Why Do I Find Guinea Pig Ownership More Stressful Than Motherhood?

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LozzyBee

LozzyBee

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No....seriously?

I don't know if it's because they can't talk so are entirely reliant on you? But then my daughters couldn't talk when they were babies and I don't recall feeling like this!

I just feel like when something goes wrong I'm in a constant state of worry. Last night I came up to bed at 8pm because I was stressing myself out so much...and now I'm scared to go downstairs to check up on them :eek:

Our new piggie, Elvis, got *seriously* spooked by something when I was holding him yesterday and leapt from my arms (I was more or less standing height) and did mad laps of the run like he was running for his life bless him. Brought him inside and he did mad laps in the cage and then hid in the hidey.

When he eventually (very warily) came out, he looked like he was limping a little. I hadn't even considered an injury from the leap because of how mad he was running around afterwards. Panicked, took him to the vet for a check over (he also tried a leap from the vets table but fortunately I caught him!), vet couldn't find anything. He had a good run around on the floor in the vets and was fine. Stood on all fours no problem...vet has given metacam in case there is any pain there, but all felt fine. Brought him back home, and I swear he was bloody not walking properly again! But I saw with my own eyes how fine he was in the vets. And the vet had a thorough examination of him and there was no squealing until he had an injection of metacam - so if he was in any pain with the vet examining his legs I'm sure he would have indicated.

I can only guess he maybe looks like he's limping because he's constantly thinking of bolting again and has one paw on stand by ready to go at any given moment.

So basically, I feel like I know he's fine. I've had confirmation from a vet that he seems fine. And yet I'm still stupidly worried. I will admit to being one of life's worriers anyway, but it just seems to be to extreme levels with the piggies. I feel like I'm just so worried (lol) about doing the right thing by them because they can't speak for themselves.

Does anyone else get like this? I better go down and face these piggies :bye:

:help::(
 
I don't have kids. One of the many reasons why is because I stress so much over the pigs that I couldn't handle a child. If I worry this much about a pig then I think I'd just implode if I had a child!

Deep breathing is needed! Hope your piggy is okay!
 
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Children and guineas are a constant source of worry for me too.
 
Yep always worry about my piggies. Constantly. Any tiny thing! Just got used to it now and learnt to not panic, it's taken over 15 years...it doesn't get better but it's because you love them so much !
 
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I have three kids and two pigs... for me a big difference is that I expect my kids to outlive me, whereas unless I am hit by a bus or something I can reasonably expect to outlive my guinea pigs. Seeing them age makes me stress more about them. However, I probably stress more about my kids. The guinea pigs aren't failing math or having difficulty meeting friends due to extreme shyness! ;)
 
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I do worry about my pigs if they are ill, I always think the worst but other than that I wouldn't say I worry too much.I do molly coddle them though lol.
 
I think from my perspective, kids are pretty robust compared to pigs. For instance they can catch a cold, get scared, have a uti, fall over and not drop dead. It feels like all you have to do is look at a pig a bit funny and it could be curtains for them. I knew my kids were eating ok, I could see. I felt out of control in the early days if they seemed poorly in case it was something terrible that needed medical input but as they got bigger it got easier as they could tell you what was wrong, rather than going floppy and burning up like sick babies do! I knew if they were hurt as they would cry, or not, and now they whinge.
 
I worry about the piggies all the time, but thank god for this forum. It's not a forum it's a support group! Especially for us nervous first time owners. Not only do you calm our nerves, I'm sure the forum is making a big difference to piggys life's. High five everyone!
 
Personally I find kids much more stressy.

A piggie won't mass dairy vomit (the worst kind for smell!) on a bed, carpet, sofa or other hard to clean area.
Piggies are easier and a lot less smellier to clean up than a childs poop"accident"
Sure piggies wheak and squeak LOUD at times but its usually not all day long.
Ok..so kids generally sleep all night when piggies do not.. I give you that one ;)
Also piggies won't force you to endure the same annoying cartoon series/movie/tv show over and over and over again.

Oh and piggies generally don't whine about what food is offered.
 
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