Guinea Pig Myths

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JayceeStar

JayceeStar

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So as some of you know, I have started making a website for my customers at work which comprises of basic guinea pig information and a basic care guide. I find I often reel off loads of info to customers when they ask questions, and I'm never quite sure how much they remember, so thought this was a good idea.
One section I have is a "mythbuster", where I am writing about common myths surrounding guinea pigs that are often wrong. I've so far only come up with one, which is people thinking they can live with rabbits.
If anyonce can think of any other common mistakes/misconceptions about guinea pigs, please let me know! Thanks guys :)
 
JayceeStar said:
So as some of you know, I have started making a website for my customers at work which comprises of basic guinea pig information and a basic care guide. I find I often reel off loads of info to customers when they ask questions, and I'm never quite sure how much they remember, so thought this was a good idea.
One section I have is a "mythbuster", where I am writing about common myths surrounding guinea pigs that are often wrong. I've so far only come up with one, which is people thinking they can live with rabbits.
If anyonce can think of any other common mistakes/misconceptions about guinea pigs, please let me know! Thanks guys :)
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"it's ok to have a lone guinea pig if you spend lots of time with it"?

"You can't house two males together because they'll fight"?

"They're a small animal so they only need a small cage"?

"guinea pig and rabbit food is the same thing"?

"guinea pigs are outdoor pets"?

"guinea pigs make a good cheap childrens pet"?
 
"They can't get pregnant after 2 yrs old" mallethead

"They are brother and sister (or mother and son/father and daughter) so won't mate"

Suzy x
 
they can eat iceberg lettuce?

so many people have asked me if i give that to mine, and i've had to give them the lesson :|
 
Love the neutering one and the two males will fight ones - questions I get asked a lot! Last week a woman was so convinced they would fight if they were not brothers mallethead I still think she didn't believe me after I tried to convince her!

If anyone would like to take a look at the site and gove their opinion, do let me know :) It's not finished yet but I'd loveeveryones input :)
 
Guinea pigs can eat seeds.
You can keep guinea pigs in a bin.
Guinea pigs are cheap pets.
Guinea pigs live for a couple of years.
Guinea pigs cant see in color.
Guinea pigs can have yogurt drops.
Guinea pigs can run around in balls and wheels.
Buying a guinea pig from a pet store means it's healthy.
Guinea pigs only squeak.
Guinea pigs are rats without tails. (Rats are adorable, they just have different needs)
Guinea pigs don't need toys.
Guinea pigs don't need a run/floor time.
I can trust advise from a petstore. (Not all petstores are like this, I plan to start a petstore that sells pet supplies and an occasional animal from a shelter and I will check the person who buys the animal to make sure they know about the animal.)
Guinea pigs can get vitiman c from drops in their water.
Guinea pigs cant eat grapes.
 
megface said:
they can eat iceberg lettuce?

so many people have asked me if i give that to mine, and i've had to give them the lesson :|
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I've not had my pigs long and have given them iceberg lettuce - why can't they have it? As they don't come with an instruction manual and they love anything veg/salad wise I didn't know this!
 
Nugget&Poppy said:
I've not had my pigs long and have given them iceberg lettuce - why can't they have it? As they don't come with an instruction manual and they love anything veg/salad wise I didn't know this!
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If they eat it, it wont harm them. There's just really nothing good for them in it. Romaine and leafy green lettuces are best.

As for a myht, going off the yogurt drop one some said: Guinea pigs can have dairy.
 
Oh my gosh! I thought guinea pigs were vegetarians to the point were they couldn't have dairy. You know what I'm getting on my next trip to the petstore!rolleyes
 
Nugget&Poppy said:
I've not had my pigs long and have given them iceberg lettuce - why can't they have it? As they don't come with an instruction manual and they love anything veg/salad wise I didn't know this!
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They can have it but it needs to be given in real moderation. Nutritionally it is pointless and mainly made up of water. Also can cause the runs. Generally most people avoid it but they can have it every so often without problem.
 
sarah20 said:
sawdust is a good substrate to keep them on?
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I think this one may need to be explained a little more.
Wood shavings can be used if thats someones preference as i keep one piggy on them but until yesterday i thought this was the same as sawdust so i think if you put this point you may need to clear that up haha.
 
guinea pigs are related to Hampsters. they are both in the rodent family but are in no way linked with a hampster, they are however more closely related to a chinchilla. I know this because I looked it up, when I thought my guinea looked very much like a hampster I once owned.:)
 
"Guinea pigs are allowed to use exercise balls and wheels ! "
Biggest Myth going -_-
 
buying highly coloured seed bars with honey binding all the junk together is a great treat for piggies ....

heres something pets at home were spewing out ... it is impossible to add piggies to a group if they are different ages or sizes and you should never have a group larger than two ... (good advice regarding males ... but females ... somebody going to tell weibke shes been doing it so wrong all these years lmao... her group is just perfect and has a real variety :-) the staff wouldnt listen though) and keeping a single guinea pig is fine infact its better to keep a single than to add a new pig to the single. and another litter mates will get along fine in a 100cm cage even boars because they are brothers so wont fight. ... have to love pets at home!
 
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JayceeStar said:
Love the neutering one and the two males will fight ones - questions I get asked a lot! Last week a woman was so convinced they would fight if they were not brothers mallethead I still think she didn't believe me after I tried to convince her!

If anyone would like to take a look at the site and gove their opinion, do let me know :) It's not finished yet but I'd loveeveryones input :)
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On the other hand, there is the myth that 2 males won't fight if they are brothers, or father and son, or raised together from birth. In general people don't seem to realise that piggies don't have the same family realtionships that humans do.
 
twiams said:
"Guinea pigs are allowed to use exercise balls and wheels ! "
Biggest Myth going -_-
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The petshops here sell the large version at $99AUD and the packaging specifically states it is for guinea pigs! I am hoping the price tag alone will deter those who mistakenly believe what a product says it is for. Isn't this a case of false advertising? Or do the manufacturers of these products honestly not know the animal they are making a product for?
 
Bekki2308 said:
buying highly coloured seed bars with honey binding all the junk together is a great treat for piggies ....

heres something pets at home were spewing out ... it is impossible to add piggies to a group if they are different ages or sizes and you should never have a group larger than two ... (good advice regarding males ... but females ... somebody going to tell weibke shes been doing it so wrong all these years lmao... her group is just perfect and has a real variety :-) the staff wouldnt listen though) and keeping a single guinea pig is fine infact its better to keep a single than to add a new pig to the single. and another litter mates will get along fine in a 100cm cage even boars because they are brothers so wont fight. ... have to love pets at home!
Click to expand...

I've heard so much negative stuff about pets at home and this stuff they're spouting takes the cake for misinformation. So glad we don't have that outifit here in OZ. While we have misinformed petshops here, I can honestly say none are as bad as pets at home seems to be.
 
Guinea pigs only eat dry food.
My sister's friend thought this was the case and I told her she needs to feed it hay. I didn't want to add veggies too quickly to the equation because of confusion. Then she went out to her horse's barn and brought back a bunch of really dry straw. And I'm thinking, this is gonna take a long time.
 
Lilly said:
The petshops here sell the large version at $99AUD and the packaging specifically states it is for guinea pigs! I am hoping the price tag alone will deter those who mistakenly believe what a product says it is for. Isn't this a case of false advertising? Or do the manufacturers of these products honestly not know the animal they are making a product for?
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I'd write an email or letter to the company and say your disgusted by the fact there selling such a dangerous product for piggies and tell them how it's dimmed your views of the company etc.
 
sorry if its been said its ok to keep rabbits ang guinea pigs together? someone on my facebook put up yesterday need to name my new baby guinea pig and rabbit there both boys :(
 
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