Peruvian guinea pig: description, maintenance and care

Guinea pigs are ideal for keeping as pets. There are a variety of pig breeds, however, special attention should be paid to the Peruvian guinea pig.

The history of the emergence of this species is lost in the depths of past centuries. It is only known that the first representatives of the breed were brought to Europe in 1800 from the countries of South America - Peru, Argentina or Brazil.

The general public became acquainted with the animals at the Paris Agricultural Exhibition, after which a breed standard was formulated and approved in 1930.

Appearance

The Peruvian guinea pig has such a bright and impressive appearance that it is almost impossible to make a mistake and confuse it with representatives of other breeds. The main distinguishing features of the animals:

• short body;
• large head;
• broad shoulders.

And pride and, undoubtedly, the main distinguishing feature of the Peruvians is their completely straight, thick and unusually silky fur, up to 15–20 cm long. The coat is so thick that, looking closely at the animal, you cannot immediately determine where the muzzle is and where the tail is.

And of course, many people think that caring for wool of this quality is a difficult and troublesome task. Practice shows that this is not entirely true. The fur does not tangle and is very easy to comb. It's all about the rosettes, of which Peruvians have 2 on the body and a peculiar swirl on the nose. The rosette in pigs is the starting point for the growth of fur in a circle.

On the head, strands of fur fall over the eyes, covering almost the entire muzzle of the rodent. On the back, the fur is placed in an even parting. But on the paws and belly the fur is very short, and it’s easy to care for.

Peruvian guinea pigs come in a variety of colors and patterns. For example, one-colored Peruvian selfies and two-colored pigs are known, but a three-colored animal is a rare curiosity.

Adult animals grow up to 1.8 kg. With proper care, the life expectancy of animals is about 8 years.

Guinea pig - animal reviews

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Katuuuush

https://otzovik.com/review_328425.html

Advantages:

• Kind
• beautiful
• big
• funny

Flaws:

• Well, what are the disadvantages of them?

Oh, how I love guinea pigs. I used to have 6 of them! Two big ones are dad and mom, and 4 little pigs. She loved them very much. They were so fat and beautiful. Everyone who came to visit was amazed and constantly said: “What do you feed them, that they are incredible in size.” Good-natured, playful, beautiful rodents. My most favorite pets. Active and noisy :) I especially adored their entourage. When, when opening the refrigerator, they gave a sign for the delicious food to be shared with them. It was as if they had been overdressed. (Sometimes at night you get thirsty, you get up, and they wee-wee-wee all over the apartment) They lived with me for a long time. Usually, according to statistics, on average they live up to 5 years. They lived with me until I was 7 years old. And then, I’m sure we would have lived longer if we hadn’t gotten sick with some kind of skin-related disease. It was not possible to save. But still, oddly enough, I now have a mumps. I love her as much as the previous ones! They are very easy to care for. They multiply quickly!

Yulia Bauman

https://otzovik.com/review_715249.html

Advantages:

• Easy to maintain
• eats almost everything.

Flaws:

• Boring
• has an unpleasant odor
• may bite.

I have long dreamed of having a guinea pig. And finally, my dream came true - they gave me Lucy, a smooth-haired guinea pig. She turned out to be a rather boring, smelly animal. During the day she either ate or sat motionless. But with the onset of dusk, she became more active: she rustled something, scattered food around the cage, turned over the drinking bowl and made a rather loud sound, similar to a squeak. Which made it very difficult to sleep. Therefore, after two weeks of our life together, I decided to give her into good hands.

Svetlana

https://www.babyblog.ru/community/post/petsandcats/3075971

We had a pig, she lived to an old age)) Everything is fine, but you’ve probably already read HOW pigs whistle))) Even if you try to open the refrigerator door very slowly and silently, the pig still hears))) And such whistling and jumping begins on the cage))) It sounds fun, but at times it’s very annoying.

Tatika

https://irecommend.ru/content/lyubimets

Advantages:

• interesting

I grew up in a village, so I had more than enough pets, but how I wanted something special and unique! A true friend, not like everyone else!

A couple of guinea pigs, the girl Sarbonna and the boy Carbon, became such a friend, or rather friends. Oh, how much their names made adults laugh... but how many friends came to see them, so when they had offspring, I easily gave away all the little animals.

I would like to add that they are not whimsical, they are always playful and if trained, guinea pigs will go to the toilet in one corner. They are very clean, do not have an unpleasant odor (unlike hamsters)

Sorry the photo didn't survive.

Fountewards

https://otzyv.expert/hlopotnoe-delo-1444974

Advantages:

• A beautiful animal, only if observed from the side.

Flaws:

• Unpleasant smell
• money spendings.

I really regret that when I bought the pig I didn’t find out everything about this animal, from beginning to end. She pees a lot (urine is very stinky), eats a lot (she constantly squeaks as soon as she hears the refrigerator come off), cleaning the cage is just a pain, especially if you are allergic to dust. High maintenance costs (bedding, feed, hay). And I also want to dispel the myth that they live for 3 years, this is not true, they live from 8 to 10 years. So, think very carefully before buying this little animal.

22qq4

https://otzovik.com/review_3558727.html

Advantages:

• cool

Flaws:

• squeals

So cool. She squeals a lot. He's friends with my cat. He eats, drinks and sleeps all the time. And she sleeps in her feeding trough. Only her cage needs to be cleaned every week.

Lux

https://irecommend.ru/content/nositel-pozitiva

Advantages:

• interesting behavior
• interesting
• cute and touching animal
• no need to walk three times a day
• doesn't pee in slippers
• does not require special expenses
• easy to care for

My wife and I gave our son a guinea pig for his 6th birthday. Only they immediately agreed that all worries would fall on his shoulders. He agreed and at first honestly fulfilled his obligations. Then it cooled down a little, but we explain that it is a living creature and needs care. The son understands and does what he must.

The animal itself is very positive and voracious. During the night she can eat, in my opinion, food the same size as herself. My wife and son like to take her out of her cage in the evening and watch TV with her. And if she gets hungry, she screams so that she can be heard very far away, but her squeal only causes a smile. By nature he is a rodent, so he likes to eat what needs to be chewed. But basically omnivorous. Recently I needed special scissors because the claws are very sharp. They need to be cut 2-3 times a year.

In general, it evokes a lot of positive emotions, and has become almost a full member of the family.

Wisdomty

https://otzyv.expert/ochen-tupaya-1212066

Advantages:

• Easy care.

Flaws:

• Dumb.

At first I got excited about the pig after reading the reviews that she was so cool, she brought a ball, she responded to your nickname, she was happy when she saw you, etc.

In my case, this is complete nonsense! I have never met such a stupid creature. She only shows interest in food, which she eats more than me and drinks liters of water (I change the drinking bowl 5 times a day), when you let her out of the cage she 1. Sits as if paralyzed.2. He runs to hide in the darkest corner and sits there for half a day, shitting and pissing on himself.3. Chews wires.

Initially, I bought the pig for the cat (so that it would play), but the cat never showed much interest in it, well, it will run after it 1-2 times a day, and it will completely ignore it. Whoever writes that they take a pig to children who are flayers, my sister came with her 3.5-year-old niece, so she beat this pig with her hands, kicked it, and screamed in its ear. How is it even possible for children to buy animals so that they can mutilate and maim the same pigs or kittens? Caring for a pig is simple, otherwise it’s just extra money for food and that’s it! No pleasure!!!

limon81

https://otzovik.com/review_4046321.html

Advantages:

• funny
• develops responsibility and care in children

Flaws:

• A very trashy animal, it scatters its food and especially poop everywhere, it runs around and poops.
• The fur sheds a lot and needs to be groomed constantly.

This animal has been living in our house for four years. At first she was very careful, but then she got used to us and began to run after us like a dog around the room. He jumps funny and squeaks when he asks or demands something.

Masyanya I

https://sovet.kidstaff.com.ua/question-164255

the best creature among rodents, does not stink, does not shit anywhere, squeals funny, definitely does not bite, responds to a nickname, loves company very much and is good at playing with children, running after people. Take it with confidence.

Temperament and behavior

Representatives of the breed have an extremely flexible character. These are cute, extremely affectionate and obedient animals, they love to have fun and play and appreciate when they are surrounded by attention. The animal should have the opportunity to engage in active games every day, since movement for pigs is not just a pleasant pastime, but the key to harmonious physical development and health.

However, it is important not to overdo it with active games; Peruvian pigs are supporters of silence and comfort. They may become stressed in a noisy and hectic environment. It is for this reason that families with small children should not have such pigs.

Peruvian pigs usually reproduce without problems. Sexual maturity in females occurs at the age of 5 weeks, and in males at 10. However, they can be bred no earlier than 3 months, because early birth can harm the health of young pigs. Late births are also dangerous to health, so pigs over 2 years old are not allowed for breeding.

After approximately 63 days of pregnancy, gilts give birth to 2 to 4 babies. Newborns are distinguished by their large size and the ability to move independently on the very first day. Already at the age of 3-4 weeks, young pigs require separation from their mother.

Factors influencing life expectancy

How long a guinea pig lives depends not only on its breed. The final figure consists of a number of other more important factors.

Conditions of detention

At home, the animal is constrained in activity, so it is important to support and stimulate its physical activity. For this you will need:

• a spacious cage or terrarium (40x30cm for 1 pig), providing freedom of movement;
• a set of designs for games (tunnels, bags, socks and other popular toys), which brings not only physical but also moral satisfaction;
• periodic walking, allowing you to stretch your paws over a larger area at home or outdoors.

For your pet's health, it is important to monitor:

• the condition of his coat, preventing the formation of tangles, loss of color and hair loss;
• the number of baths, resorting to washing only when necessary and using special hypoallergenic shampoos (be sure to dry the animal with a hairdryer after bathing to avoid hypothermia);
• the quality of the litter, avoiding questionable or unsuitable fillers according to individual criteria;
• health of the eyes and ears, clearing them of accumulated dirt and checking their general condition;
• the length of the teeth, filing them at the veterinarian as necessary (excessive length can be fatal due to starvation);
• claws, shortening them with a claw cutter if it is impossible to grind them down on your own;
• temperature conditions during bathing (not Guinea pig age chart by human standards

Breeders do not recommend purchasing rodents older than 2 years of age. In this case, it is difficult to deal with existing problems. With a small pet, the system is built gradually, so its foundation is laid directly by the owner. Any health problems are the responsibility of the owner (except for genetic problems).

IMPORTANT! You can check the compliance of the animal’s declared age with the actual age of the animal by measuring its weight. A month-old animal weighs about 0.5 kg. At 1 year and 3 months, the maximum values ​​reach 1 kg in females and 2 kg in males, and the minimum values ​​are 0.7 kg and 1 kg, respectively.

Due to the rapid development of a pet, 1 year of its life in relation to a person is about 10-15 years. Let's consider how many years you can give a guinea pig if you count by human standards using the example of the following table.

*13 years were used as a calculation indicator (as the average of possible options). The figures are approximate and require individual calculations.

Rules for choosing when purchasing and price

Peruvian guinea pigs are usually sold in specialized nurseries. Of course, the price for an animal in nurseries may be slightly higher than for a private individual. However, it is better to overpay and buy a healthy animal that will not cause much trouble in the future.

When choosing a pet, first of all you should pay attention to the appearance of the rodent and evaluate the condition of the coat and teeth. A separate article is the behavior of the rodent: a healthy pig is moderately active and curious, its fur is clean and dry. But bald spots indicate that the animal is infected with parasites. Unfortunately, Peruvian pigs are susceptible to these types of diseases.

The price of a Peruvian guinea pig currently fluctuates in the range of 2–5 thousand rubles.

Coat care

You need to accustom your pet to grooming from a young age. At the pet store you should purchase:

• soft brush;
• wide-toothed comb;
• metal comb;
• small scissors.

Short-haired pigs know how to care for their coat without human help; they straighten and clean their coat with their teeth. The owner only needs to brush his pet twice a week with a soft brush to remove faded hairs.

Long-haired pigs have hair that gets matted all the time. Therefore, combing is carried out daily. If tangles have formed, they are carefully cut off with scissors.

During lactation, females are advised to carefully cut off the fur around the nipples so that the babies can get to the milk. We also cannot help but tell you about the amazing behavior of long-haired pigs.

Animals act as hairdressers for themselves and their relatives: they independently cut out excess hair with their teeth. What causes this phenomenon has not yet been established.

Conditions of detention

The Peruvian pig is an extremely active and agile animal. They should always be allowed to run around in an open space, or even better in the fresh air. They love a variety of tunnels and hammocks, which are recommended to equip the cage with.

However, when walking you need to be extremely careful, because the animal can run away and not only ruin things in the apartment, but also harm itself.

It is not recommended to use harnesses for outdoor walks, wheels and balls. Peruvian guinea pigs tolerate them with difficulty; the use of such devices can lead to broken bones in pets.

Running is extremely beneficial for pigs. In summer, you can walk the animal outside or take it with you on trips. Just prepare a carrier bag and take food and water with you. It is advisable for the animal to spend a lot of time in the company of people, playing and running.

It is recommended to equip the cage with a “mineral stone” so that the rodent sharpens its teeth. This measure will help maintain the environment while your pet is walking.

Choosing and arranging a home

For a Peruvian guinea pig, you need to purchase a spacious cage, terrarium or enclosure.

All equipment must be durable and reliable so that food does not spill or water spills. In a spacious cage, you can equip a separate toilet, because pigs like to go to one place. This simplifies the cleaning that needs to be done daily.

It is best to place the cage in well-lit areas.

Keeping animals in a dark corner of the room has an adverse effect on the health and behavior of the rodent, so breeders are urged to place the cage near a window. However, in this case, drafts, which are destructive for Peruvians, should be carefully avoided.

It is very important that the place to sleep is comfortable. It is not recommended to buy houses, because pigs can hide there and become unsociable. It is better to choose a hammock or tunnel made of soft material.

Nutrition and health

It is preferable to select a diet for a Peruvian guinea pig from a variety of grain mixtures, vegetables and fruits. The animals also love fresh and juicy grass; however, they will not refuse hay. You should periodically offer them fresh shoots of fruit trees and nuts.

The diet should be supplemented with apples and carrots, which contain vitamins and minerals. You should not neglect feed additives to maintain the quality of the animal’s coat.

Peruvian pigs have good health. However, during periods of sharp weather fluctuations, immunity is often weakened, which can lead to frequent illnesses. During such periods, you should especially carefully monitor your pet and at the first alarming symptoms (lethargy or, conversely, agitation), urgently seek advice from a specialist.

So, if you choose a guinea pig as a pet, pay attention to the Peruvian breed. It is no wonder that the number of adherents of this breed is growing every year. This cute, friendly and savvy rodent, if well cared for, will delight you and your household with cheerful pranks and will thank you for your care with love and affection.