!?Guinea Pigs?!?

Question

Tell me everything on guinea pigs if you have owned them. Pros and cons.

Answer 1

Hey - go to the library and check out the book "Your Guinea Pig: A Kid's Guide to Raising & Showing" by Wanda L. Curran. It will tell you everything about guinea pigs. They're great. I have been breeding them for almost 10 years now!

If you get one - 1st on the list is that they NEED vitamin C. Give them fresh veggies like parsley every day! That's one of the best ways to make sure they get enough vitamin C.

You can sometimes (but not always) keep two males together without any problems at all. I've done it a lot!!!

Guinea pigs can get pregnant as young as 4 weeks old (and males can make the mom or sisters pregnant by 4 weeks of age)! Don't let this happen. It is all too common to lose females to something called pregnancy toxemia - it is fatal!!! There is NO CURE for pregnancy toxemia. Learn everything you can before you even think of breeding guinea pigs. Don't keep a female and male together at any time unless you want to breed them. Females guinea pigs will get pregnant again within an hour of having their babies - so Dad has to go before the pups (babies) are born. A guinea pig has a pregnancy that lasts from 68 to 72 days and the babies are born with fur and teeth. They can run around the cage after only a couple of hours.

Guinea pigs wear their teeth down when they chew. It is not necessary to have wooden chew sticks with them. The teeth meet and grind together to wear them down. The teeth grow constantly, which is why they need to wear down. Chew sticks don't hurt and the piggies like to play with them, but it is an option not a need. A guinea pig will completely re-grow a broken tooth in just over a week :)

I agree that it is better not to buy from a pet store. You can buy a cheaper healthier animal from a breeder (you can find one by contacting the American Rabbit Breeders Association and asking them to send you a list of cavy breeder near where you live). You can also go to rabbit and cavy shows to find a guinea pig. Guinea pigs are also called cavies - a shortened version of the latin name Cavia Porcellus. You will leave a breeder's house with the information you need to take care of your new piggy and a phone number that you can use if you need help.

Cedar is not good. The essential oils in Cedar shavings cause respiratory problems, even when it doesn't kill the piggy. Pine is okay for most guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs live an average of 3 to 7 years - not 15. There are a few rare guinea pigs that will live over 10 years, most don't.

Guinea pigs do get noisy when they beg. They train their owners well and you will learn to give them a small piece of carrot or something when they wheek for it.

Guinea pigs need attention. A lone guinea pig NEEDS you or a friend. Guinea pigs live in groups in the wild and it is a necessary part of survial for them to have company and companionship.

Guinea pigs don't use wheels and they sleep most of the night - with only occasional water bottle clicks.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I have had 7 guinea pigs in my life and I'm only 19 I have 2 right now and I'm breeding and selling them for $15 each but they can be a heck of a lot of work you NEED to clean its cage twice a week fill is water each day (if it's not empty do it any way so the water says fresh) also if you don't play with it it will get lonely and if you want to play with it it might run or even bite you but I have a harness for my guinea pigs and they love to go out so if you ever have time take them out side but keep an eye on it or it might run away also you would probably want to start out with a female they are way more easy if this is your first time owning one but some treats are apples (no peelings) carrots lettuce strawberries(not to many or it will have diarrhea) here's a source for more info

Answer 3

We have had 2. Simon was a long haired brown Abyssinian. We adored him. Had him 7 years before he died. We would let him go outside and eat grass (they love fresh grass) or just sit in our lap while we watched TV. Don't give them the run of the house though, they will chew anything and everything, even electric cords. After Simon my daughter received Jessie, another Abyssinian, only tri-colored. What we didn't know was that Jessie was already pregnant. She had 3 perfect babies. We got rid of the 2 males and kept Josie, a brown short haired female. The only reason we gave them up is because my daughter got tired of taking care of them and we already had 2 cats and a dog. We gave them to a good home where 2 young boys adore and care for them still. Guinea Pigs do not bite out of anger, only if you hurt them. They are so sweet. The only downside is the mess. They are very messy and their cages have to be cleaned constantly. They need their nails clipped too. Our vet would do it for free. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I have my guinea pig today and they are the cutest, most low-maintenance pets you can have! They love attention and are soo adorable!! I can't really think of any cons, but a big pro is that they don't need to be taken to the vet at all (unless something occurs)! They are great first pets and perfect for little children! I recommend them to you if you are, 1. Not too busy to spend time with them, 2.Treat them with care and patience, and 3. Promise to love and spoil them!!!

Answer 5

I've had them for years. There are a few golden rules. First, never ever under any circumstances use cedar bedding. It causes respiretory illness and can kill them. Next, dont keep two males together or they could fight, and if you have a boy and a girl, and the girl gets pregnant, take the male out right away and keep him out untill the babies leave in about 8 weeks. You need to keep guinea pigs in a cage, or they will chew through electrical cords, or another animal could hurt it. They live up to fifteen years, so consider that before you get one. They frequently get non-cancerous tumers, so dont be alarmed if they get one. I'd still take it to the vet though. My guinea pig has three tumers and a growth on her foot, but the vet checked them out and said that they are ok. You need to trim their nails, but be sure not to cut the quick. In case of emergency, you need to have some quick blood stopper powder on hand at all times. If you live around Yorktown and your guinea pig gets sick, dont take it to the emergency vet clinic across from the Spring Garden chinese restaurante, because they overdosed my guinea pig Callie with antibiotics and killed her. Take it to the vet immediatly if it has a crusty nose, or wheezy breathing, because they die very quickly if not treated. Do carefull research about which plants to feed them, because some are poisenous. Never give meat or iceberg lettuce, or potato leaves, for starters. They may not be able to swim, so be carefull when bathing them. They need chew sticks, because their teeth grow constantly. You need to keep them inside, because of temperature fluctuations, insects, children, and predators. and dont keep them in the garage because of the fumes. Dont buy from a pet store, because they sell them too young and they often are unhealthy. Find a good breeder and have them checked out right away. Enjoy your new pet!

Answer 6

Guinea pigs love being petted but sometimes they won't eat or drink if lonely .I have one guinea pig but he is used to being alone because he gets alot of attention.let your guinea pigs out alot and play with them for at least a total of four hours a day.i keep my guinea pig happy by teaching him new tricks.guinea pigs love watermelon.watermelon is like a treat for them. Treat your guinea pig like family and he/she won't get lonely. If you don't have time for a guinea pig get he or she a friend. If you lived alone with alot of animals wouldn't they be like family? Same with a guinea pig.

Answer 7

Guinea pigs are brilliant first time pets for kids. Apart from the general clean out of the cage every week, as mine were in a large cage and run outside, they were no bother. Be brought them in for hugs. they love nothing more than sitting on your lap and being stroked. Ours hate almost anything. potatoes are a definite no no as these can kill them. Also dont give them iceberg lettuce as this can cause diarrhoea. Mention to the pet shop whether you wish to keep them inside the house or outside and they will give you lots of helpful advice, eg what to do in cold weather if they are outside. Great pets but there is lot you need to know about them first.

Answer 8

You had some good advice given but I want to address one thing. We have used cedar bedding for 4 guinea pigs over a period of years and have never had a problem with it. If you buy one froma pet store it will most likely be wild and will need to be tamed. Be very gentle and patient as that can take a while to do properly.

Answer 9

I loved every minute of having guinea pigs. I bought one at the pet store in the end of february in 2005, and come april 1, I had four. Me, not being very common sense smart, kept the babies with mommy until about late august to early september, when i figured out that one of the babies was male and took him away. Late november, around thanksgiving, mom had three more babies, one of the sisters had three, and the other sister had four. I've since given away all but one (the mommy who had four Amunet), and no one else really wants her because she acts stuck up like a cat.

Answer 10

They squeak LOUD a lot. They stink up their cage within a few days, you have to change the wood shavings a lot. They are good pets to hold, with the few we've owned none have bitten. They like to have exercise. We'd take ours out and sit in a circle and let it run around. They LOVE treats. They CAN'T be in the sun (we put ours out on the porch one day, in its cage, and it died within hours and it wasn't even that hot out). When they pee it dries up on the bottom on the cage and turns white and is HARD to clean off. Change the wood shavings OFTEN but don't use Cedar (it will ruin their breathing/lungs). Hope this helps... they are good pets overall. Better than hamsters or gerbils (they bite and run away, too little, and they eat each other).