Longevity in guinea pigs?

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cavykind

Just been wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this?

I'm sure most of us have had guineas that have lived to ripe old ages and others that have sadly died early.
Do you think longevity is predominantly nature or nurture?
Obviously some breeds of guineas may be predisposed to fragility and disease. But generally?

Whatever the case may be, what are your tips or thoughts on helping your guineas live long and healthy lives?

Mine would be exercise, good diet (always wash veggies to remove pesticides), and plenty of good quality roughage in the form of dried grass and hay.
Also one to one care and living indoors.
Of course this is just my opinion and not meant to be guidelines for others, we'll all have our own thoughts ;)

Barbara
 
I think one of the most important things is to make sure you spend time with your piggies - so you really understand their habits and personalities. That way, if anything changes, you will notice so if it is an illness, you can do something about it. Especially since they are so good at hiding it.

I know someone who had several guinea pigs that suddenly died over the years - she said with no warning. I know this does happen but she only ever popped outside once or twice a day to put food in the cage so the piggy could have been acting differently but she would not have noticed.

They could have a huge accommodation and the best diet but if you do not notice they are sick then it will make no difference.
 
I agree with that Beaney my vet often comments on how relaxed my pigs are with me compared to others that come in, he says you really know your pigs well and they seem so relaxed and calm with you I often just walk in and tell him or her what I thinks wrong lol
I do think its knowing your pigs, thats how i keep my pigs the way I do with no problems becasue i know them individually and know their personalitys so well I can pair boars or put them in larger groups,
I think the worst thing is inbreeding thats the reason I have lost a lot of my pigs over the years heriditary malaclusion of the teeth being the worst culprit, unless you've had your pigs over the years and have bred from them like some of mine, you can not know their parentage and go further back to see any problems, but i guess life is never that easy ,
so I would guess nature plays a big part in it but nurturing helps by making sure these probelms are dealt with quickly
 
Totally agree with Beaney and Michelle. Getting to know them individually makes you notice more things :)
 
kellyandpiggies said:
Totally agree with Beaney and Michelle. Getting to know them individually makes you notice more things :)
Click to expand...

I agree with you all. Obviously knowing them individually helps you pick up on the early signs of ill health/probs.
But...
What do you (generalising) think, as regards to their general care, contributes most to a long and healthy life?
How important do you think mental stimulation is for example, ie toys, runs, tubes? Company? Indoor living?
Is a guineas emotional well being a contributary factor to long life?

Barbara
 
My thoughts;
That love plays a big part in things. Warmth, being looked after and being able to feel safe. Exercise, good food and general well being (looking after nails and teeth too).

Toys, my lot have loo roll tubes and balls, which they play with now and again. But don't think it matters if they haven't got them. Afterall, they have me :)
 
cavykind said:
kellyandpiggies said:
Totally agree with Beaney and Michelle. Getting to know them individually makes you notice more things :)
Click to expand...

I agree with you all. Obviously knowing them individually helps you pick up on the early signs of ill health/probs.
But...
What do you (generalising) think, as regards to their general care, contributes most to a long and healthy life?
How important do you think mental stimulation is for example, ie toys, runs, tubes? Company? Indoor living?
Is a guineas emotional well being a contributary factor to long life?

Barbara
Click to expand...

I guess if I am generalising I think diet is the most important thing that people can provide their piggy - poor diet is likely to lead to increased chance of illness, teeth problems etc. Next of all would be space and company. The whole nature and nuture arguement is a big one though as poor breeding (and consequently weaker pigs) could result in the animal being more predisposed to a condition, regardless of how well you look after it.

I don't agree that they have to be indoors - don't get me wrong, I think they need more than a hutch in a garden but my piggys have always done well in a shed.

Toys are a bit of a strange one - each piggy is different. 2 of mine that I have now love their toys and are always playing and running through tubes etc. My other one likes her pigloo but ignores everything else. Most of my past piggys have never bothered with toys - though I did provide them.
 
having just visted my mums four piggies , one of which is 9 this year ! they all live outside (shed in winter) all have a non reconised dry food (as in not a popular feed) plenty of fresh veg & dotted on by my elderly mum ! i really think interaction is the big key here, it sometimes sadness me when i habvent beena ble to form that bond with a rescued piggie (in that it hasnt been with me that long)
 
diet and cleanliness is tops for me and of course lots of loving, I clean my babes out with trigene it is sprayed everywhere as it kills most things that can cause pigs harm, mould and bugs etc
toys to be perfectly honest I have brought hay balls and they hide inside them until some one eats it, tubes I do have ( the pipes you get at diy stores,) igloos and ledges to jump on they like and fiddle stix, but as far as balls etc no never have bothered with them , same for little treats I much prefer treats to be food ie melon cucumber etc,

mine live in heated sheds with fans for summer wide stable doors so the outside comes in they all have runs with protection to hide in ie the ends are houses,
I dont like to see an unhappy pig and experienced owneres will know just by looking at their pig, they are then checked for bullying etc and if it does happen then they are moved until they are happier, fresh clean water a must I am appaled by green bottles ugh! would you drink form it?
I feel them being happy as in well fed well cared for medically and emotionally goes a long way to a longer life but that can be cut short by inbred problems ie teeth,
 
I would say: tasty food & clean water; company; safe environment - in other words I think they're at their most happiest when they're sitting in a group round a huge pile of grass in a sheltered spot. I don't think there's anything wrong with them being outside in a shed if it's heated/air-conditioned. Mine are inside now for the winter but I had an infra-red lamp in my shed and I'm sure it was warmer and cosier under that than in my house sometimes!
 
To be honest, I don't think theres an answer to this. When you look at humans some people are just more predisposed to disease than others. In fact, maybe too much nurturing could also be a bad thing, I don't mean general good hygiene and good food, but some people go a bit over the top (myself included) what with adding things to their water and heaters in the shed, all of which i've done, and still do for my 2 bunnies ;) My longest living piggy was nearly 7. I inherited him from someone who's kids had got fed up with him. He lived in the garage in a tiny cage. When I got him, not knowing any different, I put him in with my female netherland and he ate her rabbit food. Did'nt get much veg as it gave her the runs but he was as fit as a fiddle. Now the piggy I've got, lives in the house has the best fruit and veg money can buy, is at the vet if I hear so much as a sneeze, and you can bet your bottom dollar he will peg it at an early age as he's so pampered. By the way, I hope not as he's the best piggy anyone could want.
 
linda.b said:
To be honest, I don't think theres an answer to this. When you look at humans some people are just more predisposed to disease than others. In fact, maybe too much nurturing could also be a bad thing, I don't mean general good hygiene and good food, but some people go a bit over the top (myself included) what with adding things to their water and heaters in the shed, all of which i've done, and still do for my 2 bunnies ;) My longest living piggy was nearly 7. I inherited him from someone who's kids had got fed up with him. He lived in the garage in a tiny cage. When I got him, not knowing any different, I put him in with my female netherland and he ate her rabbit food. Did'nt get much veg as it gave her the runs but he was as fit as a fiddle. Now the piggy I've got, lives in the house has the best fruit and veg money can buy, is at the vet if I hear so much as a sneeze, and you can bet your bottom dollar he will peg it at an early age as he's so pampered. By the way, I hope not as he's the best piggy anyone could want.
Click to expand...

I think there is truth in this! I have an example with my rabbit......

When I first got a rabbit I didn't really know anything about them. He was an impulse buy to keep my guinea pig company. I bought one from a pet shop - he has cheap mix (all he will eat), he was never vaccinated (didn't know about it), was never neutered (again didn't know) and used to 'hump' the piggy so after he was about 7 months old has always lived alone with just me for company. I sound like a bad bunny mum but this was over 10 years ago and I still have that rabbit! Since discovering a rabbit forum I now know much more about rabbit care. He is now vaccinated but to old to be neutered so has stayed as a solo bun.He also refuses to eat anything but mix despite my attempts to change it. He is happy and healthy but on paper he has not had the best care and is from a pet shop which probably means he came from horrible conditions early in life too..... The two things that I did get right - more luck than judgement - was he has always had loads of space. I hate animals in small cages so I was the only 16 year old who wanted a shed for her birthday. The second thing is he gets loads of stimulation - I make him toys and he would also play with the dog toys and he has a box of his own. I spend hours, even now, sat with him and playing toys with him and he is always 'grooming' my coat!

I am certainly not telling people to provide sub standard care to their animals - I just wanted to point out that we are all learning all the time and sometimes it is the basics and a lot of love that are important and all the extras are simply that - just extras.
 
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