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Baby guinea pig

Emma2313

New Born Pup
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
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Location
Burnley
Hi I’m new on here but really need some advice had a really tough time these last few weeks sadly lost one of my guinea pigs bluebelle who had serious health issues and was sadly put to sleep. We decided to get a baby yesterday 8 weeks old willow we have called her and her and blossom my older guineapig have bonded great any way today I saw the baby wee and it was very red I called the pet shop and they said it was sawdust it staining it I said they not on sawdust and she was like how unusual she said fetch her back and swap her I said I don’t want to do that I want to treat her can you pay vet fee and she said I would have to take her back and they would monitor her over night and decide if she needed vet treatment and they would only pay if they took her! I rang the vet straight away and took her to her and paid myself she had her wee tested and there is blood and white blood cells so she is on antibiotics and pain relief for 7 days. The vet said it could be just a uti and see how she does or it could be something much worse like stones I rang the pet shop back and they said I should of brought her to them and I said Well no because an 8 week old baby weeing blood is an emergency in my eyes as they get poorly very quickly and she needed to be seen not monitored! They said the boss isn’t here ring back tomorrow. Where do I stand when I ring Tomorrow I am not going to hand her back to them in a million years i don’t see what difference it makes in me taking her or them watching her then taking her and paying for it? They probs won’t even treat her with the sounds of it!
 
Hi I’m new on here but really need some advice had a really tough time these last few weeks sadly lost one of my guinea pigs bluebelle who had serious health issues and was sadly put to sleep. We decided to get a baby yesterday 8 weeks old willow we have called her and her and blossom my older guineapig have bonded great any way today I saw the baby wee and it was very red I called the pet shop and they said it was sawdust it staining it I said they not on sawdust and she was like how unusual she said fetch her back and swap her I said I don’t want to do that I want to treat her can you pay vet fee and she said I would have to take her back and they would monitor her over night and decide if she needed vet treatment and they would only pay if they took her! I rang the vet straight away and took her to her and paid myself she had her wee tested and there is blood and white blood cells so she is on antibiotics and pain relief for 7 days. The vet said it could be just a uti and see how she does or it could be something much worse like stones I rang the pet shop back and they said I should of brought her to them and I said Well no because an 8 week old baby weeing blood is an emergency in my eyes as they get poorly very quickly and she needed to be seen not monitored! They said the boss isn’t here ring back tomorrow. Where do I stand when I ring Tomorrow I am not going to hand her back to them in a million years i don’t see what difference it makes in me taking her or them watching her then taking her and paying for it? They probs won’t even treat her with the sounds of it!

You can still reclaim the vet fee from the pet shop as part of your customer rights for having in effect been sold damaged ware. Ask to speak to the manager and if necessary complain to your local council over trading standards. You are perfectly within your rights not to hand over an ill piggy because that can imply relinquishing your customer rights and not having any control over proper vet care.
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
 
Could I also ask are they required to pay until she is better if this is something more serious than a uti and ongoing thanks
 
Could I also ask are they required to pay until she is better if this is something more serious than a uti and ongoing thanks

Hi!

Any illness/health where exposure and infection must have happened at the shop will have to be paid for by the shop until it is cured.
 
...but hopefully it's 'just' a UTI as she is very young for stones. I might be corrected by a health expert here but I've not heard of a little one like that getting stones before. Even if it is stones a sow stands a chance of passing smaller ones naturally - operations are not inevitable!

You did well to hang on to her - you are fighting her corner! Your vet sounds pretty good too. They always have to mention stones but UTI is common enough. Good luck Willow and Blossom (and my condolences for the loss of Bluebelle) x
 
Thanks so much hopefully it’s just that. She’s happy in herself though eating and running round wouldn’t think I just got her yesterday! she will not be going back to the pet shop I know that! X
 
Iv spoke with the pet shop I can either take her back and they will treat her and pay there vet till she is better .. even if it’s more serious Or I can be reimbursed the vet fee I paid up to the cost of the guinea pig and I take her on and they will not pay any more for her it is on the receipt which I read but does this sound right? I thought they should pay until the guineaoig is better as they have sold me her and she is not well. Or I can swop!
 
I don’t see why I have to hand her back for treatment? I’m just worried I won’t see her again if I do
 
I don’t see why I have to hand her back for treatment? I’m just worried I won’t see her again if I do
This is exactly why they want you to hand her back. If the vet bills become too expensive they won't give her back and may pts.
You are right to hang on to her, but I would go into the shop personally, ask to speak to a Senior Manager and ask these questions directly.
Ask hard questions (in a public area and quite loudly!) such as 'Are you saying that you will not pay for this guinea pig to receive the necessary vet treatment and remain in a loving home whilst she recovers? Can I have that in writing please?'

It is a difficult situation, but maybe if you make it clear you are prepared to make a fuss and want everything in writing they will allow you to keep her and still pay for treatment (which they legally should anyway).
 
I’m so stressed out! They was saying that it could be my blossom or I have dropped her or injured her because she was fine in the shop! They just give a ! I’m just rubbish with anything like this least I care eh! X
 
I’m so stressed out! They was saying that it could be my blossom or I have dropped her or injured her because she was fine in the shop! They just give a ! I’m just rubbish with anything like this least I care eh! X
Try not to stress.
They are just trying to make you feel bad.

Write down your questions (the ones above are perfect) and go into the shop with a list.
Do you have someone you can take with you for moral support?

Start by asking to speak to a manager. Take a pen and ask their name and write it down.
Show them you mean business, even if you are really scared.
Be calm.
Ask your questions, and ask them to confirm everything in writing.

You can do this - don't let them bully you.
 
Remind them that as the problems has happened so soon after purchase it is unlikely to be caused by anything you have done, and say you are happy to get a professional opinion from a qualified vet to confirm this.
Remind them that are legally bound to ensure that they pay for her treatment under the sale of goods act, and this is your consumer right.
Ask then to call trading standards if they are not aware of this, as you have already had this confirmed (you haven't but they don't know this and it makes it sound like you really know what you are doing). They do know this and are just bluffing.
 
You can tell them that your vet will be happy to confirm which guinea pig is being treated!
I agree with the risk of pts if she is returned - and they might push you to make your decision today, but there's no hurry. You already have them agreeing to cover vet bills to this point as is their obligation. Be calm... you are doing the right thing.
How is she? It can take antibiotics a few days to kick in so don't panic if there's not much change until 48-72 hours... but sometimes it's really fast like within 24 hours.
 
Thanks for the advice I’m going to go to the shop tomro. She’s ok she’s been eating and following blossom round hard to tell though with just getting her and not knowing her yet but she seems happy enough. X
 
Don't let the shop fob you off. You are doing the right thing. You can do this.

When my late Dad had a complaint, everytime a new customer came into the shop he would interrupt and say "Sorry to interrupt, but this man/woman hasn't properly finished dealing with my complaint and doesn't want to the Customer Service here isn't very good you know" he soon go what he wanted.
 
Hang in there, so glad you didn’t hand her back, she would have faced an uncertain future. Hope Willow is better very soon x
 
If the shop persist in trying to fob you off there is a website which lists the CEOs of every company.
Tell the local manager that if you don’t get satisfaction then you will email the CEO direct.
 
That's really good news.So pleased that Willow is making good progress. It's a good job that she is with you where she is getting the care she needs and the love she deserves.
 
Honestly I’m so happy 😁 going to continue with the antibiotic and pain relief and hopefully that is the end of it x
 
That's great! 😄
Hopefully that'll be it - but if it returns and she needs more antibiotics or a different type to finish it off that can apparently just happen sometimes so don't break your heart if it does. But I bet she'll be fine - young and strong!
 
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