Abstract
Guinea pigs are among the most rewarding small pets a family can keep, combining manageable care requirements with genuinely sociable behaviour that makes them accessible to owners of almost any age. Have you ever owned a guinea pig as a pet? These small animals make a perfect family pet and enjoy spending quality time with their owners. Snuggling, eating, and playing are all things that guinea pigs generally love doing. With some knowledge of guinea pigs and how to care for them, owning a pet guinea pig can be a very enjoyable experience for both you and your pet.
Glossary
Diagnose: to determine the identity of a disease or illness by a medical examination.
Gastrointestinal tract: the stomach and intestine as a functional unit.
Homeostasis: the tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus tending to disturb its normal condition or function.
Husbandry: the science of breeding, rearing, and caring for animals.
Neuter: having no organs of reproduction; without sex; asexual.
Introduction
Just like any other domestic pet that we see today, guinea pigs have a long history of domestication. Guinea pigs are a member of the rodent species, but have their own unique physical and behavioural characteristics that set them apart from other rodents. There are a lot of special needs that guinea pigs share to maintain a happy and healthy life. Good husbandry is the best way of assuring that a pet will live to its full potential. Getting to know guinea pigs is a great start to a long, fulfilling relationship between an owner and their special little pet.
History of the Guinea Pig
Origin
Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, originated from the Peru region of the Andes Mountains where they are referred to as “cuy” (Forstadt, n.d., para. 7; para. 9). It is here that the familiar rodent can be found roaming freely in the wild, much like our everyday squirrel. The wild guinea pig prefers a variety of habitats including rocky, swampy, and woody areas. Being most active at night, they prefer to rest in their burrows during the day (Forstadt, n.d., para. 6). They live in colonies usually with one male and six to seven females; in a wild guinea pig colony, the presence of more than one male usually leads to the males fighting to the death (Hirst, n.d., para. 4).
Why They Were Domesticated
Domestication of the guinea pig is thought to have begun around 5,000 years B.C.; however, some parts of their history are a little blurry. Physical records have been found showing evidence of guinea pig domestication as early as 900 B.C. (Forstadt, n.d., para. 7). In their native land, guinea pigs are used for many different purposes, but seldom kept as pets. The people of the Andes Mountains rely on breeding guinea pigs for meat. In most cases, a mating pair of guinea pigs will be gifted to a newlywed couple and then cared for mostly by the women and children of the family (Forstadt, n.d., para. 11; para. 12). By raising them personally, an Andes Mountain family can usually produce approximately twelve pounds of meat per month (Hirst, n.d., para. 5).
Though meat is their main purpose to the Andes Mountain people, guinea pigs are also used in religious and other cultural ceremonies. They are also used in medicine, both to diagnose and treat those considered to be ill or weak. Though they are bred mainly for food, guinea pigs are crucial to, and respected in, the Andes Mountain culture (Forstadt, n.d., para. 14).
How They Became Pets
After domestication in its native land, the guinea pig was later introduced in Europe where it became popular as a household pet. The cause of its popularity is said to be Queen Elizabeth I keeping one as a pet. From this point on, domestication of the guinea pig continued, turning the small rodent species into a very popular choice of pet in many parts of the world (Forstadt, n.d., para. 8).
Characteristics of the Guinea Pig
Behaviour
From personal experience, I can inform you that guinea pigs make excellent pets. Unlike other domestic rodents, guinea pigs are naturally timid and love companionship. In the wild, guinea pigs are very social animals and they require the same companionship when they are kept as pets (Social life, n.d., para. 2). There are many distinct behavioural characteristics that guinea pigs share that set them apart from other rodent species. Their unique vocalisations, humorous actions, and cuddly nature are sure to amuse any pocket pet lover.
Guinea pigs seem to have their own unique language. There are many different sounds that can be heard when in the presence of these small rodents, and all of these sounds have different meanings. Knowing what these sounds mean will help the owner to better understand their pet and assist in building a stronger relationship between them (McLeod, n.d., para. 1).
One of the most common vocalisations of the guinea pig is called “wheeking,” which habitually corresponds with excitement for food or attention (McLeod, n.d., para. 3). Another sound frequently heard from a content guinea pig is called “purring,” which signifies that the animal is having a pleasurable experience, usually when being petted or while cuddling (McLeod, n.d., para. 4). If you ever hear teeth chattering, it usually means that the animal is annoyed or angry, sometimes followed by showing of the teeth or a bite. When guinea pigs are extremely frightened or hurt, they will project a sound called “shrieking,” a very loud, high-pitched, repetitive sound; if it is ever heard, the guinea pig should be thoroughly examined for any signs of injury (McLeod, n.d., para. 9).
Guinea pigs also communicate by using body language. One gesture frequently observed is called “popcorning”: the animal will pop itself up into the air, often repeatedly, while tossing its head upward and kicking its hind legs back. This gesture is most frequently seen in younger guinea pigs and it signifies a very happy and playful animal (McLeod, n.d., para. 13). When agitated, a guinea pig may stiffen its legs and head while raising its body up higher than usual. Some aggressive behaviours include hissing, fluffing of the fur, and showing of the teeth (McLeod, n.d., para. 17).
Appearance
Guinea pigs usually grow to lengths of approximately ten inches and weigh one to two pounds (Hirst, n.d., para. 2). They have stout bodies with a large and elongated head that is equivalent to approximately one third of their entire body length. Guinea pigs do not have tails and their ears are large and rounded (Pavia, 2005, p. 18). There are many different breeds of guinea pigs, but only 13 are recognised in the United States (Nash, n.d., para. 1). These include the Skinny (almost completely hairless), the American (shorthaired), the Coronet (extremely long, smooth coat), and the Texel (long, very crimpy and wavy coat). Their coats come in a variety of colours, textures, and lengths.
Guinea Pig Husbandry
Housing
Providing an adequate, clean space, a fresh wholesome diet, and meeting grooming needs are all essential for keeping a happy and healthy guinea pig. A minimum of four square feet should be kept for each guinea pig in the cage, as they need room to exercise and get away from each other if needed (Guinea pig care, n.d., para. 5). Guinea pigs sleep best if they have their own covering to crawl in; providing some sort of cubby or dome for each animal is essential for good health. The bottom of a guinea pig cage should be solid with no wire or mesh lining, as these surfaces can injure the animal’s feet. Glass aquariums do not provide enough ventilation; a solid plastic or metal base with a wired top is a great guinea pig environment (Guinea pig care, n.d., para. 5). The bedding used should not be cedar or pine, as both contain oils that are bad for the animal’s health.
Diet
Guinea pigs love to eat and have some special needs when it comes to their diet. They have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts and providing unlimited timothy hay or orchard grass aids in their digestion (Vital vittles, 2009, para. 4). Commercial pellets should be fed every day, but only one-eighth of one cup (Vital vittles, 2009, para. 2). Approximately one cup of a fresh leafy green mixture should be served daily, along with small amounts of fresh fruit and other fresh vegetables (Guinea pig feeding, 2009, para. 4). Some good leafy greens offered daily are kale, mustard greens, spinach, romaine, and parsley (Vital vittles, 2009, para. 14). Guinea pigs need a lot of vitamin C to support their immune system, as they are unable to synthesise it themselves; adding a supplement to their water and supplying vitamin C to their everyday diet is crucial for maintaining homeostasis (Vital vittles, 2009, para. 5).
Grooming
Having continually growing teeth, the guinea pig is at risk of a very painful condition if proper materials to help wear down their teeth are not provided; their teeth can become overgrown and possibly grow into other areas of their mouth. I provide untreated wood blocks, toilet paper rolls, and a daily supply of hay to help keep the teeth a healthy length. Just like the teeth, toenails can also become overgrown and uncomfortable, and may need to be trimmed manually (Guinea pig pet care, n.d., para. 5). Longhaired guinea pigs require frequent brushing to prevent knots from forming in their fur.
Conclusion
Despite their original purpose in their native land, guinea pigs make excellent family pets. Their wacky gestures, unique sounds, and stout appearance are sure to make anyone crack a smile. Guinea pigs are the happiest when paired with another guinea pig. Providing good husbandry will reduce the risk of disease in any animal. While caring for a guinea pig does have some special demands, it is worth it.
As Minarikova et al. (2021) note in their study of guinea pig welfare, the quality of the human-animal bond in small pet rodents is significantly enhanced when owners take the time to understand species-specific behaviours and communication signals rather than projecting mammalian norms derived from larger companion animals such as cats and dogs. For prospective owners considering a guinea pig, particularly as a first pet for children, the investment of time in learning about the species before acquisition is associated with longer, more satisfying ownership experiences and fewer animals surrendered to shelters.
References
Minarikova, A., et al. (2021). Guinea pig welfare in pet ownership. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 42, 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2019.02.006
Pavia, A. (2005). Guinea Pigs. Barron’s Educational Series.
Richardson, V. C. G. (2000). Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs (2nd ed.). Blackwell Science.
Quesenberry, K. E., & Carpenter, J. W. (2012). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery (3rd ed.). Elsevier.