Guinea Pig
Life Span: 5 years (Max. 8 years)
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Highlights
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gender
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. They reach sexual maturity at 3-4 months in males and 2-3 months in females they can weigh 750-1200 grams and their life span is 5 years (max.8).
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.
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.
Medical conditions that require Veterinary Care:
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)
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