r/guineapigs • u/mercuryheart_ • Nov 20 '21
If you're planning on buying a guinea pig for a child in your life, these are really important things to keep in mind. Knowing this before purchasing can save yourself from being in a financial situation you can't handle, or a guinea pig that is not getting the care it needs.
Guinea pigs are a life style choice, and not for a child to care for. Care taking for animals isn't a responsibility that should be left for a kid. When you buy a guinea pig, you are taking on all responsibility for yourself and facilitating the experience of living with a guinea pig for your child. They may help care for them, but you will be the one to keep things clean, enrich their lives, and handle them the most.
They poo 100 times per day, meaning that you must clean those 100 poos every day to keep their habitat sanitary. If you wouldn't want to walk around in feces, neither do they. In fact they are extremely hygienic animals with fast metabolisms. I spot clean in the morning and at night, every day.
They are expensive. When you buy a child a guinea pig, you must be vigilant on checking for health issues by weighing them weekly and checking for other signs of illness, have an exotic vet near you and be prepared to shell out hundreds in a time of need. You must also buy fresh vegetables, and give them unlimited FRESH hay every day. Finding somewhere local to buy bales of hay can save a fortune. A child cannot afford the costs.
You need 2 guinea pigs. They are herd animals and shouldn't be kept alone. Imagine living with titan like predatory aliens, all alone in a cage your entire life. Guinea pigs NEED their own kind. We are predators and they are prey. We can and should spend time with them daily, but it isn't a substitute. So x 2 all costs right out of the gate.
Space. They need space, a lot of it. A minimum of 11 square feet for two guinea pigs. Pet store Cages are just that... Cages. If you wouldn't want to live in a space the size of a small bathroom your entire life, neither does a guinea pig.
You need to do research. It will be your responsibility to make sure your child's guinea pigs are eating the right diet, what signs of health issues to look out for, how to enrich their lives on a daily basis, and more. Pigs need stimulation and interesting environmental changes to keep them happy. You will need to get creative and teach your children how to offer that to them, after you have learned it yourself.
GUINEA PIGS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE. They are smarter than you think, and with the proper diet can live 7 years. They are not less work than having a dog. They require a huge time investment for those years. They are dependent on you in the same way your child is.
DO NOT BUY FROM A PET STORE. Scotty's Animals does a fantastic jjob explaining the impact you can have by adopting from a rescue. Adopting saves guinea pigs from euthanization. Covid pets are being abandoned and left to ultimately die unless we start adopting instead of shopping.
I love my guinea pigs and they have done so much for me and my children. My kids have benefited so much mental health wise, and I bust my ass for both the kids and the piggies. I do just as much laundry for guinea pigs as I do my kids it feels like. Just know what you're getting yourself into. They aren't toys, they aren't entertainment only. They're living, breathing beings that deserve love, dignity, respect and proper life enrichment and care.
r/guineapigs • u/readingbabe • 15h ago
I’ve never had a guinea pig live this long, I feel so much love for her that we’ve got to have 8 years together! She’s been in my life from my late teens to my late 20s 💛🤍
r/guineapigs • u/Burnt_Out_Hippo • 6h ago
He has to go into T-Rex mode to look over like this!
r/guineapigs • u/ennnna03 • 6h ago
I’m having a bad day at work and I could use some extra cuteness.
r/guineapigs • u/techninace • 6h ago
He is absolutely vegging on the couch he loves it.
r/guineapigs • u/VanquichedUncle • 14h ago
r/guineapigs • u/TheKittyPie • 10h ago
She’s literally just been splooting like this on me for like ten minutes I love her
r/guineapigs • u/SalavaLover • 17h ago
She was staying warm while I clean her and her sisters cage out
r/guineapigs • u/Typical-Surround581 • 15h ago
I love seeing her lay ontop of it because she'll usually hide underneath it instead 😭 silly baby
r/guineapigs • u/stepan_hawk • 12h ago
r/guineapigs • u/Alarming-Molasses847 • 16h ago
r/guineapigs • u/MissBunnyhood • 12h ago
I recently got this Guinea pig and I’m very certain I’ve felt babies moving around in her but I don’t know how far along she is cause the previous owners didn’t seem to know what they were doing. They say she would’ve given birth by now but they don’t remember the last time she was with a male, it’s very frustrating trying to get info from them cause they give conflicting information. I really think they did no research when deciding to keep and breed Guinea pigs and were just trying to make a quick buck. Should I try and take her to the vet or is it safe to say she’s pregnant? I keep thinking she’s gonna pop any day now 😅
r/guineapigs • u/Alarming-Molasses847 • 14h ago
r/guineapigs • u/Shadow_Lilly • 7h ago
My boy is home, in his hospital pen, and spoiled with a brand new chewable house! He hates not having a house, and has been a week without one. Finding out from the vet he has to be separated from the girls another 40 to 60 days, (yes, you read that right) he needed a house. By Friday or Sat he can go into a full sized pen, just not with his girls yet.
r/guineapigs • u/Tokischa12 • 19h ago
ma boi eating from my hand and he even let me scratch his cheek a bit!
r/guineapigs • u/WinterChalice • 14h ago
Photo for attention and to show how adorable Peaches is.
Peaches has been rumblestrutting toward her sister Daisy for about 2 weeks now. Her last rumble phase lasted over 3 weeks. It only stopped when we removed some of the hideys to give her and Daisy more space. Peace lasted about 2 weeks and now she’s at it again. No crusty nipples or bald spots. Weight is normal (quite chunky). Peaches is maybe 1.5 years old and Daisy is 11-12 months. Peaches is definitely irritating Daisy since Daisy makes sad noises. I tried separating them for a bit but that made both of them upset. I’m not sure if I should have her checked out by the vet when she goes in for her nail clipping or if I’m freaking out over nothing.
r/guineapigs • u/Shadow_Lilly • 17h ago
I'm getting ready to take my boy to the vet to get his dangly bits removed so he can continue to live with his mate. And I feel I'm doing the right thing because someone touched my leg to wake me (I am NOT a morning person, and it's currently 7:39am). It's just my son and I here, and my son is out cold.
I'm just asking everyone to keep him in their thoughts today. I would he heartbroken if he doesn't come out of this.
Pig Pic Tax: Srori the same day he came home.
Update: Picking him up now. They said he did great! Thank you everyone for helping elevate my fears.
r/guineapigs • u/Euphoric_Pay_9638 • 12h ago
Just emailed our vet.
One of my girls (the white one and her name is Willie) she is around six months old, and she’s been rumbling for a month, it’s been happening every day, for the whole month! I don’t know what is happening. I don’t know if it’s normal puberty behavior, or if it’s something wrong.
I want to see if anybody has similar experience.
First time guinea pig mom here, I really hope she is fine just trying to be the boss in the house.
r/guineapigs • u/carlajessop • 2h ago
Looking for any advice or stories (hopefully positive) of bladder stone removal in a 4 year old pig who has lost quite a bit of weight.
My girl has been struggling for a year and the exotics vet we got referred to has found a stone on a scan. We now have to choose between surgery or letting her go. The vet was concerned because she would need to put weight on to have the surgery, and there’s a very thick lining of the bladder likely caused by irritation.
I can’t let her go without doing everything for her but I’m also really scared that she’ll not make it through surgery and we won’t even be there with her.
Does anyone have any stories of their 4 year old pig with low weight and an unhealthy-looking bladder making it through this?
We’ve already started on critical care to try and get her weight up.
Super sad because she’s so happy in herself and I don’t feel like it’s her time to go, but I also recognise she’s in a lot of discomfort every time she passes urine. I just want to make the best choice for her.
r/guineapigs • u/luivry • 15h ago
I've had my two little guys Knoppers and Bommel since July now, and have been wondering if it's time for an enclosure upgrade. They seem pretty content and start their mornings with zoomies and sometimes popcorns, but I am wondering if you guys have some tips for me - especially regarding playtime and enrichment.
They are brothers and have not had any fights so far. I also used to have a water bottle for them, but since they prefer to drink from their bowls, I took it out. They do not get up to the bowl that's standing on top of their hammock holder, so I usually put their empty veggie down on top of it.
