Guinea Pigs Care Information

Guinea Pigs As Pets

Guinea Pigs As Pets

As people have smaller homes, so-called pocket pets such as guinea pigs can be fun alternatives to larger pets. They have many benefits other than just their small size but there are things to know if you want your pig to live a long and healthy life. By learning about their needs, you can enjoy the companionship of a guinea pig for years to come.

What is a Guinea Pig?

A guinea pig is a small mammal. It is a rodent whose Latin name is Cavia porcellus. They are small, usually measuring about ten inches long, and normally weighing about two to three pounds. Like most rodents, they tend to be nocturnal, which means that they are most active at night, although many will adapt to the activity cycles around them and become more active during the day.

There are several different types of guinea pigs, including the Abyssinian, which has fur with a messy, rumpled appearance. It looks like these poor pigs have cowlicks all over their bodies. The Peruvian strain of guinea pig has extremely long hair that hides its feet as it walks around its pen. The American guinea pig is the breed that many people are most familiar with. It has short, smooth hair which lies close to the skin. Longer hair can mean more care and grooming for you as an owner and this is something you should take into account when deciding which breed to get. All have very similar personalities, so it is simply a matter of personal choice which you choose as a pet.

What do Guinea Pigs Need to Feel at Home?

A guinea pig is a fairly large rodent, much larger than a hamster or a gerbil. Therefore, the cage they live in needs to be quite large as well. Guinea pigs are extremely social animals as well, so it can often be a good idea to keep more than one, so that they have some social interaction and stimulation. However, keep in mind that this can cause some problems to pop up. If you keep a same sex pair, males may fight, and if you keep a male and a female, you can expect baby piggies once the pair have reached about five or six months of age.

Like all rodents, guinea pigs do well if they are in a cage where there is a shelter, so they have somewhere to go when they are sleeping or want some space. It should be large enough to provide some exercise space, and should be kept extremely clean. Guinea pigs can react to bedding materials, so make sure that it is a bedding which is designed for small rodents. It should be changed frequently as guinea pigs usually tend to use the entire cage as a bathroom.

They should be fed a pelleted food which is made for guinea pigs. Some pellets, such as those meant for rabbits or other rodents, can be nutritionally incomplete, and may end up causing your guinea pig severe health problems if they are fed it continually. Guinea pigs, like any other pets, enjoy special treats from time to time. These can take the form of specially formulated guinea pig treats, or you can use fresh vegetables such as carrots, or leafy greens. Fruit such as grapes is also a good choice, but guinea pigs do prefer sweet things, so you need to limit what you give them in order to keep them healthy.

Like any animal, they should have access to fresh water, which is changed daily. You may find that a water tube with a metal spout will help keep drinking water cleaner than an open bowl, as guinea pigs may accidentally kick their bedding into the water, soiling it.

If you decide you want a guinea pig as a pet, you may be pleasantly surprised by how friendly and active they can be. By knowing a bit about them, you can keep your pig happy and healthy throughout its life.

Tags: Guinea Pig Care, Guinea Pig Health

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