Live Life Team
It is recommended by many veterinarians and Guinea Pig enthusiasts that potential Pig parents adopt or purchase their Cavy through a rescue shelter or reputable breeder that specializes in their care. Pet stores are in business to make a profit, and while they may not intentionally set out to harm their animals, the common employee is simply not educated enough in the proper care of each animal in their charge, resulting in illness. This isn’t always the case, and there are stores that do take exceptional care of their animals, you just have to do some research.
Choosing to adopt or purchase a Guinea Pig through a rescue shelter or reputable breeder is the best choice when it comes to finding healthy, well cared for animals. Shelters receive animals from a variety of sources—owners who decided that Guinea Pigs weren’t the right pet for them, experimental labs, confiscations from pet stores—and nurse them back to health. The condition of these animals can range from good to very poor; some even sadly near death. The efforts of those at the shelter, working to restore each Pig’s health, are greatly rewarded when they place each lovable creature in a new home.
Guinea Pigs are susceptible to a multitude of health problems due to poor living conditions or infected cage mates. It is always important to monitor your Cavy’s health, but particularly in the first days and weeks after bringing him home to ensure he has not brought an illness with him.
