Why am I doing Y for Years? I’m the Youngest, that’s why! I’m Pippin, and I’m two years old. Victor is three in June, Locksley is four in August and Ludo is five about now. We know Locksley’s and my birth dates, but not the others.

Guinea pig v Human Years

Many people like to compare animal years to their own. It really doesn’t matter to us, since a year is a year and it’s how much you pack into it that matters. More grass time, for example. Mummy says guineas seem to age about 12 times faster than humans, although when she started they said it was 14 gp years to a human one. Now guineas are living longer, so she thinks of us growing up 12 years in one calendar year. That makes me about 25 in human years already! I am in my prime!

How long do guinea pigs live?

This is something Mummy says has changed for the better since she’s known us. They used to answer ‘4 to 6 years’ for that question, but now the answer is ‘5 to 9’. Mummy reckons the main factor in this has been the internet, because it used to be difficult to get advice quickly if your Guinea had a problem. Also the vets weren’t so good (see X for Exotics). But with the internet forums and then social media, if you have a poorly piggy, you can get advice or at least guidance from another piggy person almost instantly.

Mummy’s made a summary of how long the ggpw pigs have lived.

• Bertie – 3 years (sudden mystery illness)
• Oscar – 3 1/2 (wasting disease, pts)
• George – 4 (teeth complications)
• Fred – 4 1/2 (grieving and anaesthetic reaction)
• Hugo – 4+ (bladder problems then pneumonia)
• Dougall – 4 (wasting disease, pts)
• Dylan – 4 1/2 (grieving)
• Midge – 4 (epileptic fit)
• Hector – 5 (stroke)
• Percy – 5+ (cancer)
• Biggles – 5+ (thyroid+heart trouble)
• Victor – 6 (epileptic fit)
• Humphrey – 6+ (cancer)
• Roscoe – 7 (stroke)
• Neville – 6+ (grieving)
• Kevin – 7+ (age)
• Colman – 8 (age)

Mummy says there aren’t really any patterns to be drawn here, although she wonders whether the Norfolk pigs have an element of inter-breeding weakening them, nearly all having been rescued from the same area. But the last four all came from other parts of the UK.

Do we celebrate our birthdays?

Yes, when we know them. Mummy usually gives us a party, with a cake made of mushed pellets and herbs. And if we don’t eat nicely together, she gives us a slice to ourselves!

That’s all from me for the A 2 Z Challenge, but come back tomorrow to meet my father, mother and sisters who live with Auntie Zoe!

love

Pippin