Can You Have Too Many Guinea Pigs?

By Hugh Thomas

Generally in most every guinea pig person's life, the question arises: just how many pigs are enough? Is one pig adequate, a couple of pigs the best quantity, three piggies, or should our home be converted by us in to a haven for unwanted and abandoned guineas? Of course, it is your own preference, but there are certainly a few facts to consider.

First, an individual pig is usually a lonely pig. Now, if you are in a position to spend a great amount time with your pig everyday, then you can actually ameliorate a little of your pig's loneliness. But personally, when I'd only Grover the Rotund, I felt guilty leaving him throughout the day when I was at the office. Therefore, after about three months of experiencing a single pig, I adopted Buster [the Docile]to be Grover's cagemate. Two is just a perfectly significant amount of guinea pigs. And those two were hitting it off pretty well. I undoubtedly had enough pigs. Yet after a couple months after acquiring Buster, I starting experience the undeniable need for another. And hence, enter Wendal the Hairless Wonder.

Now that I've my trio, I'm positively completed with putting guinea pigs to the fold. Yet, I could absolutely understand how a few of my fellow GPP's (Guinea Pig People) have discovered themselves in the situation to be slaves to 25 or so guinea pigs. They are just so darn adorable, each so unique. And we are weak. It is so easy to keep getting just one more.

Pigs in herds are an appealing display to observe. They've their own social order, their own methods of play, their own unique language of sounds. I just like to watch my herd -- they are an absolute hoot!

Obviously, you can't group non-neutered mixed sexes. Otherwise a set of pigs will begin to turn into a dozen. Boys should only be held with others, although it is usually a risk to try and add new boars. Often they'll intimidate and scrap, leading to being divided or snipped at the vet. The others get on good, with little if any squabbling. Girl pigs, like people, an average of do not actually fight, though who knows if they gossip concerning the the others, and have periods where they do not talk to each other.

Most significantly, if you're planning to have multiple pigs, you absolutely must have adequate cage room for them. I would recommend an 3 square feet for each new pig, and at least 5 square feet for the initial one. More space is always better.

About the Author:

In addition to being sweet, loving, and petable, Guinea Pigs are also fun! To see how much fun they can be and to learn more helpful tips check out the blog Guinea Pigs Are Awesome If you are unsure about adopting a Guinea Pig read this article to see if it is right for you What to KNow Before Adopting a Guinea Pig

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Eating Guinea Pig in Peru

By Jonny Blair

Travelling means trying new and random foods. One such food was Guinea pig in Peru! Just one of countless meals over the years. Guinea Pig is known as Cui in Peru.

With the Inca Trail behind me and having just seen the lost Inca City of Machu Picchu, it was time to relax in the town of Aguas Calientes in Peru. Everyone was in awe of the surroundings and we made plans to meet at Chaski restaurant for lunch at 3pm. I was going to be hungry and was thinking of trying something local.

When I was growing up our annual Christmas dinner was always of high importance. Like a highlight of the year. On this day I found a church in Aguas Calientes for lunch and after that it was time to head to the Peruvian restaurant for Christmas Dinner.

I had never tried Guinea Pig before and was set on it. Peru and Ecuador are the best places in the world to try Guinea Pig. I am adventurous in ordering and trying new food. However I must admit, if I don't like something, I won't finish it just for the sake of it.

There were a couple of options with the Guinea Pig Christmas Dinner. The choices were either Cuy Al Horno which is Roasted Guinea Pig. This comes with potatoes, cheese and salad. There is also the option of Pepian de Cuy which is Stewed Guinea Pig and that one is topped with peanut sauce and comes with rice and spuds. The price of them both was 55 Soles. I went for the Roasted option as I like cheese. It was nice to be having potatoes on Christmas Day.

And soon my roasted guinea pig was here and ready to be eaten. Our table raised a toast to completing the Inca Trail and we all ate and drank to our hearts content.

OK so I tried the roasted guinea pig, but how was it? Well I really will try anything once, but I will not always try anything twice. It was nice and a good feed for my Christmas dinner but it's not the sort of thing I would want to eat regularly. It was well cooked and if I had to compare it - I'd say it tasted a bit like chicken. The meat is hard to find, especially in big chunks and you have to pick at the bones. But I did it and I almost finished it. It was then time for a few more celebratory beers after completing the Inca Trail. If you are in Peru, the guinea pig is worth a try. It might be your only chance!

About the Author:

To find more articles like Eating Roasted Guinea Pig head to Jonny Blair's worldwide travel, work and lifestyle website called Dont Stop Living for regular travel features and advice.

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Guinea Pigs as Pets

By Cathy Doggins

The guinea pig or Cavy is originally from South America and remains one of the most popular pets for hundreds of years. They can be found in natural habitats in a few South American nations including Argentina and Brazil. While there are over 60 breeds, most domestic pet Guinea Pigs are either English, Peruvian and Abyssinian. Each breed has unique traits based mostly on hair length (short or long), The animals may also be differentiated by color or rosettes, which are round swirls of hair. Many Cavies are cross-bred creating for even more color ccmbinations. They eat easy to prepare Guinea Pig diets and are an easy to care for pet.

Your Pet Guinea Pig

The pet lives a mean of 5 years and make excellent pets. They're gentle non-aggressive creatures that seldom bite. The animals are very social with other Guinea Pigs. They'll make some noise, although not so loud as to be a problem. Cavies don't leap or jump, so no cage tops or lids are required.

Guinea Pig Bedding and Cages

Any cage should be about 200 square inches. The animals can be untidy since they like to shred any bedding material. Bedding can be shredded newspaper or recycled paper. Cage walls should be at least 10 inches high. The cage should be cleaned everyday since the animals often pee and defecate.

Feeding and Supplements

Cavies are easy to care for and need an easy to prepare and maintain diet. The most basic accessory is a sipper type water bottle. Water should be provided every day and the water bottle should be washed every 7 days. Vitamin C enriched Timothy Food pellets formulated for Guinea Pigs should be supplied. Also provide green Timothy, grass or oat hay. Avoid Alfalfa since it contains too much calcium. Also provide your Cavy a small portion of green vegetables.

As soon as you bring a Guinea Pig home, get him or her used to eating a many types of foods. The patterns you set while they're young will stay tfamiliar for the life of your pet. It is hard to introduce new foods later in life. Suggested veggies that are full of the required vitamin c incude:

- Turnip greens
- ,Mustard greens
- Dandelion greens
- Kale
- Brussell sprouts

Do not give your Guinea Pig too much fruit. Fruits like grapes, apples and orange slices (one per day for vitamin c is ok) can be provided. Fruit must not comprise more than 5% of a Cavies diet. Cavies require 10-30 mg of vitamin C daily. There are capsules available for purchase that may be crushed into fresh vegetables. Don't add a vitamin c supplement to water since the value of the supplement reduces after adding it to water.

Health Care

Like cats and dogs, cavies should be examined by a Veterinarian each year. Catching illnesses early is key to helping your pet live a long and healthy life.

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A Guide to Bringing Your Guinea Pigs Home

By David Emery

The First Few Days

Bring your guinea pigs home and introducing them to their new living quarters is a rather important and also stressful time in the life of these little animals. After bringing your pet home you will, of course, be tempted to hold and cuddle them, thinking that this will comfort them as it would a baby or small child. However, doing this to a guinea pig who is in a strange, frightening location can cause them great stress.

Let the first few days they are home to be for exploring their cage in a quiet environment free from stress or loud noises, both of which will scare the guinea pig.

Remember:

To ensure that bringing your guinea pigs home is a positive experience for everyone, especially for the guineas, you will need a cage with a hiding place inside. Every guinea pig will need their own little spot to feel safe and sound.

Don't Loom!

Notice everyone in the family hovering around the cage? Watching the guinea pigs every move? Although cute and interesting, doing this is definitely going to scare the little guys!

This makes your pet think that an eagle is swooping down to attack, and causes him to be very scared. Instead, when you want to observe your pet, kneel down to eye level with the cage. This will allow him to see you as more of a friend, and less of a foe.

Bribery

Perhaps the best way to get your pets to trust you after bringing your guinea pigs home is by using bribery, which may sound strange at first, but it actually does work. Bribing your guinea pig in order to gain their trust is a simple yet effective way of making the animal more comfortable with you and their new home.

Bribing a guinea pig, who usually have great appetites, with treats is ideal for showing them that you are there to help and not harm them.

Best Bribing Ways?

It isn't hard to bribe your guinea pig with treats so they'll trust you.

Start by showing your pet the delicious treat you're offering them, then set it at the open door of the cage. Sit just outside, with your hands in your lap, and wait.

If after a few minutes have passed your guinea pig still isn't showing any interest in the food, take the treat away, close the door to the cage quietly, then leave. Doing this a few times will convey the message to your pet that they must come to the open cage door in order to get the treat.

Every time your pet moves toward his or her treat, move a bit closer to them and their cage allowing them ample time to get used to your being so near.

Before long, your pet will eventually take the treat from you, but probably with plenty of trepidation in the beginning. However, with even more patience on your part your guinea pig will be nibbling treats right from you hand without any fear at all and even become happy and excited when they see you.

To Pick Your Guinea Pig Up...

Don't lure your guinea pig with treats in order to pick him up, because you're going to hurt the tentative bond of trust you've built with him, and possibly damage any relationship in the future.

Start by slowly and gently petting and stroking the guinea pig, letting them see you aren't a predator but instead their friend and new family member.

The Actual Holding

It's extremely important to pick up and hold a guinea pig with great caution as these little animals are shaped in such a way that lung damage and broken bones are possible if they aren't held correctly.

The rear of the guinea pig should be supported while cupping their upper body and slowly lifting upward. Never squeeze or hold a guinea pig too hard but instead hold them gently but securely.

Carry your guinea pig with great care and remind young children of the importance of being gentle with their pet. A guinea pig could be easily injured if dropped even from a short distance because of their small and delicate bones.

Relaxing Your Guinea Pig

Imagine relaxing on the couch curled up with a good book in one hand and the other busy petting your sweet little guinea pig. This peaceful scene will take some practice before it becomes a reality, but it's definitely possible to get cozy with your guinea pigs.

When you first handle your guinea pig, do so in a quiet room, and make sure that nothing is going on. Have a treat ready, and see if you can get him to eat it on your lap.

With some patience and understanding, bringing your guinea pigs home can be an exciting and enjoyable experience for everyone.

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What To Use As Bedding Material For Your Guinea Pigs

By Jackie Opstein

Having a pet guinea pig is such a joy. Watching them play, eat, and scamper around in their cages is fun especially because they are so cute and cuddly. To keep your pets healthy and happy you should invest in proper bedding for them. There are many options for their bedding and this includes straw, paper, or even wood shavings.

Paper is abundant and cost efficient source of bedding. In terms of the comfort, paper is to guinea pigs, while feather is to humans. In addition, clean paper does not have dust and they absorb liquids easily. However, the only concern with paper is if it contains ink that is poisonous to guinea pigs.

Some may consider soft wood shavings as the best option for bedding. Shavings have a number of shapes depending on the order. Wood can be cut to look like pellets or actual shavings, or something complete different.

Wood shavings also smell nice especially when made from pine trees. They are also an affordable choice although a drawback is that they tend to retain dust and can get pretty messy.

Before placing the shavings in the cage, it's a good idea to dry them out first. Guinea pigs can be allergic to the smell of the wood thus using a cage instead of an aquarium is better as it allows air to circulate and spreads the smell of the wood.

Other pet owners also like to use straw or hay as bedding. There is an added treat for the guinea pigs as they like to eat straw.

Keep the straw dry and clear of molds. When the straw gets wet, they get easily damaged.

Never use sawdust as bedding. These are too fine and the guinea pigs will inhale the dust. Also, don't use hard materials as your guinea pigs might poke their eyes on them.

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Choosing the Perfect

Guinea Pig Name

Guinea pigs - we're all familiar with this small rodent. We know what they look like and what they're used for. They're cute little rodents and they are pets. As far as most of us in the western world are concerned, that's the complete story. But there is much more to the tale of this cute little animal's history and its contribution to human society across the globe.

In the United States and Europe these little pigs have become popular pets. Known and revered for their docile and friendly nature and for their cute demeanor, guinea pigs are adored by children and adults alike in the west. They have become the family pet of choice in thousands of households. They are relatively easy to care for and inexpensive to own. They are generally good natured and rarely bite.

Fun Facts About Guinea Pig

Pets

Guinea pigs live an average of about five years and may even live to seven years. They are best kept indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. They do best in a standard "room temperature" setting (65 to 75 degrees). In addition, serious cavy breeders raise these animals as show animals. These show animals are exhibited in sanctioned events across the nation.

The American Rabbit Breeders Association is the official registry for cavies in the United States.Unfortunately, the common usage of the "guinea pig" label in our English language is derived from one of our poor cavy's more unpleasant roles - that of the laboratory test subject. They were used extensively in the 1800's and 1900's as research test animals.

Guinea Pig Diseases You Should Know About

So much so that the name guinea pig gradually became a popular idiom denoting a test or sacrificial subject. Fortunately for the cavy, this usage is decreasing as laboratories turn increasingly more to other rodents - most notably rats and mice. In South America, the story is very much different and bleaker for our furry little friend. The cavy has a completely different history in this area of the world.

The guinea pig originated in South America. Today there are no guinea pigs left in the wild. However, in years past when they did live in the wild - South America was their stomping ground. The originally came from in the Andean region of South America. Nowadays this region is made up of modern day Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.

Breeding Guinea Pigs

The Inca Indians domesticated this little beast around 5000 B.C. and raised it for food. Because of this unfortunate precedent, the cavy is still eaten today in this region of the world. In small Indian villages, people still raise the little rodent for food just as western farmers raise and eat barnyard animals. Yes, we think of the cavy as only a pet - as a companion for our children and for us.

But this creature has other roles - some familiar and some extremely foreign to us. They are raised and sold by breeders to be used as show animals.Some guinea pigs are specially bred and sold to research companies to be used as laboratory test subjects. And in South America, they are a food source. We should be grateful for the guinea pig. Over the years, this seemingly insignificant little rodent has contributed to the human race in many ways.

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Guine Pig Health Information

For any questions about guinea pig health of course consult a veterinarian preferably one that specializes in exotic animals, which includes guinea pigs, but here are some good things to know.


Vitamin C

While most mammals make their own vitamin C oddly enough guinea pigs are like humans, neither of us can make our own vitamin C and must get it from food. If they don't get it they will get scurvy just as we do (I am talking to other humans, yes?) (just an attempt at humor couldn't resist) and it can cause stiffness in their joints or even be deadly to the pig. They get vitamin C from eating fresh, raw fruits such as apples and vegetables like spinach, celery, cabbage and carrots or they can get it through supplements.


Urine

Guinea pig urine is slightly white if it's red or pink it indicates blood in the urine which could mean stones in the bladder and of course get him to the vet. If the urine is very white or there is a thickness to the urine it may be too much calcium.


Diarrhea

It's no laughing matter when your guinea pig gets diarrhea as it could throw off his electrolyte balance and make him sick and even be deadly if it continues.It can be brought on by antibiotics which wipes out all the good bacteria in the intestines or it could be you are just feeding him too many vegetables or wet foods in which case just give him more hay. Also acidophilus or lactobacillus can be helpful. Get it at the health food store in capsule form.


Feces

Along with their usual feces both rabbits and guinea pigs also produce soft pellets which contain bacteria, the good kind of bacteria which are needed for proper digestion, B vitamins and fiber. These animals consume these pellets directly from their anus. So should you think your pet is so hungry he is eating feces don't be alarmed he is eating a supplement made by his body and is necessary for good guinea pig health.


Bugs

Mange mites will cause hair loss, scratching or pain on touching him. Mites can drill through the skin and sometimes affect the nervous system and cause seizures where his head goes straight up in the air without a tilt. If there is a head tilt as with some seizures it's probably not from mites.

Eggs from lice can attach to his hair appearing as white or black specks on his coat. If he has running lice they can be seen running through his hair. Bathing him with gentle neem oil soap will effectively get rid of lice.

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