Should I Get These Pigs?

piggie smitten

piggie smitten

Junior Guinea Pig
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Since losing both my gorgeous boys last year I've been regularly popping in to the Pah next to my work to get my piggy fix as it's the only way I get to see any in real life. Anyway the inevitable has happened and I've fallen in love with two girls in the adoption centre. My partner hasn't been too keen on getting any more pigs up till now. He"s really struggled with the loss of the boys. I showed him a video on my phone I took of the girls and he said "when you gonna get them then?" . I said "you just say the word" but he didn't reply. When I asked him about it later he was asking how would I get time off if they're I'll and need syringe feeding etc. I know he's got a point but surely that's an issue for lots of people. Does everyone wait for retirement before having any pets? I was off sick before when the boys were I'll. So miserable without any pigs. What do you all think? Am I being selfish?
 
Before guinea pigs, we had hamsters, and my husband made me stop because only 1 of the 5 lasted longer than a year, so every year we'd have the kids in an agony of grief and it was too painful. So when we got pigs, I got babies so hopefully it would be several years before going through that again. That's all I can say; get babies (preferably rescue of course) for a longer time with them, and hopefully longer before they have any health issues too.
 
It's a decision you have to make together. Illness in pets does happen and when it happens and if you are syringe feeding it can be a real strain... mentally and physically.
You have to go into these things knowing you can cope in the bad times (should they ever happen) and the good. It is one thing that keeps our numbers low to be honest, the more piggies you have the greater chance of illness happening to more than one pig at once etc....
When syringe feeding luckily we work local so feeds were happening early 6am then before we left the house at 7:30am and then again at 5pm and then every couple of hours through the night waking at 2am for a feed- it was a rush but it worked for the few weeks we had to do it I don't know how long we could have kept it up for...... The longest stretch was in the day but neither of us could take time off
 
It is something that I do worry about - I have three pigs at the moment. Both my husband and I are self-employed and there are some days when it would be absolutely impossible for either of us to take the day off, we cannot take the pigs to work with us (can't really see them going rock climbing with my husband!) and we don't have the kind of jobs where we can pop home at lunchtime.
My worry is added to by the fact that our fabulous piggy savvy vet is nearly 90 minutes drive away so I wouldn't be able to take the ill pig there before work, for example, or ask someone else to drive all that way.
However my pigs bring me so much joy that I have just tried to think of all of the likely scenarios and possible solutions for them. Like @sport_billy we are usually out of the house for less time than many other people during the day so that might help. We have a fabulous pet sitter who is a veterinary nurse and lives less than ten minutes away so I know she would help if she could (but of course she might not be available last minute). I have a friend who has had pigs in the past who also might be able to help us.
I don't know if this is any help but I would certainly recommend thinking it all through. Is there anywhere or anyone who could help in an emergency?
 
It’s a difficult one!
None of us would have any pets at all though if we only think about what we’ll do if they are ill!
I’ve often said “ no more piggies” each and every time that I’ve sadly lost one or at times throughout the year, one after the other.
Not so long ago I was heartbroken as I’d lost 5 within 5 months so swore to myself Not to replace them. I hasten to add, only one was a frail youngster and the other 4 elderly but much loved piggies. A few weeks after losing the youngster I adopted piggies again and feel they have made me feel so much better!
Yes, think it through carefully but make the decision that suits you as the main carer. Good luck with working this through. X
 
Well it's your call. I admire your planning and the what if this or that.
Seems your heart strings have been tugged
Piggies give love and fun and sometimes as slaves we have to help them. But we do and we cope cos it's what we do. I'm sure you Deep down know what you going to do.
I hope you and the two girls at the centre share the love that is their. :yahoo:
 
Hi all, well the decision was taken out of my hands as when I went in there tonight after work the girls were gone. I just hope they've gone to a good home and not to be some kids plaything to keep them occupied on half term. Hopefully at some point in the not too distant future I will be enslaved again! Will have to deal with illness as and when it happens as I did before. Like @Janice C says if we all thought about all the things that could happen no one would have pets.
 
piggie smitten said:
Hi all, well the decision was taken out of my hands as when I went in there tonight after work the girls were gone. I just hope they've gone to a good home and not to be some kids plaything to keep them occupied on half term. Hopefully at some point in the not too distant future I will be enslaved again! Will have to deal with illness as and when it happens as I did before. Like @Janice C says if we all thought about all the things that could happen no one would have pets.
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Anyone with such a great user name wont be guinea pig free for long!
 
piggie smitten said:
Hi all, well the decision was taken out of my hands as when I went in there tonight after work the girls were gone. I just hope they've gone to a good home and not to be some kids plaything to keep them occupied on half term. Hopefully at some point in the not too distant future I will be enslaved again! Will have to deal with illness as and when it happens as I did before. Like @Janice C says if we all thought about all the things that could happen no one would have pets.
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Hopefully they e gone to a home that loves them. Xx
I bought Flossie rabbit from PAH as the man standing admiring them as I was, happened to give my friend and I the story of his previous rabbits Flystrike and subsequent demise! He was going to go shopping and think about it! Meanwhile I bought her and was leaving with her when he returned!
 
piggie smitten said:
Hi all, well the decision was taken out of my hands as when I went in there tonight after work the girls were gone. I just hope they've gone to a good home and not to be some kids plaything to keep them occupied on half term. Hopefully at some point in the not too distant future I will be enslaved again! Will have to deal with illness as and when it happens as I did before. Like @Janice C says if we all thought about all the things that could happen no one would have pets.
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Janice is right... and also my catholic neighbours with TEN children are right... But we are all different and I had only the children I was quite sure to be able to deal with, offering them what in my opinion is necessary and thinking about my and their future. Wrong or right?
With the pets I did the same: a piggie came here long years ago, then we stopped having pets because our style of life did not suit a pet (we travelled a lot, also by plane... no possibility to get a pet sitter, etc.). Now life is different again and I have decided for three piggies. To be honest I did not fall in love with my piggies before the adoption... the first time I only asked the rescue by phone for two young and healthy sows, no matter which.
About you, probably you are more sentimental than me ...
I understand your boyfriend's concerns and as I have no doubt that one of the next days you are going to fall in love again with some piggie, I suggest you to consider this: if a pet falls ill and needs a syringe feeding round the clock (it will happen sooner or later) and you are working, the pet can be left at the clinic or you can pay a pet carer... or you may bring the pet with you at the job... or you might be allowed to stay at home during those days... Would it be possible?
Then there are other owners, but you are not like them: those people who take the pet without thinking at the future problems and then they simply accept the destiny... a syringe feeding is not possible: oh well! life goes on... When a pet dies another one is on the way and they are always happy. But if we are different we have no choice...
 
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This is going to sound really strange but what’s your work environment like? And would you be allowed to take a sick pig with you in a pet carrier for the day to syringe feed while still working?

Depends on your boss and your type of work (and if you have colleagues with allergies) but most bosses would rather you be working than off sick. Of course if you can be off sick when the piggies are that also works out.

Animals DO get sick but thankfully the need to syringe feed does not hit all that regularly depending on the general health of the pet.
 
Squeakz said:
This is going to sound really strange but what’s your work environment like? And would you be allowed to take a sick pig with you in a pet carrier for the day to syringe feed while still working?

Depends on your boss and your type of work (and if you have colleagues with allergies) but most bosses would rather you be working than off sick. Of course if you can be off sick when the piggies are that also works out.

Animals DO get sick but thankfully the need to syringe feed does not hit all that regularly depending on the general health of the pet.
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Absolutely no chance of taking them to work with me unfortunately. If they were being syringe fed as support for reduced eating then I could possibly manage, maybe popping home lunchtime. But if they weren't eating for themselves at all then they would have to stay at the vets. Just need to get OH to give his blessing now. It's a shame there's such a lack of rescues near me.
 
Did you let P@H know you were looking into adopting a couple of piggies? If so they may suggest another store or get a couple in from another store not too far away. I have at least 3 P@H's within 10 miles of my house but I live in a built up area and not rural.
 
There are other P@H that are within driving distance. Just need to be sure that my OH is willing to have pigs again. I so hope so, I'm lost without them. Rather get them from elsewhere when the time comes but sadly lacking in other options near here. If there was a local rescue I would ask about volunteering to get my piggy fix.
 
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