Basically, its the book i wish i had when i was smuggling my very first guinea pig into my college dorm. Feb 10, 2020 how to care for an elderly guinea pig. In this section we will provide you with some basic information about caring for guinea pigs, including general healthcare information and information concerning common types of guinea pig medical problems and diseases. They feed on their mothers milk for 21 days, but can eat solid food within the first week of life. The kind of life you provide for your small pet is going to affect his life span. If you want to keep your guinea pig alive for a long time you need to make his life comfortable. Feb 15, 2009 thats a good, long life for a guinea pig. Some wonderful products for guinea pig care are shown below. Do not grab a guinea pig, especially in the chest area. All about the abyssinian guinea pig guinea pig tips.
Although some species of guinea pigs live longer than the other one, genetics is another factor that affects its lifespan. In this article i will tell you all about the abyssinian guinea pig, its history, origins, fun facts, and a heck of a lot more. Living past the age of 5 qualifies the guinea pig as a senior citizen who doesnt behave as vibrantly or bounce back from illness as. Read on to get the answers to guinea pig life expectancy and many other questions. Wild cavies live in big family groups in grassland areas of central and south america. Basically, its have you ever been sick a day in your life.
The guinea pigs have an average lifespan of 5 to 7 years in captivity. This earplug increases in length with age, and scientists believe a set of its alternating light and dark layers represents one year of growth. Has anyone youve related to ever been sick a day in their life. Guinea pig sizeo meter your guinea pig is score very thin y o u rp et is v ylkb ndw gh. Mar 09, 2017 plus, unlike those fussy abyssinians or rascally teddys were looking at you, winnie, most pinkeyed whites and rubyeyed guinea pigs come with minimal attitude. Since their initial domestication around five millennia bc, several guinea pig breeds have been developed. Some individuals have been known to live for about 12 years. To my knowledge, the breed of guinea pig can affect life span. Not unlike humans, a guinea pig s life span is affected by genetics, environment and diet. Hamsters are extremely cute pets, and this is why they are so popular among all pet lovers.
Do you own a guinea pig but dont know the first thing about how to take. Guinea pigs can be lovely pets, but there are a few things you should know before making that big commitment. Hamsters are short lived, with a life span of about 2 years at the most. These animals are alert and may learn to perform a lot of tricks, so they are easy to train. What fruits and vegetables can i feed my guinea pigs.
A collection of guinea pig themed books and publications. Guinea pigs are social creatures and in the wild they live in large communities with the dominant male at the centre with his harem and their offspring, surrounded by a bachelor colony of lower ranking males. Guinea pigs can be great pets and are quite social. A female abyssinian guinea pig, known as a sow, is considered to be sexually mature and able to get pregnant at only four weeks of age. In the wild they live in small family groups that consist of one male and several females. I bought this book after searching for guinea pig care books for children my. Jan, 2017 while in the wild gerbils have a life span of about 2 years on average, they tend to live much longer in captivity. Descendants of giant south american rodents, the guinea pig is now a sweet, cuddly critter that is perfect, even for a small child. Guinea pigs need fresh, clean unsprayed grass every day to supply vitamin c which the body cannot store. W cm a medical reasons such as dental or kidney disease. What to know before getting a pet guinea pig the spruce pets. Dont worry, if you want to cheat, you can always peek for the answers on our guinea pig manual pages, where you can learn everything about guinea pigs.
Wild colonies and guinea pig behaviour within them. This book tells you all you need to know about your guinea pigs and how to look after them. There are still wild cavies in south america, but the domestic guinea pig is considered a separate species. What is the life expectancy of guinea pigs living in captivity. In the wild these animals live 46 years, in captivity they can live up to 7 years. I think my guinea pigs are not old, dont they live till about 9 or something like that. Longer guinea pig lifespan requires your knowledge, unconditioned love and everyday care. To help your guinea pig live a long life, keep it in a cage thats easy to clean and provides 510 square feet of space. May 12, 2017 guinea pig life span one of the most essential aspects that pet owners need to take into consideration is the normal life span of the specie they are going to choose. I was wondering what the average life span for guinea pigs is. I am currently doing the paperwork for the guinness book of world records because i am 15 years old.
But generally an average life expectancy for the animals that are kept as pets is about 710 years. The life of a professional guinea pig the atlantic. Average guinea pig life span is 5 to 8 years, but dont be surprised if your pet guinea pig lives up to 10 years. When i look at various sources, the average lifespan is all over the place. Never trust a squirrel by patrick cooper, guinea pig in the garage by ben m. The guinea pig handbook the information you need to keep your guinea pig happy and healthy from the time of their domestication thousands of years ago in south america, cavies have made their way into the hearts and homes of people of all ages and from around the world. Feb 27, 2020 to help your guinea pig live a long life, keep it in a cage thats easy to clean and provides 510 square feet of space. Blue cross is a registered charity in england and wales 224392 and in scotland sc040154. Today is christmas day, so i am writing about a cool species of mammal with a christmas sounding name, santa catarinas guinea pig. Guinea pig, a domesticated species of south american rodent. Guinea pig life span question no, generally breed is not a factor in determining lifespan of a guinea pig. My two are almost 5 and all my friends think theyre old cos all their piggies died at about one.
Sep 23, 2015 the life of a professional guinea pig. In captivity, guinea pigs live an average of five to seven years. Nov 10, 2014 whether you just bought an abyssinian guinea pig, are thinking about it, or just curious, you have come to the right place. We all know the average lifespan of a guinea pig is about 57 years. Jan 03, 2009 the guinea pig life span is, sadly, about 5. The average guinea pig life span is around 46 years, although some can live as long as 8 years. Guinea pig 101 is an ultimate resource for all guinea pig lovers who are passionate about learning everything about their guinea pigs and provide them with a life.
But his friend cody, is an american short haired and thriving. Life span most guinea pigs live for 45 years if well taken care of, and may live up to 8 years unusual. Guinea pigs teeth are openrooted, that is they continue to grow. The average life span of most guinea pigs is 5 to 8 years of age. Registered company in england and wales under company number 00363197. If you know the answer if their breed affects their life span, please tell me. One thing that makes this hairless guinea pig breed peculiar.
Plus, unlike those fussy abyssinians or rascally teddys were looking at you, winnie, most pinkeyed whites and rubyeyed guinea pigs come with minimal attitude. If your pet is healthy but otherwise underweight, your vet. Studies were made on the proper living conditions guinea pigs should be provided with, the food they are supposed to eat, and types of food that should be. Respiratory infections are a leading cause of guinea pig death.
The guinea pig guide cutely comprehensive guinea pig care. Guinea pig life span one of the most essential aspects that pet owners need to take into consideration is the normal life span of the specie they are going to choose. Zoos and other permanent captivity locations rarely provide an environment. Falling in love with the idea of welcoming a pinkeyed pig in your home. You can test your knowledge here and find out just how good caretaker are you. Keep them together so they last longer life span of. Those of you that have had cavy herds for a long time, what is your experience with the usual lifespan for a boar. This is much longer than most other small pets, including other rodents such as mice years, gerbils 24 years, and hamsters 23 years. If cared for properly, they can live up to 10 years but the average is 7 to 8 years. If you have a new baby guinea pig, chances are that it will be with you for the next five years. So dont hesitate to stock your library with books that will help you to do your best for your pet and provide them with everything they need for a full and happy life. I read some where that some guinea pigs can live until only 4 and then i panicked about my own guinea pig. Contact your local guinea pig rescue to see if one or two. I was wondering what is the average life span of a guinea pig, and what can you do to extend their lifespan.
Jan 21, 2020 here are some interesting facts about the guinea pig life span and some tips on how to ensure your guinea pig lives a long, healthy and happy life. But, i thought it would be interesting to look at data from everybodys guinea pigs to see if theres a difference between sex, housing etc and if certain illnesses strike at certain times. Looking after guinea pigs is a rewarding experience. The surprising answer to what is the lifespan of hamsters.
Menu handling, medical care and moms guinea pigs should be picked up by putting one hand under their chest and supporting their hindend with the other hand. Here are some interesting facts about the guinea pig life span and some tips on how to ensure your guinea pig lives a long, healthy and happy life. Guinea pigs usually do not have many if any health. So, please post your previous guinea pig lifespans like this. While your guinea pig could easily be around for five years or more, mice and hamsters live just. Apr 29, 2017 usually a guinea pig lives for 48 years. The guinea pig guide cutely comprehensive guinea pig.
However, guinea pig life span in the wild is typically much shorter than those in captivity, ranging from one to four years. Can you make a difference in a guinea pigs life span. They tend to live for long in the company of other gerbils. The average guinea pig life span the typical guinea pig life span ranges from 5 to 7 years, according to the website for the school of veterinary medicine at the university of pennsylvania. I had a guinea pig when i was younger and it lived about five years, even surviving a move with us. Guinea pigs have longer life spans than many other pet rodents.
A comprehensive glimpse about guinea pig life span vbi blog. Guinea pigs can see in a wide angle, making it hard for predators to sneak up behind them. Their life span considerably depends upon the care taken by its owners as well as the habitat offered to them. If we can provide our guinea pigs with the right care and fulfill all their basic needs, then these furry little companions can last you for eight years too. Sweetie, the worlds oldest guinea pig home facebook. They normally dont live a very long life though, and it is important to take their life span into consideration if you intend to keep them as pets.
Guinea pigs eat vegetation and do not require water to drink if supplied with sufficiently moist food, but they must have water if fed dry commercial food. Max was only 2 when he passed but i also think he had a stomach problem. Basically, its the book i wish i had when i was smuggling. Gerbils life cycle comes to an end by the age of 2 3 years. Hairless guinea pigs, for example, have a higher life span average seven to eight years than other types. The life span of a guinea pig depends on how well cared for they are, their genes. Here is a santa catarinas guinea pig enjoying the view of his island. Recently, hairless guinea pigs have become popular choices as pets but they do require some extra care due to their lack of fur. If they are very well cared for, and have long life genes, 1015 years.
As far as guinea pig life span is concerned, they are not the same as traditional domesticated type of pets such as dogs and cats. However, there are a number of factors that affect how long a guinea pig is going to live. What sounds do palm sized baby animals like guinea pigs make. This makes them way longer lived than other popular pet rodents like hamsters, gerbils or mice, which rarely grow older than three years. Guinea pig life span one of the most essential aspects that pet owners need to take into consideration is the normal life span of the specie they are going to.
Just like any animal, you can have an average span of years but thats what it is an average some will go before it and some after. Guinea pigs usually have a short life span of 4 to 5 years when in captivity, however in the wild, their life span is usually even shorter. The male abyssinian guinea pig, known as a boar, can successfully mate with the female at around three weeks of age. Dec 28, 2007 a guinea pig s average life span in 58 years but with proper care a guinea pig can live up to 12 years or more. Whether you just bought an abyssinian guinea pig, are thinking about it, or just curious, you have come to the right place. Water must always be available and will stay cleaner if supplied in a gravity feed bottle, but a heavy dish will suffice. When you have a pet guinea pig, you have a responsibility to feed and care for it.
As a result, very little practical information exists on the medical care and treatment of individual pet guinea pigs. Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, can live between 58 years. Guinea pig life expectancy skinny pigs care for life. On the other hand, guinea pig life span as a pet may be a completely different story. Lone gerbils live a shorter life and spend most of. He was coauthor of the 1st edition of from guinea pig to computer mouse, and. Give it a balanced diet that consists mostly of grass hay, feed it leafy greens as treats, and make sure fresh water is always available. Which type of guinea pig you have at home determines how long he can live. Guinea pigs have sharp claws that they use for scratching and digging. How much longer do you suppose hell live, im thinking 812years, am i correct. With over 100 pages filled to the brim with information and adorable illustrations, the guinea pig guide makes it easy to learn everything you need to know to give your guinea pig a long, happy, healthy life with you. It is important to not place any strict expectations on those average figures, though, as some guinea pigs live for longer than that and others pass away a. Some guinea pigs live longer or shorter lives, depending on these and other factors.
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