Should I Get Guinea Pigs???

[Amzo]

I'm 12 years old and I was thinking Bout getting guinea pugs for my birthday in February. We live in Scotland and we have a dog and a cat but they are well behaved. I have never had guinea pigs before but I have had hamsters but they died at quite an early age. Are guinea pigs expensive, stinky or boring? I was planning to keep them outside and then we have a little tree house that we could put them in at night. Any suggestions on wether I should get them?

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on you, what you like. We had guinea pigs many years ago when I was young. I guess they must be a lot like hamsters. While you watch them run around in their pen it's fine, but hardly enthralling. Too long ago to recall details now but there's plenty of info about if you decide you'd like to own them. http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=guinea+pigs+rules&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&;rlz=1T4GGLL_en-GBGB407GB407&q=guinea+pigs+rules&;gs_l=hp...0i30j0i8i30l2.0.0.0.14511...........0.0cknFeBygug

[wildwood]

Guinea pigs are fairly cheap but they need a nice cozy nightshelter at night. A treehut is not very suitable, if unprotected they can easily freeze to death in the winter. The smell is up to you, clean them out regularly and they are ok.

Perhaps you might like to Google for a guinea pig (cavy) society near you, they will only be more than happy to answer any of your questions for your area. You might even decide to get one that is suitable to show and become friends with lots of people with a similar interest - if you do, remember the show day's activity is to be enjoyed best, the winning is very much secondary.

[Amzo]

do you guys think that they would be okay with a cat and a dog???

[slinkycat]

Depends what sort of dog you have, if its a terrier it might not be a good idea.
I used to have guinea pigs and the cat I had at the time just ignored them.

[Prudie]

Guinea pigs shouldn't be kept at under 15 deg C so in Scotland they couldn't live outside for at least half the year.

[woofgang]

Ask the experts....
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?36801-FAQ-Are-Guineas-Pigs-for-Me

I wouldn't rely on any cat or dog being safe with guineas. Even if they are, it could be scarey for the guineas who are easily stressed.

[Old_Geezer]

Ours were ok with our cat, but there again the cat was always outside the run and they inside.

[Amzo]

The dog is a Rhodesian ridgeback so quite a big dog

[woofgang]

I wouldn't....I really wouldn't. Go look at the forum I linked to.

[Amzo]

Does anyone know if they are expensive to look after and would I get bored of them easily???

[riptide]

You definitely should not keep guinea pigs outside in the winter. I have great experience with them through Rescue and friends. They need to be kept indoors in a heated area, preferably in a largish indoor cage. They require fresh hay and a good supply of vegetables every day as they do not maintain vitamin C. They also requite a dry mix for guinea pigs. On no account should two males be kept together as they will fight when mature. Two females are best or a female and a neutered male. When stressed guinea pigs can get mites which will require treating and sometimes they can get teeth trouble, which would require a visit to the vet. Do not let the cat or dog near them. You really should contact your local rescue or someone who knows about them to discuss this further. As regards expense, you have to take into account the above. They should be cleaned out regularly and will not smell if you do so. They do wee a lot and obviously there are droppings to contend. Only put them outside in the summer months in a solid hutch that does not get damp as they do feel the cold. Do look into it more before you do anything.

[Amzo]

Dear riptide, thank you for your answer. Would they be able to stay out the rest of the year in the rain as well?

[woofgang]

if it rains they would need to have shelter, showers might be okay but in heavy rain they would need to be indoors and up out of the mud. If you are thinking that you might be bored with them then probably not a good idea, I think people should only have pets if they really really want them. You sound a very sensible person though to be looking into it thoroughly before asking your parents.

[Amzo]

Dear woofgang, thank you for your answers. I will have a look for some more information. Are they expensive to look after???

[woofgang]

they aren't as cheap as you would think. The forum link will tell you more....also expensive is relative to how much money you have and what else you want to spend it on....they you have to think about vet bills and so on. Even when its cold and wet and they aren't running around in the garden, you will need to look after them and not just leave them shut away. if you keep them in a garage or shed when its cold, they will need light as they won't be happy in the dark all day, they may also need some winter heat.
I used to like having a hamster because he lived indoors with me and I used to let him run around inside my shirt and jumper while I was sitting revising...my mum wasn't so pleased as he chewed holes in my clothes and took them for bedding lol. Guineas live outside so are less easy to interact with, especially if you have to keep them away from the cat and dog, WHICH YOU WILL, the risk to the guineas is too great.

[Amzo]

Dear woolfgang, of course I would keep the pigs away from the cat and dog. I'm not that thick!

[Canary42]

Having read woofgang's link, I think you should avoid them.

How about coldwater or tropical fish ?

[seadogg]

Outside they will ring bark your shrubs and hedges and kill them. A friend had them and they did this to a young beech hedge and every one died. Ring bark means they chew the bark away all round the base of the bush.