Carrot Tops Rabbit Rescue

Can you keep Guinea Pigs and Rabbits in the same hutch?

Definitely NOT!

Please don’t consider this as an option!

Keeping Rabbits and Guinea pigs together in the same hutch or run can often be disastrous, both for the guinea pigs and the rabbits.  Experts like the RSPCA advise that the best companion for a rabbit is another friendly rabbit and for a guinea pig is another friendly guinea pig. Keeping rabbits and guinea pigs together is not a good combination.

Please think carefully about the points below:

·        Diet.  Although they are both herbivores who eat mostly hay, they need different nutrients in different amounts.  Guinea pigs need Vitamin C on a regular basis; they get this from eating fruit and vegetables and through specially-formulated pellets. They should Not be fed rabbit pellets, as they do not contain extra Vitamin C that the guinea pigs need. Rabbits need a limited amount of pellet food in their diet where as guinea pigs should have unlimited access. Vegetables can become quite a challenge to make sure that each animal is provided with the correct roughage for their nutritional needs. Attempting to manage these very different dietary requirements can be almost impossible

 ·        Size and strength. Even the smallest rabbit is more powerful and a danger to a guinea pig, especially if space is limited. Rabbits express their emotions by kicking or stomping with their powerful hind feet. Even a rabbit jumping for joy could seriously hurt a guinea pig that happens to be in the way, we have heard numerous stories from vets where rabbits have seriously injured or even killed a guinea pig that they had so far lived happily with and if the rabbit attempted to mate with the guinea pig, the rabbit is likely to cause injury to the guinea pig’s back and may also injure the guinea pigs neck by biting him or her which is part of normal rabbit mating behaviour

 ·        Health. Rabbits can carry bacteria called Bordetella Bronchiseptica which doesn’t affect them but can cause respiratory disease in guinea pigs.  Rabbits once acclimatised can live happily outside but guinea pigs are susceptible to heat, cold, drafts and damp and can die from exposure or pneumonia so should be kept indoors during the winter.

It’s perfectly ok to own both rabbits and guinea pigs, but they must have separate cages and should not really have direct contact with each other. 

EVERY RABBIT SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER FRIENDLY RABBIT TO LIVE WITH AND EVERY GUINEA PIG SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER FRIENDLY GUINEA PIG TO LIVE WITH FOR COMPANIONSHIP.  Rabbits and guinea pigs don’t really speak the same language.

Please remember that as owners of these animals it is our responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment that is a close as possible their natural environment.