Pet Care - Guinea Pigs

General

Guinea Pigs are an ideal first pet for small children, as they are very easy to look after. They are smaller than rabbits. Unlike rabbits who are very sociable, guinea pigs are very shy creatures, and will often run off and hide if they hear something. Years ago, guinea pigs only lived in South America, then once traders visited, they returned with guinea pigs and the population spread throughout the world. Although guinea pigs are very shy, they don't like to be kept alone, so it's best to keep them in pairs or more.

Wild guinea pigs live in long grasslands and burrows. Guinea pigs are from the 'Caviidae' family.

Male guinea pigs are called 'Boars' and females are called 'Sows'.

One lovely aspect of a guinea pig is the noise it makes. They often make squeaky or purring or bubbly noises.

Species

There are 8 species of guinea pigs all of which are native to South America. Guinea pigs range in appearance from short to long fur, rough to smooth fur, and come in a range of colours. Some are even multi coloured. Guinea pigs have no tail. Guinea pigs tend to live for an average 4-7 years.

Housing

Guinea pigs can be kept indoors in a cage or outdoors in a hutch. It is advisable to keep the cage or hutch in the shade, in a shed or away from direct sunlight outside. It is also best to keep the guinea pigs inside during the cold winter months, as guinea pigs can not live in cold temperatures. The housing should be big enough to accommodate more than one guinea pig, as guinea pigs become lonely when kept on their own.

The floor of the house should be covered with a good amount of sawdust and straw to keep the guinea pigs comfortable.

It is very hard to toilet train guinea pigs as they are very messy animals. They toilet in more than one place in their house. It is best to clean them out at least once a week to avoid them living in a soggy and very smelly environment.

A popular complaint with guinea pigs is mite infestation on the skin, so one of the best ways to keep guinea pigs mite free, is to completely wash out their hutches with hot water, and disinfect it with an appropriate approved disinfectant. Also make sure the hutch is completely dry before adding the sawdust and straw to it, as you don't want the guinea pig coming down with a cold. Guinea pigs do not like draughts, so make sure their housing is completely sheltered.

Guinea pigs and rabbits tend to get on with each other, but it's best not to keep a rabbit and guinea pig in the same housing, as a rabbit is a much larger animal and can hurt the guinea pig unintentionally.

It is best not to keep male guinea pigs together as they may fight. If you put 2 females together, it's best they be introduced at the same time.

Gnawing

Guinea pigs teeth can grow very long, up to 2mm a week, so it's best to give them fibrous food such as good quality hay + grass to help wear their teeth.

Food

Most pet stores sell food for guinea pigs, but make sure you buy a brand that contains added Vitamin C, as guinea pigs (unlike other animals) can not provide their own Vitamin C, so need a diet that contains a lot of Vitamin C to keep them healthy. Pellet feed is better than mixes as they avoid selective feeding. Feed them lots of dark green leaves, fruit high in Vitamin C and especially lots of hay. This helps aid their digestion. Make sure they have a good supply of fresh, cold water everyday.

Guinea pigs also eat just about any vegetable such as carrots, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, mint and dandelion leaves. They also love grass, apples, pears, and many other types of fruit. Do not feed guinea pigs lettuce, sweets, chocolate, rhubarb, tomatoes etc.

Exercise

Guinea pigs love to exercise so it's ideal to supply them with a run or open grass area. Make sure any holes and escape routes are blocked, so the guinea pig can not try to escape. Guinea pigs tend to follow each other around, and you can often hear them making their squeaky noises. You can also buy tubes etc. from pet stores, to allow your guinea pigs added enjoyment during play time.

Handling

Guinea pigs should be picked up with both hands; one round their shoulders and the other supporting their hindquarters. Most guinea pigs are very easy to handle, especially when picked up correctly so they don't get scared. It's also best to handle them from an early age so they can get used to you. If they are too shy to be handled, maybe you could tempt them with a treat.

Reproduction

Guinea pigs can breed up-to 5 times a year, with the average litter size approximately 2-5. The gestation period is approximately 60-72 days.

Buying a Guinea Pig

The best place to buy a guinea pig is directly from a reputable breeder or reputable pet shop. Buying from a breeder means that the breeding has usually been planned carefully and the babies should be healthy and of good temperament.