Guinea pigs and Rabbits.

[Spring]

Hi everyone! Happy holidays!

I've heard many different ideas about guinea pigs and rabbits livingtogether. One source saying that it's perfectly fine, and one sourcesaying never do it. In the past, I've had rabbits and guinea pigsliving together perfectly for quite a few years. After reading from onesource, I learned the risks involved, but some people think it'sperfectly fine. What do you think?

I'm not thinking of putting a guinea pig and rabbit together at all, but curious about what people think about it.

 

[grumpybabies]

Well i actually have a rabbit and a guinea pigliving together myself, but that is because i rescued them and theycame as a pair, they had been together for over a year before i gotthem and i thought it was better to keep them together which i knowsome people advise against, but i thought the stress would be worse ifi seperated them, but after reading about risks to the guinea pigs,especially crushing i wouldn't do it by choice.

 

[MyBoyHarper]

A friend of mine has a rather large guinea pigin with a nethie dwarf and they've been that way for years (and quitebonded, I might add). I'm not against it, but I probably wouldn't do itmyself.

 

[Spring]

Thanks.

I just got a book for Christmas (House Rabbit Hand Book) and in there it says:

"I have to saythat clinically speaking, rabbits and guineapigs are not supposed to be housed together. Practically speaking, we(rabbit rescuers) do it anyway."

It then goes on about bacteria in one species could harm another, butnever mentions anything about the danger of a rabbit to a guinea pig.

That's why I get so confused about rabbit information. I guess nothingis set in stone, but when one reliable source OK's something, andanother reliable source is totally against it, it becomes veryconfusing!

 

[bluebird]

I have had rabbits and guinea pigs together, butits not usually the best idea .guinea pigs might get hurt as they aremuch smaller than most rabbits.bluebird

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

Personally I would never do it, guinea pigs canpass diseases on to rabbits and rabbits can kill guinea pigs - even byaccident. I also wouldn't see the point in having two completelydifferent animals who don't speak each other 'languages' and eatdifferent food live together but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[Hollie]

I rescued a piggie alongside a rabbit in the summer, and they would pine for each other if they were seperated.

Unfortunately last month the bunny had to be put to sleep, and since myother girls wouldn't accept the guinea pig, I got him some company inthe form of two baby bunnies, and they get along great. Piggles is verymuch in charge (and even mounts the buns occasionally!), and the girlsenjoy being around him and are often caught grooming him.

 

[pamnock]

The biggest risk is that rabbits can harborviral and bacteria infections that can kill cavies (guineapigs). Cavies also have different housing and feedrequirements.

Pam

 

[hunnybunny63]

one of my friends used to have a rabbit and 2guinea pigs living together until they relised that one of the piggyswasnt a girl it was a boy so they had to give that pig back but theother pig and the rabbit lived quite happily together for quite a fewmonths until the rabbit kept mounting the guinea pig and it didnt seemvery happy so they split them up and by this tiem they had a replacmentguinea pig from the first one from the breeder!

it all worked out well as the bunny was quite happy living alone andwas the father of many as he was the bunny i bred with my 2 girls! whata lucky chap!! lol :bunnydance:

unfortunatly he passed away a ealier this year and then was followed acouple of monmths later by the older of the 2 guinea pig and the guineapig they still have has lost an eye through scratching it!

they would like another bunny and would probabley put it with theguinea pig if they got ok but they arnt aloud!btoh of their guinea pigshave always got along with both mf my bunnies as as Daisy and Dandycant live together and we couldnt leave the male bunny with them as allhe would do is chase them and mount it has been one of their onlyfirends!

 

[Flo]

I did it for years, they seemed okay..until therabbit kicked attacked the pig..and he had to be pts..ultimately I dontthink it is a good idea, especially as they have different dietryneeds.:bunnydance: