And of course, with guinea pigs being so adorable and cuddly, that’s exactly what we want! Their developmental status is much quicker, which makes them age faster than even humans. On average, guinea pigs live 5-8 years. Genetic disorders can account for anything from hair loss to being more prone to developing tumors. If you see these signs, make sure to contact your vet right away. In fact, all guinea pigs seem to carry a very remarkable sequence of genes which contain the genetic code for Kurloff cells. They always get plenty of food and of course lots of cuddling and love. Make sure your guinea pigs get along before letting them live together! Lucy. Yep, just like a pirate from a childhood storybook. Picture of mother and baby guinea pig. On the other hand, guinea pig life span as a pet may be a completely different story. Some don’t live long enough and some make it to a much riper old age. Factors like the care you provide to your pet, Living environment, Breed and genetics affect the lifespan of guinea pigs. As you can see when looking to adopt a guinea pig, it is not a short … KEY TIP: While fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C for a guinea pig, they are also often high in sugar. The majority should be hay (~70-75%, sometimes even more), Nutritional pellets (protein and vitamins). Pregnancy is quite dangerous for guinea pigs, and about 20% of females die due to childbirth. In fact, the lifespan of your guinea pig is hugely affected by a number of factors that can reduce it or extend it. Feed them an appropriate and balanced diet. Several different factors can influence how long a guinea pig lives, from food, to genetics, to living conditions. How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live. However, there are a number of factors that can affect how long a guinea pig can live. Unfortunately, other genes can bring problems rather than protection. These days, if you follow the most up to date advice for looking after guinea pigs, you should expect them to be at least a five or six year commitment. The life span of pet pigs depends on the breed actually. According to the VCA, guinea pigs are “very prone” to developing urinary stones. Fortunately, many of these are easily avoidable. When you consider purchasing a cavy, you’ll likely want to know how long do guinea pigs live? In such cases, the fix could be as simple as making dietary adjustments. Introducing more variation to a genepool boosts animals’ health and longevity. The larger pigs in each breed range from 10 to 12 inches (25-30 cm). The Guinness Book of World Records entry for the world’s longest living guinea pig was a boar in England called Snowball. Stressed guinea pigs also produce more cortisol, the “fight or flight” hormone. So far we’ve largely looked at all the worrying information. At the first sign of something out of the ordinary, visit your vet. And, scurvy is absolutely not fun. These abnormal behaviors may include chewing their fur or skin, which can make wounds that allow infection into the body. A guinea pig has an average lifespan of 5-7 years with many living upwards in the double digits! Just like any other living creature, a cavy’s lifespan will depend on a number of things, including: Genetics; Environment; Diet; Breed; Some breeds of guinea pigs live much longer. Well,my guinea pig is 6 turning 7 in september 1st and seems lively as a puppy so i was wondering if anyone could figure out how long she will live for and she is a girl called "Poppy!!" The domestic guinea pigs live longer lives than their wild counterparts and longer than most other rodents, like hamsters or mice.. Now, let’s take a look at some deciding factors. Guinea pigs are sociable animals. The corresponding advantage of outbreeding is called “hybrid vigor. We put blankets and towels on the floor and we change them every couple days. Aside from genetics, there are a few illnesses that can creep up if a guinea pig doesn’t receive proper care. You may find he starts to whistle to you when he gets to know you better. Richardson, V. 2000. It is not uncommon for a guinea pig to live for nine or 10 years if exceptionally cared for. But some guinea pigs were even recorded residing for more than ten years. – Nutrition Safety. The only difference is that a guinea pig’s version of a healthy diet will look different from a human’s. On average, they live from four to eight years. Check out our fun list of guinea pig exercise activities to get your cavy feeling sporty! Guinea pigs with these problems often die prematurely when their digestive system fails. However, some closely related cousins still survive in the grasslands of South America. KEY TIP: Always ask about the health history of a guinea pig’s parents! A good example would be teacup pigs. To begin with, guinea pigs live about five years on average, with a maximum life span of eight years. I saw them in the back of a pick up truck on a freezing night. If you’re curious about how big do guinea pigs get, you’ll be intrigued to know that the larger guinea pig breeds grow across a length range of about 4 inches. Squeaks and Nibbles is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Squeaks and Nibbles is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. He had a bit of an ucky eye this morning, but late this evening he started to have laboured breathing and sadly passed away quite peacefully I hope. Guinea pigs need plenty of hay, fresh greens, and an appropriate dry food. But that can go without saying. Less germs means better chances at health. Firstly, boredom or loneliness often give rise to abnormal behaviors in guinea pigs. Best of luck, and let us know how you get along! Carrying excess weight puts strain on their heart and other organs, and can ultimately shrink their lifespan. A cage that is cleaned every week will have significantly less bacteria and germs than one that is left alone. But, it also means you have a longer, rewarding time that you can spend with them. How many years will they be a joyful part of your life? The type of pet really does not concern much in terms of food and diet as it can eat almost any food that it has been laid in front of it. Breeding animals will remain on the farm an average of 1.5 years longer than market pigs. Bradford, A. The lifespan of a guinea pig, as with any animal out there, depends on several factors, and the most important of them is if the guinea pig in cause is wild or domestic. American guinea pigs: Known for their laid-back personalities, the lifespan of these cavies is anywhere from five to seven years. So where does it stop? The life expectancy of a guinea pig is directly influenced by various factors, such as how well it is cared for, its diet or any health problems. Since guinea pigs live longer than other small animals, buying one is much more of a commitment. Overly crowded quarters can lead to high levels of stress and better chances for diseases to spread. This bacterial infection can cause significant problems for a little guinea pig, and especially targets younger guinea pigs. The oldest one we adopted was 5 years old who was left in a bix outside a pet store near where we live. White, Silkie, Peruvian, and Himalayan guinea pigs live roughly 5 – 8 years, and Abyssinian guinea pigs usually live 5 – 7 years. On an average level, guinea pig life span normally exists from 5-7 years old. Illness can shorten that lifespan considerably, but timely and proper care can address most health issues. Seven is a good age – hope he continues to stay well , Sadly tonight at about 10pm, little Peanut died cuddling on my lap watching TV. Hi Kathleen, some piggies are more vocal than others. Guinea pigs have an average life expectancy of 5 to 7 years. How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? As long as you keep your guinea pigs healthy and happy they should live for AT LEAST three years. These wild guinea pig relatives are quite common. Usually, guinea pigs live for fairly a long time. As your guinea pig gets older, it’s ever more important to keep an eye on their health. Since these genes are usually associated with specific pedigrees, we’ll look at them in the next section. Now let’s look at all the good news: the things we can do to help our guinea pigs live long and happy lives! Weir, B. Can another Guinea pig be introduced to help with the loss or is that asking for trouble. Sometimes it could be something as simple as a genetic proclivity for a sensitive digestive system. I would love to find a fantastic home for momma and 2 girl babies. The female guinea pig is called a sow while the male is called a boar. We let the male baby nurse for 3 1/2 weeks. We have devoted our den to the guineas and they do not live in cages except when we first get one until he can be integrated with the others. Notice: It seems you have Javascript disabled in your Browser. An active guinea pig is one that will have better chances of living a full life. However, this depends on quite a few factors and circumstances. he is not squealing- (making his sounds at all)- should I be concerned? Most guinea pigs will live between 4-8 years. Baldwin is an amusing mutation of one of the breeders. How Long Can A Guinea Pig Live This question is simply answered by looking at guinea pigs that have managed to live beyond their life expectancy. Still, you can do your part by researching the place you are buying your guinea pig from. About three months ago we rescued a pair of guinea pigs living in a tiny cat carrier. A suitable diet for a guinea pig can be broken down as follows from the most to the least: KEY TIP: Don’t let treats go bad! This has particularly been the case for roan and dalmatian guinea pigs. This article has been extensively revised and updated for 2019. Domesticated guinea pigs that live in captivity as pets have a different lifespan than guinea pigs living in the wild. Your guinea pig experiences high amounts of stress. Infections can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your vet, but every infection also carries a risk of being fatal. And it’s likely that hybrid guinea pigs also live longer on average than pedigree guinea pigs. Baby guinea pigs are sweet and precious, but breeding them should be left to those who know how to minimize the risks involved. As they are social animals, it’s best for them to have companions. Is a guinea pig’s lifespan determined solely by its genes? Be on the lookout for pneumonia! Guinea pigs that have a compatible friend will have significantly lower levels of stress and be happier overall. pp. Introduce them slowly and carefully. Because of the way these genes are inherited, a responsible breeder can protect future pups by not breeding two roan guinea pigs or two dalmatian guinea pigs together. There may also be changes in muscle tone. The genes they inherit from their parents, the food they eat, their lifestyle and luck will all play a part. At just three weeks, it’s time to separate the boys from the girls. With hybrid vigor proven in other species, it’s quite likely that a mixed-breed guinea pig life expectancy may be a little longer than others. Nutrition & Safety Guide, How to Bond With My Guinea Pig – Ultimate Guide, Coronet Guinea Pig: Breed Guide & Care Tips, Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cucumbers? How long do guinea pigs live? There is overcrowding in your guinea pig enclosure. It does occasionally work, but often the only solution is to have a single guinea pig once one has passed away. The female proceeded to give birth to 3 babies shortly thereafter. The remaining brother was the more dominant one of the two.. Hi Rachel, Sorry for your loss. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Check for positive reviews from others who received their cavies from these locations. Your guinea pig is experiencing pregnancy. Guinea pigs cannot produce their own Vitamin C. But, they still need plenty of this key nutrient to stay healthy. We’ll get this one out of the way because it can be the most frustrating. He may spend a lot more time sleeping than he used to. Or any species of animal, really. Guinea pig life span is influenced by factors like genetics, diet, and environment. How long do guinea pigs live? Here are some possible signs that your guinea pig is entering the middle of his golden years. Skinny guinea pigs can live up to eight years, while the long-haired variety only lives up to six. One of my Guinea pigs has just died leaving behind his brother. It’s a natural question if you’re considering bringing one of these small furry friends home. We have usually 4 at a time and have lost some early in life and others live a little longer. Making these changes can literally add years to a guinea pig’s life. However, the average lifespan for a Texel is known to be about the same as the average lifespan of a guinea pig of another breed, averaging from four to seven years, with eight at the outside. Bacteria love nothing more than a dirty bowl or water dispenser. So, unlike their ‘wild’ guinea pig relations, who can only be expected to live for 1-4 years, pet guinea pigs can live 5-7 years providing you with many years of love, snuggles and wheeks! It's a totally valid question, and one that you should know the answer to if you have guinea pigs in the family, or are considering adopting a few. This variance can be due to the wide range of genetic and environmental circumstances that individual guinea pigs face. It’s Down in the Genes, Common Health Concerns and How to Avoid Them, Factors that Improve How Long Guinea Pigs Live, How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? Fruit and other treats are a fun way to bond with your guinea pig and make sure they’re getting enough vitamin C, but it’s important to find a healthy balance. Much of a guinea pig’s life expectancy depends on environmental factors. Here are the most important steps you can take to give your guinea pig a long life: Texel guinea pigs are a relatively new breed, and as such they are still being learned about. Keep guinea pigs in pairs or herds, and make sure they have access to a variety of enriching toys. Their eyes open soon after they are born. Woolliams, J. He spends hours on Instagram browsing guinea pigs, wombats, hedgehogs, and Dungeons & Dragons. Prolonged elevated levels of cortisol place a strain all of the body’s functions, including the heart and the immune system. Himalayan guinea pigs: A short-haired guinea pig breed, this one can live somewhere between five and seven years. Good luck with your new friend! Activity provides guinea pigs with physical exercise, which is crucial. Avoid leaving unfinished pellets or fruit snacks lying around in your guinea pig’s enclosure. The answer to this is 4-8 years on averagewhich is longer than any other popular rodents. Or, guinea pigs can eat strawberries for a boost as well. According to the 2006 Guinness World Records, the longest living guinea pig survived 14 years, 10.5 months. Officially recorded cases where these animals survived to 15 years. There’s always a chance that with good genetics, environment, and diet, you could end up with a long-lived guinea pig yourself! So, this is the number one answer that many people who ask this question use. Don’t go overboard when sharing fruit snacks with your cavies! How long do guinea pigs live? There are many pedigrees of guinea pig these days. The lifespan of a guinea big depends heavily on the breed. Guinea pigs have a gestation period of about two months or a little more. 1974 “Notes on the Origin of the Domestic Guinea-Pig.” The Biology of Hystricomorph Rodents. Sources like the ones mentioned above indicate that they can live anywhere from four to eight years on average. As they age, they might start to slow down, but they will still need your love and attention. Let us know how old they are in the comments below! If left untreated, this condition could become life-threatening. However, they are so happy that it would have to be a home as good as mine or better! However, there is a bit of variation, with some listing the average lifespan as 4 to 6 years, and others reporting that guinea pigs typically live about 5 to 8 years. Most authorities agree that guinea pigs generally live for about 4 to 7 years of age. Your vet will check for urinary stones and a possible urinary tract infection. “The influence of genetics and inbreeding on disease”, In Practice. It’s important to make sure that your guinea pig eats well and has access to toys. Life Span of Guinea Pig On the Basis of Breed The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is more precise; they say guinea pig life span is five to six years “but some may live longer.”. Knowing the effect genetics can have on a guinea pig’s life span can help you make better decisions when deciding where to purchase your guinea pig. Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs. This is often simply because of regular food, vet check ups, and lack of predators. His buddy who shared his cage- died 2 weeks ago…. On average, guinea pigs will live between 6 – 8 years if given the proper care. The average life expectancy for guinea pigs is 4-8 years. A guinea pig whose parents and grandparents lived a long time might also be blessed with innate longevity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When the babies are born, there may be only one, or more than six or seven. Guinea pigs aren’t typically overeaters, but if their diet has too much sugar in it they could become overweight. The average life expectancy of guinea pigs in natural conditions is about 9-10 years. So, be prepared to do all you can to provide them with a long, healthy and happy life, and they will indeed brighten up your days in return! In general, these animals live for 4 to 9 years. Their genes are only part of the story. It’s a natural question if you’re considering bringing one of these small furry friends home. Signs of these stones include anorexia and difficulty urinating, among others. Newborn guinea pigs come complete with fur and up to twenty teeth at birth. Give it a balanced diet that consists mostly of grass hay, feed it leafy greens as treats, and make sure fresh water is always available. List of Short Haired Guinea Pig’s Lifespan. Within all species, there is a genetic component to longevity. If your guinea pig does suffer from some genetic disorder, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world. Besides the average four to eight years, others are also likely to also age at ten years – depending on multiple factors. Definitely not! Not only can guinea pigs can inherit a general propensity for longevity from their parents, they also inherit very specific genes which influence how long they live. Guinea pigs age at different rates, so it isn’t always easy simply to go by their actual age. We’ll talk about specific health issues and what we can do to help a little guinea pig life span further down. Cute, furry and about the size of a hamster, something about the word guinea pig often calls to mind laboratory-based medical research. Josh has been raising guinea pigs for over a decade. Addressing any genetic concerns can go a long way to prolonging your guinea pig’s life. Get them checked over by a vet once a year, and seek treatment for health problems promptly in between check ups. 2015. You have entered an incorrect email address! They can live even longer. The good news is that nearly every one of these is entirely under your control. One option you could try asking your local animal shelters whether they have any solo male guinea pigs that you could attempt slowly introducing your boar too, to see if they are compatible. There is no guaranteed way to prevent this serious illness, but there are steps you can take to keep the odds down. A common side effect of inbreeding to protect a pedigree is an overall loss in quality and vigor, known as “inbreeding depression.”. How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live – Life Span. Guinea Pig Lifespan in the Wild. Originally, the first domesticated cavies were farmed as a food source. How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? Doing so increases the risk of bacteria building up on them before they get eaten. But compared to other smaller pet animals, like pet rats, a lifespan of up to eight years seems quite generous! Guinea Pig Life Span. Comparatively the all-too-brief 1-2 year lifespan of a hamster, guinea pigs are relatively long-lived little guys, with an average lifespan of about 5 years. They should be able to tell you what is going on and what your options are. What they eat and how much they weigh can also add guinea pig years or take them away. It can be tempting to buy a guinea pig from a random seller. Breeding within a confined gene pool can also cause hereditary illnesses to become fixed, and even amplified in successive generations. This automatically imposes a degree of inbreeding, and puts a limit on genetic variation between individuals within the pedigree. On average, a Guinea pig can live anywhere between 4 to 8 years. Keep reading to learn more about each breed of guinea pig and how you can help your guinea pig live a … Parents with illnesses are more likely to produce offspring vulnerable to those illnesses as well. 2013 “Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England”, The Veterinary Journal. That means they will enjoy life much more when they have a friend around. And, you maximize their joy along the way! On average, they live from four to eight years. He is a Pedigree, as was bred by a friend who shows them, but is still very well and happy thank goodness, but has started to lose a bit of weight now, but that could be, like a lot of us, not eating so much in the heat. Those of you living on mountain tops with your guinea pigs might have less control over these factors. The same applies to guinea pigs. Generally, a guinea pig, provided with a healthy diet and lifestyle, would live at least 4 – 8 years. Hence on the average level, we normally mean that some of the pets are living with a long life span and some might die at a young age. Less stress means lower risk for developing certain illnesses. It is difficult when they pass but since they all have been abandoned we know they at least had a good life at the end. Guinea pigs on the other hand live much longer and grow to a much larger size. You can expect a guinea pig to live for 4 to 8 years. The longest life of a guinea pig has been fourteen years. Loneliness and boredom can be very stressful for guinea pigs, and this is bad for their long term health in two ways. To help your guinea pig live a long life, keep it in a cage that's easy to clean and provides 5-10 square feet of space. Therefore, most of them can expect to have about the same lifespan. The average Guniea Pig lifespan ranges from 4 to 8 years – the key word is … He reached an extremely stately fourteen years and ten months old. The no-longer-baby female guinea pigs are now sexually mature. I can’t find an equivalent study in guinea pigs, but in 2013 Dr Dan O’Neill and colleagues at the Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom reported that mongrels live on average 1.2 years longer than purebred dogs. There are a number of different factors that influence the length of a guinea pig’s life. I had 4 guinea pigs but one died last night at 8:39pm Sept 23rd 2018 and he was 7 yrs old. How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? The solution: a balanced range of snacks with Vitamin C. These could take the form of fresh fruits such as oranges, or you can go with Vitamin C supplement snacks! Peruvians or Shelties can live 12-14 years, although this isn’t common. This means guinea pigs require a long-term commitment on your part. However, this depends on quite a few factors and circumstances. Rat Names – Over 200 Great Ideas For Naming Your Pet... Hamster Breeds – Differences, Similarities, and Choosing the Best One. So each pedigree becomes it’s own little sub-population of guinea pigs. Safety & Nutrition, Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone? He may lose weight, and become less energetic overall. The presence of other illnesses can make a guinea pig more vulnerable to this one. Though they have far more freedom than guinea pigs who are kept as pets, most will become the victim of natural predators or even be hunted as food by humans. Enjoy Life With Your Furry Friend, Can Guinea Pigs Eat Spinach? Illness can shorten that lifespan considerably, but timely and proper care can address most health issues. If you rescue a pig originally intended as a food animal, it has the potential to live … A guinea pig’s lifestyle will also affect how long it lives. There are many anecdotes of exceptionally old guinea pigs. But on the whole, you can expect a domesticated animal to live longer than a wild animal. So the only clues will be in their family tree, if you have access to it. That was 3.5 years ago. Not on my bucket list, but I asked the people if I could bring them to my house. Some of these factors are beyond our control, but there are also lots of things we can do to help our guinea pigs stay healthy for longer. But, the more you know the more you can do to counteract these issues. While it's most common to see captive guinea pigs living to be around 7 years old, the oldest recorded guinea pig lived to be over 14 years and 10 months old!