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General Information About Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs (also known as cavies) are very enjoyable pets and are a lot of responsibility. They are highly vocal and food oriented, learning very quickly where their favorite veggie comes from and “wheeking” in anticipation. It is important to recognize the commitment involved when adopting these animals. The average life expectancy of a guinea pig is 5-7 years, with some living as long as 10 years. Guinea pigs rarely bite, are diurnal and can learn to enjoy being held and pet. They are naturally shy and timid creatures and therefore require calm, quiet and gentle interaction with their human families.

There are many different breeds of guinea pigs, from the long haired Peruvian to the almost hairless Skinny pigs. Some guinea pigs are called Crested, because of a ring of hair on their foreheads that look like little crowns. One popular breed is the Abbysinnian, who has whorls of hair all over their bodies, giving them the “bed head” look. The short haired breed is called American, and the pigs with wiry short hair are called Teddies. There can also be mixtures of all these breeds, resulting in some very interesting looking little pigs! All of these “special” type pigs can be found in shelters and rescues across Ontario, so there is no need to frequent breeders if one is looking for a specific type.

Exercise

Guinea pigs are fairly active animals; they require at least an hour of free range or floor time every day, where they are able to stretch their legs and explore a different environment for mental stimulation. Guinea pigs are prone to “tasting” new things in their travels, so it is very important to pig-proof the home before letting them free range. Put all cords and houseplants out of reach, be wary of objects that may fall on a guinea pig and areas that a pig could get trapped in. Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs are very difficult to litter train. They will urinate and defecate wherever they happen to be, so one must keep this in mind when determining where to free range the pigs! Laying down towels or old sheets on the free range area can help with this problem.

Housing

One of the most important factors in creating an appropriate habitat for your guinea pigs is space. The bigger cage you can provide the better! The minimum size requirement for one guinea pig is 7.5 square feet, with at least 1 extra square foot per additional guinea pig. Most pet store cages designed for rabbits and guinea pigs are terribly inadequate for these little creatures, and at the same time are very costly.

Guinea pigs require good ventilation, so aquariums and plastic topped cages are not acceptable housing choices. Wire bottomed cages are also dangerous for guinea pigs, as they can cause serious injury to their delicate feet.

Cages made from sheets of corrugated plastic and wire cubes (Creative Cubes or Neat Idea Cubes can be found at Walmart, Costco, Loblaws..) are highly recommended. This type of cage is very affordable, easy to assemble and offer your guinea pigs ample space to play and exercise. A bonus with a larger cage is that it is easier to keep clean! For more information on how to build a creative cube cage, as well as size recommendations, visit www.cavycages.com

Choosing the location of the guinea pig’s cage is important. It should be in an area that is free of drafts, out of direct sunlight but still provides some indirect light, has a stable temperature range between 65 and 70 degrees F (18-24 C), and - while close to the family’s everyday activities - is not in too noisy an area, i.e. next to a TV or stereo. It is not recommended that the pet’s cage be located in the room of a child.

Suitable bedding will be required for the guinea pig’s cage. Aspen shavings, recycled newspaper products such as Yesterday’s News or Carefresh are suitable options. Cedar shavings, pine shavings, clay cat litter or sawdust are not acceptable bedding choices. The bottom of the cage should be covered with 1 or 2 inches of one of the recommended beddings and will need to be cleaned every few days, depending on how many guinea pigs there are in the cage and how large the cage is.

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Bonding

It is very important for guinea pigs to have cage mates as they are “herd” animals. A pair of guinea pigs is a fine arrangement, and the more the merrier! Many families have herds of up to 8 guinea pigs! Space and cost are, of course, factors in determining how many pigs a household can support, but it’s a must to have at least a pair. Unless it has been proven that an individual pig is unhappy/unable to live with others, please adopt two. While some believe it is possible for humans to provide a guinea pig with enough mental stimulation to warrant not having a buddy, unless one can be with their guinea pig 24 hours a day it is just not fair.

When deciding on a guinea pig to adopt, sex should not be a determining factor. Guinea pigs are individuals; the personality of each pig is distinct. The happiest arrangement seems to be a neutered male with any number of females, however same sex pairs get along very well. It is a common misconception that males will fight if housed together. If given a large enough pen, 2 or even more males will get along fine.

Whichever pigs you decide to bring home, please remember the importance of quarantining if you have guinea pigs in your home already. Guinea pigs can carry parasites or contagious infections which aren’t often immediately apparent. Keep your new cavy in a separate room from the resident guinea pigs for 2-3 weeks. Change your clothes and wash hands after handling the new pig.

Nutrition

A proper diet is imperative in ensuring the health of the guinea pig. The mainstays of the guinea pig diet are hay, fresh Vitamin C rich veggies and a quality guinea pig pellet. Of course fresh, water must be available at all times.

Unlimited high quality grass hay such as timothy, orchard or mixed grasses should be available at all times. Hay should make up the bulk of the guinea pig’s diet. Hay is very important in maintaining a healthy digestive system as well as properly worn teeth and well developed jaw muscles. Alfalfa is not recommended because of its high calcium content, a suspected cause of bladder stones.

Guinea pigs, like humans, cannot produce their own Vitamin C and must obtain it from their diet. A terrible disease called scurvy will result if enough Vitamin C is not acquired. It is best to obtain as much Vitamin C as possible through a daily intake of a variety of vegetables. Items such as red bell peppers, parsley, spinach and romaine are good choices. Other “treats” can include dandelion greens, tomato, limited amounts of carrot, red and green leaf lettuce and kale. Fruit can also be given in very small quantities. A cup of fresh vegetables a day is recommended per pig.

A supplement may be given if there is concern the guinea pig is not getting enough Vitamin C through their diet. Guinea pigs require around 25 mg of Vitamin C daily, slightly more in times of illness. Supplements can be given in tablet or liquid form. Look for supplements containing only Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), no added sugar or other vitamins or minerals.

Pellets should be made specifically for guinea pigs; do not give rabbit pellets as these animals have different nutritional requirements and there are sometimes dangerous additives in bulk rabbit food. Do not feed “mixes” containing seeds or bits of fruit. Seed husks are a choking hazard and the mixes are often very high in fat and sugar. Some even contain animal byproducts! A timothy based pellet (rather than the more readily available alfalfa based pellet) is highly desirable.

Visit http://guinealynx.info/nutrition.html for more specific information on the nutritional requirements of guinea pigs.

Illnesses

Keeping guinea pigs clean, comfortable and well fed are important factors in maintaining long healthy lives. However, even with the best care some guinea pigs will develop diseases or conditions which require treatment. Illnesses such as upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, ovarian cysts in females and impaction in males are some examples of common ailments.

It is extremely important to be very aware of your guinea pigs’ weight, behaviour and overall condition. Guinea pigs will hide early signs of an illness until it has progressed quite far. Unfortunately by the time obvious symptoms are noticed it can often be too late to help them. This is why it is so critical that guinea pigs see a cavy savvy vet at the very first sign of illness or discomfort. It is advisable to weigh your guinea pigs weekly and keep track of their ongoing weights. One of the first signs of illness is often weight loss! A 5 pound kitchen scale is an adequate tool for this job.

We strongly recommended that all guinea pig owners have an experienced exotics vet lined up before their guinea pig falls ill. It is important as a guinea pig owner to be well informed about their common health problems and treatments. Unfortunately many vets are not well schooled in guinea pig care and it is often left in the hands of the owner to ensure their pet receives the appropriate treatments.

Visit http://guinealynx.info/vet.html for information about how to find an appropriate vet for your guinea pigs.

Visit www.guinealynx.info for lists of symptoms and common illnesses and their respective treatments.