Pet store guinea pig advice

[TulipAndButtercup]

Hi everyone,
I'm going to be going to the pet store later today, and I've read posts about guinea pigs being sick at the pet store, and I wanted to know if y'all have any tips on identifying illnesses on guinea pigs? Do you people have any advice on this sort of thing?
Thanks,
Tulip and Buttercup

 

[Piggies&buns]

You need to look for a piggy who is bright and moving around, eating, no eye or nasal discharge, no areas of hair loss, and seems to be breathing clearly. However, this isn’t a guarantee that there isn’t something brewing (that is still in its incubation period) or something you can’t see. It’s always best to get a vet check done on new piggies

Also, it’s not just about illness, it’s also about bond. If you are buying two piggies from a shop, you will want to make sure you get two who are already spending time together. This can help, but not guarantee, that they already like each other and will remain bonded.
If you are buying piggies to bond with existing piggies then always prepare a plan b in case they are not compatible and the bonding fails. This will mean them having to live separately.
If you are bonding young piggies with existing piggies, then you forego quarantine for the sake as the essential social interaction of young piggies and must accept that you could end up treating all piggies if the newcomers bring in an illness.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

It is not just about buying babies are are healthy looking, without gunky eyes or raspy breathing or bald patches/itching; it is also that you want to spend time to see which two of them are hanging out with each other most as the success of a bond depends very much on mutual liking and personality compatibility - something that is usually not on the map for any buyer even though it should be their first consideration.
You also should double-check the gender upon arrival at home; never trust pet shop staff.
Please take the time to read this guide here: Rescues, Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

Please be aware that the arrival in a complex pet home is very stressful for piggies that have already had their lives upturned two or three times and that come from a comparatively sterile background at the commercial supply breeder's and then at the pet shop back and front. It means that while they are healthy in the shop, they can still develop problems in their new homes if they have been exposed to the relevant respiratory bacteria, fungal spores or skin parasites before they are coming with you. Your piggies may also react with sneezing or wheezing to all the complex chemicals and scents in their new home.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

All the best! As long as you know what to look out for and what your customer rights are, you can mitigate some of the most common pitfalls. Sadly not everybody has access to a good welfare standard guinea pig rescue; especially in the USA.
Please always get a pair just one guinea pig; they are not wired to be on their own. And stay off baby boar trios or quartets!

 

[TulipAndButtercup]

Thank you both for the advice! I visited the pet stores and the piggies there were already bonded with other piggies, so I won't be getting any pigs from there, and I just found out that there will be more female guinea pigs at my local animal shelter tomorrow (there were not any before), so I will be adopting one of them tomorrow if they seem like good companions for my Tulip. Thank you again for the advice!

 

[Free Ranger]

Good luck to you and Tulip. When I tried to find a companion for my George I actually went for a bonded pair of girls. I was concerned that if he got too nervy and territorial they could live as neighbours. In fact he was pretty keen, but one of them really dislikes him so it's a good job I got a pair anyway as he is frightened of her! My lovely George is not very brave

 

[Wiebke]

Please read the link about pet shops, rescues, etc. in my first post so you have an idea of what issues can come with a shelter piggy - there is a chapter about the difference between shelters and rescues. Make sure that you have got the necessary vet funds.
Rescues, Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

 

[h.h.lovecraft]

You need to look for a piggy who is bright and moving around, eating, no eye or nasal discharge, no areas of hair loss, and seems to be breathing clearly. However, this isn’t a guarantee that there isn’t something brewing (that is still in its incubation period) or something you can’t see. It’s always best to get a vet check done on new piggies

This is really great advice!

I would highly suggest you take any new piggies to the vet for a health check even if they look healthy to you. My piggies came with a multitude of sicknesses that didn't show up until a few days after I got them. Luckily, I had made a appointment for a general health check with my heavily booked vet before I even had them, so they didn't have to wait too long to get looked at once I saw the signs of illness.