Sick Petco Guinea

[NewGuineaMom]

Hi, I'm new to the group and to owning a Guinea. We recently purchased a female guinea pig on the 8th and everything was going well. She is a baby and seemed to warm up to us fast. We'd get her out for play time and she would run around "popcorning" and making pleasant little sounds. Yesterday we noticed eye crust on one eye and she didn't seem sick, so we ignored it thinking it was nothing. Today, her eyes are both crusty (not extremely) and squinty, she's not as active as she was the first couple of days, and has been sneezing. She is still eating and drinking and has no diarrhea, so that's a plus. I'm assuming that this may be a developing URI.

Fast forward to the whole emphasis on Petco... I gave them a call today and asked what they recommended and what they did for their guinea pigs that they keep there and also let them know that their guineas may need treated as well. They said that if we brought her back that THEY can take her to the vet for us and treat her there and we can go back and pick her up, worst case scenario it would be a week before we get her back. Has anyone else had this happen? Has Petco offered to pay for vet visits and everything go well? Also, it's a little cold and I worry about travel and whether or not it would be super stressful on her and how you guys get your guineas here and there. TIA!

 

[NewGuineaMom]

.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I can't comment as I'm from the UK but I have heard of instances where they said they have to refund the piggy and then you buy it back. If this is what they want I wouldn't recommend it as I've heard of the piggy being sold to someone else and the original owner never saw the piggy again Did you just get the one pig? Piggies need friends so it was naughty of them not to mention that.

Can they not just pay for your vet fees?

 

[NewGuineaMom]

I can't comment as I'm from the UK but I have heard of instances where they said they have to refund the piggy and then you buy it back. If this is what they want I wouldn't recommend it as I've heard of the piggy being sold to someone else and the original owner never saw the piggy again Did you just get the one pig? Piggies need friends so it was naughty of them not to mention that.

Can they not just pay for your vet fees?

I wish, that was the only advise she could give me over the phone. I made it very clear that we weren't interested in any other pig but the one we were bringing in. That's what I'm so worried about too, that they will adopt her out to someone else while we are waiting. She is a wild hair, so she is a very pretty pig. They want me to bring her in today, but I'm very reluctant because of this. The process you mentioned about refunding and rebuying is exactly the process she said would have to take place. They promised they would keep her in the back because she will need separated, I'm afraid of a miscommunication with other staff members though...

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I wish, that was the only advise she could give me over the phone. I made it very clear that we weren't interested in any other pig but the one we were bringing in. That's what I'm so worried about too, that they will adopt her out to someone else while we are waiting. She is a wild hair, so she is a very pretty pig. They want me to bring her in today, but I'm very reluctant because of this. The process you mentioned about refunding and rebuying is exactly the process she said would have to take place. They promised they would keep her in the back because she will need separated, I'm afraid of a miscommunication with other staff members though...

I'm not 100% sure about proceedings like that but yea it's a bit iffy to me. I would suggest asking them if you could take her to the vets yourself so you don't have to surrender her. I'd personally also ask why they're selling lonely piggies when they need to be in pairs or more but that's just me

 

[NewGuineaMom]

I'm not 100% sure about proceedings like that but yea it's a bit iffy to me. I would suggest asking them if you could take her to the vets yourself so you don't have to surrender her. I'd personally also ask why they're selling lonely piggies when they need to be in pairs or more but that's just me

I'm going to call back and get more info and ask to speak to the manager of the store and also see if I can call daily to get updates if they have to keep her. As far as pairing, I'm really unsure. We were going to get her a play mate anyway, but now I'm just focused on getting her treated. I don't think I will be getting her new friend from Petco though lol If we do I'm definitely keeping them separated for a week until introducing.

 

[Adrianne88]

Hi, I'm new to the group and to owning a Guinea. We recently purchased a female guinea pig on the 8th and everything was going well. She is a baby and seemed to warm up to us fast. We'd get her out for play time and she would run around "popcorning" and making pleasant little sounds. Yesterday we noticed eye crust on one eye and she didn't seem sick, so we ignored it thinking it was nothing. Today, her eyes are both crusty (not extremely) and squinty, she's not as active as she was the first couple of days, and has been sneezing. She is still eating and drinking and has no diarrhea, so that's a plus. I'm assuming that this may be a developing URI.

Fast forward to the whole emphasis on Petco... I gave them a call today and asked what they recommended and what they did for their guinea pigs that they keep there and also let them know that their guineas may need treated as well. They said that if we brought her back that THEY can take her to the vet for us and treat her there and we can go back and pick her up, worst case scenario it would be a week before we get her back. Has anyone else had this happen? Has Petco offered to pay for vet visits and everything go well? Also, it's a little cold and I worry about travel and whether or not it would be super stressful on her and how you guys get your guineas here and there. TIA!

Just a word of advise. Don't believe what petco tells you about guinea pigs. I adopted 2 from them and both were extremely sickly. Most of their guinea pigs come from breeders who have no idea what th

I'm going to call back and get more info and ask to speak to the manager of the store and also see if I can call daily to get updates if they have to keep her. As far as pairing, I'm really unsure. We were going to get her a play mate anyway, but now I'm just focused on getting her treated. I don't think I will be getting her new friend from Petco though lol If we do I'm definitely keeping them separated for a week until introducing.

Please do not take your guinea pig back to be treated there. You wont get your guinea pig back and in most cases they do not treat them. Their way of treatment is terrible. I adopted to for them and I will jump back on here in a few minutes to explain why I say this but please believe me. Take your guinea pig to an exotic vet.
They do not have an exotic vet on staff at petco.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I'm new to the group and to owning a Guinea. We recently purchased a female guinea pig on the 8th and everything was going well. She is a baby and seemed to warm up to us fast. We'd get her out for play time and she would run around "popcorning" and making pleasant little sounds. Yesterday we noticed eye crust on one eye and she didn't seem sick, so we ignored it thinking it was nothing. Today, her eyes are both crusty (not extremely) and squinty, she's not as active as she was the first couple of days, and has been sneezing. She is still eating and drinking and has no diarrhea, so that's a plus. I'm assuming that this may be a developing URI.

Fast forward to the whole emphasis on Petco... I gave them a call today and asked what they recommended and what they did for their guinea pigs that they keep there and also let them know that their guineas may need treated as well. They said that if we brought her back that THEY can take her to the vet for us and treat her there and we can go back and pick her up, worst case scenario it would be a week before we get her back. Has anyone else had this happen? Has Petco offered to pay for vet visits and everything go well? Also, it's a little cold and I worry about travel and whether or not it would be super stressful on her and how you guys get your guineas here and there. TIA!

Hi!

As long as Petco are offering that you can get her back when she is fully recovered, you should be OK; the course of antibiotics will take a week as a minimum.
It is shops that are not guaranteeing that you get the pet back that you have purchased that you need to be wary off. Most chains have learned that particular lesson by now, though!
You are however also still within your rights if you prefer to have her seen by another vet and to apply the medication at home while still reclaiming any treatment cost from the shop (it will be more expensive for you and for the shop).

Here are links to recommended good standard US rescues and vets. The vets are exotics vets (as which guinea pigs are classed), so not cheap. It very much depends on your location.
You can find more rescues via petfinder, but they are not necessarily providing vet care etc. so you have to enquire before you adopt. If you prefer to treat at home, please as your vet for a mucus thinning medication to help clear the airways as quickly as possible and to keep the appetite up; the need to breathe comes before the need to drink and only thirdly the need to eat. A course of baytril (licensed antibiotic for guinea pigs) is often another appetite dampener.
The recommended rescues are the ones with a proper quarantine, vet treatment, bonding etc. that we can guarantee that your piggy is in good hands. Please wait at least 2-3 weeks after her return before you adopt (quarantining period) so you are not in any danger of infecting a new companion.

I assume that you are in the US as you have been using Petco?
Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List
Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations

Since we have members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your state to your details, so we can always tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are straight away. As you can imagine, things can differ quite a lot across the globe!
Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and is going to speed up things for everybody as we can always tell you exactly what you want to know! Thank you!

 

[Merab]

Hello and welcome. I do hope you manage to get your piggy properly treated and all works out well.
Would love to see pictures when everything is settled.

 

[Julia Rafferty]

Definitely a URI. I would know as the same thing happened to me when I got my first pig. He passed away in a week so it is important to get her to the vet.

 

[Adrianne88]

I'm going to call back and get more info and ask to speak to the manager of the store and also see if I can call daily to get updates if they have to keep her. As far as pairing, I'm really unsure. We were going to get her a play mate anyway, but now I'm just focused on getting her treated. I don't think I will be getting her new friend from Petco though lol If we do I'm definitely keeping them separated for a week until introducing.

Store bought guinea pigs tend to be sickly. Most of them of have come from breeders who are in it strictly for the money.
I adopted one from them, I was there for dog food and just happened to start talking to one if the employees who asked me if I wanted to adopt one from them. It was free to take because she had a neurological disorder. They took me into the back from to see her where she was shoved in a tube so she couldn't move and was inside a plastic drawer. I was mortified. They said if nobody took her she would be euthanized that day. They said they needed to get rid of her.
I was crying I was so disgusted at the thought of this. I took her home with me immediately and found a good exotic vet. And come to find out she had an inner ear infection. There was never any need for even the thought of euthanasia. It was something treatable and the supposed "vet" they have on staff never took the time to even bother diagnosing her properly.
She was also diagnosed with a spinal injury. Which later I found out by an employee that she was dropped on her back and that's why they had her shoved in a tube. My point is petco is seriously horrible. I still have this sweet guinea pig now, she is almost 4 and currently getting over severe GI Stasis. Aside from her becoming ill with this, she has lived a very happy life. She's my baby.

Another another instance, was another adoption from them. Same thing happened. I adopted my guinea pig snickers from them, she was very sick when i got her home. She had been starved, she had ringworm, a URI and GI stasis. of course petco said they would treat her but I obviously said no way.
I did research on where she actually came from and she was from a guinea pig mill and her diet consisted of dog food. I have started a petition against this specific place, have contacted the PETA and will continue to advise people of the horrible ways these poor innocent animals are treated when purchased from pet stores.
I'm sure this isn' always the case but this is how it was for me.
I wish you and your sweet piggy all the best. I hope they feel better soon.

 

[Freela]

Honestly, I would pay for treatment from a competent vet (with guinea pig experience) yourself. Many pet shops routinely sell sick animals. They have a 2-week money-back guarantee if the pet gets sick in the first two weeks. You may not get your pet back after returning her- she may be resold even when sick, she may be euthanized (much cheaper than treating sick animals), or she may be simply resold as is to another unsuspecting owner. I get that no one wants to pay vet bills, but you sound as though you care for her and I truly believe the best thing for her is for you to find a competent small-animal/exotic vet and see that she is properly treated yourself. I'm basing this on the experience of a family member who worked at a large chain store. She had horror stories to tell. Also, please see a vet ASAP. Respiratory illnesses can progress from minor to fatal very quickly in guinea pigs, particularly the young or old. The sooner she sees a vet, the better her chances of recovery.

 

[Piggyluv+2]

Hi, I'm new to the group and to owning a Guinea. We recently purchased a female guinea pig on the 8th and everything was going well. She is a baby and seemed to warm up to us fast. We'd get her out for play time and she would run around "popcorning" and making pleasant little sounds. Yesterday we noticed eye crust on one eye and she didn't seem sick, so we ignored it thinking it was nothing. Today, her eyes are both crusty (not extremely) and squinty, she's not as active as she was the first couple of days, and has been sneezing. She is still eating and drinking and has no diarrhea, so that's a plus. I'm assuming that this may be a developing URI.

Fast forward to the whole emphasis on Petco... I gave them a call today and asked what they recommended and what they did for their guinea pigs that they keep there and also let them know that their guineas may need treated as well. They said that if we brought her back that THEY can take her to the vet for us and treat her there and we can go back and pick her up, worst case scenario it would be a week before we get her back. Has anyone else had this happen? Has Petco offered to pay for vet visits and everything go well? Also, it's a little cold and I worry about travel and whether or not it would be super stressful on her and how you guys get your guineas here and there. TIA!

Same thing with me, our little Monica developed pneumonia few days after we got her, they offered me the same thing, I chose to take her to our own vet, I wasn't gonna leave her where I couldn't see what was going on! And they told me if she passes we reimburse u, um no thanks I will take her to mine, she didn't have to stay, got her meds and took her home, she recovered nicely, now with oetco who's gonna make sure they are fed round the clock? I didn't see that happening! , they are better off with the owner, considering they been through enough already, just telling what I think hope your baby recovers quickly! Hugs to u

 

[EeyoreCharlotte]

I'm going to call back and get more info and ask to speak to the manager of the store and also see if I can call daily to get updates if they have to keep her. As far as pairing, I'm really unsure. We were going to get her a play mate anyway, but now I'm just focused on getting her treated. I don't think I will be getting her new friend from Petco though lol If we do I'm definitely keeping them separated for a week until introducing.

Please, take her to an exotic vet. Please don’t leave her with Petco. They have bad reps with exotics.

 

[Merab]

Hope you manage to get a good vet.
Let us know how things go.

 

[DAH]

Petco gives a 30 day health guarantee. Sadly enough usually end up being sick. But it also ends up, if you end up taking piggies from there (guilty). But you have to be insistent. And a pain in their butts. Constantly calling and harping. Learned that the hard way.