm so sorry for the loss of you 5 year old pig

 

[Eriathwen]

Welcome! I find long scabs like that are usually bite wounds. Unfortunately it isn't always clear if theyre from another pig or self inflicted from parasites causing itching.
If you speak to the manager of the store you bought him from, you can request they pay the vet fees if you use the vets in their store (if they have them) This is something they have agreed to do for me a couple of times. Usually they will also reimburse vet fees from other vets if you show them the receipts and badger them a little bit. Hopefully it's 'just' that he was being picked on a little by the others at the store and he heals without issue.

 

[Hel_p_99]

I have checked and our pets at home doesn't have its own vets but I will speak to them tomorrow anyway. As there are bald patches around the scabs it made me think it was more than just injuries such as scratches or bites but I don't really know as I have never seen scabs or patches on our pigs before so all advice is much appreciated. Sorry the photos aren't that great. I'll take another look tomorrow and keep an eye out for self inflicted scratching or biting too. I can speak to our vets on Monday still. Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Claire, thanks for the welcome and for the advice. Might pets at home do this and pay the bills do you think? We have still not paid off the large vets bill from trying to help our 5 year old pig who died during an operation just before Christmas and it's so upsetting to think we have to head back there so soon. The pigs have luckily not been in contact yet as we just had their cages opposite each other. I have moved them further apart now

Hi and welcome

You can find our information re. your customer rights with new guinea pigs in this link here, which also details the most common problems with bought new guinea pigs: New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

 

[Wiebke]

I have checked and our pets at home doesn't have its own vets but I will speak to them tomorrow anyway. As there are bald patches around the scabs it made me think it was more than just injuries such as scratches or bites but I don't really know as I have never seen scabs or patches on our pigs before so all advice is much appreciated. Sorry the photos aren't that great. I'll take another look tomorrow and keep an eye out for self inflicted scratching or biting too. I can speak to our vets on Monday still. Thanks

You are fully within your cusotmer rights to reclaim ANY vet fees that you incur due to having being sold compromised guinea pigs - and not just by their own vets because you have in effect being sold damaged ware. So don't let yourself be fobbed off and of needed ask to see the manager! The link in my previous post details the time span within which any arising cost will be honoured.

All the best!