Rabbits and guinea pigs?

[mulledwhine]

We are being given a Rex rabbit next week, we already have a guinea pig.

I know they can't live together , but is there any reason why they can't go outside in a run together during the day?

 

[webble]

Yes the rabbit will more than likely attack the guinea pig and even if he/she doesnt they arent of the same species and the piggy could be scared.

The best plan if you have the space and money would be to get both neutered when they are old enough and go to a rescue to get them a neutered friend each

 

[hayinamanger]

I had a rabbit and two guinea pigs years ago. When they were in the run together, the rabbit was constantly trying to hump the guinea pigs. I put some down pipe in the run, so that they could escape from the unwanted attention.

 

[mynutmeg]

No reason they can't live together - I know loads of people say they can't but we used to have several of each all living together no problem

 

[webble]

No reason they can't live together - I know loads of people say they can't but we used to have several of each all living together no problem

There are a LOT of reasons they cant live together including the humping one listed above. They have different diet requirements too

 

[mulledwhine]

I know they have different diet requirements , which is why they won't be living together.

I might see if the very large run that bunny is coming with can be partitioned off.

Next port of call, ringing the vet so it can have it's myxi jab

 

[catxx]

It'll be the combined myxi/VHD jab now.

I concur, no piggies and rabbits. Presuming the Rex has not been spayed/neutered will mean the poor piggy is at risk of being attacked by a territorial rabbit, being humped, being bitten, and a piggy CAN fight back, have heard stories of rabbits having chunks missing out of their noses and bottoms courtesy of a piggy. One kick from a rabbit (and they often flick their back feet) can snap a guineas spine.

Rabbits can also be carriers of bordatella. Doesn't harm the rabbit, but will kill a piggy.

Definitely keep them apart!!

When you contact the vet, ask about spaying and neutering. See if there are any good rescues near you too as desexed rabbits love the company of another! My two buns today have spent the day snuggled up, flopped out, fast asleep in the sunshine.

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

We had one rabbit and a guinea pig and we put them in to a run together and rabbit attacked guinea pig.
We always had rabbits and guinea pigs living together when I was a child, curious to why people say this shouldn't be done?

 

[catxx]

We had one rabbit and a guinea pig and we put them in to a run together and rabbit attacked guinea pig.
We always had rabbits and guinea pigs living together when I was a child, curious to why people say this shouldn't be done?

It's an old myth. No idea when it started, decades ago. Nowadays we know a LOT more about the physiology, diet and social needs of both species. They are actually VERY different, rabbits aren't even rodents.

 

[mulledwhine]

That's interesting, I thought any thing that had front teeth that grew were considered rodents , I have learned something

 

[mulledwhine]

I am presuming is has not been spayed/neutered ( no idea of it's sex), as it has not had any jabs, so doubt they bothered to have it de sexed.

He/she is very pretty though from the picture my sister sent me

 

[mynutmeg]

There are a LOT of reasons they cant live together including the humping one listed above. They have different diet requirements too

Obviously you have to introduce them carefully and have them well matched (I wouldn't put a giant in with a guinea pig for example) My entire childhood we kept rabbits and nins together with no issues, they had a nin mix plus veg and both rabbit and nins did really well on those. The biggest diet difference is that the nin has to have vitamin C while the rabbit doesn't need it in the diet,

 

[catxx]

Guineas need a lot more greens than rabbits. I know several rabbits, including my own, that would get severely upset guts if they had the same amount of greens as piggies need.

As for mix foods, there was a recent study that proved rabbits suffer from severe health problems if they're fed mix foods compared to a proper rabbit pellet. Hence shops like Pets at Home stopping selling mix muesli foods altogether.

The diet differences is just the tip of the iceberg. There is no reason to keep the two very different species together for purely selfish reasons when they would much prefer company of their own kind!

 

[Natch]

Blimey. I had a male guinea and two female rabbits as a kid. Rabbits fought like mad, guinea kept them company alternate days. All had a generic mix, hay,*grass and veg peelings. All three lived to good old ages!

 

[Natch]

Rabbits kept seperately, if that wasn't clear none were neutered/spayed either.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

When I was a kid I had rabbits and guinea pigs. Some of the rabbits lived with the gp's but some didn't as were aggressive towards the piggies.

Surprisingly one of the rabbits who did live with a guinea was psycho rabbit who liked to attack people! !

 

[Alaadin]

NEVER! Please don't put your guinea pig in with your rabbit for it's sake! I help out at a guinea pig rescue centre and we are always getting guinea pigs in who have been attacked by rabbits. Or guinea pigs that are traumatised after living with rabbits and having to put up with the constant humping and bullying. Please don't!

 

[Daytona]

From as long as I can remember till I was about 15 I had rabbits and pigs living together no problems at all. Never heard that before they can't live together, I'd had a good few over years as a kid and we had no issues

 

[heebiejeebies]

Dear god... I've always kept rabbits and guinea pigs together with no problems. I usually find the rabbit/pig combo get on better than rabbit/rabbit combo.

Like everything else, read the signs, do your research and use your common sense. If it doesn't work out it doesn't work out. Don't take everything people on here say as gospel, don't let their bad experiences/own opinions put you off from making your own decisions

 

[heebiejeebies]

And just to add - I have never seen any humping or bullying going on between rabbits/pigs in all my years of keeping them together. Do it properly and you will most likely be fine!

 

[Natch]

I have seen my guinea pig try to hump a huge rabbit

 

[mynutmeg]

Guineas need a lot more greens than rabbits. I know several rabbits, including my own, that would get severely upset guts if they had the same amount of greens as piggies need.

As for mix foods, there was a recent study that proved rabbits suffer from severe health problems if they're fed mix foods compared to a proper rabbit pellet. Hence shops like Pets at Home stopping selling mix muesli foods altogether.

The diet differences is just the tip of the iceberg. There is no reason to keep the two very different species together for purely selfish reasons when they would much prefer company of their own kind!

Interesting - it's a good 10 years since I had any small furriers and all of ours would get carrots everyday, muslie, and grass. All lived long lives, including the two that escaped - we saw those around for another couple of years

Dear god... I've always kept rabbits and guinea pigs together with no problems. I usually find the rabbit/pig combo get on better than rabbit/rabbit combo.

Like everything else, read the signs, do your research and use your common sense. If it doesn't work out it doesn't work out. Don't take everything people on here say as gospel, don't let their bad experiences/own opinions put you off from making your own decisions

We usually had 2 + of each type in a big run and never had problems with fighting or humping. All were neutered as early as possible and introduced as youngsters to the group. Would never, ever leave them together if there was one being bullied tho.

 

[webble]

And just to add - I have never seen any humping or bullying going on between rabbits/pigs in all my years of keeping them together. Do it properly and you will most likely be fine!

Of course if you're not fine you could end up with a dead or mutilated pig and a huge vets bill but thats the risk you take I guess. Some peoples ignorance scares me - not you OP

 

[mulledwhine]

Our guinea pig is not neutered, bit there was no need as he lived with his brother until he sadly died nearly 2 years ago

Henry is nearly 5 years old, so I am guessing quite an old man now ( never had piggies before, and the life expectancy seems to differ from forum to forum), even pets at home say rabbits live for 5 years!!! I know that to not be true, my sister and I bred and showed rabbits as kids so we could get some extra pocket money and most of ours lived 10 years +

Sorry I digress

Thank you for all the replies

 

[webble]

Mulledwine it sounds like you are doing a great job with all your research. If you have questions try the forums attached to rabbitrehome and guineapigrehome

Piggies generally live 5-7 years. Rabbits depend on the breed, 6 is fairly old for a giant whereas a healthy small rabbit can live to 11/12

 

[heebiejeebies]

Of course if you're not fine you could end up with a dead or mutilated pig and a huge vets bill but thats the risk you take I guess. Some peoples ignorance scares me - not you OP

I hope you're not saying that I'm ignorant...?

My best ever rabbit/pig combo were both un-netered males. They were so happy together, and when the rabbit died of a stroke as an old man the guinea pig was so heartbroken he refused to eat or come out of hiding, and despite my and the vets best efforts to do something for him he died a week later. I'm pretty certain he died of a broken heart.

Like I've said, common sense and research goes a long way...

 

[webble]

I hope you're not saying that I'm ignorant...?

My best ever rabbit/pig combo were both un-netered males. They were so happy together, and when the rabbit died of a stroke as an old man the guinea pig was so heartbroken he refused to eat or come out of hiding, and despite my and the vets best efforts to do something for him he died a week later. I'm pretty certain he died of a broken heart.

Like I've said, common sense and research goes a long way...

It does indeed hence the RWAF and MMC both saying the pair are a bad combo along with the rspca

 

[catxx]

It does indeed hence the RWAF and MMC both saying the pair are a bad combo along with the rspca

Indeed.

The research:
http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rabbits/company/rabbitsandguineapigs
http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/care/friend.asp
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/?section=policies.html
http://www.guineapigcages.com/rabbits.htm
http://www.guineapigtoday.com/2012/03/16/keeping-guinea-pigs-and-rabbits-together/

Just because it worked for some people doesn't mean it was right or actually fair on either animal who WOULD have been deprived proper social behaviours. A guinea can't wheeek wheeek with a rabbit.

 

[catxx]

Interesting - it's a good 10 years since I had any small furriers and all of ours would get carrots everyday, muslie, and grass. All lived long lives, including the two that escaped - we saw those around for another couple of years

Read this:
http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/diet/the-research

 

[weebarney]

Would not advise putting them together. Piggies are herd animals and need company of their own kind. Put them in runs side by side if you want them to have company from each other.