Episode 8 - Guinea Pigs

 This episode Lauren talks all things Guinea Pigs. We talk about their origin of becoming household pets, different breeds and basics in care.

Show Notes:

Where are Guinea Pigs from

  • From South America, particularly the Andes region

  • There are many indications that Guinea Pigs began to be domesticated around 5000BC in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and the Andes

  • They were not only kept as pets, but are were and still are used today in religious and medical settings.

  • Guinea Pigs as household pets

    • Guinea Pigs are quite vocal, they will whistle, purr or make a bubbling sound when they are happy, excited or content

    • Guinea Pigs thrive when living in groups of two or more, so if you are thinking about adding a Guinea Pig to your family, you should also get a friend for them

    • You should pay attention to the sex of the Guinea Pigs when adding them to your household. You can have sows or females together, if you have a boar, or male, he should be neutered if he is with females. It is not recommended to have two males, although sometimes they are ok with each other

    • If handled correctly early in life, guinea pigs become amenable to being picked up and carried, and seldom bite or scratch.

    • They are timid explorers and often hesitate to attempt an escape from their cage even when an opportunity presents itself.

    • In Switzerland, owning a single guinea pig is considered harmful to its well-being and forbidden by law.

  • Where are Guinea Pigs the most popular

    • Guinea Pigs became popular ‘pocket pets’ in the US and Europe when trade was introduced in the 16th century

    • They were seen as exotic pets and became very popular with the upper class and royalty

  • Different breeds of Guinea Pigs

    • Hairless

      • Skinny Pig

      • Baldwin Skinny Pig

    • English / American Short Hair

    • Abyssian

    • Long Hair

      • Peruvian

      • Silkie

      • Texel

      • Sheba

      • Teddy

  • Care for Guinea Pigs

    • Grooming

      • Short hair breeds can be combed or brushed once and week, long hair breeds may require daily grooming

      • Nails must be kept trimmed

    • Food

      • The guinea pig's natural diet is grass; their molars are particularly suited for grinding plant matter and grow continuously throughout their life.

      • Guinea pigs benefit from a diet of fresh grass hay, such as timothy hay, in addition to food pellets which are often based on timothy hay. Alfalfa hay is also a popular food choice and most guinea pigs will eat large amounts of alfalfa when offered it

      • Guinea pigs require about 10 mg of vitamin C daily which can be obtained through fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as broccoli, apple, cabbage, carrot, celery, and spinach) or through dietary supplements or by eating fresh pellets designed for guinea pigs

    • Habitat

      • Domestic guinea pigs generally live in cages, although some owners of large numbers of guinea pigs dedicate entire rooms to their pets.

      • Prefer bedding materials made from hardwoods (such as aspen), paper products, and corn cob materials are other alternatives.

      • Guinea pigs tend to be messy within their cages; they often jump into their food bowls or kick bedding and feces into them

​Here are some links to the products that were mentioned in this episode. These are affiliate links that help support our efforts. Thank you.

JanYoo Guinea Pig Toys - https://amzn.to/3oaqfml
BWOGUE Hamster Grass Tunnel Toy - https://amzn.to/369eO8B
PAWCHIE Wooden Hut with Windows - https://amzn.to/2KJeXYG
Small Animals Play Balls Rolling Chew Toys & Gnawing Treats - https://amzn.to/3qSxkdh
Guinea Habitat Guinea Pig Cage by Midwest - https://amzn.to/39VIebc


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