Pet shop selling satin pigs. 😡 makes me so angry

Hannah_xx

Hannah_xx

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Scrolling through Gumtree when I come across an advert from a petshop in town that are advertising their ‘SATIN Guinea pigs’ for sale.
Makes me so cross! Clearly they don’t care about animals at all. To be buying from a breeder that’s breeding these poor pigs and to sell them onto the clueless public is downright barbaric and disgusting.
I did message them, I was polite..maybe they Didn’t know about the major health issues, so I told them about the Osteodystrophy and said they should give the pigs to a rescue etc. Of course I haven’t received a reply and the advert is still up :rant::rant::rtm:😢
Sorry just had to rant.
 
Good on you contacting them. They probably don’t like being told what to do. What you’re suggesting will mean a loss of money 😡
 
Please forgive my ignorance for I’m still learning, what is a satin pig?
Good on you for getting them told.
 
It really makes me so angry. Even pets at home sell them when they pop up in litters.
With 2 piggies with Osteodystrophy it breaks my heart that these pigs may end up in homes suffering in pain because their owner has no idea about the associated health risks. Their care and the complications that arise from it is also very very expensive and time consuming. Mine currently get one painkiller and a glucosamine supplement twice a day, am and pm, and a different painkiller and anti inflammatory late afternoon.
The muscle atrophy needs watching, weight carefully monitored, urine output monitored especially Leonard now he is predisposed to stones. They need help keeping clean on bad days where their mobility is less than ideal, their diet needs watching..
And on top of that there is the uncertainty of when you will have to say goodbye. My 2 could have 2 days or 2 years..I have no idea. It's emotionally draining and so sad. No one should have to deal with this unexpectedly, when I got these 2 I knew it was a possibility but even then it was a blow to hear it confirmed.

Sorry...didn't mean to rant 😅 but well done for trying to educate! I tried the same with the rspca who were rehoming a satin, I never got a reply. His listing was taken down but put back up again a few weeks later still with no mention of the health issues that they may end up with.
 
Bloody heartbreaking, absolute plonkers (in nice words but mean other ones). Uneducated eejits that think they look pretty, and name sounds a bit posh, so let’s get selling. Very sad. Rant away, I’d do the same as I’m sure all the satin adopters/lovers would when you know how many problems the poor pigs and them have :( grr
 
Sun i was at P@H for hay and a treat for my two
Course etc following the safety measures etc.
I pointed out to the staff that ok piggies were not for sale but they were together in the shop mixed sex and old enough to mate etc. the 2 staff had no answer. .
I email P@H Boss Man :hmm: no reply yet
 
That’s awful how can anyone breed satins knowing the problems and pain they might have later in life
 
I got my two from a rescue as young pigs (they came from a hoarding situation). We took them for a check up soon after and the vet was the one who told me that one of them (Winnie) looks like she could be a satin. Well, she said she looks like she has a bit of satin in her. The vet keeps an eye on them both through regular checks. Is there anything special owners can or should do if they suspect they have a satin, other than give them a balanced diet and a decent lifestyle? I’d be really keen to know.

Thanks
Lucy
 

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LucyP said:
I got my two from a rescue as young pigs (they came from a hoarding situation). We took them for a check up soon after and the vet was the one who told me that one of them (Winnie) looks like she could be a satin. Well, she said she looks like she has a bit of satin in her. The vet keeps an eye on them both through regular checks. Is there anything special owners can or should do if they suspect they have a satin, other than give them a balanced diet and a decent lifestyle? I’d be really keen to know.

Thanks
Lucy
Click to expand...

Black piggies are hard to tell by looking if they're satin or not as they are already naturally very shiny. If your vet puts some guard hairs under a microscope they will be able to tell you for sure or not, the guard hairs of satin piggies are hollow. That wouldn't rule them out from being carriers though who may also develop Osteodystrophy.

First signs to watch out for are bunny hopping when they run, raised toes when standing naturally, raised legs when laying down, muscle atrophy, obvious signs of pain or discomfort etc.
Ideally having xrays done at 12-14 months old to check for signs of decalcification of bones or fibrous growth would be a good idea and what I would do going forward if I had any more satins or carriers. Then rechecked every 6-12 months. Signs start really subtle and if I'm ever in a position to own them again I'd really like to know and have them on painkillers before signs of pain showed, at one point pre diagnosis Leonard's foot got so sore I woke up one morning and he had chewed his own nail off right down to the toe :(
 
Thanks so much for replying, this is really helpful info. I’m sorry about what you went through with Leonard but am glad they've had such a caring owner.
 
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