Older Guinea Pigs: Considerations

Introduction

Older pigs can sometimes get over-looked in favour of young guineas, either in their own household, or when a potential owner is choosing a new pet.

There are pros and cons in caring for, or choosing, an older guinea (for the purposes of this article I am including any guinea that is already adult, say over 1 year) but I hope that in reading this article, anyone would think hard about choosing an older pet and giving them the chance of a long and happy life.

This article concentrates on the pig's character and compatibility, as health care will be covered in other articles

Pros and Cons

If you acquire a pet from a rescue, or from someone who unfortunately due to circumstances beyond their control, has to give up their beloved pets, they can be old or young: many litters are born in this situation.

Once you have squealed your way round the skittish youngsters, take a moment to consider the older pigs that are available.

With a youngster you have no idea of the personality they will develop - this will depend on a complex mixture of nature and nurture.

The nature part is set and you can't influence it.

Their nurture will depend partly on how well their mother has taught them, partly on their experiences so far, and partly on how you treat them from now on, if you were to chose them.

2 out of 3 of those factors are out of your control, so as much as you think that you are choosing a pig with certain attributes (eg you may think you are choosing the quiet one of the bunch to suit your quiet household), they are an unknown quantity, and may only be quiet in that group - they may turn out to be a boss pig in another environment.

And if they didn’t develop the type of personality you sought, would you be disappointed?

Then consider the older pigs: their nature is known.

Their nurture is usually known: it may have been less than ideal, but their adult character will already show how they have coped with it. If their conditions improve from now on, with regular handling, a shy pig can be brought out of it shell, a nervous pig can be taught to trust, a bossy pig can be tamed down, but you will already have an idea of the basic characteristics from the information the rescue staff, or the previous owners who are surrendering their pet, can give you.

Their full health history may be a mystery, depending on their circumstances, but their recent history will tell you of any chronic conditions, acute problems or items that need monitoring.

Puzzle and Pickles’ Story - by Sue

Puzzle & Pickle came from the RSPCA last year. Going on advice from the members of this site, I think they must be at least three years old now, although they're showing no signs of old age. Puzzle is mainly honey-coloured, with white fur round his bottom (often dirty..!) and a black face, with a white rosette on the top of his head. He is a large pig, weighing in at approx.1400g. Pickle is a stripy tri-colour: honey, white and agouti, no rosette, a clean bottom and weighs about 1200g. They are both extremely fond of food, and "popcorn" about if they think there's something nice coming. Being adults when they came, they were large enough for a proper cuddle on arrival; now they are even tamer they both enjoy a snuggle up on an old towel while their fur/skin is inspected, although Pickle can be a little difficult when it comes to clipping his claws.
They do occasionally have a bit of a disagreement, but there is plenty of room for them to spend time apart so it has never come to bloodshed yet! They went to the vet for the first time last Saturday, and both were very well-behaved

In Sue’s story she knew what she was taking on, as the boys were already paired up when she got them. She didn’t have to go through introductions and possible fig

Author: Rufus 2005

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