Guinea pigs are intelligent and social animals
Guinea pigs are intelligent and social animals
Guinea pigs are intelligent and social animals with a need for space company of their own kind as well as a healthy diet and proper housing . Guinea pigs are also highly trainable animals. Male pigs are slightly larger than females and are generally more active. Guinea pigs are also known as cavies. These flamboyant little rodents are neither a pig nor from Guinea.
Guinea pigs are born with fur and with their eyes open. They are not like rabbits or mice that are born hairless and helpless. Guinea pigs are highly susceptible to heat stress, so in hot weather place the hutch in the shade and hang damp towels over the hutch to aid cooling. In very cold weather, place the hutch in a sheltered position and make sure that wind and rain cannot enter the hutch directly. Guinea pigs are strict herbivores. They should be fed a complete, pelleted diet made especially for guinea pigs that contains at least 16% crude protein.
Guinea pigs are prone to bladder stones (also called urolithiasis or urinary calculi). Females may develop bacterial bladder infection that leads to stone formation in the bladder. Guinea pigs are strictly vegetarian, and their main source of food while in captivity is compressed pellets of alfalfa and other ingredients. Guinea pigs tend to be brand loyal, so new owners should make every effort to use the same pellets the pet store or former owner provided. Guinea pigs are usually seen by what is referred to as an “exotic” or small animal vet. Exotic vets usually focus on rabbits, rodents (guinea pigs), birds, reptiles, and other small creatures.
Guinea pigs are sensitive to overheating, and ammonia from urine can cause respiratory problems. For these reasons, it is important that the cage provides adequate ventilation and be cleaned at least twice a week. Guinea Pigs are not as agile as other members of the rodent family ? they shy away from jumping, climbing and heights. When they get excited, they will ?popcorn? ? do little jumps up and down. Guinea pigs are well-developed at birth. They are born with hair and able to run and eat solid food all within the first day of their lives.
Guinea pigs are among the cutest pets that people own. They are members of the rodent family and originate in South America. Guinea pigs are social animals, so it is best if they live in pairs. Usually sows (females) cohabit well as either siblings or mother-daughter pairs. Guinea pigs are also much harder to litter train than a rabbit, which can get messy. Many people have an aversion to rats, which can be unpleasant for children who have to defend them.
Guinea pigs are easily alarmed and will often freeze for extended periods (30 minutes) when startled. Group housed guinea pigs may stampede when startled which may result in injury to young guinea pigs, orthopedic injuries, and abortion in pregnant dams. Guinea pigs are not, in fact, pigs, but are rodents, relatives of mice, rats, and hamsters. Like other rodents, guinea pigs’ teeth do not have nerves and grow continuously, like fingernails. Guinea Pigs are very easy to breed. Youngsters are sexually active from as early as 4-6 weeks (females – are called sows) and 9-10 weeks of age (males – are called boars) but mating should be delayed until females are 12 weeks of age.
