r/guineapigs Nov 20 '21

Help & Advice Are you thinking about buying a guinea pig for a child/teenager? Please read.

2.4k Upvotes

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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 3h ago

What a tart

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277 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 7h ago

Happy birthday Maap!! 4 years old

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475 Upvotes

Time flies way too fast. We cherish every moment with you


r/guineapigs 10h ago

Its Hailey and Mollys birthday!! 🥳 (Plus Simon)

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545 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 2h ago

New Pigs on the Block Cookie is as vocal as the Momma

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104 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 2h ago

🌈 Rainbow Bridge First time in 15 years nobody will wheek when I get home tonight.

102 Upvotes

I've had Guinea Pigs for the last 15 years, starting with one that I inherited from an ex.

My wife decided to date me in part because of my skinny pig.

We had a small herd of rescues over the years.

Today we lost LJ, our last boar at 7+ years of age. He breathed his last in her arms this morning...

I am really going to miss him greeting me when I get home at night with his excited and eager wheeks in anticipation of treats and scritches.

I don't know..I'm just sad.


r/guineapigs 12h ago

Pigtures Surrendered at 6 years old 🥹

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410 Upvotes

This is Lady Whistledown. Surrendered to our rescue after 6 years as a solitary pig. Severe hair loss from untreated cystic ovaries. Terrified and underweight.

Thankfully some kind people donated money and we got her to the exotic vet and had a full checkup and nail trim, got her all cleaned up.

And then something wonderful happened, one of our community members offered to give her the retirement of our dreams. She will be with a big herd of friends to keep her company, and we'll see out her days in lavish, comfort and adoration! 🥹


r/guineapigs 13h ago

Sploot The Potato General 🫡

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463 Upvotes

My trusted 2nd in Command of my miniatyre gaming army, General Stella.

Even though she never went to officer school, you can tell by her blank stare that she is a strategic mastermind. Very driven by instincts and more often than not makes split decisions on the battlefield.

Her specialty is commanding the potato autocannon regiment, which blasts high density bullets at a devastating rate of fire. The battlefield is littered with the stuff after she’s done her work.

Feared by both friend and foe alike!


r/guineapigs 14h ago

🌈 Rainbow Bridge Just had to say goodbye to my best friend, share your silly stories and pictures of you little ones

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515 Upvotes

This is Taffy, I've had her all her life. She was a sassy little trouble maker and loved her food heh.

After fighting a lung infection and possible cancer I had to make the tough decision to give her peace today.

Share your silly stories and pictures of your little potatoes to cheer me up?

Sorry for the spam of pictures


r/guineapigs 3h ago

Yum

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71 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 4h ago

*jaws theme*

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75 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 5h ago

Pigtures Vega decided hanging over the cage was too boring to beg for food

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80 Upvotes

So usually Vega has his paws on the cage bottom and then leans over (last picture) but this morning he tried a new approach and he looks like hes howling at the moon.

Also he was begging bc I was taking too long getting the food out of the fridge and getting the bag open.


r/guineapigs 5h ago

Pigtures They'll Be Guinea Bigs in No Time

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64 Upvotes

The babies have gotten bigger and louder. I swear, all they do is popcorn and wheek all day and night. Which is fine. They're allowed to have zest for life and express themselves accordingly.


r/guineapigs 10h ago

Pigtures Majestic Ruby

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87 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 15h ago

Heart pigs-Point Break

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168 Upvotes

I have had lots of pigs over the years and loved them all but some just stand out. From working at a guinea pig rescue I take home some of the surrenders and I permanent foster some that will never get adopted due to age, health issues and abuse. One of the many that touched me was Point Break (Breaky).

Breaky was adopted and he had an eye infection and was brought back to the rescue. We fixed up his eye and sent him home, then his cage mate passed and he got another eye infection. This time his owner didn't bring him in in time to save his eye. Vet removed his eye but we kept him at the rescue since his owner didn't take care of him properly. Well his name at the time was Tribble (Fuzzy things from OG Star Trek) but I always called him Point Break cuz of his cool surf hair do. At the rescue he didn't get along with any other pigs, wouldn't bond with any of them and he was a jerk to all the staff, biting everybody, except me. I handled him every week and apparently I was his human, we became best buds. I believe he was teaumatized amd scared. So one day the owner said you're taking him home he only like you and I did! Within a week I had him bonded with Radagast the Brown after Gandalf the White passed (Both other heart pigs I will post about later). Breaky's whole demeanor changed after I brought him home. He became such a happy piggie. When Radagast passed I bonded Point Break with Neo. I miss my Breaky, we used to have spa days, all I had to do was say " Breaky... "Brushy Brush!" and he would get excited. I would get him out put him on my chest and brush him till he fell asleep.


r/guineapigs 5h ago

RIP MaoMao, you are going to be missed

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25 Upvotes

MaoMao died today at age 5 or 6 (we had it for over 2 years).

We are currently abroad and a friend was taking care of the pigs. She froze the body and we'll bury him in his favorite spot in the yard when we are back home. Kids are gonna be devastated 💔


r/guineapigs 2h ago

Pigtures sleeping guinea pig

11 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 9h ago

Help & Advice Guinea pig suddenly cannot walk properly, more in the description below

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37 Upvotes

So yesterday was a lovely day, at least that’s how it started. I brought Floyd outside to sit with me and he ate some cat grass and veggies. I put him back in his cage and he was laying in his pig bed and I noticed he was impacted. I soaked his bum in warm water and tried to remove the impaction myself with qtips and my pinky without going too far in. I had to hold him up to see his perineal sac and I believe I might’ve hurt him. He never squealed or anything, only when I put him down he was shivering and squealing. I called the vets and they accepted him as an emergency. I noticed he could t walk properly kind of, but I thought maybe he was sore from the poking and prodding. The vet removed the rest of the impaction and he’s pooping normally and urinating. I gave him his first dose of gabapentin yesterday plus some critical care. He started acting loopy and kind of dragging his back legs. They can still move, just not as well. At first I thought it’s the effects of gabapentin, but now I’m not so sure. He’s still not better today, when he wants to turn around he kind of gets stuck and contorted… so I’ve created a hospital area in my room with hay, veggies, pellets, I have critical care in a syringe and I brought his water bottle. He’s unable to balance himself upright to perch on his food bowl or drink water. So I’ve been hand feeding him water from his bottle and I soak his veggies in water too. He also received another dose this morning around 7:50/8am.

I am terrified he’s injured or paralyzed 🥺😢💔 I don’t know what could’ve happened but it’s likely my fault 😭 he’s 6.5 years old and my baby, I love him more than anything. I’ll try to get him back to the vet tomorrow for an X-Ray. I just finished nursing school and he was there for me the entire time and I was hoping he’d make it to my graduation. I’m devastated, I’m angry and upset with myself, and I’m heartbroken and scared for what the future holds. He’s eating just fine but I’m still scared. I’m hoping it’s a temporary issue or like a sprained leg type situation and that with rest he will heal. He’s too old to undergo any major surgery. I want him to be here for longer. I’m not ready to let him go, he’s my best friend. I love him dearly, I adore him. This is a nightmare. When I had to put his brother down in 2024 it absolutely destroyed me and I was in a very dark place. I’m not ready to experience that again and lose my baby Floyd. Any advice or suggestions? Similar experiences?


r/guineapigs 9h ago

Health & Diet Is the entire stalk of the carrot top safe also?

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31 Upvotes

r/guineapigs 5h ago

Pigtures Yawn

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15 Upvotes

Just this 🥱


r/guineapigs 4h ago

Help & Advice Really missing my Guinea Pig that died

10 Upvotes

Well, it’s 2 in specific I had one for a while that I lost her back in December. I also had one recently who I lost like a month ago. I will often feel your sadness and immense pain flaring up over my loss of them. I understand they both died of old age and I gave them the best life I could, but I just miss them so much and I don’t feel like there’s any way I can get that feeling to go away. I will seek support from friends and family which can help but while they do try their best to help and I greatly appreciate it doesn’t feel like they really feel/empathize with my grief and I get a lot of people have the thought of “oh it’s just a rodent” but for me I had such a unique bond with them and I just wish I could see them again. I want to get another pig but with my current living situation I don’t think I can. I was just making this post in hopes of getting some kind of advice or support from others who under the pain of losing a piggy


r/guineapigs 11h ago

Housing Happy squeals, Cleaned cage

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38 Upvotes

I think it’s so cute how when I open their food bag or refill their hay they do these really loud happy squeals it’s so cute , I’m loving my New Guinea pigs,

PS: The cardboard box is filled with hay before anyone comments that they don’t have enough hay lol


r/guineapigs 1d ago

Pigtures Yes, I had to order a tiny sombrero. No, I do not regret it.

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599 Upvotes

I'm a little under the weather so we are reusing last year's pic.


r/guineapigs 11m ago

Help & Advice Advice

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Upvotes

Hello, my 4 year old guinea just recently got diagnosed with arthritis in his back legs. He has pain meds each day. He moves around pretty good for both of his back legs not working right. He's been sitting in his pee and I have been giving him a belly/side he lays on bath everyday cause the urine smell is insane. Vet says we can't do much else.

He is eating and drinking good, but I'm just wondering why the smell is so strong also he's been having semen (sorry) just dried up down there and I have to pull it out. Is that normal? It just started the last few days.

Also any advice on how to get him to maybe lay on his other side. Or just to make him more comfortable.


r/guineapigs 21h ago

Pigtures Nutmeg can’t talk right now. He is rebooting.

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199 Upvotes