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I Don't Know What I Did Wrong :(

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NewbieGunieaPig

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Hello,
Some one please help me! I am new to having guinea pigs, I had gotten one 3 days ago from our local Petco, instantly fell in love with him, he was a month or so old the guy had told us. We took him home fed him Timothy Hay, bell pepper cucumber, and a slice of an orange. We built him a cardboard hut and even got him apple wood sticks for him to chew on. He made weird sounds when he was sniffing or just breathing it seemed, it would calm then kick up again.... I honestly thought that was how guinea pigs breathed and spoke... but this morning I got up and he was dead in his cage, and I have no clue what I did wrong, or if he was sick from the store or what! I would like to get another one in a few days but I'm worried that I will just kill that one, any advice? I did give him a little play area every day for an hour, and I researched everything to feed and make him happy I don't understand why he died.

Thank you.
 
It is not your fault... don't blame yourself! Maybe he was ill, maybe a stroke... who knows? when you buy a pet from a shop you cannot know anything of his past... ( of course I don't know if Petco is a pet shop).
I recommend you to go to some rescue; they give you healthy piggies and if they have some problems they inform you about them.
And it is better to adopt two piggies; they live better together...
I am very sorry for this bad start you have had, but be sure that you did nothing wrong.
 
I'm very sorry for your loss! If he was snuffly from day one, it is very likely he had a respiratory illness from the pet store (a lot of pet store animals are not well-kept and come to the stores already harboring bacteria.) Unfortunately, for guinea pigs and other small animals, respiratory illnesses can worsen rapidly and become deadly, especially in animals that are young and under the stress of being shipped from breeder to store to home. Unfortunately a lot of pet stores do a disservice to new owners by selling them sick animals and giving them minimal (or inaccurate) information about how to care for them. It sounds as though you have been caught up in the crossfire of that situation, through no fault of your own. Try not to beat yourself up and blame yourself too harshly. It is really hard as a new owner to judge what's 'normal,' and most people are not expecting an animal to come home sick.

In your situation, I would take some time to grieve the pig you lost and to do some research so that you go into ownership of your next pig with more knowledge. Are there places other than pet shops to acquire guinea pigs, like a rescue where they will have had a health check already? I realize that this is not an option that is available everywhere... from Petco I am guessing you are probably in the US? I'm in Canada, shelter options for guinea pigs are pretty minimal where I am as well. If a pet shop is your only option, read up on signs of ill health so that you are less likely to buy another pig with an underlying illness. Make sure your cage is a good size- most pet shop cages aren't. Give really serious though to two pigs instead of one... guinea pigs are social animals who really thrive with a companion and will be happier that way. That way when you come home with your new pig(s), you'll have a better sense of what's normal and what requires a vet visit. Be sure to wash any items you plan to reuse thoroughly, as you don't want any germs to be transmitted through bedding or water bottles or what have you.

Again, so sorry for your loss and hoping your next experience is a lot happier!
 
rome_italy said:
It is not your fault... don't blame yourself! Maybe he was ill, maybe a stroke... who knows? when you buy a pet from a shop you cannot know anything of his past... ( of course I don't know if Petco is a pet shop).
I recommend you to go to some rescue; they give you healthy piggies and if they have some problems they inform you about them.
And it is better to adopt two piggies; they live better together...
I am very sorry for this bad start you have had, but be sure that you did nothing wrong.
Click to expand...
I am American. Petco is kind of like the American Pets At Home.
 
NewbieGunieaPig said:
Hello,
Some one please help me! I am new to having guinea pigs, I had gotten one 3 days ago from our local Petco, instantly fell in love with him, he was a month or so old the guy had told us. We took him home fed him Timothy Hay, bell pepper cucumber, and a slice of an orange. We built him a cardboard hut and even got him apple wood sticks for him to chew on. He made weird sounds when he was sniffing or just breathing it seemed, it would calm then kick up again.... I honestly thought that was how guinea pigs breathed and spoke... but this morning I got up and he was dead in his cage, and I have no clue what I did wrong, or if he was sick from the store or what! I would like to get another one in a few days but I'm worried that I will just kill that one, any advice? I did give him a little play area every day for an hour, and I researched everything to feed and make him happy I don't understand why he died.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Maybe get from a rescue next time. Sorry for your loss.
 
I would like to add an advice: if a rescue is too far, try to look for some private advertisment on fb, as there are owners who end up with the unexpected surprise of a birth at home, due to the fact that the pig bought one month before at the shop was actually female and... pregnant. They need to rehome baby piggies and can put an announcement online, at the vet and into petstores'walls. The difference is that these piggies are born at home and not into overcrowded dirty cages. Usually piggies born at home are healthy.
Another thing I recommend: you know that a piggie sooner or later will need a special vet who is not the one for dogs and cats but he is an exotic vet specialised in guinea pigs. Make sure that there is one of them in your local area or be prepared to drive a long distance when necessary. Be prepared also of the bills which are more expensive that the ones got from normal vets.
In the meanwhile I suggest you to read carefully every chapter of Guinea Lynx website.
I hope to see soon the pics of your new piggies :love:
 
Thank you! Everyone! :-) I am taking a bit to research and wait for the right 2 pigges to come along through rescuing or local. No more petshops. Thank you much!
 
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