Aug 08 2008
Guinea Pig Therapy?
image from Webster’s Online Dictionary
Not long ago, our family cat passed away, and we’ve been thinking about whether or not to get another pet. We even touched on the topic of thinking about a therapy dog for Gus. Only problem is that Gus is still a little afraid of dogs. The other day I came across an article about a family who uses guinea pigs as a form of pet therapyfor her Asperger’s and ADHD kids.
I wonder if Gus might like one. I’ve often wondered about kids and smaller creatures, images of squishing and squeezing plague my brain. It could be worth a shot though, especially since Gus is about as likely to squish a poor guinea pig as he is to bench press…me. It could be worth a shot. Does anyone know the average life expectancy for the little critters?
Hi there!
When I was teaching last summer I took one in for a sort of show and tell, and a room full of over excited first graders didn’t even bother my pig. I would recomend getting one from a rescue group as they could probably set you up with a guinea pig that would work well with your needs- I would assume you would want a pig that is used to being handled and used to children. Guinea pigs are really social, so if you aren’t going to be spending much time with one- you may want to get a pair so they keep each other company.
I have two guinea pigs and they are amazing pets! They are a lot more sturdy than you would imagine