Post Adoption Depression?

[hzlhrst]

Is this a thing?

I know I have everything covered, but I am constantly doubting myself and my capabilities, worrying about the health and happiness of my piggies.

I am especially worried about bonding. I know they are babies and they are taking time to get used to me/their new environment but I am panicking that I am not even making a tiny amount of progress.

 

[Deleted member 114675]

You are showing signs of being a devoted guinea pig owner.

Please don't panic - we are all here to discuss things with you .

 

[MerryPip]

If you are worrying then you will be absolutely fine.

All pigs take different amounts of time to bond with each other and you so don't rush and don't worry. Youngsters can be very skittish and independent and not at all keen on sitting still, which is normal as they want to explore their world so don't expect perfect lap pigs just yet. Just be patient and keep talking to them and spending time with them. It will pay off in the end I promise

 

[Freela]

It's okay. It takes time. Getting a guinea pig is not like getting a dog where there is that natural outgoing nature. They take time to warm up and feel secure, both with you and with each other. If it's any consolation, the two guinea pigs who I have now both started out extremely skittish and ended up both being lap-hogging food-moochers. Actually, one of my older pigs, Linney, was so skittish that I almost didn't choose her because I thought she would be difficult to calm down, but she ended up being kind of like a big furry hot water bottle... you're doing fine!

 

[Tinka]

I go through the same thing all the time! With Tove and Tuulikki being my first ever pigs, I've had to do a lot of trial and error with things like hay racks and bedding and housing. Even worse, when I first got Tove she had ringworm so several times a day I had to treat her face for ringworm and she developed a strong aversion to me. It was awful!

And I worried about everything. I worried about dirty fleece making their paws hurt, about Tuulikki being a little too bossy toward Tove, and whether or not they had enough to stay occupied and happy. I never knew if handling them was a bad or good thing. But then after going to the pet store one day and seeing a poor pig getting adopted by a family who was planning to house him in a tiny cage who were being told "a leaf of romaine a day" was all the veggies he'd need, I realized my pigs have it soooo good and instead of focusing on the little things that bother me, I should direct my energy toward providing them with an even better life!

 

[gizzy]

Try not to worry, It all take time , the fact that you are talking to tu us at 3 oclock in the morning would say to me that you have what it takes to be a good keeper

 

[Shades]

@gizzy the fact that you're here at 3am.... I guess it's not so late in Kentucky

 

[Shades]

I know it's not so late because I've a friend at Murray State University in Kentucky.

 

[DM030819]

Yep, every time. And it's also the reason I've decided my current piggies are my last.

The people here are great. Ask as many questions as you like, nothing is a stupid question.