Introduction 

Owning a guinea pig is great fun but a HUGE responsibility! If unfamiliar with  “piggies” please take the time to READ these notes.  The internet and books are also highly recommended – you can never know too much.
 
Guinea pigs or CAVIES are very docile with people, and soon become very tame. They make great pets for children (responsible, gentle children) and adults alike. The more love and attention they receive, the tamer they become. They will even greet you with their unique squeaks and whistles.

“Piggies” are social animals and should be housed together. Please don’t purchase 1 “piggy” and let it live a solitary existence. If you have no intentions of breeding purchase 2 sows (females). It would not be wise to purchase 2 adult boars (males), as they might fight however 2 young boars or even young brothers have been know to live together in harmony.

General  care and breeding

If purchasing a boar and sow remember a boar is capable of mating from around 4-5 weeks old. Please don’t allow your sow to become pregnant before the age of 4- 5 months and not later than 10 months old. If mated after 10 months there can be complications as the pelvic bones fuse, leaving her with a rigid, undersized pelvis, and this may cause difficult births. Also don’t breed with sows older than 2 years, retire them! 

A sow is pregnant for approximately 65-70 days, keep record of when the boar and sow where first housed together. This will give a rough estimate of the pups due date, it will also be an indication of when to remove the boar. If left with the sow she would be likely to become pregnant again immediately after giving birth. This would be totally irresponsible!!! 

The pups are born with a full coat, with their eyes open and their teeth already cut. They are able to move around and will attempt to take solid food within a day or two. The pups suckle for about 3 weeks, but the young are best left with their mommy until the age of four or five weeks. Remember to remove the young boars at this age or they might try to mount their mothers.  The boars will also mate with their own offspring if allowed to. PLEASE KEEP THEM SEPARATED BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!

Guinea pigs need to be groomed and brushed regularly. Be sure to keep their nails trimmed and cutting the long hair around the anal area is also recommended.

Feeding

DON’T FEED RABBIT PELLETS!!! Guinea pigs need a nutrious diet rich in vitamin C. The correct pellets are enriched with vitamin C and are available at various pet shops. You will also be able to purchase them from me. They will also need fresh veges and fruit EVERY DAY! Keep away from potatoes, rhubarb, iceberg lettuce and spinach. Safe fruit and veges are:

Green, red and yellow peppers (rich in vit C)

Mielies
Cucumber
Cabbage
Tomatoes
Celery
Parsley
Carrots
Apples
Watermelon
Oranges
Strawberries
Melon
Oranges
Naartjies
Pears
Banana
Kiwi fruit

Be careful of too much citrus and tomato they can cause sores in the mouth. Guinea pigs are grazing animals and therefore need hay to graze on. Make sure they have fresh hay to eat daily and not hay that has been soiled by them.  Fresh water must be available at all times. Use water bottles that can be attached to the cage, as they will soil water that is in bowls inside the cage.

I use a product called PROTEXIN, (http://www.ky ronlabs.co.za/publicnewsmeds.php?ProdID=37).  which is a multiple strain probiotic, which ensures the correct balance of digestive tract micro-organisms, which helps to maintain healthy growth. It should be used during and after the use of antibiotics. It also aids in the control of diarrhoea. It can be used daily or once a week to maintain good health. It is available from vets and suppliers of pet products. 

Housing

Guinea pigs need at least 1m x 1m sized cages, but the bigger the better.  If 2 or more are housed together then obviously a larger cage will be necessary. If housed outdoors one needs to be aware of the fact that guinea pigs can easily get heat stroke. Position the cage in an area that will provide shade in the hot summer months. They will also need to be kept warm in the winter months. The cage will need to be sheltered from the rain and wind. If using a wire cage the bottom must be a solid one, wire will hurt their feet. Guinea pigs just love to hide under and in things, PVC plumbing pipe works great to make tunnels for them. Some pet shops sell plastic domed houses or igloos that they can also hide under. If you battle to find them buy a cheap plastic bowl and cut out an entrance and turn upside down. Wooden nesting boxes are also important, as they are cosy and perfect if new pups are born.   Try and make their cages interesting for them. I use straw bedding with newspaper underneath to absorb the urine. For ideas on building indoor cages check out www.caveycages.com