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When choosing a pet, there are a lot of questions you need to ask before making a decision – including how long the pet will live!
Understanding how long guinea pigs live for the purpose of determining whether they are a good fit for your family is important.
As with every living thing, there is a lot that goes into answering the question how long does a guinea pig live.
Their diet, care, exercise level, and more all factor into the length of a guinea pig lifespan.
Generally though, pet guinea pigs live between 5 and 10 years.
How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live?
Guinea Pig Lifespan in the Wild
In the wild, guinea pigs have an average lifespan of between one and four years.
Though they have far more freedom than guinea pigs who are kept as pets, most will become the victim of natural predators or even be hunted as food by humans.
Also, the particular breed has much to do with determining the natural guinea pig lifespan in the wild.
How Long Does a Guinea Pig Live as a Pet
When determining how long does a guinea pig live when kept as a pet, you can take the issue of predators out of the equation.
However, the addition of human interaction can be both positive and negative.
In captivity, most guinea pigs live between five and ten years.
There are reports that there have been some guinea pigs that have lived as long as 14 years as a pet.
Again, breed is a factor in figuring how long do guinea pigs live for, but it is not the only issue.
Tips for Supporting a Long Guinea Pig Lifespan
In order to make sure that your guinea pig lives a long and healthy life, there are some very important things that you should do.
- Diet – What a guinea pig eats has a direct effect on how long does a guinea pig live. Take care to choose high quality foods for your guinea pig, provide adequate water, and avoid foods that can cause health issues for your piggie.
- Environment – Give your guinea pig a comfortable and safe environment in which to live. A place that it can feel safe and comfortable, with enough room to play and explore will help them to avoid the health issues that come with stress.
- Medical care – Finding a small animal veterinarian is a great asset in determining how long do guinea pigs live for in your home. Medical care and checkups for your piggie are just as important as for other domesticated pets.
- Exercise – As with any living creature, exercise can help extend the guinea pig lifespan. Make sure that your guinea pig has plenty of opportunities to be active and explore to exercise both their bodies and their minds.
Remember, that there are no guarantees in life, for people or for piggies.
Even the most responsible owners who give their guinea pigs the best possible care may sometimes lose them earlier than the average.
Do your best to provide your friends with the best you can and their guinea pig lifespan will be as long and as happy as it can possibly be.
How old is your guinea pig?
Share his or her age with us in the comments below!