What Questions Should I Ask The Shelter About The Pigs

[sophiawantsapig]

I want to know what questions I should ask the employees at the shelter about the guinea pigs i'd potentially adopt. What questions should I ask about the pigs behavior? what should I ask them about their diet? What other misc. questions should I ask them? I want to make sure I ask all the necessary questions and then some. Hopefully this makes sense and if it doesn't, i'm sorry, i'm not always the best at explaining myself.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Hopefully a shelter would give you health care information etc if you're a beginner but I would definitely ask:

1-if they know the piggies past. Sometimes it is nice to know what they went through so you understand.
2-what is their favourite veg?
3-any health problems or worries you should know about?
4-any tips on general care- eg. If you adopt and long haired one what do they advise you trim it like/how short etc.
5-advise on if anything goes wrong- will the shelter help/any good vets etc.

That's all I can think of but I'm sure the shelter will give you more information etc.

 

[Freela]

Things I would like to know would be as much of their social history and medical history as possible (obviously the shelter may not have a way of knowing everything- but if they have been treated for any illnesses, etc. while in the shelter that would be good to know.) Their ages (or best guess of ages if it's not possible to know for sure.) What food/treats they have been eating to try to keep things consistent. If it's a pair, how long they have lived together and how they get along. Those are the things that come to mind right off the bat.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Alongside the above questions - what pellets are they fed (gradual move over to the ones you use can then be factored in or if you don't have piggies already so you can get the ones they are used to), anything they have been treated for since the pigs came into the rescue, what vets do the rescue use (this usually indicates knowledgeable vets even if they aren't specialists).

 

[flowerfairy]

Something i always ask for is some of their current bedding to take with me when i bring them home. It is nice for them to have something familiar to help them settle.

It does sound a bit odd asking for dirty bedding!