Aging a Guinea Pig
- Thread starter LennyPig
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yes this would be interesting to know if you can get a rough idea of age, are
there any signs to look out for to tell the age of a piggy?
there any signs to look out for to tell the age of a piggy?
teadragon
Adult Guinea Pig
I mainly look at the nails of a guinea pig to determine the age...
Small needly nails: guinea pig is less than 6-months old
Needly nails are starting to grow longer: greater than 6 months, look at size and weight.
Nails are starting to look rounder: over a year/adult.
Small needly nails: guinea pig is less than 6-months old
Needly nails are starting to grow longer: greater than 6 months, look at size and weight.
Nails are starting to look rounder: over a year/adult.
what about an old age piggy?
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
I've been told by two reputable people that the width of the paws can indicate age, and twisted toes or nails can also suggest an older piggie.
Myself, I also look at the eyes - the colour of the iris tends to "bleed" out into the white of the eye the more they age. Young piggies (up to 2, generally) have a clear defining line between iris and white, piggies 3+ have varying degrees of "fuzziness". The older the pig, the more "fuzzy" the edge of the colour.
Myself, I also look at the eyes - the colour of the iris tends to "bleed" out into the white of the eye the more they age. Young piggies (up to 2, generally) have a clear defining line between iris and white, piggies 3+ have varying degrees of "fuzziness". The older the pig, the more "fuzzy" the edge of the colour.
teadragon
Adult Guinea Pig
I'm afraid I can't help you find the exact age of a very old guinea pig, besides to monitor weight. If the pig is still increasing in weight, it's likely that it's at the lower end of the range between 1-2 years and may still be filling out. It could also be recuperating from a less-than-fortunate home. If it's maintaining a weight then I would just class the pig as "Adult" and treat the pig as such.
A way to judge your pig may have hit 3-4 years old is that you find yourself going to the vet more often with a pig that had previously appeared to be perfectly healthy throughout its life.
Beyond that, once a pig is fully grown, I don't know any way to separate an adult guinea pig who is 3 years old from an adult guinea pig who is 5 years old until they enter their "slowing down, elderly lap pig" stage.
A way to judge your pig may have hit 3-4 years old is that you find yourself going to the vet more often with a pig that had previously appeared to be perfectly healthy throughout its life.
Beyond that, once a pig is fully grown, I don't know any way to separate an adult guinea pig who is 3 years old from an adult guinea pig who is 5 years old until they enter their "slowing down, elderly lap pig" stage.
Laura thats what I do with the eye. Take Kitty for instance Helen said she was about 9 months to a year. Her size would indicate younger but her eyes tell a different story as the white of the eye has brown smudge from the darker areas of the eyes.
The nails is a good tip but not always reliable because many pigs have baby nails that don't grow. Out of my 19 only Jasper, Fleur, Flora and Sunshine have long nails the rest have baby nails so it isn't reliable for my herd!
I wonder if having baby nails is an indication of good health. Maggie who is 5 has baby nails on all paws!
The nails is a good tip but not always reliable because many pigs have baby nails that don't grow. Out of my 19 only Jasper, Fleur, Flora and Sunshine have long nails the rest have baby nails so it isn't reliable for my herd!
I wonder if having baby nails is an indication of good health. Maggie who is 5 has baby nails on all paws!
does a sow stop coming in season at an older age? does it stop altogether?
the reason i ask is i have two older rescue sows but they are in a group of
four, but i caught them trying to mount each other would this be due to
them coming in season?
i believe they are 5-ish years?
the reason i ask is i have two older rescue sows but they are in a group of
four, but i caught them trying to mount each other would this be due to
them coming in season?
i believe they are 5-ish years?
stargrrlclaire
Senior Guinea Pig
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Laura thats what I do with the eye. Take Kitty for instance Helen said she was about 9 months to a year. Her size would indicate younger but her eyes tell a different story as the white of the eye has brown smudge from the darker areas of the eyes.
The nails is a good tip but not always reliable because many pigs have baby nails that don't grow. Out of my 19 only Jasper, Fleur, Flora and Sunshine have long nails the rest have baby nails so it isn't reliable for my herd!
I wonder if having baby nails is an indication of good health. Maggie who is 5 has baby nails on all paws!
maggie doesnt look 5!
teadragon
Adult Guinea Pig
They could just be re-arranging their herd dynamics, reminding each other of who is boss. If they're unusually grumpy at that age I'd look into getting the girls checked out for ovarian cysts.
they are not grumpy, it was strange they are indoor piggies and it was about
3 in the morning and they were all wide awake sqweeking and mounting
each other thats why i thought it could be a season?
3 in the morning and they were all wide awake sqweeking and mounting
each other thats why i thought it could be a season?
It's either that they are in season, sorting out dominance or having hormonal problems due to ovarian cysts, which can quite frequent in older sows, I understand.
i have had hem now for 3 weeks and this all happened last week so could be
them sorting out who is boss?
as i am not sure if they still have seasons at 5-ish anyway not sure if they are too old?
are there any signs to look out for?
them sorting out who is boss?
as i am not sure if they still have seasons at 5-ish anyway not sure if they are too old?
are there any signs to look out for?
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teadragon
Adult Guinea Pig
What you're describing is both a symptom of ovarian cysts and season. Since ovarian cysts are scarily common in girlie pigs, I'd have the girls checked for cysts at the vet - if anything for a peace of mind.
Other symptoms of ovarian cysts (although they can have cysts and not show all symptoms) are:
crusty and/or enlarged nipples,
pear shape (putting on weight around the hips)
grumpiness
prolonged heat
Taken from Guinea Lynx's ovarian cyst page
"Because a cyst that is allowed to grow runs the risk of bursting - spaying is the standard recommended treatment. Pinta had a 5-year-old spayed recently for cysts who has recovered very well. For very decrepit sows, who are bad surgical risks, hormone treatments such as HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) may shrink ovarian cysts but this is a temporary measure."
Other symptoms of ovarian cysts (although they can have cysts and not show all symptoms) are:
crusty and/or enlarged nipples,
pear shape (putting on weight around the hips)
grumpiness
prolonged heat
Taken from Guinea Lynx's ovarian cyst page
"Because a cyst that is allowed to grow runs the risk of bursting - spaying is the standard recommended treatment. Pinta had a 5-year-old spayed recently for cysts who has recovered very well. For very decrepit sows, who are bad surgical risks, hormone treatments such as HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) may shrink ovarian cysts but this is a temporary measure."
thanks for that i will get her checked out.
I would imagine so Lenny as they have the same genetic make up.
Claire I know it goes to show how neglected she was. But I am hoping it is more a case of she is sprightly for her age or her owners may have gotten her age slightly wrong. She did get out of breathe yesterday while running around the garden. We brought her in and she is fine now, no big runs for her!
Claire I know it goes to show how neglected she was. But I am hoping it is more a case of she is sprightly for her age or her owners may have gotten her age slightly wrong. She did get out of breathe yesterday while running around the garden. We brought her in and she is fine now, no big runs for her!
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