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Guinea pig pts.

T

Taffylady

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Hi everyone,
I’m new and looking for reassurance. We adopted a piggie a year ago from pets at home. They said it was a year old girl 4cweeks ago she got conjunctivitis and the vet said it was a boy, albino and more than a year old. They weighed her she was 0.9 gabe me cream. 4 days ago she was not putting weight on leg I looked on forum and made her comfortable. In a matter of days she refused to eat and was not moving she had a huge lump on leg and it was bent a wierd way. Back to vet who said that it was not a break that they could feel a mass there, she was in pain and that they could try pain relief and an x ray but they felt it was more going on. They could operate or amputate but it may not be the best for her. We were offered pts which I did because she was clearly in pain. We were offered a poss amputation and the vet explained the cost plus the risks. It felt like a no brainier especially when the vet said I’ve never amputated on s guinea pig before could be fun! I had to explain to my 9 year old what was going on it was awful. Heartbreaking. I went back to pets st home today to buy dog food and again we were looking st the piggies to adopt, not yet but in the future. The manager cane over and we started talking and, in front of my daughter, he said they won’t let me adopt again as I should have amputated and not pts. I asked where he got that info from and he said the vet! It is in the same store, I was furious and told him it had not been an easy decision we had made. At which point my 9 year old starts crying in store as she heard this. He said they don’t feel I have the funds should a future piggie get in trouble. I’ve been home for hours so upset really annoyed but reliving everything the vet said. I wonder whether what I did was right? The vet weighed her and she was 0.8 and she had fluid coming from her nose and mouth to. She was making no noises and wouldn’t eat which wasn’t like her. I believe I did the kindest thing but s young manager has really made me question myself?
 
Huge hugs. That's disgraceful that they talked to you like that. You allowed yourself to be guided by the vet to be the kindest you could to the piggy, that is the best thing you could ever do. It sounds like there were a few issues going on and so much pain for a young animal to endure. I am really sorry you have had this experience. Please do not let it out you off guinea pig ownership and I would consider putting in a complaint to the head office about the managers attitude
 
Thank you both. My father is furious and wants to complain because my daughter was so upset. I’ve read about her illness and was wondering should I have kept her but to be honest I think it was the kindest thing to do. The lump was huge and she hadn’t moved in days.
 
I’m so sorry for your experience. I would definitely complain about the manager to head office.

Given the circumstances, I would say that you made the right decision to have your piggy pts. Please don’t feel bad x
 
I'm sorry to hear you have lost your piggy and been treated appallingly by the staff in store to boot! I've not had much luck with phoning or contacting customer services when making complaints to Pets at Home, they'll ignore you for a long time if you let them! Now I contact one of the higher ups and actually receive acceptable outcomes to issues ive had. Her email is [email protected] if you wish to make a complaint about the member of staff.

If it makes you feel any better I think you did the right thing, and if the vet thinks amputation should have been done then he shouldnt have advised or offered euthanasia as an option. They don't do well with pain, it very much sounds like your piggy had made the decision that she wanted to pass on and needed help to do so and thats the final bit of love we can give them, a humane passing.
 
Thank you so much. I’ve just gone over and over it but the manager really hurt me. He made me feel so low. I will complain and I won’t go there again.
 
BIG HUGS

If your piggy was salivating, then it was no longer able to swallow and to process any food, not even if you had started syringe feeding earlier on. There was more going on than just a lump on the leg. It looks like it may already spread into the body.
You have made the right and kindest decision! I severely doubt that the poor piggy would have made it through an operation. If your vet had been really confident about an amputation, then he wouldn't have offered pts as an alternative. If he has said that to the manager, he is not playing straight here! :(

Definitely a complaint to headquarters!

If you want to adopt or rebond any companion, please have a look at our UK recommended good standard rescues locator and our recommended vets locator.

PS: Sows and boars are pretty easy to tell apart once the testicles have descended, and even neutered boars don't look like sows! Sexing Guide
PS2: There are no albinos in guinea pigs. There is normal healthy breed called pink-eyed whites (PEWs) that doesn't have any of the problems associated with albinism. ;)
 
Thank you for the great advice. I feel better after hearing what you all say and am definitely looking at a complaint.
 
You could also have a complaint against the vets you used. They had no right sharing your information with pets at home.

As some reassurance to you, it's human nature to think of that "what ifs" and question whether we made the right decision. Don't be too hard on yourself
 
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