If you own it guinea pigs or even if you just enjoy looking at them at the pet store, you probably know a lot about them. Some guinea pigs have a short, smooth coat, while others have curly, long hair. They all love to jump, run and chat. If you have guinea pigs, you naturally want them to live as long as possible. Maybe even a world record.
Keep reading to learn some facts about the pet that holds the world record for the oldest guinea pig. Read on about another guinea pig who tried to break the world record. Also, study some practical steps you can take to maintain your guinea pig’s good health and possibly even extend its life.
Introducing the World’s Oldest Guinea Pig
According to Guinness World Records, a guinea pig called Snowball holds the record as oldest guinea pig. Snowball was 14 years and ten and a half months. He died in 1979.
This guinea pig belonged to a woman named MA Wall and made his home in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom.
The second oldest guinea pig in the world
The second oldest guinea pig to set the world record was a pet named Bear. Bear lived with his owner Edith Rotherham in Grimsby, a town in Lincolnshire, England. Sadly, Bear passed away in 2021 at the age of 14. Since Snowball was nearly 15 years old when he died, Bear didn’t break his world record. But Bear was still very much appreciated and loved by his owner. Bear’s owner now even has a guinea pig that she takes care of just as well in hopes of breaking the world record!
What did the world record holder eat?
Surely Snowball must have had excellent care to have lived 14 years, ten and a half months. This probably included a lot of hay along with kale, lettuce, and other leafy greens. Fresh water every day, plenty of exercise, and vet checkups were probably part of Snowball’s care.
Typical Guinea Pig Life Expectancy
The typical life expectancy of a guinea pig ranges from five to seven years. Snowball lived twice as long as guinea pigs are expected to survive. So, as you can see, a world record of 14 years, ten and a half months is really a big deal!
Of course, many things play a role in the lifespan of a guinea pig. These include health problems, diet, the amount of exercise it receives, and health care.
What steps can an owner take to extend the life of their guinea pig?
Give your guinea pig right kind of diet can contribute to a long life of your pet.
Leafy greens like kale and romaine lettuce not only provide your guinea pig with nutrients, but they also help keep their teeth filed. Keeping their teeth filed can help prevent serious health problems. Hay is another essential part of a guinea pig’s diet. Fresh water and some guinea pig food, known as pellets, are other must-haves in this furry critter’s diet.
Exercising a guinea pig regularly is another way to potentially extend its life. These little pets love to play, run, hide and jump. They even perform a fun trick called popcorning! Exercise keeps them from gaining weight and gives them a lot of mental stimulation.
Guinea pigs are social animals. So it can definitely help them maintain good health if they have a partner to play with. This is why so many guinea pig experts recommend owning at least two guinea pigs. The more sociable they are, the happier they are!
Cleaning a guinea pig’s cage at least once a week is the next step to keep this animal in good health. Some guinea pigs need to have their cage cleaned more than once a week. Like all pets, some guinea pigs are messier than others!
Whether you keep it in a glass aquarium or a wire cage with a plastic bottom, it’s best to use hot, soapy water to scrub it. This will remove bacteria that can grow in the damp chips that cover the floor.
Be sure to rinse the cage floor and walls thoroughly so that no soap is left behind. Cage wires should be cleaned with mild soap and rinsed. If you’ve ever had a guinea pig in a wire cage, you know that they tend to put their mouth and teeth on the wires.
Remember to clean the water bottle and bowl with warm water and mild soap. These two items can pick up a lot of germs.
The last task is to put fresh curls in the cage. Dust-free shavings made from aspen or kiln-dried pine are ideal choices. Using dust-free shavings reduces this pet’s risk of allergy flare-ups and several other respiratory problems.
Guinea pigs should visit the vet, just like dogs, cats and other animals. A veterinarian who specializes in small animals can advise an owner on dietary changes and provide care when the guinea pig feels sick.
Having a vet check a guinea pig once a year can help an owner address the pet’s health concerns right away. In addition, if the guinea pig ever has an injury or serious illness, the owner will need to see a veterinarian who is already familiar with the pet’s medical history.
Finally, taking these steps can help your guinea pig reach old age or even set a new world record!
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