Guinea Pigs
Do guinea pigs make good pets?
They are charming, very affectionate, intelligent, talkative, all have unique personalities, can be very comical, cuddly, inquisitive and they rarely bite. Guinea pigs can live up to 5 to 7 years, so you'll hopefully have many happy years with your little friend.
Where will my guinea pig live?
Guinea pigs should live in-doors as part of the family. You'll notice more quickly if they are poorly and be able to give them care and attention throughout the day or night. Another option if you really don't have room in your house is that you have a secure hutch inside an out-building like a shed, with heating for the cold winter months. I would not keep guinea pigs in a hutch outside, they can be exposed to all sorts of weather and be vulnerable to predators. So please don't consider this as an option.
Will my guinea pig need a cage mate?
Yes, guinea pigs are a herd animal and need the company of their own kind to be truly happy. Even if your able to donate a lot of time to your piggy, you can't possibly give them 24hr attention, so getting another guinea pig as a cage mate will stop your piggy becoming lonely when your absent. Together, guinea pigs can develop a close bond with each other, play, talk and do all things piggy, even enjoy a game of tug war with a piece of carrot. Guinea pigs really do love the company of their own kind.
Can my guinea pig live with my rabbit?
There are many reasons why you shouldn't allow a guinea pig and a rabbit to live together or even have their free range time together. Rabbits have very strong, powerful back legs and even a small rabbit could really hurt a guinea pig or even kill a guinea pig. You may think that your bunny likes your guinea pig and wouldn't hurt them, but rabbits only have to get excited and they can easily kick out by accident. Having been kicked by accident by our two bunnies, who are the most friendliest bunnies I have ever known, their kicks really hurt and can even cause bruising so imagine what they could do to a guinea pig! Rabbits also have different dietary needs. Rabbits have also been known to bully a guinea pig or try and mount them, so please don't consider mixing guinea pigs and rabbits at any time.
Can a guinea pig share the same household with other pets?
Yes, but you need to be extremely cautious. If you have free range predatory animals like a dog or a cat, never leave them together unsupervised, not even for a few seconds. Cats and dogs have natural instincts to hunt and a quick moving piggy could arouse their natural instincts. Even if your cat or dog is very friendly, they may even think that they are just playing with the piggy, not realizing they are hurting them. A possible solution would be while your guinea pigs are having their free range time in a safe room ( for example: no wires, no household plants that the inquisitive piggy can reach ) then you could place your cat or dog in another room, leaving messages on doors to alert other family members. You will have to make sure you have a very secure cage for your guinea pig, as some cats or dogs might work out how to open the cage door! Remember young inquisitive toddlers can also learn how to open a cage door. Pets like rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, rats and mice should not be introduced to a guinea pig. Pets like hamsters can bite a guinea pig, even though they are much smaller. In the interest of the guinea pigs safety, its best not to introduce any other type of pet to your guinea pig and be very cautious at all times.
Can I afford to keep a guinea pig?
You will need all the initial supplies, cage, bedding, food, accessories like food bowls, water bottles, toys, a secure carrier for vet visits. The accessories will last quite a while, but you will need a constant supply of bedding, hay, pellets and fresh vegetables. One of the most expensive as well as one of the most important things to consider are veterinary bills. If your guinea pig became poorly and needed treatment, would you be willing to pay the veterinary bills?. If the answer is no, please do not adopt a guinea pig or any other pet. As an owner of any pet, you should be fully be prepared to take on the responsibility of making sure your pet is well cared for, happy and trips to the vet when needed.
Are guinea pigs good pets for children?
Guinea pigs can make wonderful pets for children, but because guinea pigs are timid by nature and also fragile, great care must be taken and very young children should be supervised at all times and be taught that a guinea pig is not a toy. If your child isn't mature enough to know that, then it would be better to wait until your child is older. Remember that even if your child has promised to look after their guinea pig, some children become bored within a short space of time and they forget about all the promises they made. So as an adult it would be you that is responsible for the guinea pigs welfare for the whole of their life. If you won't be able to take on that responsibility, ( just incase your child becomes bored ), then please don't bring home a guinea pig or any other pet. Unless your child is mature enough to take on the full responsibility of taking care of a piggy, then with younger children, you will still need to supervise and make sure the guinea pig has lots of care and attention.
Unless your child is well into their teens and is very responsible, always keep a guinea pigs cage where you can see it for much of the day and evening so you can keep a watchful eye on them. A child's bedroom isn't an ideal place. Often a child is out, attending school all day, so their room won't be frequently visited during the day. Guinea pigs can also be quite noisy, even just drinking from their water bottle can be a disturbance for a sleeping child.
Will I have enough time to care for a guinea pig?
Obviously it depends if you are doing a full time job and how many other commitments you have. It also depends on how many guinea pigs and other pets you have to look after. Remember each animal will need your individual attention.
Although guinea pigs don't need to be taken for long walks like a dog, they will need daily free range time out of the cage. Ideally 3 to 4 hours, longer if possible, especially if their cage isn't large enough for them to run-around in at a great speed. Exercise will help to keep your guinea pig fit, healthier and they will also have mental stimulation with lots different things to explore. Playing in cardboard box's, going through tubes, hiding under newspaper, you can see how happy they are not being confined to a cage all the time. A guinea pig in a small cage 24/7 will be an unhappy guinea pig. You will need time to give them a daily health check, make time for trips to the vets, if needed. You will need to make time for *cuddle time* as most guinea pigs love to be handled and be given lots of cuddles. They will quite happily sit on you, some will become so relaxed they will have a little sleep.
What will happen when I go on holiday?
A very important thing to consider! If you are going on holiday, even if its just for a weekend, you will need a responsible adult who loves animals, to come in at least twice a day to take care of your piggies. You would need to make a detailed list of do's and don'ts. Please don't be afraid to include lots of detail, no matter how small, your friend or family member will understand. It will be less stressful for your piggies if they aren't subjected to too much change in their routine. Whoever you give responsibility too, to look after your guinea pig, if they can't respect your wishes or respond to your list with, "Oh never-mind that, I won't need it", then I certainly wouldn't feel confident leaving my piggies with them. Remember to leave extra money with the carer to buy fresh vegetables and give them your vets telephone number and of course a contact number where they can reach you.
If you think you are unable to find a responsible person to look after your guinea pig, there are some excellent boarding services available. Always ask to inspect the premises and make a list of questions you may like to ask before allowing any boarding service to look after your guinea pig. Remember it will be their little holiday too and you'll want to make sure your piggies will be well cared for and happy while you are away. Some veterinary practices will board guinea pigs for a fee, but I would check they have separate facilities for guinea pigs and quieter pets. You don't want your guinea pig near poorly animals or barking dogs.
Please Click On The Following Links For More Information
Guinea Pig Facts
Guinea Pig Housing
Guinea Pig Nutrition
Guinea Pig Exercise
Guinea Pig Toys
Guinea Pig Handling
Bathing Your Guinea Pig
Guinea Pig Behavior
Bonding Guinea Pigs
How To Sex Your Guinea Pig
Guinea Pig Links