When Is a Pig Not A Pig??

Recently, I got a new pet, a sweet little guinea pig, and I named her Bailey.

No one really knows why or how Guinea Pigs got their name because they are neither pigs nor do they originate from Guinea.  They are cavies and come from South America. Cavies are any of the various South American rodents of the caviidae family.  The name guinea pig dates back to the 17^th century.   The first record of it (as ginny-pig) is in William Harvey’s medical textbook Anatomical exercitations, concerning the generation of living creatures, 1653.

There are many variations of coat and color - This is a smooth coated Himalayan variety

There are many different breeds of Guinea Pigs and a variety of color variations.  If you go and visit your local pet store, you can see many of these different variations for yourself.

Guinea Pigs that live in the wild will usually stay in herds that consist of one adult male, several females and their babies.  Herd animals like to stay together so that way they have a much better chance to see and avoid danger that is coming their way.  Guinea Pigs have no real self defense mechanisms, so herding is essential.  As in the wild, domestic Guinea Pigs enjoy having the company of their own kind.  Some form very close relationships, others may not, but most appear to be happy when they know that they’re not alone.

There are many types of bedding to use in cages, but some may be harmful to your pet. To help conserve bedding, you can use several layers of newspaper. It’s absorbent, helps with warmth, and also makes cage cleaning faster and easier.  Kiln-dried pine shavings and aspen shavings are some of the best bedding to use.  Never use cedar shavings or sawdust.  Using bedding like these that have very small particles are very bad for small animals due to the fact that they are easily inhaled.

The long flowing coat identifies this one as a Peruvian (sometimes called Silky) pig

To keep a guinea pig stimulated and happy while in their cage you should have a cage big enough to have hidey houses and tubes.  Don’t overcrowd the cage though, since they do need room to move freely.  The houses and tubes make them feel secure and comfortable. To prevent boredom change these things out regularly.

Guinea Pigs have very delicate bodies so you must be careful when handling them.  When picking up a guinea pig approach them from the front rather then from behind because they may become very frightened when they are suddenly lifted and don’t see it coming.  Place one hand under their belly just behind their front legs and use the other hand to support their hindquarters.  Definitely be careful not to squeeze them because their organs are very fragile.  It is a good idea to only hold your guinea pig for about ten minutes at a time.  They will naturally want to go to the bathroom and if you handle them too long, they will poop on you.

Reeces, a former WBS resident, was an Abyssinian variety

Before getting a guinea pig as a pet make sure you do your research about their diet.  There are many things that guinea pigs can have to eat.  One such food is timothy hay and another one is mixed grass hay.  Mixed grass hay should be available in unlimited amounts due to how good it is for your pig.  Alfalfa is higher in calories, lower in fiber, and is not quite as good for them, so it is not a preferred source of nutrition.  Most fruits and vegetables are fine for them as long as it is in moderation.  Kale is another form of nutrition for them, but it should only be fed once a week.  Apples are very nutritional and can be fed once a day in moderate quantities.  Guinea Pigs should get three servings of fruits and vegetables a day, but no more then one serving of any single vegetable.  One of the three servings should be a leafy green vegetable.

Another former WBS resident Guinea Pig - Inca

Guinea Pigs share a unique quality with humans; they must have vitamin C for their bodies.  Since they cannot normally produce vitamin C, it must be supplied in food or supplements.  Guinea Pigs that don’t get adequate amounts of vitamin C can develop a disease that in humans is called scurvy.  Vitamin C deficiencies in guinea pigs can be determined by loss of appetite, bleeding from gums, joint stiffness, weight loss and poor tooth development.  Feeding guinea pigs a diet that is high in vitamin C is very important.  Leafy greens such as: kale, spinach, cabbage, red and green peppers, asparagus, broccoli, peas, tomatoes, dandelion greens (no pesticides, fertilizers or herbicides), kiwi and oranges are all great sources of vitamin C.  Note however, that some of these such as kale, (which stated above can only be given once a week), cannot be given all the time, so you must remember the appropriate times to give them which type of vitamin C source.

                

There are many things to know about Guinea Pigs before getting one as a pet. The same goes with any animal that you think you might want as a pet. Always do your research before you take on the responsibilities and duties of pet ownership.

 

Submitted by Jamie Sansoucie, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist