Guinea Pigs

Names and Terms

* Latin name: Cavia porcellus
* Also called cavies (singular is cavy).
* Females are called sows, males called boars, and babies called pups.
* Hairless varieties also available, sometimes called "skinny" pigs.

Appearance

* Approximately 10 inches long, and 700-1500 grams some weighs more.
* Rounded stout body, no visible tail (a few tail vertebrae can be felt under the skin).
* Variety of breeds with different coat types and color patterns. The most commonly found breeds are the American (short smooth hair coat), Abyssinian (short coat with "swirls" called rosettes) and the Peruvian (long haired). A wide variety of colors are seen.

Before You Decide on Guinea Pigs

* Guinea pigs are social animals, and you should consider keeping a same sex pair so they have company. A pair of females is a good choice; a pair of males may be fine but may fight.
* They are a long-term commitment, with an expected life span of around 5-7 years, although up to 10 isn't unusual.
* They need a large cage (but fortunately it is easy to meet their needs with a home made cage).
* While usually quiet they can call out quite loudly, and can be active both day and night.
* They may be nervous at first but rarely bite and generally become very tame with frequent handling.
* Usually good family pets (but make sure children handle them gently).

Finding a Guinea Pig

* Pet stores: only if the store/staff are knowledgeable about guinea pigs, keep them in appropriate, clean housing with a good diet, and handle the guinea pigs regularly. Look for stores that house males and females separately, to avoid a surprise litter.
* Breeders (caviary): best option if looking for a show quality pig or a specific type, but also good for finding pet quality pigs. A good breeder will make sure the babies are socialized well and handled from an early age.
* Shelters: guinea pigs often end up in shelters or rescues and this is a great place to give a guinea pig a second chance at life. Guinea pigs from shelters might be a little more skittish at first if they were not handled much when young, but most will settle down in their new homes once a routine is established.
* Whichever source is chosen, make sure the guinea pig appears in good health and condition, and is well socialized and easy to handle.

Choosing a Guinea Pig

* Try to avoid guinea pigs that are panicky when handled, especially if they do not relax quickly, and also those that are overly quiet and calm (may be ill).
* The guinea pig should be alert and active.
* Avoid guinea pigs that are overly skinny or grossly overweight. The body should be firm and rounded.
* The nose, eyes, ears, and rear end should be clean and free from discharge.
* The coat should be full and soft.
* Check the skin for flakes or redness, and be on the lookout for any signs of parasites such as lice.

Caring for Guinea Pigs

* Introduction to Guinea Pig Breeds - descriptions and photos of different types of guinea pigs.

American

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This breed is also known as the English Cavy. The coat is smooth and short and lies flat to the body. This is the most popular and commonly seen breed.

The Satin American is also recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA). Satin refers to the sheen of the coat; the satin breeds have very shiny, sleek coats.

Abyssinian

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The Abyssinian has a very distinctive appearance. The coat is made up of multiple swirls of hair referred to as rosettes. Their hair is quite dense and coarse, and it radiates in circles from multiple points on the body to make up a series of whirls and ridges. For show purposes, Abyssinian must have a minimum of 8 rosettes, in a symmetrical pattern. These guinea pigs always look somewhat dishevelled.

The Satin Abyssinian is also recognized by the ACBA; again the satin simply means the coat has a deep shine.

Peruvian

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The Peruvian coat is smooth and straight, and grows to several inches in length. The hair naturally parts down the center of the back, and also grows forward over the head.

The dense, soft coat of the Peruvian requires a great deal of grooming, and many owners of Peruvian guinea pigs end up trimming the hair to keep it manageable (if the guinea pig is to be shown, wraps can be used to keep the hair from getting tangled or soiled).

The ACBA also recognizes the Peruvian Satin (again, referring to the shiny quality of the coat).


Silkie/Sheltie

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The Silkie is also known as the Sheltie, and has a very silky long coat. In contrast to the Peruvian, the Silkie's soft coat does not naturally part along the back, and grows backwards from the head.

A Silkie Satin (shiny coat) is also recognized by the ACBA.

Crested

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This is a short haired guinea pig with a single rosette (swirl) on the forehead. There are two types: one is the White Crested Guinea Pig (also called American Crested), where the crest is white in contrast with the rest of the coat (no other white on the body). In the "self" crested guinea pig (sometimes called English crested), the crest color is the same as the rest of the coat.

Teddy

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This short haired guinea pig is characterized by a short dense coat with bent (kinked) hair shafts that makes the coat stand on end, giving a very fuzzy appearance.

There is also a Satin Teddy, where the coat has a deep sheen.

Texel

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This uncommon guinea pig has a very distinctive long curly coat. The Texel guinea pig is another very high-maintenance pet. Produced from breeding Rex to Sheltie.

Coronet

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The Coronet cavy is characterized by it's long, soft, dense coat and a crest (or coronet) on top of it's head.

The coronet must be evenly centered, and should have a pinpoint center.

Unlike the White Crested, the Coronet may have white on any part of it's body, and comes in all of the recognized colors. Produced by breeding Sheltie to a Crested.

Alpaca


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A curly coated Peruvian. Hair grows over face like a Peruvian. Most are first generation hybrids of Peruvians and other breeds.

Merino


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The merino has curly hair with a rosette on the head. Cross-breeding between Rex and Coronet.

Lunkarya

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Lunkarya are a very laid-back and curious breed. The lunkarya gene is dominant and cannot be carried. All lunkarya are the Peruvian variant and any other type, sheltie or coronet must have the lunkarya prefix attached. The main characteristic of the lunkarya is the dense, harsh coat and this can be in any mixture of colours. Sweden and Germany both have their breed standards for the lunkarya (despite being different in terms of presentation) and have some champions already.

Rex

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The English rex has short curly hair, standing upright. Various colours are possible. Rex and Teddy look very much alike but they are genetically different.

Hairless

The Skinny Pig is a very unusual, yet an increasingly popular breed of Guinea Pig. There are actually two types of Hairless Guinea Pig, this one and another called the Baldwin Guinea Pig. These nearly hairless critters have a funny way of winning the hearts of nearly all they come into contact with.

Skinny Pigs are as curious and mischievous as any other breed of Guinea pig, but some owners and breeders claim that they are more outgoing. They are quite playful, and they love attention.

Skinny Pigs do not require the brushing that other Guinea pigs need, but they do have certain special needs. They are more susceptible to injury than breeds with hair covering their bodies, and they are more sensitive to sunlight and temperature. They need a responsible owner to keep them happy and healthy.

*Skinny

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*Baldwin

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