Rabbits + Guineapigs

RE: Rabbits + Guineapigs

bevs2251 — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 02:19:31 GMT

Also, GPs carry Pasteurella as a commensal and can give that to rabbits. I'd advise not to house these species together for all the above reasons.

RE: Rabbits + Guineapigs

Allison Gleadhill — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:39:45 GMT

We seem to admit rabbits (either gender, neutered & entire) who have cuddly toy ‘friends’ that they spend a lot of time shagging. I think it‘s a bit hard on the guinea pig to subject it to a rampant rabbit.

Pet shops used to recommend keeping rabbit & guinea pigs together & my theory was that they were poor at sexing both species & this strategy avoided litters.

RE: Rabbits + Guineapigs

Julie Innes — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 08:45:25 GMT

I had a rabbit and a guinea pig together when I was really young. The guinea pig seemed to drive the rabbit mad, running around her burbling away, and they fought over food. Finally found the poor guinea pig gasping its last on the hutch floor, while the rabbit stood by looking smug. I always suspected she flipped and killed it but realise now it could have been bordatella!! Just had 2 rabbits from then on!

RE: Rabbits + Guineapigs

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 17:49:46 GMT

[quote user="charlievelyn"]There are a few reasons that it’s not ideal, I’ll list the main ones here (reference all from the BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine )[/quote]

Cracking maiden post, charlievelyn Welcome to the forums!

RE: Rabbits + Guineapigs

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:49:28 GMT

All the above- 'sudden' death of the GP from Bordetella resp infections are often overlooked, and I've seen some horrific injuries to GPs from rabbit bites or kicks. Add to that chronic stress - usually but not always primarily the GP with inactivity, poor food intake etc due to reduced use of resources.

Plus the fact they are different species with no co-evolution and body language and communication isn't automatically known just because they are both small and fluffy! You wouldn't stick an alpaca and a pig in a confined space together and expect a positive social response and it's no different.

Marie

RE: Rabbits + Guineapigs

charlievelyn — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:38:28 GMT

There are a few reasons that it’s not ideal, I’ll list the main ones here (reference all from the BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine )

-rabbits usually bully GPs but this can also happen the other way round too (GPs can sit on rabbits and chew the fur on the back of the neck)

- rabbits carry Bordetella as a commensal repsiratory organism but it’s pathogenic to GPs

- GPs need vitamin C supplementation in their diet whereas rabbits don’t and GPs need more protein in their diet, so managing both separately can be tricky

Also rabbits should always have another companion rabbit unless there are significant reasons not to, often GPs are often seen as an easier/cheaper way to give social company but it’s not an adequate replacement