Please give me some sensible sound advice?

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Abi_nurse

Abi_nurse

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I'm usually quite grounded in my descision making unless it comes to pigs, so can someone help me?

Ive just popped around the shops to do a few bits and there is a pregnant sow in Pets at home! I'm 99% sure she is 7/8 weeks onwards by her size and shape. And shes in with lots of others. I'm so worried about her. That she'll either end up in a home without knowledge to look after pregnant or weaning pups and unable to adequatly sex them. Or she will have them in store and they wont be able to sex or look after them. I hate Pets at home for these kinds of things.

I have the space for a sow for now, do i tell pets at home she is pregnant and leave her to whatever fate may be? Take her home and look after her away from the shop floor and inexperienced staff? Or do nothing? Help?

x.
 
I'd say this is a decision only you can make. If you can provide the care she may need (please consider the possibility that she may need emergency veterinary treatment, and the cost of feeding all of the extra mouths you're likely to get) then if I were in your shoes, I would go and get her. I'd not mention anything to the staff because whilst I know that my local store would look after her, others aren't quite so caring.

We've all seen what happens when people take on piggies without really thinking about it, so whilst I'd go and get her in a heartbeat, you do need to consider all the possibilities. Can you get her vet treatment if she needs it? Can you house/rehome the babies?

Totally up to you. :)
 
Thanks guys. I might do. But I'm thinking for a moment. Theres no problems with veterinary care considering I'm a vet nurse and can just take her straight to work anytime, day or night. Ive forked out for a c-section before and this doesnt bother me. The animals welfare is what I'm more worried about. I have space to put her. I just need to consider homing the pups thats all. Oh.... what should i do.

x.
 
Id take her home i your worried about her, but its your choice.
 
If i had the space and money i would have her, and you being a vet nurse is even better as you know if she needs medical attention and you can give it her. And i'm sure you'll have no problem re-homing the pigs...you can cross that bridge when it comes to it. You just got to do what you thinks best for the sow:)
 
Think you want us to try and talk you out of it ;) Go get the little sweetie and as someone else said, worry about homing the babies later :)
 
I would approach this as a rescue situation, point out the problems that sows encounter, the fact the she is on public display will increase the chances of problems (esp. toxaemia).

Give them chapter and verse on your ability to care for her - stressing the potential need for a C section. If they give her to you then you will deal with her and any ongoing problems. If you have to purchase her then they will be liable for her vet fees she incurs as a direct result of her condition instore (ie pregnant) and the extra caging that they will be liable for also to house the pups.

Fingers crossed they will just say 'Please take her!'

Suzy x
 
Suzygpr said:
I would approach this as a rescue situation, point out the problems that sows encounter, the fact the she is on public display will increase the chances of problems (esp. toxaemia).

Give them chapter and verse on your ability to care for her - stressing the potential need for a C section. If they give her to you then you will deal with her and any ongoing problems. If you have to purchase her then they will be liable for her vet fees she incurs as a direct result of her condition instore (ie pregnant) and the extra caging that they will be liable for also to house the pups.

Fingers crossed they will just say 'Please take her!'

Suzy x
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I'd do thr opposite - buy her then sting them for the financial costs ;)

I think however, they should be made aware of the situation - there may well be other pregnant sows if someone has incorrectly sexed a male. They're also supposedly trained, so should have picked up on the fact that she's pregnant!
 
As Claire said. Plus you have the knowledge & resources to care for her. I would get her, then call the store back with your 'surprising news' so you can at least make them aware some one may have incorrectly sexed a male. My reason for this is the worry that you may say I want her and she's pregnant and they then refuse to hand her over, I dont know if they can or would do that I just personally wouldn't want to risk it.
 
noooo dont tell them
i used to work in a pets at home and as soon as they realise she up the duff they will just see pounds signs and house her out the back untill shes ready to be sold again and the babies
 
They will not give her away for free and they will not sell her if they know she is pregnant. They will keep her and sell the babies. They won't care if something happens to her. Buy her and make them give you stuff for free. If they keep having to do this it will hit them in the only place they care about, their pockets and they will be more careful to check genders in the future.

Someone else on here saw a piggy in P@H and noticed she had crusty ears. They would not sell her until they were sure she didn't have fungal. It is against their policy to *knowingly* sell a sick or pregnant animal. Usually they don't care enough to notice.
 
Save that piggy but don't tell them. You can get them for the cost later if you want to.


Amy
x
 
This is why I never look at the animals in pets shops.

You sound like you've set your heart on rescuing her - you can't save them all, but you can save this one and you are in the position to look after her and find good homes for the babies. I usually say that buying from pet shops only encourages them, bu one won't make a difference.

Then try and avoid the pets section - that way lies madness and a house that there is no room for people in.

Paula
 
What did you decide?! I kind of hope she is safe with you now! I know it's bad and we all despise P@H but if they sell her not realising she is pregnant she is very likely to go to someone with no experience of pregnant piggies...
 
I'm not the best person to give advice as I let my heart rule my head which causes lots of rows here but I would take her poor little thing. Next time do what I do and don't look there's only so much you can do and for everyone you take there's another to fill the cage. Good luck whatever you decide. x
 
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This what i decided.

x
 
Woohooo! I'm really pleased :)

Did they just hand her over no questions asked?
 
Its her, but she has no name as of yet, she needs one.

Pets at Home didnt care. I made it pretty clear i thought she was pregnant, and i asked them to check all of the pen to make sure that no males were mixed in. He handled her quite roughly, i did worry a bit about the buba's. He just popped her in a box, said she was a bit podgy and that it was very unlikely she was pregnant. Whatever did he know. I can feel the babies kicking around and shes very big and uncomfortable. He told me to let him know if she was pregnant. Shes currently tucking into some nice fresh green hay, none of that brown stuff in store and she loves her excel pellets. I will be popping out tomorrow for supplies and alfalfa hay. For now I'm letting her settle down and chill. Shes very very skitty and not been handled much. Shes been in store for weeks. Poor girl. She doesnt have long to go.

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x.
 
What a beauty! She looks so calm.

I'm so glad you took her in. Keep us updated on how she's doing. Have you chosen a name yet?

Amy
x
 
Poor little girl. I really hate pets at home. I'm so glad you got her and she is in safe hands. Fingers crossed she gets through the birth safely and she and the pups are well :)
 
Poor girl, so glad you got her. She would of been so uncomfortable being in a pet shop for any longer been pregnant! Now she can feel all warm and safe:)p
 
Well done, dread to think what would happen to her in there. She's lucky to have you find and rescue her.
 
My new years resolution is now to never ever ever go back into that store again otherwise i will find more and more rescue missions. I just cant stand the store. All my hay and food will be bought online from now on. I'm such a softy and i cant just leave them, i couldnt leave her to have her pups on the shop floor.

x.
 
Abi_nurse said:
My new years resolution is now to never ever ever go back into that store again otherwise i will find more and more rescue missions. I just cant stand the store. All my hay and food will be bought online from now on. I'm such a softy and i cant just leave them, i couldnt leave her to have her pups on the shop floor.

x.
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I've taken this stance too, haven't been in there for a year :) they don't deserve our money that's for sure. My mum works in a vets and she tells everyone not to go in there too now xx>>>
 
Abi_nurse said:
My new years resolution is now to never ever ever go back into that store again otherwise i will find more and more rescue missions. I just cant stand the store. All my hay and food will be bought online from now on. I'm such a softy and i cant just leave them, i couldnt leave her to have her pups on the shop floor.

x.
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What you could do is write a letter of complaint to head office stating just the facts. That this girl was heavily pregnant, that the staff seemed disinterested and the reasons that you were concerned about her welfare and so bought her.

Most companies are quite concerned about their image and do take written complaints seriously.

Then never go back again. :)

Paula
 
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