Good guide to guinea pig care
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, so much depends on the home environment, space available, local exotic vet etc.
The question has been merged; any pet is the responsibility of an adult, it is not appropriate for a child to be the main carer, and certainly younger children do not have the dexterity to handle small animals safely (accidental dropping, unintentional squeezing, pulling hair/ears etc) and can be traumatised by a bite which is administered by the pet in self defence. Naturally, it is important that any pet receives veterinary care as and when required, and this will be outside the scope of pocket money in most cases.
Between guinea pigs and rabbits, it is difficult to generalise as much depends on the personality of the individual, however most guinea pigs will appreciate sitting quietly on someone’s lap more than most rabbits. Guinea pigs are vocal, calling for their food or greeting a familiar person - I love this, but it might not suit everyone. Rabbits are silent apart from thumping with their hind feet. Guinea pigs (like humans) require a daily intake of vitamin C, whereas rabbits can synthesise their own; this has implications for feeding as guinea pigs should have fresh salad veggies and hay together with pelleted food with added vitamin C, whereas rabbits need less salad-type foods as too much can upset their digestive system.
Kay Dudman, Caring for guinea pigs for over twenty years
No. You need to make sure someone goes in to check on them. If you leave them a big bowl of food they will just pig in and eat it, they will not save anything for the next day. Some guinea pigs foul the water in their bottles (from particles of food in their mouths), you need to make sure that they have fresh water and they do not run out of water. You also need to make sure they have fresh dry food - sometimes they will urinate and/or defaecate in their bowls, so they need to have fresh food available. They also need to have hay available. If you would not leave a child unattended, then the same applies to your pet. You should make arrangements with someone you trust to check on them and ensure they have fresh food and water, and veterinary care should that be necessary (in which case, brief the carer what to look for if they are not familiar with guinea pigs).
It means he needs to be seen by a qualified veterinary surgeon urgently. It could be blood in urine, indicating an infection or a bladder stone, it could be an injury from over-grooming or a bite from another guinea pig (or other animal) or it could indicate an internal problem. For a female, it could be a problem with the uterus or even indicating imminent birth. Bleeding in a guinea pig is not normal and requires veterinary attention.
It would depend whether they had access to food and water, and the temperature in which they find themselves. The could die from hypothermia in extreme cold, or perish in extreme heat. Another threat to their wellbeing would be predators; a domestic cat would make short work of a hamster. A further risk is any trap put down, such as a mousetrap. If the hamster is in a safe environment with a moderate temperature, and ease of access to food and water they could survive for weeks or months; they could be hiding, only coming out to feed and drink (they are crepuscular, only active at dawn and dusk).
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