If you live in Vermont and are thinking of adopting a guinea pig, you might have some questions about the state’s animal laws. Do you need a permit to own a guinea pig in Vermont? Can you have just one guinea pig, or do you need to adopt more?
This article will answer all of your questions and provide some insight into guinea pig care.
Can You Have One Guinea Pig in Vermont?
It is not illegal to own just one guinea pig in Vermont. You also don’t need a permit to own guinea pigs in Vermont, though you do for some exotic pets.
While it’s not illegal, not providing companionship for your guinea pig is unethical as it fails to meet their social needs. Guinea pigs are herd animals who, in the wild, live in large groups consisting of one boar (male) and several sows (females). They rely on each other for safety, communication, companionship, and more.
While human companionship is awesome, we can’t give our guinea pigs the 24/7 support that they need to thrive, nor can we “speak guinea pig.” It’d be like keeping a human away from other humans and expecting them to live with guinea pigs only.
Which Guinea Pig Groups Work Best?
Guinea pigs need to live in pairs or groups, but they don’t always make it easy! Before we dive into how to bond guinea pigs together, let’s discuss the bonds that are most likely to work.
- Groups of two or more females are typically the easiest to bond.
- Neutered males and females pair well together.
- Two male guinea pigs can be more difficult to bond together but can still get along well.
- While it can be much easier for baby guinea pigs to bond with adults, the bond may break when the baby goes through puberty.
Avoid pairing three or more males unless you have a large space and plenty of guinea pig experience. Also, avoid bonding more than one male with females–they’ll usually fight over the ladies.
Making Bonding Easier
If you’re a new guinea pig parent, consider adopting a bonded pair or trio so that you don’t have to worry about bonding right away. This also lessens your risk of ending up with solo guinea pigs who don’t get along and having to find new partners.
Another tip before you try bonding at home: See if rescues or shelters in your area allow your current guinea pig to “speed date” others at the rescue. This allows you to find a good match prior to adoption.
Lastly, consider fostering to adopt. This allows you to bring home a new guinea pig without a permanent commitment. If the bond with your piggy works, you can formally adopt them. If not, you can return them to the rescue and try again.
How Do You Bond Guinea Pigs Together?
Setting Up the Bonding Space
The best way to bond guinea pigs together is to set up a neutral space where neither of them has been before. Use either new or clean items that don’t smell like either guinea pig.
If your guinea pigs are getting along well after a few hours, you can add hides or tunnels with at least two entryways. You don’t want anyone getting cornered!
If things get tense at any point, you can feed some veggies to break the tension.
Watching the Guinea Pigs’ Behaviors
Keep the setup small and sparse, with just a hay pile in the center to start. Watch your guinea pigs’ behaviors, and don’t step in too soon–rumble strutting, teeth chattering, humping, and even some chasing are okay.
If they launch at one another, spin around each other in a “tornado,” or draw blood, it’s time to separate them. To avoid injury to yourself, use a large, thin object like a piece of cardboard or something that covers your hand, like an oven mitt or towel.
Once guinea pigs have drawn blood, it’s much harder to bond them–and sometimes unsafe. Most people call it quits after the first time to avoid further injury.
When to Separate
It’s not recommended to separate your guinea pigs at all during bonding unless you’re sure the bond isn’t working, such as if they draw blood. Guinea pigs aren’t like dogs and cats, who benefit from short meetings in the beginning.
Once you put them in the bonding pen, your goal is to keep them there for hours or days until you’re sure the bond is working, and you can move them to their permanent cage.
Moving Into the Cage
Your last step is to move your guinea pigs into a fresh, clean cage that smells like neither of them. This means either buying new items or thoroughly cleaning the cage. It’s okay if the cage is sparse for now; you can add additional items once the bond is more established.
For the first week or so, avoid single-entry hides and anything else your guinea pigs may become territorial over, like their favorite toys.
When it comes to when to move your piggies into their new cage, everyone has a different opinion. I prefer a long bonding with overnight monitoring, just to be safe.
It also depends on your guinea pigs! Some piggies need 24-48 hours to settle in, while others will get along from the first minute and can be moved to their cage within a few hours.
Use your best judgment, and monitor them in the cage until you’re sure they’re getting along well. They may act differently in the cage than they did in the bonding pen.
Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone After One Dies?
Pet loss is difficult for humans and pets alike. After your guinea pig dies, it may be difficult to think of adopting another. It’s okay to give yourself and your other piggy time to grieve.
However, it’s unfair to make a guinea pig live alone for the remainder of their life. Your current guinea pig may become depressed, stressed, or lonely.
If your guinea pig is a senior and you’d like them to be your last, consider fostering a second guinea pig until the first passes away. Or, adopt another senior piggy who will have a similar remaining lifespan.
