DNA testing

[Carrie Jackson]

Does anyone know of a way seeing if your guinea pigs are related but using locks of fur? As I have two boys who me and my partner think are related and wondered if it was possible to do a test to see if they are or not

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ive no idea, but I wouldn’t think its something most owners would even think of going to the trouble of testing for so I’m not sure if you will find any personal advice on here. Perhaps contact your vet and see what they think. I wonder if it would be very expensive.
For DNA testing though, I'm pretty sure a lock of hair is not enough, it has to be a hair root, so you cannot cut it. You have to actually pull hair out of the skin to make sure the root remains attached.

 

[Swissgreys]

It's an interesting question - @PigglePuggle might know more.

But you also need to bear in mind that animals don't tend to view siblings and family the same way that we humans do.
To them it really is just another guinea pig that they like or don't like - relationship (or lack thereof) really makes no different to them.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Scientifically this is possible of course, but I doubt that any lab offers this service commercially for guinea pigs because there isnt the market for it.
To do a DNA test for relatedness requires specific PCR tests for each of several sections of DNA specifically used for genotyping that particular animal.
This is routinely done for humans, race horses, and many endangered species- there is enough commercial or research interest for these tests to have been developed and optimised. Developing and optimising such tests for a new species of interest may take several months and several thousand pounds/dollars/euros of research money.
So probably not available for pet guinea pigs just out of curiosity