Should i get a ginny pig

Please see our Stock Availability page for more information. How Long Do They Live? What If One Dies? The adoption fee for a guinea pig is typically small, but there are significant startup costs and ongoing needs.

The initial purchase of equipment and supplies is likely to include:. Are you prepared to spend at least several hundred dollars a year on your new friend not including regular veterinary costs if your guinea pig needs to be treated for a common condition like mites or requires emergency veterinary care?

Guinea pigs are social animals who do best with the companionship of another pig. Preventing a solitary guinea pig from becoming lonely and bored is a tall order, even for someone committed to spending a significant amount of time with their animal every day. Some people are allergic to guinea pigs. These allergies are a reaction to proteins in the animal's saliva and urine contrary to popular belief, the culprit isn't hair or dander, although they often transmit these allergens during handling and close contact.

Hay and wood shavings can also cause allergies. If you've never lived with a guinea pig, test the waters by visiting a household that has one or spend time handling adoptable guinea pigs at your local humane society or rescue group foster home—you might meet your new best friend in the process! More About Allergies to Pets. Guinea pigs live an average of five to seven years. This lifespan is longer than many other small pets such as hamsters, gerbils, mice or rats, all of whom only live up to a few years.

Read on to find out why guinea pigs can make great pets… 1. Purebred cavies such as Alpacas, Dutch, Himalayans, Abyssinian etc. Contrary to their misleading name, guinea pigs are not from Guinea, and they are definitely not pigs! Often called a cavy, after its scientific name, Cavia porcellus , the guinea pig is a species of rodent native to the Andes Mountains in South America. Different breeds are available, with variations in coat texture and length.

Smooth-coated guinea pigs come in a variety of colors, such as brown, black, cream, white and more. If you are a first-time buyer, consider short-haired breeds, because longer-coated ones require regular grooming. They eat a mix of pellets, hay and fresh produce. Most of their produce should be leafy greens — romaine lettuce, spinach, kale or parsley — according to the Humane Society.

Add carrots, zucchini and sweet potato once or twice a week, and fruit as a treat once a day or several times a week, the society advises. Avoid feeding them iceberg lettuce, cabbage and beans.

Hay and fresh water should be provided every day. Guinea pigs love to run water out of the bottle, so use a bottle with a sipper tube. Clean grass or Lucerne chaff are also good sources of vitamin C. They can be kept outdoors or indoors, and their needs are basic: a roomy cage, safe bedding, a ceramic food bowl, a water bottle with a sipper spout, guinea pig pellets and timothy hay.

They love to play, and small wooden chew toys or grass balls will keep them entertained and healthy. Optimum exercise and exploration space are important for the health and happiness of these creatures. Our charity shops Online shop Donate your items. Urgent support.

How many guinea pigs should you keep? Share via. Suitable combinations of guinea pigs: Two or more sows of a similar character — a strong character may bully a shy piggy Two boars — take care not to mix two very strong characters, as they may fight.

Often a slightly calmer male pig will be more suitable and accepting of a strong character A neutered boar with one or more sows. Although the mix may work at first, when the piglet matures it will compete for dominancy, resulting in serious fights A rabbit and a guinea pig. Although some owners have found a rabbit and guinea pig to live seemingly happily together, there is a big risk that the guinea pig will be accidentally kicked when the rabbit is running and hopping about.

Guinea pigs are also vocal communicators, while rabbits are mostly silent - this can be upsetting for the guinea pig.