Rights when buying an animal

[auntie lu]

We bought 2 guinea pigs from our local pet shop on friday. Both looked fine but by sat afternoon one of them had a runny nose and sore eyes and we have since also noticed it has a skin problem.

Obviously this requires expensive vet treatment.

the pet shop have offered little advice and I would like to know where I stand in asking for the shop to pay for treatment as the animal must have been ill when we bought it. We DO NOT want to have return the Guinea pig, my daughter is very attached to her new pets.

[bensmum]

sorry to hear about your problems with the piggies. I don't where you stand with this really. I don't think you would get very far with the shop as they could argue that the animals looked to be in good health when you got them and they couldn't have forseen the problem. Even if you got the shop to take them back I am worried to think what might happen to them.
The skin problem could be mange. It sounds bad but many get it and it's quite easily treated. Your vet can give you some drops. Does the one with the runny nose seem to be breathing badly? Either way you need to consult a vet I'm afraid - I know what you mean by getting attached to them- I have had guinea pigs for years and they are delightful animals.

[wildwood]

Small animal purchases are always risky so do it from a breeder rather than a pet shop. While many petshops do their best to keep them happy, it is expensive and labour intensive to keep small animals in conditions conducive to their wellbeing. Most animals are stressed already and while they may be 'well' in the shop, the extra stress of shifting their home again to your place is enough to lower their resistance to colds and stress related problems.

I am afraid you have no chance of getting the shop to pay your vet bills as it is your decision to take them there and you can not prove that they were already sick when you got them. The skin condition is common with small mammals in petshops and may very well clear up by itself, but it is always better to get it seen to if you are not confident.

If your daughter is already smitten with them is it not worth it to do the best thing for them? Animals need proper care and that sometimes means expensive vet charges. It is a fact of life.