[aqh88]

As far as guinea pig care I already knew things weren't quite right despite everyone telling me I cared for them really well. I didn't have anyone to give me the information on what really was best for pigs and the people I knew who had experience keeping them told me I already did more for them than they needed so I guessed. What I managed to put together myself was that the cages were too small, the feed mix from the store was unhealthy, they needed hay, and some fresh foods. The only solutions I could come up with at the time though were to put them out in the horse stalls whenever the weather was nice, feed them timothy hay based pelleted horse feed, give them alfalfa hay, and they got daily veggies even if it was excessive amounts of carrot and dandelion. I didn't know how to make a bigger cage, where to get better food, or what was a good variety of veggies. I also lost pigs to the silliest little injuries or illnesses like respiratory infections and mites because the vet was so clueless he gave me penicillin for everything and this cream to rub on the scratching pig who was eventually PTS because he tore his skin all open and developed numerous infections.

When I started college I rehomed all my pigs because I didn't think I could care for them properly and I was tired of watching them sit around all winter in tiny cages that needed cleaned every day or 2 or they started to smell. 2 years later I decided to try keeping guinea pigs again but this time I had better knowledge of the internet and how to search for information. After a few fairly minor mistakes I managed to build and order everything I needed to finally keep them in a way that they looked happy and remained healthy. I would say lack of information is behind the majority of mistakes guinea pig owners make and quite often leads to them being less happy with their pet and seeing them as less of a pet than they otherwise would be. Everytime I go to a shelter to help someone adopt or I donate something I also hand out folders with several pages of information on care and a list of websites to visit. I never get the chance to choose to adopt and go to a shelter to pick out an animal for myself. They seem to just fall from the sky and appear around me whenever I have the ability to give another one a home. I'm currently just waiting and watching for another dog because eventually it will show up. Which is another thing I learned here. Don't go grab a puppy in the paper from a backyard breeder. There are plenty truly in need out there and 1 will appear eventually.