Dawn - Admin
Administrator 
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Dec 16, 2005 11:59:41 GMT
Rabbits and Guinea Pigs should never share a cage for many reasons but these are the 5 most important ones.
1. Rabbits can be carriers of a bacteria called Bordetella which does not cause any illness in the rabbit but causes pneumonia in guinea pigs.
2. Rabbits can cause injuries to Guinea Pigs as they have very powerful hind legs that can kick a Guinea Pig causing broken bones and even death.
3. Rabbits and guinea Pigs have very different dietry needs. Guinea Pigs need vitamins C and they need lots of vitamin rich veggies. They can eat lettuce or cole family vegetables such as cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or broccoli. However rabbits can get enteritis and possibly die if they eat these.
4. Some Rabbit mixes and pellets are bad for Guinea Pigs as they contain antibiotics that can make them very ill or even cause death.
5. Rabbits will burrow, and if placed on the grass outdoors will soon escape by burrowing under the hutch/run. Guinea pigs do not have this burrowing instinct, but will be quite happy to use a tunnel provided by an obliging bunny.
Copyright D Osborne-Harris
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Post by greeneracres2001 on Dec 17, 2005 14:02:56 GMT
I have raised rabbits much longer than I have raised guinea pigs and rabbits carry the Pasturella virus which when their immune system is compromised develop what we call "snuffles". My many years in rabbits this has and is a horrible problem.... It can in theory wipe out your whole herd, it is extremely contagious and any animal suspect of the virus has to be removed or isolated. There is no cure for the problem, vets can give antibiotics to relieve the symptoms but at any point of stress they can re-occur.
This is a virus that is not transferrable to any animal outside of the rabbit breeds and from all my research cannot be transferred to piggies. They are from a different groupings of animals....
While I totally agree with your points Dawn that rabbits and guineas do not belong and should not be put together for their safety reasons, I am not too sure about the first point as I have never had a concern or heard of a concern with the first.
Pneumonia is a sympton of a respiratory concern, ie. cold developing to a state of pneumonia like in humans. You get a cold and if not treated or what have you it develops into same.....
In conclusion, I agree with you whole heartedly that rabbits and cavies should not habitate in the same cages.... Just not a good idea.....
Linda
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Post by guineapigjude on Dec 21, 2005 2:51:56 GMT
When I got Petunia, from a horrible pet shop, she was in with rabbits. Poor thing was frightened because they were so much bigger and faster than she was! Petunia was also pregnant. I'm just glad she was able to stay healthy!
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Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Dec 22, 2005 22:01:25 GMT
Some guinea pig owners are tempted to feed rabbit pellets, assuming that they are roughly equivalent to guinea pig pellets, but this is not so. Unlike most mammals (including rabbits), guinea pigs require a high level of the vitamin, folic acid. Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own vitamin C and must, therefore, receive it from an outside source. Interestingly, people and our primate relatives share this dependence on vitamin C from the food we consume. Pellets milled for guinea pigs take these special requirements into consideration and are appropriately fortified with these 2 nutrients, among many other essential ones. www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/MNAALAS/GPig.html |
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Post by greeneracres2001 on Dec 27, 2005 19:56:45 GMT
I agree Dawn but you should always make sure when you buy your GP pellets that you buy from a reputable person who does a fair volume of business. Vitamin C that is in the food when it is manufactured disipates and loses its vitamin C content when it sits on the shelves too long. In Canada, they have to post the manufactured or process date on the bags so one knows how old it is and therefore you can make an intelligent decision as to whether to buy the food or not or if it is past its shelf life..
The pellets are basically the same content as the rabbit pelletts with the exception of the vitamin C. I always supplement my pelleted diet anyways, as most do to ensure there is enough vitamin C in the diet
When I have run out of gp pelletts I have used rabbit pellets on the piggies for a few days with no problems. I do however, increase the veggies and the vitamin C either in their foods or water to ensure there is no change or concern with them.
Just a thought.
Linda
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Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Dec 28, 2005 17:38:56 GMT
Thanks Linda  |
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Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
|
Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 21, 2006 21:21:00 GMT
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