All about guinea pigs: what do they look like, where do they live and how to contain them?

Guinea pigs are small pets. These rodents owe their origin to the genus of gilts. It is worth noting that they have nothing to do with farm pigs. The natural habitat is considered the South American continent. Today they are very popular among animal lovers due to their calm disposition and the complete absence of aggression towards a person.

It is known that guinea pigs live in South America in the wild. In this regard, the tribes living in this area have made a great contribution to the domestication of these animals. It happened several thousand years ago, approximately in the fifth millennium BC. Modern inhabitants of the northern part of South America added these animals to their food.

For some time, these mammals were considered sacrificial animals. The people of the Incas sacrificed guinea pigs to the sun god. South American tribes had a special love for rodents, which had a white or brown coat color.

In the modern world, breeders have developed a very large number of new breeds. They number about six thousand species of guinea pigs. These little animals from Cavia aperea tschudi happened. The animal lives in the modern territory of Chile.

The ancestor of guinea pigs outwardly has significant differences from the pets we are used to. This is due to the peculiarities of the natural habitat. Animals have access to a food base rich in cellulose, but the region’s water is very poor.

These animals live in small colonies. As a dwelling they choose rather spacious holes under the ground.

Guinea pigs come from a family of semi-experimental rodents. They have the appropriate appearance and body structure.

• The shape of the body of rodents resembles a small cylinder. In length, it can reach 22 centimeters. Sometimes there are representatives of larger sizes.
• The spine of pigs has a complex structure and consists of cervical, lumbar, sacral, thoracic and caudal vertebrae.
• The clavicle in these animals is completely absent, the same applies to the tail.
• Boys are much larger than the female half of animals. The adult guinea pig weighs 1.2 kilograms on average.
• Limbs of guinea pigs of small size. Hind legs longer than the front.
• Animals have three toes on their hind legs, and four toes on their forepaws. They look like small hooves.
• In a week, animal hair can grow half a centimeter.
• Head shape is very large. It has a high degree of brain activity.
• The teeth of the animals grow continuously throughout life. For a week, the incisors can grow by 1.5 millimeters. In these mammals, the teeth are very powerful, so the animals can easily nibble on root crops and plant stems.
• The digestion process takes a rather long period of time. This is due to the large length of the body.
• Guinea pigs can be found with both a long coat and a short coat. The color of the cover is not limited to one color and can be varied.
• In the wild, the maximum age of animals does not exceed seven years. At home, it is determined by the proper care and maintenance of the pet.The life span of a domesticated rodent can reach fifteen years.

Wild guinea pigs are energetic animals, they usually show their activity in the morning time of the day or in the evening after sunset. Take these animals by surprise is almost impossible. They are restless and nimble. Guinea pigs live in mountainous areas. They can also be found in forest areas.

If the animals do not find large and deep holes, they settle their dwelling in the form of a nest. The place is chosen quiet and secluded. Rodents strengthen their homes using thin plant twigs and dry grass.

Guinea pigs do not tolerate loneliness, so they are united in colonies and live on the same perimeter. The number of females in a flock is usually several times larger than the number of males. Pets mostly live in large cages. They need a lot of space for walking. Guinea pigs sleep several times a day. In some cases, the animal can rest with open eyes.

Guinea pigs tolerate high and low temperatures, as well as their vibrations. Immature rodents may not survive the onset of cold weather.

Animals also know how to swim. For them, it will not be difficult to cross a small reservoir. Also, the animals normally tolerate high humidity, rain they are not afraid. Some representatives of guinea pigs equip their homes near the reservoir. Their food can be algae and other plants growing in water.

Interesting fact: guinea pigs are considered not only pets, they are also widely used in research activities.

Breeders brought a huge number of breeds of guinea pigs. This is due to the great popularity of animals as pets.

• Alpaca. This breed of guinea pigs is characterized by the presence of long and curly hair. It is very thick and has an incredibly beautiful appearance. On the back of the rodents are two outlets. It can also be found on the forehead. The legs of the animal are completely overgrown with wool. The cover is located in the direction from the bottom up.

• Texel. The fur of representatives of this breed of pigs has a beautiful appearance. It curls hard enough and gives the effect of perm. These rodents are often found as pets.

• Abyssinian. This wonderful animal is considered one of the oldest representatives of its kind. Coat is very hard, it has several outlets. These pets are quite energetic, so their appetite is very good.

• Merino This breed is characterized by a long wavy fur. Closer to the face, it resembles whiskers. On a small head there are very large eyes. The ears of a guinea pig are also famous for their large size. Merino is distinguished by its strong build.

• Angora This guinea pig breed is characterized by the presence of a long hanging bang and stiff sideburns. Eyes of dark color, ears of the small size. Smooth-haired guinea pig has a rather varied coat color. Often there are representatives of this breed, the wool of which has a white or black color.

• Rex. Externally, these guinea pigs may resemble a plush toy. This is because the hair of these rodents is very short. On the back cover is different rigid structure.

• Californian. This breed was bred in Peru, but a huge number of breeding work falls on California. According to its constitution and coat, it is very similar to the classic representatives of guinea pigs. This breed is characterized by the presence of hanging ears, round shape.

• Sheltie This breed of animals has a long coat. Its structure is straight. On the head is the so-called mane.Up to a certain age, guinea pig hair remains short.

• Selfie. These short-haired animals are considered the most popular among pet lovers. The animal bribes with the fact that the color range of its cover is very diverse and contrasting.

Immediately after the acquisition of the guinea pig, the pet is in the process of adapting to new conditions. Therefore you should not be surprised if at first the animal will behave very quietly and calmly. Rodents at this time are frightened of any rustling and practically do not move. Also at the initial stage of adaptation, pets eat very badly.

The animal must eat well, it is necessary that the diet consists of four meals. One serving is 2 tablespoons. First, the guinea pig can not eat everything. But this does not mean that the volume of servings should be reduced. Satiety of these animals is the key to excellent health.

Guinea pigs feed on hay, and in summer they feed on fresh grass. During pregnancy of the female and feeding the offspring, feeding is carried out no more than twice a day. Parsley in this period is contraindicated. In the water intended for pets, it is recommended to add vitamin C, in case the feed does not contain this component.

Products that should be in the pet's diet:

• cucumbers;
• salad;
• beet;
• pears;
• corn;
• pumpkin;
• apples;
• Bell pepper;
• carrot.

Cabbage is best given to animals in limited quantities. In the feed, you can add dried rosehip. As an additive, you can also use the leaves of herbal plants. In the food of the animal, you can also add salt in small quantities (up to 2 grams).

Pure cereals are not recommended for pigs., as it can badly affect health, and subsequently lead to obesity of a pet. It is necessary to mix them with vegetables or herbs.

One guinea pig can be placed in a small cage, it must be at least one meter long. It is desirable that her bars were painted. It is also necessary to take care of the presence of a small door for the animal.

The animals are not able to move in height, therefore, many-tier in their structure, the cells are not suitable for the content of the guinea pig. In the cage, you should put a drinker for them with a volume of 0.25 liters and a container for food. It is recommended to purchase a carrier for pets.

Such animals are easy to train, if daily deal with them. To accustom guinea pigs to their hands in a short period of time, these animals quickly get used to their owners.

It is best to train animals using various delicacies. You also need to play with animals, because guinea pigs live in packs and are easily stressed out alone. Even one workout will be enough to tame.

In order for the animal is not sick, it is enough to adhere to the basic rules of keeping pets. The most common diseases among guinea pigs are associated with the digestive system. Also guinea pigs can be exposed to a cold.

Symptoms of the disease:

• thirst;
• unusual behavior;
• breathing problems;
• cough;
• decrease in activity;
• loose stools;
• ulceration of the skin;
• the animal may begin to molt;
• nasal discharge;
• parasites in wool.

After acquiring a guinea pig, it is best to keep it in isolation and keep out of contact with other pets for two weeks.Usually, domesticated rodents do not need vaccination. In some cases, you can do vaccine against bordetella. This does not mean that the animal will be safe from this disease. The vaccine will only ease the symptoms of the disease. For this reason, many do not at all resort to this preventive method.

It is believed that guinea pigs are not picky in their care. The process does not take you much time and effort.

• Longhaired guinea pigs should be combed at least once a week.
• It is necessary to regularly inspect the body of the animal.
• Do not forget to cut nails guinea pig. This is done very carefully so as not to injure the pet. You can cut them with a special nail clipper or nail clippers.
• It is recommended from time to time to air the room, which contains a pet.
• Cleaning is done once every 4 days.
• If the hair is very dirty, it should be washed with shampoo.
• At least once a month should be given a pet anthelmintic drugs.

Guinea pigs are capable of rapid reproduction. The main thing is to properly care for the female and her offspring, otherwise the animals may have complications. In one litter can be a maximum of 8 cubs.

At the age of five months, the animals are ready to breed. The weight should not be less than 700 grams. Only breed of one breed is crossed. Breeding can be done no more than twice a year. Animals mate when the female begins estrus. On average, this process takes six weeks. Human intervention is not required. Knitting can last no more than two seconds.

The gestation period lasts depending on the number of babies. This process usually takes 65 days. It is strongly not recommended to alarm the pregnant female in every possible way, since any such actions can lead to miscarriage. Before delivery, the cage should be disinfected. The bottom must be filled with hay.

Guinea pig deliveries last for an hour. Small animals are born with fur and sighted. In most cases, the shell in which the baby is born is cracked by the female. In some cases, this process requires human intervention.

At first, the mother feeds her offspring with her milk. Small guinea pigs begin to eat food a week after birth. Separate mother from offspring after one month.

Few people know that guinea pigs were called so not for the reason that they like water bodies or water procedures, but because in ancient times they were brought to our region from distant voyages.

It is interesting to know that a unique sound language is inherent in guinea pigs. Thus, the sounds, you can easily determine the mood of the animal.

• Long squealing indicates that the pet is hungry.
• When the pigs greet each other, they begin to grunt. It also means that animals study each other.
• If the pigs chatter with their teeth or growl at each other, this indicates irritation of the animals.
• Guinea pigs can even cluck. This behavior indicates a good mood of the pet. This also applies to cooing.
• If you have heard a long shriek, this indicates that the animal is experiencing pleasure. In this case, the animal can whistle.
• Before mating, individuals of the opposite sex begin to coo.
• When a pet moans very loudly, it may indicate that he is in pain. If in this case it will be practically immobile and in a state of drowsiness, it means that the animal is sick. Also evidence of disease can indicate the formation of nitrous oxide in the eyes.

Many owners buy guinea pigs for breeding. Often these animals are very expensive. But one cannot do without it, because for successful crossing it is recommended to acquire animals with a good pedigree.

Owners of such pets do not recommend crossing animals of different breeds.

As a result, the offspring will belong to low-quality decorative animals. Also, in the case of crossing guinea pigs of different breeds, the offspring can be born with various defects, and their development will be very slow.

Many also hold the opinion that it is much more practical to have a guinea pig than a cat or a dog. Such an animal delivers less trouble and takes up much less space in the house.

Some complain about the aggressiveness of guinea pigs. In this state, they can even bite. Basically, this kind of problem is faced by the owners who do not pay enough attention to the pet.

Recently, pet lovers have begun to give preference to the original animals. Exactly animal breeds are beginning to be in demand more and more. Therefore, pig breeding today is gaining momentum, there is a lot of selection work in this industry.

If you are still in doubt whether to acquire a guinea pig or not, then the following video will help you make the right choice. It tells about all the pros and cons of content and breeding.