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Should I get a guinea pig?

hrsrdr said:
If you want guinea pigs, but don't have a lot of money, I know that sometimes rescues will be cheaper than pet stores. Places like Petsmart charge a lot for guinea pigs.
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But the cost of owning Guinea pigs doesn’t end at the pet store. Guinea pigs can, and will, cost hundreds in vet fees.
 
Get two in the biggest cage you can afford and don't neglect the cost and the time they demand. If you're away a lot of weekends, who will care for them? Are you committed to giving them the best life possible that fits in with yours? If so. Go for it. They're lovely creatures ❤️
 
I know it's an unpopular opinion but I think guinea pigs are perfect emotional support animals and although vet bills can be an issue saving a small amount (£10-£15) each month into a "vet fund" will usually help with this. Guinea pigs MUST live in pairs but if you are going to buy the right sized cage and buy food etc. for one piggy the day-to-day costs of a second pig are not excessive. If a piggie is what you are drawn too don't get a different pet because you think it will be easier because all pets have their down sides and there is no point in settling for second best, it will only make you more likely to loose interest. Don't ever rush into getting any pet but you know that and that's why you're here. take some time to do your research and save up for two piggies and everything they could possibly need.

I bought my boys as emotional support animals when I was suffering anxiety and loneliness and they are so much help and really add value to my life on a daily basis. That said they should never be an alternative to counselling or support from family so make sure you have other help in place as well.
 
Sweet Potato said:
I know it's an unpopular opinion but I think guinea pigs are perfect emotional support animals and although vet bills can be an issue saving a small amount (£10-£15) each month into a "vet fund" will usually help with this. Guinea pigs MUST live in pairs but if you are going to buy the right sized cage and buy food etc. for one piggy the day-to-day costs of a second pig are not excessive. If a piggie is what you are drawn too don't get a different pet because you think it will be easier because all pets have their down sides and there is no point in settling for second best, it will only make you more likely to loose interest. Don't ever rush into getting any pet but you know that and that's why you're here. take some time to do your research and save up for two piggies and everything they could possibly need.

I bought my boys as emotional support animals when I was suffering anxiety and loneliness and they are so much help and really add value to my life on a daily basis. That said they should never be an alternative to counselling or support from family so make sure you have other help in place as well.
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It's just because the poster said she is extremely busy and seems overwhelmed with her schedule. I agree my piggies are my mental happy place but they do poop a lot 😊
 
I absolutely agree with you @Sweet Potato - i find my animals fantastic when I need some time out etc, they are my happy place!
The OP to this post though says that s/he has to talk parents into having them, and that is where the problems occur. The OP doesn’t sound to be financially independent so saving anything is likely to be difficult, meaning parents will be taking on the financial burden and the fact that OP specifically mentions ‘talking parents into it’ can often mean that when issues, vet bills etc do come up, there can be reluctance from parents who didn’t want the animals in the first place in getting medical issues dealt with.
 
I also want to add that in the UK we are lucky because vets have to offer an out of hours emergency alternative and vets bills are reasonable (even though they can be into the hundreds). The OP seems to be from the US and things are very different there. A lifesaving operation with an exotics vet in the US can cost around $1000 upfront and that's if there's an exotics specialist within travelling distance given the sheer size of the country. I don't think anyone on this forum would disagree with piggies being a great pet and great emotional support but it's going to more detrimental to mental health if a sick piggy cannot get vet treatment because of a lack of local vet or finances
 
my point was more that we should not deter OP from getting a guinea pig by offering other animals that may be suitable because it is easy for a young person to want a dog and be told they wouldn't be able to walk it so they enquire about a rabbit and are told about how much they shed and so on and before they know it they have a mouse that they didn't really wan't and thus don't care about. At the end of the day the parent has the final say on whether OP can have a pet while living at home. But as far as my opinion from a pet owners perspective goes guinea pigs are great and if OP can make it work she will find that it is worth it. They may need a lot of care and money but there are more expensive pets that require more care.

there are many places on this forum and others where OP can read about the challenges and responsibilities involved and I encourage them to think carefully and involve their parents in this decision but I will not say that a guinea pig is a bad choice because it is a choice we have all made and (I presume) do not regret.
 
rxah said:
I am a student, a speaker/debater, a cheerleader, and a soccer player. I want (and kinda can only afford) one guinea pig, but I do have a busy schedule and my parents don't necessarily want to help me care for it. In doing research about the animal, I found that they should live in pairs (but again, I can't really afford that) so should I just not get one at all? I would like a guinea pig to help me soothe some of my anxiety and stress after long hard days and things of that nature but I am worried that the piggy will feel lonely and be sad and that is not at all what I want. Any tips? Do i get them a piggy stuffy? Is this feasable? Do I leave my laptop on for them to watch other piggies? Do I get the piggy a mirror so it can see itself and not think it's alone? All help would be appreciated.
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Don't get any of you can't keep two, they get depressed. You could save you're money that you would have spent on a cage, food and vet bills, and get a monthly spar treatment, that will relax you 👍
 
rxah said:
I am a student, a speaker/debater, a cheerleader, and a soccer player. I want (and kinda can only afford) one guinea pig, but I do have a busy schedule and my parents don't necessarily want to help me care for it. In doing research about the animal, I found that they should live in pairs (but again, I can't really afford that) so should I just not get one at all? I would like a guinea pig to help me soothe some of my anxiety and stress after long hard days and things of that nature but I am worried that the piggy will feel lonely and be sad and that is not at all what I want. Any tips? Do i get them a piggy stuffy? Is this feasable? Do I leave my laptop on for them to watch other piggies? Do I get the piggy a mirror so it can see itself and not think it's alone? All help would be appreciated.
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Pigs really are happier in pairs, and there is no real way to make this up to them... seeing other pigs on a screen isn't a substitute, a stuffed animal isn't a substitute. Realistically, two pigs really don't cost much more than one (minimum cage size isn't much more, the amount of extra food is negligible.) The risk of increased cost comes from potential vet bills from a sick guinea pig, which potentially can double if you end up with two sick pigs, but the day to day care isn't much more.

If two guinea pigs isn't feasible, may I suggest a hamster? They are solitary animals who don't like other hamsters and so having only one is a nonissue. They are also sweet little pets with lots of personality (admitting my own bias here, our family has two guinea pigs and two hamsters, and I love them all... different pets but all good!)
 
I would say if there is ever any question about whether or not to get a pet, the answer is that it probably isnt the right time to do it. Also for a younger person, considering the lifespan of piggies will hopefully be 6,7,8 years or more... what happens when you go to college? Then move away to get a job?Move into accomodation that doesnt allow pets? Sounds like in terms of timing and space a hamster may suit better but they still need expert vet care that will still be expensive.
In all honesty I was 42 years old before I ever felt I could give my furry animals all the time and effort and stability and health care and luxury I always wanted my pets to have, and I love having the freedom to never compromise on things the way I always had to as a kid when my parents made the decisions!
A pet you dont have time for and cant provide company for and have to argue every vet trip or expenditure with your parents will be stressful and no fun for you or the pet, better to wait until you are financially independant and have the time to make a pet a major part of your life x
 
Robin_ said:
I have to disagree with the idea of keeping a hamster instead of a guinea pig—at least from my experience, my syrians have been more interested in burrowing than getting attention, and none of my hamsters have ever been the snuggly type out of the five I’ve had (which is fine, and you really have to respect that— i just don’t think that’s what OP is looking for). That, and, especially with syrians, most times your schedules won’t line up—I’ve had syrians who were only up from 1-5am and I barely saw them unless I stayed up late, which was needed for my previous female as, if she didn’t get free-roam time, she’d chew the heck out of her cage (which was also a 2000sq in cage).
My dwarfs have been a lot more sociable with me as their waking hours are either dawn or dusk, but still, not something to cuddle with after a rough day. Cute, and they do help me get through stress, but not as much and something I’m able to hold and stroke for more than a few seconds.

Also keep in mind hamsters also have expensive vet bills! Because they are smaller and less researched, it can take several tries with medication to find something that works, which can be killer expensive when the “walk in the door” cost is $100.
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Yes hamsters have expensive vet bills, I've paid £100 for surgery for a hamster - the equivalent for a guinea pig would probably be £500 and for a dog £5000!
 
I’m afraid I’d have to say no pets, particularly if you can’t afford even one piggy comfortably (a moot point because they should be in pairs anyway). And also because you won’t have help from your parents to look after them. To me that’s a real deciding factor. You shouldn’t have to force them to let you have a pet/piggies. And being the adults, they would be ’lumped’ with the responsibility to provide mental and healthy wellbeing of the pet(s). As said above, I would wait till you’re financially independent, have more time for them, and in a place that will allow you to keep piggies. Then you can think about it again. Good luck.
 
hrsrdr said:
If you want guinea pigs, but don't have a lot of money, I know that sometimes rescues will be cheaper than pet stores. Places like Petsmart charge a lot for guinea pigs.
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Rescues should not be seen as 'the cheaper option to a pet store'. My neutered boar was more expensive from a rescue than if I'd bought him from a pet shop. If you can't afford to pay more initially to 'purchase' a pet, then financially it's unlikely you're going to be able to afford to properly take care of it for the rest of its life.
 
Piggylove82 said:
Rescues should not be seen as 'the cheaper option to a pet store'. My neutered boar was more expensive from a rescue than if I'd bought him from a pet shop. If you can't afford to pay more initially to 'purchase' a pet, then financially it's unlikely you're going to be able to afford to properly take care of it for the rest of its life.
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:agr:
 
Id say no as well, like somebody said if you have to question it it probably isn’t a good idea. Piggies can get very expensive very fast, as well as upkeep and luxuries
 
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