Housing Guinea Pigs

Male guinea pigs can be housed with females, yet two males living together will fight. Housing for guinea pigs should consist of a wire cage or aquarium at least 12 inches high and providing at least 2 square feet of space for each pig. The smooth flooring of the cage can be lined with aspen shavings (avoid cedar shavings), commercial rodent bedding, or hay. Bedding should be spot-cleaned daily and changed completely every week. Most guinea pigs appreciate a hiding box or enclosure made of plastic, ceramic, or wood in which to crawl and hide when the feeling arises. Also, guinea pigs like to climb. Providing multilevel shelving within the cage would make your pet extremely happy.
Water delivery systems should be kept up off of the cage floor for sanitary purposes. Since some pigs might actually regurgitate food bback up into the water sipper, be sure to check and maintain the patency of such devices on a daily basis. A sturdy, chew-resistant food bowl is a must. The entire cage and its contents should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized weekly using soap and water.
Guinea pigs do not tolerate heat and humidity very well. Ideal environmental temperature for them is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit can quickly lead to heat stroke.

Preventive Health Care Guinea Pigs

Routine vaccinations are not required for guinea pigs, but an annual veterinary checkup is highly recommended. The nails of guinea pigs should be trimmed monthly (or more frequently if needed), and the haircoat should be brushed at least twice weekly (longhair varieties more frequently). Monitor your pet’s teeth monthly for any apparent overgrowth. If detected, contact your veterinarian. Fleas can be controlled by spottreating with safe, topical products designed for puppies and kittens.
Guinea pigs can be prolific breeders, so many owners opt to have their pets neutered to prevent their households from becoming overpopulated with these cute creatures! Strict sanitation, environmental control, and high-quality rations, including vitamin C supplements, must be given top priority in order to prevent disease in guinea pigs. Always keep a close eye on your pet’s behavior, eating habits, elimination habits, and physical characteristics. Notify your veterinarian of any changes.
Care should be taken to prevent obesity, which can have the same deleterious effects in guinea pigs as it does in humans. And be sure to offer your pet a liberal dose of attention each day to cater to its mental and emotional health.

Nutrition Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs must have adequate amounts of vitamin C in their diets, since their bodies are not capable of synthesizing the vitamin internally. Commercial guinea pig rations, in pellet form, can more than satisfy this requirement if the pellets purchased are fresh. However, to be safe, offer fresh fruits (e.g., one-quarter of an orange or apple) and vegetables (e.g., collard greens, parsley, kale) along with the regular pelleted rations to ensure adequate amounts of vitamin C in the diet. Like rabbits, guinea pigs also enjoy gnawing on carrot sticks.
Because a guinea pigs teeth are in a constant growth mode, provide a hardwood chew block and/or tree branches (e.g., elm, maple, birch, napple, pear, peach) to help keep the teeth worn down properly and to nsatisfy its desire to chew. Avoid branches from trees such as cedar, nredwood, cherry, and oleander, as these can be poisonous.
Clean food bowls (these should be ceramic to discourage chewing) ndaily, as some guinea pigs enjoy defecating therein. Also, provide nplenty of clean, fresh water delivered through a water sipper that hangs from the side of the cage.
Reproduction
Female guinea pigs cycle every 16 days and, if mated, will carry the developing offspring for an average of 68 days. Females that are not bred until after 6 months of age have a higher incidence of birthing complications than do those bred earlier in life. If a pig is not bred before nthis time, its pelvis might nfuse together, making passage through the birth canal difficult. As a result, a C-section operation might be necessary to deliver the litter. Also, pregnant guinea pigs are especially susceptible to heat stroke if environmental temperatures are not kept well regulated.
Litter sizes usually range from one to eight cavies. Baby guinea pigs are born with eyes open and with hair. This enables them to be weaned almost immediately if the situation warrants it. However, survival rates are better if babies are weaned around 3 weeks of age. Sexual maturity in guinea pigs is reached at 3 months of age.

Restraint Guinea Pigs

Restraint of the guinea pig is similar to that of rats. The shoulder and chest regions can be encircled with one hand and the hind end supported with the other hand as you lift. Be sure to control the guinea pigs hind feet and rump to prevent it from scratching you

Guinea Pigs

Cavia porcellus, the guinea pig, is a native of the south American continent, where it was raised by the Incas for food and for religious sacrifice. Introduced into Europe centuries ago, the guinea pig became popular as a laboratory animal, then as a pet. In the United States, the same functions hold true today. As pets, there are a number of popular breeds from which to choose, including the English, characterized by smooth, short hair; Peruvians, which have long, silky hair; Abyssinians, which sport short, coarse hair arranged in multiple whorls; crested, which are similar to English guinea pigs but with a white crest on the head; and Teddys, characterized by coarse, kinky hair. Guinea pigs also come in a variety of colors, such as solids, agouti, Himalayan, and tortoise shell.
Like hamsters, guinea pigs have no tails. Good-natured, they rarely bite, yet will emit a loud squeal when frightened or handled. They are easy to maintain, and require minimal preventive health care. They do require periodic brushing and nail trims. In addition, their front teeth may require trimming if overgrowth occurs. Guinea pigs average about 1 to 2 pounds in weight when fully grown, and can live up to 8 years when well cared for.