How do guinea pigs compare with hamsters (in terms of workload, costs etc from a uk perspective)?

Free Ranger said:
Oh gosh we sound depressing!


I've had a dozen or so pigs in the past 10 years and I've never spent a thousand in one go... the most expensive surgery was for poor Panda's stones and that was £500+ but they actually gave me a significant 'compassionate discount' which brings tears to my eyes to think about it. We must have spent about £800 in total on my Ivy last year without finding out what her problem was but then she seemed so well apart from not being able to eat. And I must add, for honesty's sake, that if at any point it gets too expensive you can tell the vet to pts and they don't argue because they understand cost is an issue for people (although if they don't think your case is hopeless they might suggest surrendering to a rescue).

My vet has been going a few years (I hope she won't mind me saying that!) and she has said that they see guineas more and more as people learn that at 2 or 3 they're not 'reaching the end' they're just poorly and in need of treatment. I get asked whether they are my children's pets sometimes with trainee vets and I always say no, they're mine, indicating that I'm going to spend the money for those meds. Vets don't get much pig experience unless people take their pigs in and luckily for those future pigs, people are taking them in more and more! My vet doesn't routinely anesthetise for x-ray now... they've figured that for most pigs you can wrap them firmly in a towel for long enough to scan. It's little things like that which can make a difference financially. It took me a few years to find a vet I was happy to work with and that's made a lot of difference to my piggy habits.

A wedding though - now that's expensive! But many, many congratulations! 💕
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Thank you! I have been married for over 5 years but we postponed the wedding so we could buy a flat first and the wedding money is what we have left after the deposit. And now it is postponed due to covid. but this is also why i am asking questions like this- in the years to come, i have a huge london mortgage and so I want to pick (and continue to pick) a pet that I can afford. I did research before getting my hamster and thought that even if there is inflation, i could still continue to afford hamsters (vet fees seem to go up exponentially every year). I just wanted to check if guinea pigs are truly beyond my financial appetite and if they really are much more work.
 
I have multi-pet household and I dare to say pigs cost more than my cats or a dog. Obviously, you'll have to have a pair, so cost is adding already.

Costs in my household from lowest to highest:
-pellets varsele laga, good quality, but only use a tablespoon per pig. So it'll last a while.
-veg (I just buy extra on top of my normal shopping, perks of being vegetarian!)
-bedding. This is ongoing and either you'll spend smaller amounts for disposable bedding constantly or you'll have initial expense for fleece liners and then just add extra costs for washing.
-equipment and habitat. This is ongoing. You might need to upgrade or their water bottles start leaking, need snugglesafe heat pads, nail clippers (you'll buy multiple as you'll never find them when you need them 😂) etc.
-hay. Good quality hay is most important and you'll be paying a lot! My 4 boys eat £20 worth of Timothy hay from Haybox in 3wks and that's just eating. I buy extra bale of meadow hay from farm shop as bedding.
-vet fees. This is the biggest issue- you can do everything correctly and still end up with very expensive conditions that'll cost fortune to be treated /managed by exotic vet. The insurance for pigs is non existent as it's expensive and might not cover the conditions... You might be quoted bladder stone surgery will be up to a £1000,but you need to also ask how much the emergency/post surgery overnight care will be. This can easily double your vet bill and is important as they can go from stable to critical quickly.

It's great you're doing your research. I wish more people would do. Piggies are amazing companions and bring so much joy. They're the happiest pets I've ever seen and have personalities and quirks. I just wish veterinary care would be more researched and easier to access. With cat or a dog your vet can predict the outcome, with pigs it's hit or miss.
 
i have 16 piggies at present,i save £300 a month for vet fees.bedding cost £40 a month ,pellets £20 a month,veg £60 a month,in the summer less as i forage alot.toys etc £20 a month.as you can see it soon adds up.my cats costs far less,as has insurance,good food is approx £20 a month.she has had mammory cancer but the insurance covered most of this,she is less work as she is very independant,i love my guinea pigs but it is alot of money and time.I'm reducing my numbers by not getting anymore as they pass away.i will want more time to travel as i retire !
 
onlychildandhamster said:
Ultimately though its about the overall cost. My hamster Cuddles might eventually have to see an exotics vet and that could very well cost more than for a dog. However, Cuddles has never cost me the £70 a month that a dog costs, so I can use those 'savings' to fund the vet fees. But if the vet fees are in the thousands, thats a different story.
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Definitely be prepared to spend at least £70 a month on vet fees just in case. That’s just for something minor like a URI that can treated with one round of antibiotics. You do have to be prepared to spend a lot.
The £1500 I mentioned I spent last year seems to be an under estimation now I’m thinking about it. We had the removal of two dental root abscesses (about £600 each time), burring of incisors every 3 weeks since about June (£20 a time), other dental work (about £200), URI appointment (£70), 3x consultation with no treatment (£50 each time), gas removal from stomach (£150), mite treatment (£100), bloat (£80).
There might be other things I’m forgetting too, but that’s everything that i remember being treated for last year. It adds up quickly, you would need to be prepared to pay a couple of hundred pounds at the minimum per year. The only treatment since have more than 2 piggies was the mite treatment. The other costs come from 2 piggies.
We aren’t trying to put you off guinea pigs, but this is the reality that most people don’t realise when they take some piggies on. It’s very sensible that you’re asking about financial costs.
 
@onlychildandhamster you have a greater advantage over other people. You do your research before you decide whether the pet will fit in financially and in other ways, which is a lot more than quite a few people do. And you have their welfare rights in mind (vet visit and space etc). I just wanted to say I hope that we haven't put you off them if they would fit into your life. We used to have pets as children - (guard) dogs and cats (which ate mice/rats!) but guinea pigs were my first pet as an adult. I got them for me and not my children. They used to help feed them and change their water but couldn't clean them out as it seemed to trigger allergies. I'm okay with that because I got them knowing I would be 100% responsible for them. Now they're outside it's more of a struggle BUT I still adore them after 3 years (and 2 years for the girls)! It's not nice to go out when it's cold but I do it anyway. It gives me a routine which I quite like. The most important thing is that they're happy, which makes me happy. And they're still happy to see me when I go out to them. One of the boys was quite 'needy' and up to now he's still the same.

I love my piggies and so does the husband (okay maybe just really likes) and so do the children. Even my mum who didn't like them in the beginning will ask after them :wub: In conclusion, they're very characterful, intelligent and interesting animals in terms of their general behaviour and how, like us, they sometimes don't like each other! Their hierarchy is interesting especially when you have a boar amongst sows. Maybe one day I will have a boar in with some sows. But for now I am content with my boar pair and sow pair.

PS sorry your wedding was postponed. I can't remember what guidance they gave for weddings during lockdown, only funerals. All the best with your decision :D There is a section for other pets even if you decide not to get piggies.

PPS I sometimes go on mumsnet (never signed up though) and have read the threads about guinea pigs (and other small pets). Not many are...experienced with their keeping there I'm afraid to say.
 
But thats the thing- as this thread shows, there
Siikibam said:
@onlychildandhamster you have a greater advantage over other people. You do your research before you decide whether the pet will fit in financially and in other ways, which is a lot more than quite a few people do. And you have their welfare rights in mind (vet visit and space etc). I just wanted to say I hope that we haven't put you off them if they would fit into your life. We used to have pets as children - (guard) dogs and cats (which ate mice/rats!) but guinea pigs were my first pet as an adult. I got them for me and not my children. They used to help feed them and change their water but couldn't clean them out as it seemed to trigger allergies. I'm okay with that because I got them knowing I would be 100% responsible for them. Now they're outside it's more of a struggle BUT I still adore them after 3 years (and 2 years for the girls)! It's not nice to go out when it's cold but I do it anyway. It gives me a routine which I quite like. The most important thing is that they're happy, which makes me happy. And they're still happy to see me when I go out to them. One of the boys was quite 'needy' and up to now he's still the same.

I love my piggies and so does the husband (okay maybe just really likes) and so do the children. Even my mum who didn't like them in the beginning will ask after them :wub: In conclusion, they're very characterful, intelligent and interesting animals in terms of their general behaviour and how, like us, they sometimes don't like each other! Their hierarchy is interesting especially when you have a boar amongst sows. Maybe one day I will have a boar in with some sows. But for now I am content with my boar pair and sow pair.

PS sorry your wedding was postponed. I can't remember what guidance they gave for weddings during lockdown, only funerals. All the best with your decision :D There is a section for other pets even if you decide not to get piggies.

PPS I sometimes go on mumsnet (never signed up though) and have read the threads about guinea pigs (and other small pets). Not many are...experienced with their keeping there I'm afraid to say.
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Thank you, my wedding is overseas, which makes it much more of a pickle. I don't think they are right for me but i will stay on the forum! :)
 
onlychildandhamster said:
But thats the thing- as this thread shows, there

Thank you, my wedding is overseas, which makes it much more of a pickle. I don't think they are right for me but i will stay on the forum! :)
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Oh no! Well I have everything crossed for you that perhaps this year you will be able to have it. May I ask where it will be? Somewhere sunny? :D

And I'm glad you're staying. It's more than a piggy (and other animal) forum here :)
 
Siikibam said:
Oh no! Well I have everything crossed for you that perhaps this year you will be able to have it. May I ask where it will be? Somewhere sunny? :D

And I'm glad you're staying. It's more than a piggy (and other animal) forum here :)
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Singapore! Very sunny.

For me, its not that I can't afford it per se. On pet forums, there tend to be a high proportion of true animal lovers and they would do anything for their animals, even if it means spending all of their savings. Thats great but not everyone is like that. For me, its a balance and I don't want to take on a pair of animals who may incur vet bills I would hesitate at paying. That isn't fair to the animals when there are many pet keepers out there who would not balk at the costs. I take the risk with my hamster but at least, its 1 animal, not 2. And no matter how much I spent,its lifespan is restricted to 3 years at best (and then I start off with another new hamster), unlike a guinea pig who could live to 8 years (even in ill health).
 
That's a fair reason for your not wanting to take them on. I think that is actually a very responsible point of view to have. You have the animal's rights at heart which is how it should be. I actually considered degus when I was looking into getting guinea pigs. But I didn't find out much and to be honest I was sold on guinea pigs after I had the (no longer) school ones at home with us for a weekend. Maybe one day...and I would consider a hamster as well. Are they particulary interactive pets? Because they sleep during the day don't they.
 
Siikibam said:
That's a fair reason for your not wanting to take them on. I think that is actually a very responsible point of view to have. You have the animal's rights at heart which is how it should be. I actually considered degus when I was looking into getting guinea pigs. But I didn't find out much and to be honest I was sold on guinea pigs after I had the (no longer) school ones at home with us for a weekend. Maybe one day...and I would consider a hamster as well. Are they particulary interactive pets? Because they sleep during the day don't they.
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Yes they sleep during the day. My hamster wakes up for snacks which I place in my hand in front of him and I can then hold him for a bit before he goes back to sleep. He also wakes up to pee in his sand dish (he is mostly toilet trained) and to drink water.

They can take a while to tame, but once tamed, you can pick it up and hold it. My hamster prefers exploring to sitting pretty so he would climb all over my hands while i stroke it. But he is calm enough that I can walk around holding him in my hand. But i think he is fairly cuddly and easy to handle. People say guinea pigs are more cuddly and would actually stay motionless in your arms while you watch telly. Cuddles is not really a telly watching hamster. I don't think he can see it as he has poor eyesight, so the most I have done is set up the playpen next to me so that I can put him down in the playpen if he gets too wriggly/needs to pee.
 
Guinea pigs can be cuddly. But oftentimes the sitting still can be mistaken for enjoyment. They have a 'freeze' frame where they will stand stock still to put predators off. That is sometimes what they're doing. Unfortunately they're perpetuated as cuddly animals when they're generally not.
 
Siikibam said:
Guinea pigs can be cuddly. But oftentimes the sitting still can be mistaken for enjoyment. They have a 'freeze' frame where they will stand stock still to put predators off. That is sometimes what they're doing. Unfortunately they're perpetuated as cuddly animals when they're generally not.
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Are they not cuddly then? Hamsters do the same thing when they freeze but not usually for more than 5 seconds! But they are little scamps. Mine just went behind the shelf for a good 10 minutes while I panicked. They are always marketed as children's pets. That or rats. But i heard rats have a lot of medical problems too and I am not a big fan of the tails.
 
onlychildandhamster said:
Are they not cuddly then? Hamsters do the same thing when they freeze but not usually for more than 5 seconds! But they are little scamps. Mine just went behind the shelf for a good 10 minutes while I panicked. They are always marketed as children's pets. That or rats. But i heard rats have a lot of medical problems too and I am not a big fan of the tails.
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It depends. I’ve had 7 piggies so far. One is a baby so who knows what will happen there, but only one of them is cuddly. The others haven’t been. I had two that would occasionally like a cuddle but it didn’t happen often. On the whole, piggies don’t enjoy cuddles but are perceived to by the owner as they are mistaking prey animal instincts for enjoyment
 
My spud is a propper lap pig, Gundham likes a bit of lap time but not for too long. You learn to be able to tell the difference between freezing and relaxing. neither of my boys hate being touched although they don't like being picked up and carried round but once they're just sat on my lap they're happy.
 
:agr: Some can be cuddly and some don’t even like being touched. And they’re also marketed as a starter pet for children. To be honest I don’t think there is a suitable ‘starter pet for children’, given how quickly they can lose interest in it.
 
I think experiences are going to vary with any pet. They are all individuals. I've had a lot of small animals (mice, hamsters, hedeghogs, guinea pigs.) Right now I have 2 guinea pigs and 2 hamsters so, from my experience, here are the differences I've noted. Your mileage may vary, though.

Temperament. My guinea pigs have ALL been really docile once they were tame (they do take awhile to get comfortable with humans.) They would all sit in my lap, give kisses, etc. I've never had a serious bite from a guinea pig, even when I had to squeeze abscesses, give meds, etc. Some enjoyed cuddles more than others (I have had a couple who fall asleep on my lap.) My hamsters have been variable. I have had some cuddly hamsters, I have had some hamsters who were friendly but always in motion, and I've had some hamsters who were crazy, aggressive little psychos. My experience is that guinea pigs are more likely to be chill. Hamsters can be lazy blobs of fluff, or marathon runners, or serial killers in a small fuzzy body. You just don't know! LOL!

Lifespan. Guinea pigs can live to be 5 to 7 on average, hamsters live to be 2 to 3 on average. You will likely have your guinea pigs around a lot longer. Personally I think this is nice... the hardest part for me of having pets is losing them, and it's nice to be able to put that off for as long as possible. I have some degree of burnout from the experience of loss after loss after loss when you keep small animals. Our hamsters actually technically belong to my kids and I always say I'm not going to get attached to them because I know they have such a brief span... but then I always do. They just have so much personality and are so darn cute!

Expense. My pigs definitely cost more. They go through more bedding. They eat a more varied diet, and more of it. They have more vet needs. They live longer. Their old age period where they have more needs lasts longer. They have been more likely to have chronic problems that won't kill them quickly but that will need ongoing care. You could luck out and get a healthy guinea pig that never needs a vet, but you will probably end up having a vet visit at some point in time. I've had a couple hamsters who went their whole lives without a vet visit... I think all my pigs saw a vet at least once, and one of them with two chronic issues saw the vet so much that the vet and I ended up being friends! LOL!

Room. Pigs need to be in pairs, they're bigger, they need more room. They just take up more space. Whereas you can kind of build upwards for hamsters, pigs need floor space because they are not climbers.

I really have a hard time saying which small animal I prefer. I honestly like them all... they're all different. On the whole I find guinea pigs are more consistently pleasant... hamsters are funnier to watch.... guinea pigs rope you into a cycle of needing to have two whereas hamsters don't... it's hard to choose! LOL!
 
I found they always settle, given the time and space. I had some very nervous piggies and now they know they can trust me, because I didn't try to handle them against their will. Two others are good for lap times. They'll settle and stretch on a blanket, eat piece of veg and poop and pee... But never had a pig that would fall asleep on me. All of mine are rescues and some had pretty rough time, so it could be why there's a level of trust they'll reach, but won't go beyond.
 
I posted a thread on a hamster forum asking for highest vet fees and actually an American poster actually said he spent $1200 on his hammy! But I think with any animal, we would get extreme situations which may not be representative.

I know posters here have said its luck of the draw. Is it very common though for guineas to have chronic illnesses? Are they quite delicate? I know that some dogs like French bulldogs are money pits for vet fees so if you get one, you are almost definitely going to spend loads at the vet. Are guinea pigs similar?
 
Also do you need a garden for a guinea pig as a general question. I know that in UK, gardens are more common than in other countries so some rescues put that as a criteria.
 
You don’t ‘need’ a garden but you should have space for them to have some time outside of their cage.
 
Siikibam said:
You don’t ‘need’ a garden but you should have space for them to have some time outside of their cage.
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currently my hamster uses a pop up playpen. its folded away when not used. Its quite big so it kinda blocks the door in my office when its up!
 
Well, guinea pigs have a bigger workload in my experience because my hansters died after a month or less. So a month of looking after a small boy, versus 8 years of looking after my girls. Big difference.😂
 
As siikibam said, you don’t need to have a garden but they do need space out of their cage. I do have a garden and my boys spend all day on the grass in summer, my veg costs goes down a little as they can just eat grass all day!

A guinea pig playpen, ideally, would be bigger than their cage to give them more space to exercise than their cage does. a pair of boars need a cage 6ft x 2ft so it would be nice if their playpen was bigger than that; and two sows ideally need a cage of 5ft x 2ft (and again bigger playpen).

My piggies hate being handled, they definitely aren’t cuddly and just complain the whole time I am holding them for their health checks. They’d rather I sat on the floor in their shed with them and interact by offering them sprigs of herbs, chat to them, but don’t definitely touch!

Yes piggies can be quite delicate - stress can cause some health issues but it’s going to be piggy dependent, some are going to be more highly strung than others. But some will go their whole lives without being ill, others can be plagued by problems
 
onlychildandhamster said:
I posted a thread on a hamster forum asking for highest vet fees and actually an American poster actually said he spent $1200 on his hammy! But I think with any animal, we would get extreme situations which may not be representative.

I know posters here have said its luck of the draw. Is it very common though for guineas to have chronic illnesses? Are they quite delicate? I know that some dogs like French bulldogs are money pits for vet fees so if you get one, you are almost definitely going to spend loads at the vet. Are guinea pigs similar?
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They are delicate.
My piggy Little had been a healthy piggy all his life. He had one abscess when he was about 3 on his back from an infected scratch so had medication and that removing. About £200. So nothing major and nothing beyond that. When he was almost 6 is when we ran into the expensive problems with his two dental root abscess removals that cost around £600 each. And now has £20 dental burrs every 3 weeks. Now that he’s older, he also deals with mild bloating and a dodgy gastrointestinal system that needs probiotics and medications.
He’s made up for being a healthy piggy all his life in the past 8 months.
Honey had lifelong respiratory problems but I’ll ignore that. When he was 5, he got liver disease and we spent several hundreds of pounds having tests and ruling things out to determine what it was that was making him lose all his weight.
It’s common for a piggy to need something expensive at some point in their long lives.
 
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