As in any pet care, the wild origins dictate a lot of what is important in Guinea Pig care. The guinea pig is a type of rodent that is also known as the Cacy. They are not in fact pigs, as their name would have suggested. They come from the Andes, and research has shown they have been breed from closely related species such as Cavia aperea, C. fulgida, or C. tschudii, so therefore do not exist naturally in the wild.
The guinea pig plays an important role as both a food source and the culture of many South Americans. Guinea Pigs were domesticated 5000 years ago for food and have appeared in many folk stories and are repeatedly used in metaphors.
The guinea pig came to Europe in the 16th century by traders and has since enjoyed common status as a household pet. Originally they were seen as an exotic pet and even Queen Elisabeth I had one. They were widely used for biological experimentation since the 17th century, giving way to the metaphor “guinea pig” for a test subject, though more recently they have been replaced by mice and rats.
They are extremely calm easy to care for and are responsive to handling and feeding and are therefore popular with pet sitters. They hate exploring and will not try to escape, even if the cage door is left open (no promises!). Guinea pigs will often whistle when interested, like for when the owner comes – or they hear the food container opening.
There are many breeds of domesticated guinea pigs, which differ in hair and color differences. The most common breeds are the shorthair (or American shorthair), the Abyssinian whose coat is ruffled. More specialist long hair types include the curly long hair Texel and the long haired Sheltie or Peruvian breeds.
So is a Guinea Pig the right pet for me?
Guinea Pigs are very friendly animals – so require time for fuss, or else they will feel lonely and this might lead to stress and sickness. This is especially important if you are buying one for children, on the basis that the children will look after the guinea pig. Consider carefully that they typically live for about five, but may live for 8 years and the Guinness Book of Records has the record age for a guinea pig at 14 years.
Guinea pigs are relatively big for rodents, weighing between 700 and 1200g (1.5-2.5 pounds), and measuring between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 inches) in length. So they need quite a large cage. Though as a robust pet, this could be located in a shed or a sheltered corner outside. They will deal with cold better than excessive heat. Avoid wire mesh floored crates, as this can hurt their feet and potentially lead to infection.
As for many pets you do not want to put two males together as they will fight together when they become mature at about 6 months for leadership. However you can have as many females together as you want, and they will get along very well. Obviously you do not want to add a male to the group as they breed very easily.
Grass is their normal diet in the wild, which they digest with the help of their long colon. Hay is an alternative to the grass in a domestic situation. Like us they cannot synthesise vitamin C and will need to attain this through their diet, the guinea pig version of scurvy is deadly. Scurvy is often identified by sluggishness. So feed them often fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as broccoli, apple, cabbage, carrot, celery, and spinach). Alternatively, but not a preferred option through dietary vitamins. They are fussy eaters when older, so with a young one feed a varied foods. They feed continuously, so ensure there is hay available for them to eat.
They, as well as scurvy, may also suffer from respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, abscesses due to infection (often in the neck, due to hay embedded in the throat, or from external scratches), and infections by lice, mites or fungus.
They are energetic throughout the day, with periods of sleep inter dispersed with activity. They often groom themselves and will groom others.
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