Breeding Guinea Pigs

Why You Shouldn't Breed From Your Guinea Pigs
So you want to breed from your guinea pig?

Please stop and read this first!!

The sad and simple fact is that there are already too many guinea pigs being bred and too few caring, permanent, pet homes available. At the time I write this, I have 60guinea pigs waiting patiently at my home for that special person to come along. Many more sit forlornly in other rescue centres up and down the country, and indeed throughout the world. This isn't just a problem in the UK. Do you really want to be responsible for adding to the problem?

Ask yourself the following:

Are you willing to risk the life of your female guinea pig?Most guinea pig pregnancies are uneventful. Pregnancy and birth are the most natural things in the world. However, things can and do go wrong. Sows can die before, during and after delivery. A baby may be stillborn, as indeed may the whole litter. Are you prepared do deal with this?
How will you feel if your pet dies? Because if you planned the litter, you will only have yourself to blame. I would never risk a much loved pet in this way.
Have you put money aside to deal with emergency vet bills that may occur?
If your sow develops toxaemia and becomes ill, are you willing to take her to a vet at any time day or night?
Do you have the funds to pay for an emergency caesarean section if needed? The cost for such surgery in my area is about 80.00 -90.00 Add an emergency call out fee of 80.00 if your sow gets into difficulty overnight and you are looking at a vet bill of about 160.00 . Are you, or your parents willing or able to pay this?
If the sow dies, do you have the time and skill to hand rear her offspring?Hand rearing any baby animal is very time-consuming and there is no guarantee the young will survive. Would you know what to do? Could you make this commitment?
How would you feel if you lost the babies too?

Do you have responsible people waiting to offer a home to the babies when they arrive?Your guinea pig may have up to six little ones, will you really be able to find caring, forever homes for all of them. People who will provide the care and attention these animals need for possibly the next seven years? I find it incredibly hard to find ONE such home, do you think you will find it any easier? Taking them to the local pet store, to a guinea pig show or selling them in the local "free ad paper" is not the way to place these little babies.