I think with saskia, she is seeing alot of neglected pigs, not saying gems pig is neglected because he obviously and cleary isnt.
@Gem789 's boy is very well cared for, I assure you!
But if it is a dental problem, then a vet is better poised to judge whether it is a mineral or vitamin deficiency if it is not just a temporary discolouration.
Saskia sees literally thousands of piggies as the only guinea pig rescue in the second largest US city, and the majority come from less than pristine backgrounds while we are a place for people that on the overwhelming side aspire to give their piggies the best of care, so our experiences differ. Access to good vets is not only much more expensive and requires upfront payment in the US; exotics vets and general vets with decent guinea pig knowledge are also a lot harder to come by because there are a lot less compared to the UK or Europe.
Attitudes to pets and especially guinea pig needs/welfare are still lagging much behind compared to the UK where there is a continuously growing awareness of animal welfare and much more of an acceptance of companionship and somewhat larger cages, especially in the younger generation.
Although in California pet shops are now forced to sell second-hand guinea pigs and not babies in order to get on top of the flood of unwanted pets that in many cases will have to be otherwise euthanised.
Because of the high vet cost in a country where many people cannot even afford medical care for themselves and where a large proportion of citizens live from one weekly wage slip to the next, Saskia is aiming at a very different segment of the market than our forum. In contrast to her, we emphatically encourage our members to seek veterinary care considering that we have generally much better access to vet care, guinea pigs are much more common pets and that vet care is still a lot cheaper in the UK compared to other countries like the US, Canada or Australia.
It is important to keep the different background and audience in mind when watching her videos; they do not necessarily translate directly.
Saskia is also very much aiming at the home treatment and self-diagnosing sector with her videos on guinea pig care; she comes from a Rodentology background as she has European roots.
Our forum is a safe haven especially for a growing number of people with anxiety etc. problems and who are looking for understanding and ongoing support and reassurance and who are aiming to be the best possible. Our guides are very comprehensive and detailed, which appeals to people who have the need to get everything absolutely right. We try to promote a good standard of care in line with UK welfare recommendations and best rescue practice.
Saskia and our forum are both answering a growing but very different need.
