Decisions...decisions

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Piggeroo

Hi guys, don't know if you all remember, but me and my OH we have been refurbing our house for some time and I've had to wait a long time before I can get a pet.
I do want a dog, but that won't be for a year or so as we still have the garden to do and other bits and bobs.

Anyway I also love guineas I think they are cute.
But I've never owned one... now I am allowed to have a pair, I'm a little apprehensive about it all as some people say to me that they smell, then I hear other people say there the best pets to have. I'm confused...whos being honest with me?

Now I already have an indoor cage but please can anyone tell me if the wee and poo really does smell. I know that the cages needs to be cleaned out at least once a week but initially, to have them in the house do they really smell? I appreciate the fact that animals have there own smells etc...but we used to have a bunny and sometimes her cage did pong a little so if GP's do too then I will have to have a re-think about having them in the house.

I was so 100% before...but now I'm just so confused....advice anyone?

As for rehoming - yes its on the agenda. -c

Thank you all :)p
 
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the only time your piggies will smell would be when they need serious cleaning out, where it hasnt been done for a good while -if you keep them clean they wont simple as that!

i clean out my piggies poo and wee area every other day, i use carefresh and hay - i use profleece in the main cage but have a Hi Bac litter tray lined with the newspaper, carefresh and hay. upsstars is just the same so an area they can run around in.

I have no spells at all!
 
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I clean mine out every ..two days three days is my max but like Moonie said it will only smell if you don't clean them.
Housing two sows would be best together
Boars tend to pee and poo on you more than sows lol (my toby constantly poops on me but my girl hardly ever does)
 
i have two boars and they wee and poo alot, but i dont think more than sows! Maybe its just the pig!

i wouldnt say not having boars, i find them alot friendlier than sows.
 
moonie8404 said:
i have two boars and they wee and poo alot, but i dont think more than sows! Maybe its just the pig!

i wouldnt say not having boars, i find them alot friendlier than sows.
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Lol yeah mayb it is just Heidi then :P She doesn't poo at all hardly. I dunno my Toby is so grumpy it's unreal lol but Heidi is just more shy
 
Thanks guys, I do want two sows...or even if there is a lone sow at the rescue I'd be happy with that too.

Its silly really because before I'd have jumped at getting them, well I still am inside, but its so strnage for me to hold back.
I suppose because I've never had GP's before I don't know what I am letting myself in for and don't want to end up failing and regretting it.

Maybe I should wait a while...until I can think more clearly? Or am I just being silly? Lol.
 
Piggeroo said:
Thanks guys, I do want two sows...or even if there is a lone sow at the rescue I'd be happy with that too.

Its silly really because before I'd have jumped at getting them, well I still am inside, but its so strnage for me to hold back.
I suppose because I've never had GP's before I don't know what I am letting myself in for and don't want to end up failing and regretting it.

Maybe I should wait a while...until I can think more clearly? Or am I just being silly? Lol.
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Before I got mine I got a little book on it and read up some care tips on the RSPCA website http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Sat...lAnimalsCare&marker=1&articleId=1154077755508
 
I can assure you that they do not smell. I too clean mine out every other day and their poos are firm odourless nuggets due to their vegan diet.
The only smell you would need to get used to is the hay
 
I have two piggies in my kitchen and I wouldn't say they smell. I love the smell of the hay.:) I have two rabbits that live outside and I would say that their wee and poos smell a lot more than guinea pigs do.:) If you clean them out say twice a week if you have two in the same cage then I wouldn't think they would.:) A dog will smell far more. lol.
 
Also sometimes Toby smells a little but I give him a bath every once in a while and it keeps him right for ages
 
guinea pigs do not smell if they are cleaned out every couple of days i have 12 piggies in 5 cages and a rabbit in a cage on her own the rabbit allways poohs up one corner and it does smell
 
Nemo said:
I have two piggies in my kitchen and I wouldn't say they smell. I love the smell of the hay.:) I have two rabbits that live outside and I would say that their wee and poos smell a lot more than guinea pigs do.:) If you clean them out say twice a week if you have two in the same cage then I wouldn't think they would.:) A dog will smell far more. lol.
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Lol I must be worrying over nothing then. I just didn't want to have OH looking at me as if to say ''it really smells in the house'' type of look. :(|)
 
tinso said:
guinea pigs do not smell if they are cleaned out every couple of days i have 12 piggies in 5 cages and a rabbit in a cage on her own the rabbit allways poohs up one corner and it does smell
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Yeah I remember our rabbit wee and poo smelt...and she was cleaned out once a week, just didn't want to have that kind of smell in the house if GP's smelt like that.
 
Piggeroo said:
Lol I must be worrying over nothing then. I just didn't want to have OH looking at me as if to say ''it really smells in the house'' type of look. :(|)
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nah katie you should be fine! get looking girlie! just make sure you do your research first, learn up on them and all will be good.
 
Piggies dont smell, i just bought mine indoors for winter and they don't smell as i take out their wee's and poops everyday. G'pigs are great pets so do get them =] they put a smile on everyones face :))
Rabbits smell lots more! you can hardly smell anything with g'pigs and after afew days you get use to the VERY faint smell, infact i don't smell anything amymore,..actually they don't smell at all! haha :))
 
Thanks guys, it really does put my mind at more at ease. Especially as you all own them too and from your experiences it helps.

I'll defo do my research! GP's here I come :P

Thanks again all, and I'm still open to any advice anyone can give me!
*hugs*
 
I got my piggies on a whim as they were looking for homes on freecycle and i didnt want them to go anywhere. I have had only had one guinea pig before so i can understand about you not wanting to have some until you have given it some thought... I came straight on here once i had them and learned a hell of a lot!

I clean mine out every 2 days... Today though is is the 3rd day and their cage has an odour but its not offensive just a bit damp smelling. Just about to clean them out now...
My house doesnt smell any different than it did when i didnt have them (althogh there is a nice hay smell when they get cleaned out)...
A good clean out every other day and you wont have any problems. I can clean mine out in 15min flat so i doesnt even take up much time!
 
Well done you for thinking deeply about the pros and cons of getting a guinea pig before doing it.
Have a read up on the care of them ... there are plenty of great books available.

I would say that the smell in your house would be more if you had a dog, or a hamster (I am talking from experience).

But I think you would need to clean the piggies cage more than once a week. You will find that they will usually wee in a particular area - some piggies are cleaner than others and wee less. My Stuart, Sparrow and Josie wee only in the bedroom :{rolleyes:( usually in the corners but sometimes all over. Therefore I clean out the bedroom every other day and sweep out the wet corners putting in new woodshavings the days inbetween.

Enjoy finding out more about gp's!
 
Although slightly off the original topic can I just say they are very sociable animals and do much better in pairs, So If I were you I would get a pair
 
Hannah_xx said:
Piggies dont smell, i just bought mine indoors for winter and they don't smell as i take out their wee's and poops everyday. G'pigs are great pets so do get them =] they put a smile on everyones face :))
Rabbits smell lots more! you can hardly smell anything with g'pigs and after afew days you get use to the VERY faint smell, infact i don't smell anything amymore,..actually they don't smell at all! haha :))
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My rabbits have always been cleaner and smell better (not really better but different and hardly any odour) than the piggies... From my experience with bunnies they are cleaner animals and will go in one place. My rabbits have a faint rabbity odour (which is lovely)and their litter tray smells alright. I would rather be faced with rabbit poo than piggy poo any day!
Then again if you clean them out enough neither rabbits nor piggies smell :)

I think the smell depends on how many pigs you have... One or two pigs will not smell as much as 3 or more... The smell my pigs cage has when i am just a day late is a damp smell and that is only if i am 12 hours late cleaning them out... So i make sure i do them on time and very rarely deter from that.
Mine wee where they sleep... or eat... so basically everywhere... rolleyes:)) I have decided not to bathe mine either. The vet gave their coats a clean bill of health and i kind of like piggy oily coat smell too :)
 
I bought a book before I got my 2 girls and I came on here to get all the information I needed as I had never had guinea pigs before either so wanted to know what I would be letting myself in for before I got them.

My 2 live in my dining/livingroom and I don't think they smell. When I've asked my friends they have always said that they can't smell them. My cats smell worse than what they do. I clean them out every 2 - 3 days. Never leave them more than 3 days though or they will start to stink.
 
Why don't you pay a visit to your local guinea pig rescue?

That way you should get advice and will be able to judge for yourself whether they really are the companion animal for you.
 
Thank you all for your advice and experiences, its much appreciated.

We've been asked to look after my OH's mom's and dads dog over christmas so once that is out of the way up till then I will have a good think about it all and research loads :)

Thanks again all xx
 
jane28 said:
My rabbits have always been cleaner and smell better (not really better but different and hardly any odour) than the piggies... From my experience with bunnies they are cleaner animals and will go in one place. My rabbits have a faint rabbity odour (which is lovely)and their litter tray smells alright. I would rather be faced with rabbit poo than piggy poo any day!
Then again if you clean them out enough neither rabbits nor piggies smell :)
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I have never had a rabbit so my opinion was not very fair about rabbits sorry lol!
However some of my friends rabbits smell but thats most likely to be becasue they dont clean them outrolleyes!
But i agree with you if you keep the rabbit hutch clean then I'm sure they wouldn't smell much either, as they are clean animals and are easily trained to go toilet in one place :))
 
I cleaned my boys out today and they absolutely stunk - couldn't work out what the smell was as I'd only cleaned them out on Sat morning.

Didn't take me long to realise that they've been dragging their savoy cabbage leaves into the house and using them as bedding rather than eating them! Explains why the piglets smelt gross.
 
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