General Are Guinea Pigs Rodents?

[BestGuineaPigs]

My mom owns a daycare, and shes's having a sanitation inspection, so she read what she has to have just in case. One of the rules are that your house should be rodent and insect free. Are guinea pigs considered rodents in this situation? Are guinea pigs even rodents at all? I know some people say yes and others say no, so I really need help. I don't know what were going to do. (Btw, my mom has her daycare in the house). Please help! I am researching right now.

 

[bpatters]

I don't think the scientists have made any decision about whether they're truly rodents at all. But your caged guinea pigs won't be considered rodents by the sanitation inspectors. They're looking for mice and rats that crawl around and pee all over food and dishes and spread disease.

 

[PrincessPiggy]

Don't worry, they aren't worried about pet rodents (unless those pets are kept in a way that is unsanitary). Your piggies should be just fine.

Scientists haven't really decided what category guinea pigs fit in to. They definitely share some features with rodents (ever-growing teeth, etc.), but they are also similar to rabbits, which are lagomorphs.

 

[GeekPrincess]

Caged pets don't count. Especially not if they aren't kept in the daycare area. Just clean the cage really good before the inspector arrives. It'll make a good impression, if they even see them.

 

[CookiesMom]

They are talking about pest rodents, not PET rodents. I know my local childcare licensing agency has policy that bird cannot be housed in the same room as child care kids, however pet rodents are fine.

 

[Paula]

I haven't really ever understood why some folks get so bent out of shape over whether a guinea pig is a rodent or it isn't. They're pets, most of us here love them, so I can't quite get my head around what it matters what their actual classification is. Rabbits are lagomorphs but they're still, in the scheme of things, kinda gross - they pee/poop all over (without training) and destroy things (without supervision). Rats are rodents but they make wonderfully sweet companions and people find them to be very rewarding pets. To me, it's never mattered what their official classification is and I can't quite understand why some folks try so hard to suggest they are more rabbit-like than rat-like when they just are what they are - sweet little animals that many of us share our lives with and find to be wonderfully rewarding companions, whatever they are "officially." I mean, really, if we're going to get into it, chinchillas are rodents, too, but they're arguably more sophisticated and much more exotic than a guinea pig ... Official scientific classification just doesn't seem terribly important when we're talking about an animal that we love and enjoy spending our lives with - what they are or aren't doesn't change their status as delightful companions.

As to the daycare, as others have suggested, no I don't think pets kept in sanitary conditions are going to have any impact on your mom's inspection.

 

[stray hares]

Well, I'm a scientist and I'd classify guinea pigs as rodents. As Paula said, there's nothing wrong with rodents.

I'm sure the inspectors will be fine with your piggies.

 

[9GuineaPig9]

In the context of the daycare inspection, I'm sure your guinea pigs won't cause any problems. As long as little kids can't get to them, I'm sure you and your pigs will be fine.

 

[Artista]

I haven't really ever understood why some folks get so bent out of shape over whether a guinea pig is a rodent or it isn't. They're pets, most of us here love them, so I can't quite get my head around what it matters what their actual classification is. Rabbits are lagomorphs but they're still, in the scheme of things, kinda gross - they pee/poop all over (without training) and destroy things (without supervision). Rats are rodents but they make wonderfully sweet companions and people find them to be very rewarding pets. To me, it's never mattered what their official classification is and I can't quite understand why some folks try so hard to suggest they are more rabbit-like than rat-like when they just are what they are - sweet little animals that many of us share our lives with and find to be wonderfully rewarding companions, whatever they are "officially." I mean, really, if we're going to get into it, chinchillas are rodents, too, but they're arguably more sophisticated and much more exotic than a guinea pig ... Official scientific classification just doesn't seem terribly important when we're talking about an animal that we love and enjoy spending our lives with - what they are or aren't doesn't change their status as delightful companions.

As to the daycare, as others have suggested, no I don't think pets kept in sanitary conditions are going to have any impact on your mom's inspection.

Unfortunately the word "rodent" sends many running. If I show a pic of Mooshy where she is looking face forward in a cute sitting posture then I get she's cute. If side view or a view where she looks like a rat/mouse then folks don't say anything. If they find out she's a rodent then I get the eww kind of look with my mom on top asking me why not get a dog instead, rodents have diseases. I went through this is my birds too initially. It was they're pretty but they have diseases. After awhile it became ok but don't touch it too much. Mom is now at she's cute but don't touch it much. Dogs and cats get no adverse reactions. If I were into reptile keeping then it may be worse in their minds than rodents, not sure.

 

[Paula]

Unfortunately the word "rodent" sends many running. If I show a pic of Mooshy where she is looking face forward in a cute sitting posture then I get she's cute. If side view or a view where she looks like a rat/mouse then folks don't say anything. If they find out she's a rodent then I get the eww kind of look with my mom on top asking me why not get a dog instead, rodents have diseases. I went through this is my birds too initially. It was they're pretty but they have diseases. After awhile it became ok but don't touch it too much. Mom is now at she's cute but don't touch it much. Dogs and cats get no adverse reactions. If I were into reptile keeping then it may be worse in their minds than rodents, not sure.

I guess I don't really care what other people think about MY pets. They are what they are - dwelling on whether or not they could be called something else seems like a pointless expenditure of energy, at least to me.

Dogs and cats do get adverse reactions from people who don't like and don't keep animals. Quite frankly I think cats (at least mine) are far more disgusting than guinea pigs, whether we're calling them a rodent or not. In the end, though, it's all down to what YOU think of them, not anyone else. Of course, I can say that having not had to deal with my parents' opinions on my pet keeping in many years, I realize my perspective might be different. Personally, I think birds are disgusting, but it certainly wouldn't bother me if you chose to keep them as pets and likewise, my opinion on them certainly shouldn't impact your keeping of them, either.

 

[Artista]

I guess I don't really care what other people think about MY pets. They are what they are - dwelling on whether or not they could be called something else seems like a pointless expenditure of energy, at least to me.

Dogs and cats do get adverse reactions from people who don't like and don't keep animals. Quite frankly I think cats (at least mine) are far more disgusting than guinea pigs, whether we're calling them a rodent or not. In the end, though, it's all down to what YOU think of them, not anyone else. Of course, I can say that having not had to deal with my parents' opinions on my pet keeping in many years, I realize my perspective might be different. Personally, I think birds are disgusting, but it certainly wouldn't bother me if you chose to keep them as pets and likewise, my opinion on them certainly shouldn't impact your keeping of them, either.

Oh I know. For many years now what my parents think doesn't matter unless it truly is something to think about, like life experiences. Something like pets, I don't live with them so it's not an issue. It would be nice not to hear such things from the ones you love since I view my pets as my kids (which they don't get that either lol). But alas, I just show them photos from time to time and that's it. Since I have 9 different colors of fleece cases for my fleece flippers, they shall receive a photo of her on each color as I change it up. hehe

 

[PrincessPiggy]

I personally don't care whether my piggies are rodents or lagomorphs or whatever-- I think they're awesome anyway. Rodents don't bother me, and someday in the future (when I'm off on my own and am making enough money for a pet) I may adopt rats or chinchillas.

I think the whole "Eeewww, rodents carry diseases" reaction is from people who assume that since wild rodents carry diseases (and they can carry some nasty ones), therefore all rodents-- domesticated ones included-- are diseased. What they don't realize is that stray cats, dogs, and their wild cousins can carry some nasty diseases, too, so why not react with an "Eeewww" at the sight of my fluffy little dog?

 

[ClemmyOddieIndy]

Everyone has answered your questions. However, you need to look into your state laws regarding health certifications on your animals. Different states have different laws, but they may require all animals in your household to have a yearly vet check with paperwork indicating they are healthy. That includes guinea pigs in my state.

 

[Agrimony]

I find the 'are they rodents' question interesting! Of all mammal groups rodents are one of the most successful with many different varieties. Ranging from large capybaras, beavers, and porcupines to tiny field mice to pets like guinea pigs and chinchillas there is so much variety. It's interesting to think aboiut. And although rabbits aren't rodents they are similar (I think its is slight differences in dental and digestive systems? but I could be wrong). People may picture a rat when you say rodent but there's really so much variety and certainly they aren't all rats.