Ah okay, I was worried they were allowed to run round the garden together etc. I would be careful of Bordella if they are still in close contact as its airbourne.

Also be careful when they sunbath it only takes something to spook the bunny, or the bunny might try and groom the pig etc and he could accidently injure the piggie. I've known rabbits to snap pigs spines simply but knocking them roughly .

I hope you are able to solve your problem soon

Thanks, I have just been reading about Bordella so I think when summer comes the piggys will have their own area. I knew never to leave them in with the bunnies but I didn't realise about that being able to be transmitted to them!

I don't seem to be able to find an old piggy tho They all seem to be young near me! Maybe I will have more luck the week after next when the oldies are chucked out in favour of the young animals (any suggestions where to look welcome)

Problem is that although I am supposed to be reducing animal numbers I love my piggys and would happily commit to another 10years!! I am a hopeless case

Thats the trouble, because pets at home used to have their rabbits/pigs together people assume its okay - they set a very bad example. Now its law they have to have them seperate - unfortunatly the loop hole in the law means they can still be close enough to catch bordella - but atleast the example is being set now. Not to mention countless books and websites dish out deadly advice

If your piggy is still healthy and shows no signs of slowing down then a young piggy could be fine - if they are a year and above they should be well past their adolescent stage anyway. Alot of people believe its tough to bond guineas especially old ones - but thats just as much as myth as the rabbit and guinea pig being fine together. Each pig has its own personality, so of course some pigs are tough to bond - an elderly lad of mine had to live alone as he wouldnt accept any younger boars, but the majority if done right (which it sounds like you have done in the past) have no trouble

Well ours must be an wxception then, they live together. If Dandi who is a harlequin rabbit is missing the guineapig looks /seeks him out and visa versa, and Dandi lets chocolate eat first, standing away till he has finished.

Chocolate has been with a rabbit all his life he's now 4, and cuddles inside Dandi's belly when its cold

Yes you are an exception in the sense you have been extremely lucky. But it takes one accident to kill a guinea pig, especially with such a large rabbit. Not to mention Bordella risk. Personally I wouldnt want to risk my animals life, and I dont believe its fair to keep two completely different species together for company - especially when they are socialable animals in completley different ways.

Out of interest how do you ensure both the animals get a balanced diet? You say your rabbit stands back for the guinea pig to eat first, but how do you know they both get what they need? What pellets and veg do you feed? Is it daily?

You might find it cute that your guinea pig snuggles under your rabbit, maybe I'm an exception that I find it extremely worrying since thats how alot accidents happen.

Like I said, I am working along side a vet who specialises in guinea pigs (because I research cavies specifically) and he is horrified that he's still coping with the accidents of rabbits and guinea pigs since the only conclusion anyone who has a passion for cavies can come to is a high risk, unfair on the animals and out of date method. I'm not trying to cause offence it just worries me when people promote something as safe that isnt in the majority of cases .

Happy rabbits binky around - which could have fatal effects if the guinea pig was caught off guard . Does your rabbit groom the guinea pig? Rabbits love to groom other rabbits, but the weight on a guinea pig can damage their back (or even break a rib as I've seen ) - does your rabbit groom the guinea pig? I can see how some rabbits and guinea pigs are lucky, and not end up injured or dead in the process - luck, but I dont see how either animal can thrive .

I cannot urge any pig owners enough to join these forums, since I feel I've hijacked this thread enough ...
http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/
http://www.guineapigcages.com/

Well I am certainly not offended, if the information is taken in the context it is meant i.e to educate, then I don't see anyone elso would be either.

I have kept piggys for many years and didn't know of the risk of Bordella so you learn something new all the time.

Nothing wrong with being passionate about your cause

Ok, GuineaPigQueen, question for you if you come back on this thread as you haven't posted enough yet for me to pm you. I have been looking on the forums and links you sent me. If I am going to go with the new piggy idea I shall need a new home for them. At the mo I have just bog standard traditional hutch. I did try one with ramps but one of the piggies couldn't ever get to grips with that. I see on the site they seem to prefer these grid ones. Does anyone in the UK make them do you know? And what set up have you for your piggies?

P.S who are you on the piggy forum????

Lol I wanted piggies all my life, so got them when we moved here in the summer of 2004.
But I am very allergic to them, as I thought I would be, but I suffer for my piggies. However, I do think Pigsey will have to be my last as there are only so many asthma attacks you can have cleaning him out lol

How long do piggies live, as he would be 5 1/2 now?

Wooooooooooooooooo sorry hun, I am not offended, but can you chill alittle please.
First my vet knows (whom can I say I have used for many years) know mine live together. They have vaccinations etc., and regular checks, as for the balanced diet I can assure you there is enough of both mix for guineapigs and rabbit and greens,fruit,carrots etc., for both, they have an enormous cage which was build purposely to house a Giant Flemish which I owned, who incidently lived with two guinea-pigs for 9 years.

Yes there are incidents I agree which I have heard of, fortunately I have never experienced them, these two have been together for a long time, and they are bonded, (if I thought for one second anything was a miss I would separate) they are checked 4 times daily as I have to go up to see to my chickens, our rabbit is out of the cage during the day with the chickens (yes the chickens) and during the summer months the guineapig comes out too with them all.

I have no desire to get into an arguement, OK I am lucky then.

As for your info yes thank you for the information it was nice of you xx

Ps no Dandi (rabbit) doesn't groom Chocolate.

Hello,

Can I pop in here if no-one minds, I would like some advice too. We have one guinea pig boy at the moment, sadly we lost his brother to a probable stroke (vet advice) towards the end of Summer. Our boy who is left is 2 years old and now on his own. He was the more dominant of the two who were litter brothers. I have received conflicting advice, one from a Piggy breeder who said that if I introduced them slowly and through a seperation area that it would probably be fine, another person who owns guinea pigs told me to get him neutered and introduce a female of around the same age. Finally another person told me to just let him live out his years alone or we could end up with death on our hands. So being a bit frightened (I don't want to be the cause of a death) We have left our boy living alone, I feel guilty that he may have years ahead of him with no Guinea pig company and I know they are social creatures. We do handle him, take him through to sit on our laps and watch telly, talk to him, groom him, he is kept indoors but we have always let them outside into a secure run (with cover) during the better weather when it is appropriate. He was upset when his brother first died but seems to be happy enough now. I just feel guilty that he has no company of his own kind?

Any advice? Thanks so much.