Carolina Exotic Animal Hospital - Charlotte, NC

3742 Monroe Road • Charlotte, NC 28205 • (704) 342-9955

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs have become popular pets, primarily due to their gentle nature. South American Indians introduced guinea pigs to European settlers over 300 years ago. The most common type is the English or American short hair, followed by the Peruvian (long, silky hair) and the Abyssinian (short, rough hair arranged in swirls). The average life span of pet guinea pigs is 5-7 years. Males are called boars and females sows. The average gestation period is 68 days with litter sizes ranging from 2-4 young. The young are precocious and can be weaned at 20 days of age. Females have their first estrous (heat) cycle at 5-8 weeks of age, with the cycles lasting 15-17 days. Males reach puberty at 10-19 weeks of age.

Housing - Adult guinea pigs can be housed in open aquariums or wire cages. Cages should be kept clean and dry in a draft free area. If wire mesh flooring is used, be sure that one area of the cage has a solid bottom so your pet can rest off the mesh from time to time.

Diet - guinea pigs, like humans and other primates, cannot synthesize ascorbic acid (vitamin C ) and thus need daily supplementation. Labels on packages of guinea pig pellets can be misleading. Vitamin C has a "self life" in pelleted foods of 60-90 days.

Medical Problems - Gastrointestinal - mainly deal with your pet's teeth. Overgrowth of the premolars and molars can lead to malocclusion. The tongue and cheeks can be damaged causing a loss of appetite. Your pet may seem hungry but will refuse to eat. Dentistry procedures will have to be done to correct the problem. Urogenital - guinea pigs frequently get bladder infections and bladder stones. Both of these conditions occur more commonly in aged females. Signs include bloody urine, blood on the fur or blood found in the cage. Bladder stones are surgically removed, but reoccurrence can and does occur. Bladder infections are treated with antibiotics.

Carolina Exotic Animal Hospital
3742 Monroe Road • Charlotte, NC 28205 • (704) 342-9955