17/01/2025
❗️THE REALITY OF BEING A BREEDER❗️
I’ve been debating whether to share recent events.
By this, I mean the full picture.
The hesitation comes from the fear of being judged as someone who doesn’t care for their animals properly.
That would hurt deeply because I love these little “potatoes” so much!
I truly do everything I can to learn and do my absolute best (within what’s possible and realistic for me) to ensure they thrive.
That’s why it hurts SO MUCH when a wave of illness strikes… 😢
These days, I always enter the guinea pig room with a knot in my stomach.
Recent events that are far from rosy:
- I had to say goodbye to THREE of my teddy babies 😣
- I said goodbye to a young white chocolate California female who was struggling with severe breathing issues.
- I helped deliver half-dead pups from a teddy girl who wasn’t able to open enough at the back. Four beautiful pups. THANKFULLY, the mom survived. 🙏🏻
- I had a pregnant female who all of a sudden was very weak. She wouldn’t eat or drink and there was nothing more to be done. She was gone very quickly after I discovered.
This is the first time I’ve experienced such a “wave of misfortune”… All happening within plus/minus 1 month.
I’m learning everything I can from this experience, but from what others with guinea pigs have told me, this does happen occasionally—both in breeding and in households.
It’s most likely a virus that has hit us, and my guess is pneumonia…
Which, DESPITE veterinary treatment, has poor odds of going away completely.
And veterinary treatments are EXPENSIVE, so I can’t juggle around with poor odds. Unfortunately!! 😞
I’m mostly sharing it with you, because I want to be honest about the negatives and positives, when breeding and caring for many guinea pigs.
It’s NOT always easy, and the hardships can be really tough. Like my situation here.
There’s a ton of things to learn, and very little knowledge available (unless you know experienced breeders ((who really care)). You guys are worth your weight in gold!).
Most of the time everything is fine, but the reality can also be very different. Like my examples here.
I hope my honesty made you wiser, if you’re considering breeding piggies.
Not scared! Just wiser ♥️
