Top Tips for Looking After a Guinea Pig

As in any pet care, the wild origins dictate a lot of what is important in Guinea Pig care. The guinea pig is a type of rodent that is also known as the Cacy. They are not in fact pigs, as their name would have suggested.  They come from the Andes, and studies have shown Guinea Pigs have been breed from closely related species such as Cavia aperea, C. fulgida, or C. tschudii, and do not exist as a wild species.
The guinea pig plays an important role as both a food source and the culture of many South Americans. It was domesticated 5000 years ago for nourishment and have appeared in many folk stories and are frequently used in metaphors.
They came to Europe in the 16th century by European traders and since then has seen widespread status as a household pet.  In the early days they were seen as an mysterious pet and even Queen Elisabeth I had one. They were widely used for biological experimentation since the 17th century, giving way to the metaphor “guinea pig” for a test subject, though more recently they have been replaced by mice and rats.
They are very docile easy to care for and are easy to handle and feed and are therefore popular with pet sitters. They hate exploring and will not try to escape, even if the cage door is left open (no promises!). They will often make a noise like a whistle on occasions of interest, for example when they hear food being prepared or the owner comes near.
There are several breeds of domesticated guinea pigs, which vary in hair and color differences. The most normal types are the shorthair (or American shorthair), the Abyssinian with a ruffled coat. More unique long hair types include the curly long hair Texel and the long haired Sheltie or Peruvian breeds.

So should I choose a Guinea Pig?

They are very sociable animals – so require time for fuss, or else they will feel lonesome and this might cause them to be stressed and go ill. This is especially important if you are buying one for children, on the basis that the children will care for the guinea pig. Especially as they typically live for four or five years, but may live for 8 years and the Guinness Book of Records has the record age for a guinea pig at 14 years.
Guinea pigs are relatively large for rodents, weighing between 700 and 1200g (1.5-2.5 pounds), and measuring between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 inches) in length. So they need quite a large cage. Though as a robust animal, this could be located in an outbuilding or a sheltered spot outside. They put up with cold better than excessive heat. Try to avoid wire mesh floored crates, as this can hurt their feet and lead to infection.
As for many pets you should not put two males together as they will fight  together when they become mature at about 6 months for leadership. However you can have as many females together as you want, and they will get along very well. Obviously you do not want to add a male to the group as they breed very easily.

Grass is their normal diet in the wild, which they digest with the help of their long colon. This is however not long enough, so if they are eating a lot of grass you will see them eat their faeces. Like humans they cannot synthesise vitamin C and will need to acquire obtrain this through their food,   the guinea pig version of scurvy is deadly. Scurvy is often identified by sluggishness.  So give them regularly fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as broccoli, apple, cabbage, carrot, spinach and celery). Alternatively, but not a preferred option through dietary supplements. They are fickle eaters when mature, so with a young guinea pig feed a varied foods. They like to eat continuously, so make sure there is hay available for them to eat.
They, as well as scurvy, can also suffer from respiratory tract infections, diarrhea,  abscesses due to infection (often in the neck, due to hay embedded in the throat, or from external scratches), and infections by mites, lice or fungus.

They are lively throughout the day and will sleep on and off, waking for some activity. Guinea pigs often groom themselves and will groom others.