Guinea Pig Fact File
About Guinea Pigs and Their Origin
Guinea Pigs, Also Known as Cavies, are a species of Rodent and originate from the Andes Mountains in South America. They were domesticated by indigenous people around 5000 B.C.
The guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a pet since its introduction to Europe and North America by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature, friendly responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them have continued to make them a popular choice of household pet and traditionally thought of as great first pets for children.
Guinea Pigs have a robust body with short limbs, large head and eyes, and short ears. The feet have hairless soles and short sharp claws. There are four toes on the forefeet and three on the hind feet.
Domestic guinea pigs are fairly large, weighing 500 to 1,500 grams and having a body 20 to 40 cm long. Their tails are not visible externally. There is a crest of longer hairs at the neck, but length and texture of the fur vary from smooth to coarse and short or long and silky. Coloration is extremely variable: the coat may be white, cream, tan, reddish or chocolate brown, black, or a combined pattern.
Life Span
Guinea Pigs with the right care can live between 5 to 7 years. They have been known to live longer then 8 years
Diet
Guinea Pigs need a diet high in Vitamin C, they cannot produce it themselves. They rely on fresh vegetables, fruits and specially formulated guinea pig pellets. Fresh greens like spinach, parsley, cilantro should be given in moderation due to high calcium content which can cause bladder stones.
Guinea Pigs The Social Animals
Guinea pigs need a friend! They are social animals and live in herds in the wild, they thrive in groups and can get very lonely and even depressed if kept alone. To prevent accidental babies, guinea pigs should be kept in same-gender pairs or groups unless they are spayed or neutered. They love to have space to run around and play and they require unbroken floor space; they are not really climbers and love to have hiding spaces. Females need about 7.5 square feet of unbroken floor space for a pair, while males need about 10 square feet of unbroken floor space per pair.
Pregnancy
Female Guinea Pigs have a gestation period of 59 to 72 days, and usually give birth to 1 – 4 pups. New born pups are born fully furred, eyes open, and are able to eat solid food within a few days
Males (boars) reach sexual maturity in 3–5 weeks. Similarly, females (sows) can be fertile as early as 4 weeks old and can carry litters before they are fully grown adults, and are able to breed year-round (with spring being the peak). A sow can have as many as five litters in a year, but six is theoretically possible. Sows can once again become pregnant 6–48 hours after giving birth, but it is not healthy for a female to be constantly pregnant and should be avoided.
Rather than purchasing a guinea pig from a pet store and creating a bigger demand for this small animal, we strongly encourage people to adopt one (or two!) from their local shelter. There are many Rescue organisations within the UAE with hundreds of pets for adoption and in need of good homes. RAK animal welfare centre is just one of the many that may have small animals available for adoption.
