great pet (Guinea Pig)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Guinea Pig
Date:	10/01/05 (2126 review reads)
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Advantages: super pet for children

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Guinea pig, also know as Cavy .
When I was about 10-14 I had a guinea pig as a pet. His name was Gulliver. I have fond memories of Gulliver so let me tell you all I know about guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs originate from South America where they have been known of for 3 thousand years. They can still be found wild in these areas. They live in long grass and other animal’s empty burrows.
In some areas of the world Guinea pigs are food by humans. Well why not we eat other animals why not guinea pigs.
We did not have guinea pigs in England till after the 17-century when the Spanish conquered the Incas and brought the cavies into Europe.

The guinea pig is a rodent and includes in his extended family the common dormouse, the American Beaver, crested porcupine and the South American Capybara.

Guinea pig breeds

There are about 9 recognised breeds of guinea pigs and many crossbreed.

Agouti: - Wild guinea pigs are called Agouti. Each hair changes colour from tip to root usually from dark root to light tip

Abyssinians: - These are the shaggy longhaired guinea pigs.

Crowning crests: - Have a crest of hair on their heads.

Peruvian: - these have long soft silky hair which grows right to the ground their hair covers their eyes unless brushed back

Shaggy Shelties: - These have long hair too, but it doesn't cover their eyes

Silky Satins: - These have very silky soft fur

Shorthaired: - These have very short hair.

Waxy Rexes :- These have short waxy fur, which feels course to the touch

Self: - These guinea pigs have a single coloured coat of hair
Non-self: - have three colours of hair in their coat
Guinea pigs can be a mixture of these breeds. Gulliver was a mixture.
Guinea pig colours range from pure white, grey, brown, black, grey Gulliver was black and brown.
Guinea pigs can be bought from breeders or pet shops

Babies and breeding

At about 6 months the female can have babies. The gestation period is 60 to 70 days it is best to remove male as soon as babies are born if not before as soon as they are born he will be at it again and mating with the female. She will get very tired of continuous pregnancies and babies. A guinea pig can breed about 5 times a year.
Baby guinea pigs are born eyes open fur on in litters of one two or three. Baby guinea pigs are called puppies.
They are weaned at about 21-28 days
A guinea can live between5 and 12 years and can grow to about 20-40 cm long 8-16 inches on maturity


Living accommodation.

A guinea pig can live indoors or out. They are hardy animals so out doors are fine.
The hutch needs to be out of direct wind, rain and sun keep it in a sheltered position if it is a really bad winter the hutch could be put in side in shelter in a garage or shed is good. Raise the hutch from the floor on legs or a few bricks.
Inside a many wire mesh cages with a floor and separate sleeping quarters are available
There are many cages that you can buy for guinea pigs from the pet shop. Usually a wooden hutch. Or if you have the skills you could make your own.


A guinea pig needs a closed sleeping area with a doorway to the living area. The sleeping area should be about 30cm/12 inches by 12 inches for each guinea pig.
The living area larger at least 90 cm /36 inches. Guinea pigs like to run and scamper.

It is good to have an outside run a fenced in area there are several fold away runs available for you pat to have some exercise in. Best to use these for guineas pig only when you are around.


Cages should be cleaned out regularly and frequently, fresh litter and bedding supplied. Bedding can be hay, or wood shavings or straw that is clipped Paper can be used as a base under hay. Use a lot of bedding in their sleeping quarters they love to snuggle up.

Sharing a hutch, yes guinea pigs are happy to share their living accommodation with others same sex sharing is best unless you want lots of babies.
Sharing with rabbit friends although my guinea pig did share with rabbit (he also shared with a chicken) for a while) experts do not recommend it.





Food
Guinea pigs should be fed daily. There are dried food pellets available from pet shops. That is a complete food. To vary guinea pigs diet a small amount of green food can be given cabbage sprouts dandelions, only a little as they can cause the runs, Guinea pig loves to munch on an apple or carrot in fact these are good for his teeth.
Food can be served in a food hopper attached to gage or in a non-plastic bowl in the cage. Guinea pigs will eat anything and chew the plastic and it will give him a poorly tummy. Guinea pigs are nibblers so to keep his teeth healthy a wooden branch is good.

Drink
A drinking bottle can be attached to the cage as it is important that guinea pig has access to clean water at all times.

Illnesses
Guinea pigs can suffer with respiratory diseases difficult breathing and sneezes
when untreated this can lead to pneumonia and death.
If they eat too much green stuff they will get diarrhoea if you are worried about your guinea pig take him to you vet
Love hugs and communication,
A guinea pig will not talk to you but he grunts and squeaks letting you know if he is happy or not. Gulliver used to greet me with a squeak every time I went nr his cage
A guinea pig does like to be held and stroked, best if he gets used to this from an early age. Grip firmly but not tightly place one hand across shoulders with the thumb over and around the neck. Supports the rump with the other hand.
The Guinea pig should then be held close to your body for support.
I used to hold Gulliver a lot. I carried him everywhere, under my jumper he used to snuggle up and occasionally crawl and peep out of my sleeves or neck of my jumper.
I also used to push him around the village in an old dolls pram full of hay.
I think Guinea pigs are a great pet for children. Children can learn a lot from looking after pets. Guinea pigs are diurnal awake in the daytime so that your child will see them awake a lot. Hope if you are thinking about having a guinea pig this will help you decide, Thanks for reading best wishes Mary

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