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Undeniably, guinea pigs are among the most popular pets among rodents. But what makes these cuddly bundles of fur so loved, and what are their care and nutritional needs?
Two large button eyes, shiny fur, and small legs. Generally, most pet lovers can recognise guinea pigs at first glance. Yet, depending on the breed, the appearance of these animals can vary greatly.
Specialists, therefore, classify them into two groups based on hair length: short-haired breeds and long-haired breeds.
Short-Haired Guinea Pigs
Some of the most well-known short-haired breeds include:
Each breed has its own colour variations and patterns. You can find guinea pigs in white, brown, black, and mixed colours. Eye colours also vary, making these cuddly pets particularly interesting.
Determining the Sex: Female or Male
For an inexperienced eye, distinguishing between a male and a female can be somewhat tricky. The best way to identify the sex is to have a male and a female to compare.
Carefully hold the guinea pig so you can see its belly. With the other hand, gently pull apart the skin on either side of the genital area. If the genital area appears as a ‘y’, it’s a female. If you can see an ‘i’, it’s a male.
Behaviour: Understanding Guinea Pig Language
Guinea pigs are lively and sensitive creatures. They are also clever, having developed their own language. These sounds can tell you how your guinea pig feels at the moment:
The so-called ‘teeth-chattering’, which sounds like a rattling, happens when two males are fighting, slamming their teeth together loudly.
The most important sound is the ‘whistle’, which they make when they’re excited about food. They also greet their humans with this whistle.
Additionally, they can ‘purr’. They often do this while being petted or when a male approaches a female.
They also ‘chirp’, but this is a rare sound, especially when they are alone. Experts are still unsure what this sound means.
Handling: How to Hold Your Guinea Pig
To make sure your guinea pig is safe in your hands, hold its belly with both hands before lifting. Support it against your chest while lifting. Alternatively, you can place it on your lap.
Always be very gentle to avoid injuries. Your guinea pig may look robust with its fluffiness but has fragile bones. A fall from the sofa could cause serious injury.
It’s normal for guinea pigs to be initially fearful due to their instinct to flee. However, with lots of patience, attention, and healthy treats, they will soon eat out of your hand.
Keeping Guinea Pigs As Pets
How Large Should the Cage Be?
Guinea pigs are social animals that need close contact with their kind, so you should keep them in pairs at a min.
An appropriate cageshould adhere to TVT (Veterinary Association for Animal Protection) guidelines, being at a min. 120cm by 60cm. Your guinea pigs spend most of their time in the cage and need sufficient space to move around. If you want to keep more animals, the cage should be correspondingly larger.
Ensure the bars are spaced closely enough that your guinea pigs can’t get their heads through. The cage must also be tall enough to prevent them from jumping out, as this can lead to serious injuries.
Important: Guinea pigs need plenty of space. They are not cuddle toys for children! They should always have the option to retreat if they want.
Equipment: Furnishing Their Home Properly
Guinea pigs are playful and need suitable hiding spots. To ensure their well-being, the cage should include the following accessories, which you can find in selection of Small Pets Cage Accessories:
Two children sitting next to outdoor housing specially designed for guinea pigs.
Feeding: What and How Often Do Guinea Pigs Eat?
To keep your guinea pigs healthy, the type and quality of their diet are crucial. Provide them daily and always with high-quality hay and water. This is essential because they have a sensitive digestion and need to eat continuously.
Special dry food as well as fresh fruits (e.g. apple, grapes) or vegetables (e.g. cucumber, carrot, celery) are also enjoyed by these small pets. However, don’t overfeed these treats, as too much sugar is harmful. Particularly nutritious herbs include savoury, dill, and basil.
Warning: Do not feed your guinea pigs food meant for dwarf rabbits. Guinea pigs need a supply of Vitamin C, which is only adequately provided in special guinea pig food.
Regularly check the care state of your guinea pigs to ensure their health. To properly groom your guinea pig, pay particular attention to their claws, fur, or teeth, which can grow too long if not sufficiently worn down.
Clipping Claws
As their claws don’t wear down enough naturally, you should regularly clip them. If you feel confident, you can do this without your vet’s help.
You’ll need a claw clipper, cutting the claw about 3–5mm before the visible vein. For white claws, you can easily see the vein. For dark claws, trim just the tips to avoid damaging blood vessels.
Coat Care
Check for parasites in the fur regularly. Long-haired guinea pigs need more frequent care. Comb them with a soft brush.
For the curly-haired ones, carefully sort the hair by hand to avoid causing pain from pulling or tearing.
Health: How Old Do Guinea Pigs Get?
With good care, guinea pigs can reach an age of 6–8 years. Unfortunately, mistakes in care or other reasons can lead to illnesses.
Common health issues include dental problems or gastrointestinal issues. If your guinea pig has diarrhœa, see a vet immediately. Disruption of their complex digestion can be life-threatening.
Origins: What Is Their Natural Habitat?
source for indigenous people. European sailors brought these fluffy animals to Europe.
They quickly spread across society due to their rapid reproduction and have since become one of the most popular pets.
Breeding: How Do Guinea Pigs Reproduce?
If you plan to breed guinea pigs, be sure to consider what will happen to the offspring.
Also, remember that you will need to separate the pair afterwards, as the male can impregnate the female immediately again. Alternatively, you could have the male neutered.
Tips for Breeding Guinea Pigs
If you decide to breed your guinea pigs, keep the following advice in mind:
Your female guinea pig should weigh about 700g and be 5–11 months old before breeding.
Carefully observe the mating behaviour.
Adjust feeding to the increased needs of the pregnant female.
The pregnancy lasts about 68 days.
Separate the young females from their father by 4 weeks to prevent unwanted breeding.
Tips for Getting Guinea Pigs
You can buy a guinea pig from a reputable breeder. Don’t hesitate to ask clear questions. A reputable breeder will gladly answer your questions and will want a responsible owner for these small animals.
You should also be allowed to view the cages. Are they clean and bright? Are too many animals cramped together?
You can find breeders through newspapers, online, or via relevant clubs. Animal welfare organisations and shelters also offer guinea pigs for an adoption fee.
How Much Does a Guinea Pig Cost?
Always remember that guinea pigs are social animals. If you don’t already have one, you need to buy at least two. Plan to spend about £15–£100 for one animal. Breed guinea pigs may be more expensive.
Additionally, there are costs for initial purchases (e.g. cage) and ongoing costs (e.g. food and bedding). Veterinary costs (e.g. vaccinations) must also be considered.
Signs of a Healthy Animal
A healthy guinea pig has shiny fur and clear eyes. Its anus is not sticky, and it is not emaciated. It also does not have bald spots or tangles.
The Right Adjustment Period
When adding a new guinea pig to your cage, they need an adjustment period. This is usually short for young guinea pigs but can be longer for older animals.
If you have a second cage, place the new guinea pig in it for a few days. This should be near the other cage. Initially, add the new pet to the cage to avoid giving your established guinea pig a home territory advantage.
Conclusion: Is Guinea Pig a Good Pet?
Guinea pigs are wonderful pets, a fact they’ve proven for centuries. But they also have specific requirements for proper care and feeding which you must meet.
If you do, you can look forward to friendly and lively companions. But be careful: too much attention can stress them out. Small children, who may not yet know how to handle animals carefully, should not be left alone with these rodents.
Guinea Pig: Profile
Size:
Approx. 25-35 cm
Weight:
Approx. 700-1,200 g
Average life expectancy:
Approx. 6-8 years
Keeping requirements:
In a group, need a lot of space, under certain circumstances it is possible to keep them in the outdoor enclosure
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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