First Coast Pet

As in any pet care, the wild origins dictate a lot of what is important in Guinea Pig care. The guinea pig is a species of rodent sometimes known as the Cacy. They are not in fact pigs, as their name would have suggested.  They come from the moutains of South America, and studies have shown they have been breed from closely related species such as Cavia aperea, C. fulgida, or C. tschudii, and do not exist naturally in the wild.
They play an important role as both a food source and the culture of many South Americans. Guinea Pigs were domesticated 5000 years ago for nourishment and have appeared in many folk stories and are often used in metaphors.
They came to Europe in the 16th century by European traders and since then has seen common reputation as a household pet.  Originally they were seen as an exotic pet and even Queen Elisabeth I had one. They were widely used for biological experimentation since the 17th century, giving way to the metaphor “guinea pig” for a test subject, though more recently they have been replaced by mice and rats.
They are very calm easy to care for and are easy to handle and feed and are therefore popular with pet sitters. They are timid explorers and rarely attempt to escape. Guinea pigs will often make a noise like a whistle when interested, like for when the owner comes – or they hear the food container opening.
There are many breeds of domesticated guinea pigs, which differ in color and hair differences. The most normal varieties are the shorthair (or American shorthair), the Abyssinian with a ruffled coat. More unique long hair types include the Peruvian and the Sheltie (or Silkie) and the curly long hair Texel.

So should I choose a Guinea Pig?

Guinea Pigs are very sociable animals – so require time for fuss, otherwise they will feel lonely and this might lead to stress and sickness. This could be important if you are buying one for the kids, on the understanding that the children will care for the guinea pig. Noting they typically live for around four, but may live for 8 years and the Guinness Book of Records has the record age for a guinea pig at 14 years.
Guinea pigs are relatively big for rodents, weighing between 700 and 1200g (1.5-2.5 pounds), and measuring between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 inches) in length. So they need quite a large cage. Though as a tough pet, this could be located in a shed or a protected spot outside. They will deal with cold better than excessive heat. Avoid wire mesh floored crates, as this can damage their feet and lead to infection.
As for many pets you do not want to put two males together as they will fight  together when they become mature at about 6 months for leadership. Females can however be grouped together. Obviously you do not want to add a male to the group as they breed very easily.

Grass is their normal diet in the wild, so they have a very long colon to help the digestion. This is however not long enough, so if they are eating a lot of grass you will see them eat their faeces. Like humans they cannot produce vitamin C and will need to acquire obtrain this through their food,   the guinea pig version of scurvy is deadly. Scurvy is often identified by sluggishness.  So feed them regularly fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, apple, carrot, spinach and celery). Alternatively, but not a preferred option through dietary vitamins. They are fickle eaters when mature, so with a young guinea pig give a wide variety of foods. They feed continuously, so ensure there is hay available for them to eat.
Guinea pigs, as well as scurvy, may also suffer from respiratory tract infections, diarrhea,  abscesses due to infection (often in the neck, due to hay embedded in the throat, or from external scratches), and infections by lice, mites or fungus.

They are energetic throughout the day and will sleep on and off, waking for some activity. They often groom themselves and will groom others.

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