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Originally from South America, these little creatures have traveled into the hearts of many people. They are active, energetic, vocal and lovable. With a life span of 8-10 years they are truly a companion pet.
In the wild they are always on the move grazing for food, that is why their babies are born with their eyes open and eating solid food although they need to nurse on mom for about 3-4 weeks. Their gestation period is about 68 days and they usually have 2-3 babies but occasionally 4-5. Female guinea pigs can become pregnant as early as 5 weeks of age but is not recommended before 12 weeks of age. Also important, females, if they are to be bred should be pregnant before they are 6 months of age as their pelvis fuses making it difficult to birth their babies. Although guinea pigs are very social creatures and live in small herds in the wild, adult males are territorial and will fight, even if they have been raised together. We strongly recommend spaying and neutering of guinea pigs as that it allows both males and females alike to live together. Spaying and neutering also increases the life span of your pet by reducing health problems, such as pyometra, mammary gland tumors, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer etc.
Caging should be at least 18X 30 inches with a solid floor (NO RAISED WIRE FLOORS) with plenty of ventilation. We recommend our 18 x 30 guinea pig cage as it has a solid bottom so that their legs do not fall through and it gives them enough room for a bed and a few toys although bigger is always better. They are a ground animal that requires room to move. Although they love to run loose in your home they are very destructive and mischievous and should be kept confined when they cannot be supervised. Pine or white shavings (never cedar) or Carefresh shavings (recycled newspaper) can be used on the bottom. The cage should be placed away from direct sunlight, drafts, heat vents or air-conditioning. Although normal room temperatures 68-70 degrees) are fine for adults we recommend a warmer area for babies (72-74 degrees). If there is shelving in the cage it should be solid so that their feet cannot fall through. The cage should be cleaned out entirely at least once a week and cleaned with a 10% bleach and water solution and rinsed thoroughly. Guinea pigs will generally choose one corner to go potty in and this corner can be cleaned daily to help reduce odor. Or you can even potty train your pig, by placing a small litter pan with some kitty litter in their chosen corner.
The diet should consist of a balanced Guinea pig pellet (NOT RABBIT PELLETS). We use and recommend Oxbow diets. They have a formula for babies and for adult pigs. Guinea pigs need high amounts of vitamin C each day, they like us do not make their own . Oxbow foods are formulated with a stable vitamin C in the appropriate amounts for them. Supplemental vitamin C can also be given in the ratio of 50 milligrams to 8 oz of water. Vegetables that are rich with vitamin C should also be given. Guinea pigs should get lots of fresh veggies and fruits each day, such as: Apples, strawberries, bananas, kiwi, melons, citrus fruit, grapes, green leaf and romaine lettuce (NO ICEBERG LETTUCE), carrots, carrot greens, sweet red peppers and parsley. DO NOT give them rhubarb, germinating potatoes, uncooked beans, celery, shelled nuts & seeds (because of choking hazards) and dairy products.
Some of the most common health problems that occur with guinea pigs are easily preventable. Most guinea pig "colds" are actually caused by not enough vitamin C. They also have a type of lice that are specific to them and can be prevented by the use of 1 T 20 Mule Team Borax mixed with their shavings. Providing chew toys and hard treats will help to keep their ever growing teeth the right length and if your guinea does not keeps it's own nails trimmed try putting a red brick in the cage for it to crawl over.
Guinea pigs are very vocal and love to talk. They learn to recognize the sound of the refrigerator door, your car or any sound that is associated with food and or attention. When handling a guinea pig make sure to support all of their feet, they do not like heights. We recommend that younger children sit down on the floor and let the guinea pig sit in their lap. Remember not to stick your fingers to close to thier mouth, they nibble on everything to see if it's food.
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