Aging Guinea Pigs

[Bigsize9fot]

Hi- Hope this is the right place for this question. We rescued our guineas from SSPCA who estimated them to be 18months- 2 years. I'm not sure how they dont know their exact age as they were handed in my the previous owner. Is there any way of aging them accurately?

 

[Freela]

Not one hundred percent. You can take a look at their nails- very young pigs tend to have thinner, straighter nails. Adult pigs have thicker nails that may corkscrew as they grow longer. I've also found you can generally feel an older pig from a 'prime of life' pig by feeling down their backs... pigs in their older years may lose muscle mass and feel bonier through the shoulders and hips, whereas younger pigs feel well-padded with minimal boniness at the shoulder and hip. However, there are other factors (food, general condition) that may play into this, and even so it won't give you much more of a ballpark than what you have already been given.

 

[sport_billy]

@Freela fab post - great info x

 

[Freela]

@Freela fab post - great info x

Thanks! Right now I have a 2-year-old pig and a 6.5-year-old pig, so I definitely see the differences that aging brings on a regular basis!

 

[sport_billy]

Thanks! Right now I have a 2-year-old pig and a 6.5-year-old pig, so I definitely see the differences that aging brings on a regular basis!

Is Sundae 6.5?

 

[GPTV]

Also look for a more pointy shaped face (longer nosed-mousey shaped) in younger piggies. The older they get the more rounded the face appears usually-gives the fatter more guinea shaped outline to the face.

My Grace is around 5yrs &has a pear shaped bum/body &the two younger ones have more streamline bodies still. Xx

 

[Freela]

Is Sundae 6.5?

Yes, believe it or not! She's actually 6 years and 8 months. Her b-day is at the end of April.

 

[VickiA]

Great responses on this thread!