It is nice for everyone on the forum to be updated on our piggies health and wellbeing.

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

First of all, apologies if this post is in the wrong section. I am writing this post really for the forum and the caring people who are members and offer their much appreciated and valued advice to anyone who needs it. I know the forum for me really has been a crutch in mine and my piggies time of need and for this I thank you all !

Now the last thing I want to do is upset or offend anyone by writing this post but after reading so many worrying situations concerning our piggies on the forum, it is always nice to be updated of every piggies wellbeing after hearing the horror stories.

Again, so many people on the forum offer their crucial advice and sometimes after receiving that life saving advice, people seeking help do not update all of us piggie parents of the progress/outcome of their fur babies. I just wanted to say, I think that it is always nice to keep the forum updated and to hear how our piggies are after we read the horror stories.

 

[poggle]

It is always nice to hear the end of the story, even the sad ones. So often you follow along and become quite emotionally invested!

The forum also quite frequently gets people who comment on old threads, asking how things turned out, because they've found themselves in a similar situation. All too often, the OP had an answer and never logged on again. It's a shame we have so many incomplete stories.

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

It is always nice to hear the end of the story, even the sad ones. So often you follow along and become quite emotionally invested!

The forum also quite frequently gets people who comment on old threads, asking how things turned out, because they've found themselves in a similar situation. All too often, the OP had an answer and never logged on again. It's a shame we have so many incomplete stories.

That's exactly it! After hearing the beginning of the story, we go become so emotionally attached to the little one who is at the heart of it. I think hearing the end of the story puts our minds at rest and provides closure. There are just so many people post for help and as you say, don't post again after that.

 

[Merab]

It is nice when we get updates but the reality of life is that not everyone will think to do that.
People come to the forum for all sorts of reasons.
Some of us quickly discover friendships and a sense of being part of a very special community.
We learn and we pass on experience.
Others come just for a specific need and then disappear.
That’s fine too.
Every person we help means a piggy with a better chance. It is also a seed sown and who knows what the future may bring in terms of people who may come back one day.
Let’s be thankful for the updates we do get.

 

[Wiebke]

We always appreciate any updates and outcome feedback after a recovery or a death, and we offer ongoing support for as long as needed. However the majority of people using this forum come for a specific purpose/quick question and then disappear again; for them we are just a free service and not a community.

You have to learn to accept that in the majority of cases you will never know the outcome and learn how to live with that. As with the fact that we are often contacted as a last resort when help generally comes too late, vet access is not as easy, quick or knowledgeable about guinea pigs and that we often have to help picking up the pieces in the wake of a traumatic death. Illness and death are not things that most owners think of when they get piggies and vet access is often less easy and much more expensive in other countries than the UK.
But we are also here for owners with anxiety to help them put their worries into perspective and support them through a tricky time for them.

Please keep in mind that we have an over-representation of difficult, complex or last resort cases because we offer a space where people can come for practical and moral support. The bit about there being an representational unbalance between the horror stories and the vast majority of uneventful recoveries does to a degree apply to our Health/Illness section and also to our Behaviour section as well - many people won't look for help until they really need it. Our Chat section is our forum counterbalance to celebrate the 'normal' side of life with piggies and the corrective background to put it all into perspective.