Guinea Pigs

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Guinea Pigs
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Varieties

• Abyssinian Hair is made up of swirls called
  rosettes
• American Short glossy hair
• Peruvian Long hair
• Teddy Short, Kinky hair
• Texel Long curly coat
• http//www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c181800
  aid2838

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Characteristics

• Rodents
• Adults weigh 1-4 pounds
• Body is short and stocky with short legs
• Excellent hearing
• Communicate with high pitched squeals and
  whistles
• 2 males can not live together

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Apply pressure by genitals to identify if it is
a male or female. Females have Y shaped
genital area.
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Housing

• Cages should be wide and deep so that they do not
  scatter bedding around
• House
• Chew Toys
• Food bowl that they
• Can not knock over
• Water bottle

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Feeding

• Guinea pigs are vegetarians
• Pellets from pet store
• Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C so it
  must be supplied in their diet
• Fresh greens, fruits, green vegetables are great
  treats for GP
• Timothy Hay every day
• Guinea pigs drink a lot of water

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CAUTION Food to AVOID at All Costs (Guinea Pigs)

• Altered food cooked, tinned, preserved, etc.
• Pickled vegetables sour krauts, dills, capers
• Potatoes skin and eyes are poisonous, very
  starchy, high in oxalic acid
• Nuts, Seeds, Lentils, Beans (exception are green
  beans)
• Rhubarb
• Mushrooms
• Red hot chilli peppers, Jalapeno peppers, Hot
  herbs and spices
• Collard Greens could cause gas
• Bok choy
• Dairy products, Meat, Fish, Eggs, Bread,
  Chocolate
• Alcohol, Teas, Coffee, Carbonated Drinks, Fruit
  juices (exception can be made on sugar-free or
  unsweetened juices)
• Peanut butter, cakes, cookies, baked goods
• Iceberg lettuce practically no nutritional
  value, very fibrous and watery
• Corn kernels, Popcorn risk of choking
• Seeds risk of choking
• Tomato leaves
• Tamarillo leaves
• Avocado, Coconut too high in fat
• Taro dangerous if eaten raw

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Information

• Gestation 69 days
• Litter size 4
• Wean 4 weeks
• Lifespan 5-8years
• Sexually mature 6 weeks
• Female must be mated before 6 months or pelvic
  bone fuses and she will never be able to give
  birth
• Origin South America

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Health Problems

• Common Disease Scurvy Lack of Vitamin C Hair
  loss, rough coat, diarrhea
• Respiratory diseases
• Malocclusion Upper and lower teeth grow to long

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Handling

• Grasp firmly around front shoulders with one hand
  and have its rear supported with the other hand.
• Once picked up it should be cradled against the
  body

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• http//www.guineapigmanual.com/guinea-pig-eating/
• http//www.merckmanuals.com/vet/exotic_and_labora
  tory_animals/rodents/guinea_pigs.htmlv3309936?qt
  scalt
• http//www.cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm