  Animal Care - Guinea Pigs In The Family | ||||||||||||||||
Guinea Pigs As Companion AnimalsGuinea Pigs are excellent Companions for adults, supervised children over the age of five, and multi species families. They are fairly delicate and so are prone to injury if handled roughly. In addition, children under five have problems with GP's as Pigs do not like to be picked up. As prey Animals, they have a tendency to be fearful of sudden movements and loud noises. The normal life span is around six years, so one has to consider the long term care needs when allowing children, who are at an age when their interest and attention span is likely to change, to acquire them as Companions. Other Animals in the family must be watched and trained to accept Pigs as family members as opposed to potential meals. Rabbits and GP's do very well together. Some believe that GP's are at risk of being kicked by Rabbits. We've never seen any indication of this. Like all new members of the household they do need a bit of a safety net when they first arrive if they are to be housed with Rabbits. We place them in a cage in the room that the rest of their new family shares for two to four weeks so that all can become familiar with one another before allowing them to be free roaming.The Cost of Caring For A GP
The above chart is based upon internet store prices for feed and other supplies. Ordering on the internet may or may not mean extra charges for shipping, and prices seem to be equal to those at retail stores in California. The supplies mentioned include a cage, which will be needed initially. A better habitat will be called for, once the GP is acclimated to a family. The cost of such a habitat would depend upon how handy at building things the caretaker is. Also included are a feed dish, water bottle, nail clippers, and a carrier. Veterinary charges and needs may vary. We allowed for one blood or culture test, which may never be needed. Some breeders claim that GP's are not in need of regular Vet care. We consider this to be dangerous advice. We also are not including vaccinations for Bordetella, something that some geographical areas call for. The cost can also be lowered by buying a bale of Timothy hay, which should cost $14.00, and should last six months. In addition, instead of using Carefresh, Timothy hay could be used instead, in which case a bale would last two to three months. Another consideration when choosing a GP as a family member is the time needed to provide care. GP's are fairly easy to care for, easier than Rabbits, a little harder than Rats or Mice. Feeding time is about 15 minutes a day with washing and distributing veggies, changing water, freshening cage and giving hay twice a day. Cages need to be cleaned once a week, which takes a half and hour. Grooming and health checks take about 30 minutes a month for short haired Pigs, 2 hours for long haired Pigs if you opt to keep their hair long. Long hair Pigs can be clipped with clippers in lieu of brushing, which saves time, though the cost of the clippers needs to be added. If all of the above fits within your lifestyle and budget, a GP in the family can be a wonderful addition. Being wheeped at daily for carrots is one of life's delights. Questions About GP's? Check Out Community Forums |
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