Guinea PigGuinea Pig

 

Guinea pigs are intelligent and quiet animals.  As a solitary pet, it may bond closely with you, greeting you with chirps, purrs, squeaks or whistles. Guinea pig do not require as much  of your time as some other pets, but the more time you spend with them, the more interactive they will be. They are very active creatures and enjoy running through tunnels and negotiating mazes. They may play with toys, and if you have more than one Guinea pig, they will play games of chase with each other.
    Guinea pig are social animals, and will establish a pecking order, frequently male-dominated.  Overcrowding may incite aggression and non-castrated males may be aggressive towards other males in the presence of females. Guinea pigs do not adapt well to changes in their food or environment. Hair barbering (chewing of the fur) may occur in situations of stress and overcrowding.

The guinea pig, or cavy, is a rodent that comes from South America. It is related to the chinchilla and porcupine. Guinea Pigs are not endangered or threatened in the wild. In South America, guinea pigs are often hunted or raised for meat, but free-ranging animals are not trapped for the pet trade.

In the United States, the guinea pig is kept as a pet, and also used in research. Hobbyists breed purebred guinea pigs for shows, but the pet stores usually sell crossbred animals. There are eleven guinea pig breeds recognized in the show ring, including American/English, white-crested, Abyssinian, Peruvian, Silky and Teddy. Guinea pigs are not aggressive, preferring to flee in the face of danger rather than bite or scratch. They are sensitive creatures and can become panicked if startled by abrupt and loud noises.

 

Medical conditions often seen in Guinea Pigs:
 

  • Scurvy or Vitamin C deficiency can present bone or teeth abnormalities, abnormal bruises or hemorrhages.

  • Malnutrition
    Overgrown teeth/malocclusion

  • Diarrhea/enteritis

  • Anorexia/weight loss

  • Pneumonia

  • Pododermatitis (foot infections)

  • Abortion/ pregnancy toxemia/dystocia

  • Pregnancy-associated hair loss

  • Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)/mange dermatitis

  • Arthritis/septicemia

  • Bite wounds (if group housed)

Veterinary physical examination is recommended once a year.

 

Sexing


    To determine the sex of your guinea pig, examine its external genitalia: male guinea pigs have large scrotal sacs, and their penis can be easily extruded with gentle pressure, while females have a vagina membrane. Females are usually smaller than males.

Diet


    Unlike other animals, Guinea pigs are not able to synthesize vitamin C on their own; therefore, a dietary source of Vitamin C must be provided daily. Commercial pellets specially formulated for guinea pigs contain Vitamin C but the level may be affected by the storage conditions or time. You can provide supplementation with a quarter of an orange or a small amount of kale or cabbage daily to ensure adequate Vitamin C intake. Fresh timothy or alfalfa hay may be offered for additional fiber. Guinea pigs should have fresh, filtered drinking water at all times.  Check the water bottle frequently because the like to play with the sipper tube. If the nails or the teeth of guinea pigs need to be trimmed regularly, evaluate the diet as it may be inadequate.

 Pregnancy
       Once they reach sexual maturity, females have a estrous (heat ) every 16 days, but they will be receptive to males for only for 8 hours. Pregnancy averages 63-68 days, the average litter is 3-4 young with a range of 1-6. The weaning age is 2-3 weeks.		  
Behavior

Guinea Pigs like quiet environments and appreciate having a box Guinea pigs like quiet environments and appreciate having a box or tunnel in which to hide and rest. While your guinea pig does not need to be walked, it will enjoy wandering outside its cage. Like all other rodents, guinea pigs explore their world through nibbling on new items; therefore, you should check their play area for any potential hazards

Vital Statistics:

Body Length:12 in(310 mm)

Body Weight: 750-1200 gr.

Sexual Maturity: Male: 3-4 mo.

                          Female: 2-3 mo.

Average life span: 5 yr. (max. 8)
Housing
    Your guinea pig age should be 1 x 2 feet, but the larger the space, the better. the sides of the enclosure should be at least 12" high. Because guinea pigs do not jump or climb, they can be housed in an open-topped enclosure, like a plastic children's pool, as long as dogs or cats do not have access to it. The best flooring for guinea pigs is solid, covered with dust free bedding of either soft wood shavings (aspen, for example) ,shredded paper, hay, or commercial bedding pellets.  While their fecal pellets are relatively odorless, bedding should be changed weekly to control urine odors. Cavies are very sensitive to ammonia in urine.
   

Tips to keep your Guinea Pig Healthy, Happy & Safe!

  • Provide fresh food and water daily. Remove food that is not eaten within a half an hour.  Keep diet stable and minimize treat variety. Ensure Vitamin C source in their diet either in the Guinea pig pellets or supplement.
  • If your guinea pig has long hair ,comb it daily and keep it clipped and clean.
  • Check droppings for evidence of illness: abnormally dry feces may indicate dehydration or constipation, while abnormally soft feces indicate diarrhea.
  • Be set up in a quiet part of the house away from sudden noises.
  • Be cleaned with change of bedding material every few days.
  • Be maintained in a ambient temperature between 55-90°F.
  • Offer some opportunity for sunlight as long as shade is available to prevent overheating.
  • Include a box or tunnel for hiding and resting.
  • Include  items for chewing such as branches from fruit trees, which will help keep the teeth worn properly.
  • Avoid : wire floor enclosure, tobacco or cigarette smoke, electrical cords; ingestible plastic, furniture, dogs, cats, or small children, toxic house plans, pesticides, cedar shavings, pine ,refined sugars, leaded paint or wood varnish, galvanized metal.