Can You Request For A Guinea Pig Seller To Give A Baby Pig A Vet Check Up?

[AdaGiulia]

Hi I'm new here! I am seriously considering getting my 3 and a half year old guinea pig Alfie a new companion. I fear that perhaps the new guinea pig might have caught something as the seller's guinea pigs live in a group. Would it be appropriate to ask them to take a guinea pig to the vet's for a check up before I decide to take him home? As I am a teen and am not sure if I could cover the cost of the vets if something was wrong, I'd just want to make sure that I'm buying a healthy guinea pig as not to make the guinea pig I already have, ill too. So I'd just like to know if it would be ok to ask or if it's not likely that the seller will be ok to take it to the vets before I make the big decision as to if the guinea pig becomes part of our family.
any advice would be much appreciated! X

 

[VickiA]

As we are a pro rescue forum we don’t recommend buying from shops or breeders but recognise your right to get a piggy from the source of your choice. If you adopt a piggy from a rescue it has already gone through quarantine to ensure no obvious illnesses, been vet checked and properly sexed. None of these are guaranteed by breeders or pet shops. Rescues will also often do the bonding for you to ensure that your piggy gets innwith the newcomer and to ensure the bond will work. Again breeders/pet shops are unlikely to offer this service. You may find your piggy does not like your choice of companionand would prefer to choose his own.
If you are in the UK and purchase a piggy you are covered by consumer law. There is no specific law in relation to animals - they are treated as “goods” with the relevant legislation coming from the Supply of Goods and Services Legislation.

 

[AdaGiulia]

I tried finding a rescue guinea pig but as I live in the Suffolk area there are only a few rescues to choose from (rspca, blue cross and pets at home adoption). We've tried our hardest to look for a guinea pig in the rescues but they've all either been paired already (whereas we are only looking for one after Alfie's brother Wilfred died), they are too far from us or the guinea pigs are female and unneutered, sadly. I am aware that buying from a seller isn't ideal and I have tried my hardest to look for ones that Need adopting, but we haven't been able to find just one male in our area.
Thank you for your reply though! X

 

[VickiA]

My geography isn’t that good, but I know there are areas of the country with limited rescues nearby.
If you do buy a piggy please maintain a strict quarantine for 2 weeks at your home before introducing to your piggy.
Please read the quarantine information thread Importance Of Quarantine

If the piggy demonstrates any illness during the quarantine period you can rely on consumer legislation to require the seller to refund your vets fees. However knowing your rights and enforcing them (especially against backyard breeders) can be time consuming and frustrating.

If the piggy passes the quarantine period you can then move on to the introduction.

Before you conduct the introductions please read the intro and bonding guides.
Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Introducing And Re-introducing Guinea Pigs
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs

Good luck finding a piggy companion.

 

[AdaGiulia]

Thanks a lot! X