Rabbit & Guinea Pig co-habitation

Question
I have a nine year old female rabbit and a two year old (big boy male guinea pig.  I have kept their cages close together at night and place cages on floor, doors open to allow them time to interact.  I had read that rabbit food (pellets)can make a guinea pig sick, so have removed the rabbit's bowl during the interactive periods.  Recently, the rabbit shown obvious preference in joining the guinea pig in his cage and "growls" when I attempt to remove her.  I left her where she wanted to be, but need to know if the guinea pig's pellets can make her sick?  They both have hay available, but seem to like pellets as well.

Answer
Hi Madeleine,

Many people do have bonded buns and piggies. We have let our piggies play with the rabbits...and our rabbits pretty much ignored them. I would not allow them to share pellets.  They do have differing nutritional requirements.  And piggies can't produce their own Vitamin C so their food has lots more ascorbic acid (and supplement Vit C doesn't hurt).  The hay is no problem but I wouldn't suggest allowing them to share pellets due the differences in nutrition.

The only concern I have with piggie/bunny bonding is those powerful hind legs of a rabbit.  Many piggies have been unintentionally injured by the kick of a rabbit....and sometimes it has not been good.  We have never had that to happen here...but I do know things like that have happened.

But to answer your question directly....piggies and rabbit should not have common pellets.

Oh....you must be a very good bunny mom to have a rabbit that age.  Good work!

Randy