What Animals Can Be Kept With Guinea Pigs?

[Moe]

Hi!
I am planning on adopting a pair of guinea pigs in the future BUT... I've began to wonder whether my current pets are compatible with piggies and if the guinea pigs would be safe around them. I have rabbits, ferrets, cats, chinchillas, a hedgehog, and a dog. (It's quite a zoo at my house!) All of them are kept in separate enclosures in my room, except for my dog and cat who have free range of the house. The animals in cages get at least an hour of play time outside of their cages every day separately. My ferret trio don't seem to bother my chins, rabbits, or hedgehog much and get along well with my dog and cat. My cat and dog don't have any interest in the small animals either. (My cat has always been the laziest thing. The only reason why he would ever have a reason to jump up is if I brought out the catnip! My dog is over 10 and her legs aren't exactly the way they used to be.) I've always had a budding interest in rats and birds, but I'm always afraid that if I had too many prey animals with my ferrets that would cause the unfortunate death of them! My guinea pig cage will be an elevated C&C. All of the floortime that my pets have are in my bathroom or in a secured playpen away from where their cages are kept. If you have any similar experiences with keeping piggies with other animals or which animals I would absolutely have to keep away from them please feel free to tell me.
Thank you!

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I wouldn't let them near the ferrets because as you said they are carnivores and it only takes a moment for a guinea pig to become seriously hurt. Cat and dog I wouldn't let them near either only because (again) it only takes the cat to swipe at them or the dog to paw them too roughly and a piggy could be seriously injured- I'm not trying to label your pets as guinea pig murderers tho I have a dog also who isn't allowed near them though I've let her sniff him whilst in my hand or through the cage bars. Guinea pigs with rabbits isn't advised because they carry bacteria that can be transferred to piggies and ultimately kill them. A few seconds won't hurt. My rabbit has briefly sniffed my piggy through the bars during his time outside. I'm not sure about the chinchilla and hedgehog. Hope this helps and I feel you I have quite a zoo myself: dog,rabbit,two tortoises,hamster and my piggy. X

 

[jayne]

Well, I have two guinea pigs ,rabbit, and a hamster and I have them all together at the same time . My hamster love being with them ,sometimes I can't get her back in her own cage because she loves being with them.
If you handle them and bring them up together you such be ok ! , my animals don't mind.

 

[Tiamolly123]

Possibly the rabbit but apart from that no. When they have the there run you must keep the dog & cat in another room. If the dog smells or sees the rabbit, it's instinct it will kill the rabbit. I know having had one killed when the dog got in the hutch.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

As long as all animals are kept separately I'm sure it will be fine

I would never advise putting any different animals together even though people think it's fine for a short period. Too much can happen in a few seconds and as mentioned before rabbits/hamsters/guinea pigs can transfer bacteria to each other. Not to mention potential bites.

But as you've said you'll be keeping them separately and separate run time etc I'm sure it will be fine, as long as the run is disinfected between animals

 

[flowerfairy]

The only animal that can be safely kept with guinea pigs is other guinea pigs. I have four rabbits who live in a shed/run set up (no cage would be big enough to shut a rabbit in. They need a 6 x 2 hutch with a permanently attached 8 x 6 foot run).

Sounds like you have a lovely variety of animals. Good luck with adopting some guinea pigs. I love having my two. They are so sweet and make great little noises.

I dont let my two dogs in the same room as the guinea pigs just in case.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!
I am planning on adopting a pair of guinea pigs in the future BUT... I've began to wonder whether my current pets are compatible with piggies and if the guinea pigs would be safe around them. I have rabbits, ferrets, cats, chinchillas, a hedgehog, and a dog. (It's quite a zoo at my house!) All of them are kept in separate enclosures in my room, except for my dog and cat who have free range of the house. The animals in cages get at least an hour of play time outside of their cages every day separately. My ferret trio don't seem to bother my chins, rabbits, or hedgehog much and get along well with my dog and cat. My cat and dog don't have any interest in the small animals either. (My cat has always been the laziest thing. The only reason why he would ever have a reason to jump up is if I brought out the catnip! My dog is over 10 and her legs aren't exactly the way they used to be.) I've always had a budding interest in rats and birds, but I'm always afraid that if I had too many prey animals with my ferrets that would cause the unfortunate death of them! My guinea pig cage will be an elevated C&C. All of the floortime that my pets have are in my bathroom or in a secured playpen away from where their cages are kept. If you have any similar experiences with keeping piggies with other animals or which animals I would absolutely have to keep away from them please feel free to tell me.
Thank you!

I would not keep guinea pigs in the same room as ferrets and rats; both will kill guinea pigs if they have an accidental encounter or if they can get into their cage.

 

[Moe]

Thank you for all of your replies! The ferrets will be going on a road trip to the downstairs living room... at least now their smell won't be forever lingering by my bed. Would it be fine to keep the door closed to my pet room while I'm away to prevent my dog and cat from getting too close? If my rabbit hutch is directly below the guinea pig cage, would that be fine? (It was made from a large cabinet. My plan is to keep the piggie cage set on top of it.) If one of my pets had a respiratory disease that could be passed onto my future guinea pigs, rabbits, cat, or dog, could the illness possibly spread through just close contact?

Thanks again!

 

[Wiebke]

Moving the ferrets out is a good idea and also keeping dog and cat out of the room. If necessary, get a grid lid for the piggy cage.

Ringworm is the one most transmittable thing between all mammals (including humans).

The one thing that is fatal for guinea pigs is bordetellosis (kennel cough), which can be passed on by dogs in the same room as guinea pigs, but also by rabbits. Rabbits usually don't show signs of a bordetella infection, but can pass it on when in close contact or living with guinea pigs with devastating consequences.
Keeping them below the guinea pigs should be OK. Please note that any dog is shedding bordetella for three days after a vaccination.
Dogs, Kennel Cough And Guinea Pigs - An Important Consideration.

 

[Skittypigs]

Hi!
I am planning on adopting a pair of guinea pigs in the future BUT... I've began to wonder whether my current pets are compatible with piggies and if the guinea pigs would be safe around them. I have rabbits, ferrets, cats, chinchillas, a hedgehog, and a dog. (It's quite a zoo at my house!) All of them are kept in separate enclosures in my room, except for my dog and cat who have free range of the house. The animals in cages get at least an hour of play time outside of their cages every day separately. My ferret trio don't seem to bother my chins, rabbits, or hedgehog much and get along well with my dog and cat. My cat and dog don't have any interest in the small animals either. (My cat has always been the laziest thing. The only reason why he would ever have a reason to jump up is if I brought out the catnip! My dog is over 10 and her legs aren't exactly the way they used to be.) I've always had a budding interest in rats and birds, but I'm always afraid that if I had too many prey animals with my ferrets that would cause the unfortunate death of them! My guinea pig cage will be an elevated C&C. All of the floortime that my pets have are in my bathroom or in a secured playpen away from where their cages are kept. If you have any similar experiences with keeping piggies with other animals or which animals I would absolutely have to keep away from them please feel free to tell me.
Thank you!

Someone like me! I have quite a menagerie! Rabbits, piggies, chinchillas, degus, chickens and dogs, they all have their own space and all is good