Have you of all time owned a guinea hog as a pet? These little animate beings make a perfect household pet and bask disbursement quality clip with their proprietors. Snuggling, feeding, and playing are all things that guinea hogs by and large love making. With some cognition of guinea hogs and how to care for them, having a favored guinea hog can be a really gratifying experience for both you and your pet.
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Glossary
Diagnose: to find the individuality of a disease or unwellness by a medical scrutiny
Gastrointestinal piece of land: the tummy and bowel as a functional unit
Homeostasis: the inclination of a system, particularly the physiological system of higher animate beings, to keep internal stableness, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any state of affairs or stimulation be givening to upset its normal status or map.
Farming: the scientific discipline of genteelness, raising, and caring for animate beings.
Neuter: holding no variety meats of reproduction ; without sex ; nonsexual.
Introduction
Merely like any other domestic pet that we see today, guinea hogs have a long history of domestication. Guinea hogs are a member of the gnawer species, but have their ain alone physical and behavioural features that set them apart from other gnawers. There are a batch of particular demands that guinea hogs portion to keep a happy and healthy life. Good farming is the best manner of guaranting that a pet will populate to its full potency. Understanding guinea hogs is a great start to a long fulfilling relationship between an proprietor and their particular small pet.
History OF THE GUINEA PIG
Beginning
Guinea hogs, besides known as cavies, originated from the Peru part of the Andes Mountains where it is referred to as cuy ( Forstadt, n.d. , para.7 ; parity. 9 ) . It is here that the familiar gnawer can be found rolling freely in the wild merely like our mundane squirrel. The wild guinea hog prefers a assortment of home grounds including bouldery, boggy, and woody countries. Bing most active at dark, they prefer to rest in their tunnels during the twenty-four hours ( Forstadt, n.d. , parity. 6 ) . They live in settlements normally with one male and six to seven females. In a wild guinea hog settlement, the presence of more than one male normally leads to the males contending to the decease ( Hirst, n.d. , parity. 4 ) .
Why They Were Domesticated
Domestication of the guinea hog is thought to hold begun around 5000 old ages B.C. ; nevertheless, some parts of their history are a small blurry. Physical records have been found demoing grounds of guinea pig domestication every bit early as 900 B.C. ( Forstadt, n.d. , parity. 7 ) . In their native land, guinea hogs are used for many different intents, but rarely kept as pets. The people of the Andes Mountains rely on engendering guinea hogs for meat. In most instances, a copulating brace of guinea hogs will be gifted to a newlywed twosome and so cared for largely by the adult females and kids of the household ( Forstadt, n.d. , parity. 11 ; parity. 12 ) . By raising them personally, an Andes Mountain household can normally bring forth about 12 lbs of meat per month ( Hirst, n.d. , parity. 5 ) .
Though meat is their chief intent to the Andes Mountain people, guinea hogs are besides used in spiritual and other cultural ceremonials. They are besides used in medical specialty, both to name and handle those considered to be sick or weak. Though they are bred chiefly for nutrient, guinea hogs are important to, and respected in, the Andes Mountain civilization ( Forstadt, n.d. , parity. 14 ) .
How They Became Pets
After domestication in its native land, the guinea hog was subsequently introduced in Europe where it became popular as a family pet. The cause of its popularity is said to be Queen Elizabeth I maintaining one as a pet. From this point on, domestication of the guinea hog continued turning the little gnawer species into a really popular pick of pet in many parts of the universe ( Forstadt, n.d. , parity. 8 ) .
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GUINEA PIG
Behavior
From personal experience I can inform you that guinea hogs make first-class pets. Unlike other domestic gnawers, guinea hogs are of course timid and love company. In the wild, guinea hogs are really societal animate beings and they require the same company when they are kept as pets ( Social life, n.d. , parity. 2 ) . There are many distinguishable behavioural features that guinea hogs portion that set them apart from other rodent species. Their alone voices, humourous actions, and cuddly nature are certain to divert any pocket pet lover.
Guinea hogs seem to hold their ain alone linguistic communication. There are many different sounds that can be heard when in the presence of these little gnawers and all of these sounds have different significances. Knowing what these sounds mean will assist the proprietor to better understand their pet and aid in constructing a stronger relationship between them ( McLeod, n.d. , parity. 1 ) .
One of the most common voices of the guinea hog is called wheeking, this habitually corresponds with exhilaration for nutrient or attending ( McLeod, n.d. , parity. 3 ) . Another sound that is often heard from a content guinea hog is called purring, this sound signifies
that the animate being is holding a enjoyable experience, normally when being petted or while snuggling ( McLeod, n.d. , parity. 4 ) . If you of all time hear dentitions clicking it normally means that the animate being is annoyed or angry and this is sometimes followed by demoing of the dentition or a bite. Though it is uncommon for a guinea hog to expose this type of aggressive behaviour toward a individual, it sometimes occurs when presenting two males. If this behaviour occurs during an debut, so the two males should be separated before one gets a opportunity to assail ( McLeod, n.d. , para.6 ) . When guinea hogs are highly scared or hurt they will project a sound called scream. This is a really loud, high pitched, insistent sound and if it is of all time heard so the guinea hog should be exhaustively examined for any marks of hurt ( McLeod, n.d. , parity. 9 ) . There are many other sounds that a guinea hog can bring forth, but they are heard less often or, in some instances, non at all.
Figure 3 ; Curious guinea hog.
Guinea hogs besides communicate by utilizing organic structure linguistic communication that sometimes goes manus in manus with the distinguishable sounds they produce. Some gestures signify gaiety, whereas others may be a warning. Whatever the gesture may be, cognizing what these actions mean will besides assist an proprietor to understand their pet. One gesture often observed is called popcorning. With a good deserved name, the animate being will start itself up into the air, frequently repeatedly, while fliping their caput upward and kicking their hind legs back. This gesture is most often seen in
younger guinea hogs and it signifies a really happy and playful animate being ( McLeod, n.d. , parity. 13 ) . Among many other playful gestures that may be observed, there are besides some behaviours that are intended to warn when a guinea hog is upset. When agitated, a guinea hog may stiffen its legs and caput while lifting its organic structure up higher than usual, this is normally a good clip to endorse off and allow the animate being have some infinite. Any figure of aggressive behaviours may be combined depending on the badness of irritation. Some of these behaviours include, but are non limited to, sissing, fluffing of the pelt, and screening of the dentition ( McLeod, n.d. , parity. 17 ) . Once an proprietor has an apprehension of their guinea hogs personality, both parties will portion a really healthy and happy relationship.
Appearance
Guinea hogs normally grow to lengths of about 10 inches long and weigh one to two lbs ( Hirst, n.d. , parity. 2 ) . They have stout organic structures with a big and extended caput that is tantamount to about one tierce of their full organic structure length. Guinea hogs do non hold dress suits and their ears are big and rounded ( Pavia, 2005, p. 18 ) . They have short stubby legs and little cushioned pess. Though guinea hogs may hold small discrepancy in form and size, their coats come in a assortment of colourss, texture, and length. The wild cavy is normally merely found in sunglassess of grey or brown and by and large have short to medium length pelt. Through old ages of domestication, an effusion of different colourss and coat types has been created ( Forstadt, n.d. , parity. 6 ) .
There are many different strains of guinea hogs but merely 13 are recognized in the United States ( Nash, n.d. , parity. 1 ) . Each holding their ain alone physical features, some strains are Skinny, American, Coronet, and Texel. Ranging from about hairless to really long hair, these strains all have similar organic structure types but look really different. The Skinny guinea hog is about
wholly hairless but may hold some spots of pelt ( Guinea hogs, 2008, parity. 16 ) . The American guinea hog is shorthaired and has a really smooth looking coat ( Guinea hogs, 2008, para.8 ) . Coronet guinea hogs have an highly long coat that has a smooth visual aspect and requires particular training, and the Texel guinea hog has a long coat that is really crimpy and wavy ( Guinea hogs, 2008, para.4 ; parity. 5 ) . Sing all of the different strains that have been genetically mastered through intricate genteelness portrays the passion that people have for these little pocket pets.
GUINEA PIG HUSBANDRY
Housing
Supplying an equal clean infinite, a fresh wholesome diet, and run intoing preparing demands are all indispensable for maintaining a happy and healthy guinea hog. Guinea hogs are societal animate beings,
holding a coop mate can make a batch for their wellness. It is recommended that males are non kept with other males ; nevertheless, if they are litter couples they may acquire along nicely. Females and males get along great, as do females with other females. Guinea hogs can reproduce instead rapidly, unless fixing is an option, it is non recommended to house a male and female together ( Guinea pig attention, n.d. , parity. 4 ) .
A lower limit of four square pess should be kept for each guinea hog in the coop. They need room to exercising and acquire off from each other if they need excessively ( Guinea pig attention, n.d. , parity. 5 ) . Guinea hogs sleep the best if they have their ain covering to creep in, supplying some kind of snuggery or dome for each animate being in the coop is indispensable for good wellness. Besides supplying a coop mate, concealing infinites and playthings appropriate for guinea hogs in their home ground may assist maintain them from acquiring excessively bored ( Guinea pig attention, n.d. , parity. 8 ) . It is indispensable to maintain their environment every bit clean as possible with good airing. The underside of a guinea hog coop should be solid with no wire or mesh liner ; these types of surfaces are good for sanitation but can wound the animate being ‘s pess. Glass fish tanks do non supply adequate airing, a solid plastic or metal base with a wired top is a great guinea hog environment ( Guinea pig attention, n.d. , parity. 5 ) .
The bedclothes used in a guinea hog coop should non be cedar or pine. Both of these forests contain oils that are bad for the animate being ‘s wellness. Other types of wood shaves, hay, or grass may be appropriate ( Guinea pig attention, n.d. , parity. 7 ) . Personally, I use an all natural paper bedclothes which, in my sentiment, is the most safe and comfy. It is thick and cotton ball-like and it produces small to no dust. Supplying everything in the guinea hogs coop to maintain them comfy and entertained is important.
Diet
Guinea hogs love to eat and they have some particular demands when it comes to their diet. They have sensitive GI piece of lands and supplying an limitless sum of timothy hay or grove grass AIDSs in their digestion ( Critical vittles, 2009, parity. 4 ) . Commercial pellets should be fed mundane ; nevertheless, merely one eighth of one cup should be provided ( Critical vittles, 2009, parity. 2 ) . Approximately one cup of a fresh leafy green mixture should be served daily every bit good as little sums of fresh fruit and other fresh veggies ( Guinea pig eating, 2009, parity. 4 ) . Some leafy green veggies that should be offered on a day-to-day footing are kale, mustard leafy vegetables, Spinacia oleracea, cos, and Petroselinum crispum ( Critical vittles, 2009, parity. 14 ) . Vegetables that are good to feed, but less
often, are carrots, Apium graveolens dulce, and Sweet murphies ( Critical vittles, 2009, parity. 15 ) . Fruits should non be offered in big measures because they contain extra sums of sugar. Fruits are normally served as a dainty and may include apples, pears, blueberries, Chinese gooseberry, and strawberries ( Critical vittles, 2009, parity. 17 ) . Not all fruits and veggies are healthy to a guinea hog. Some nutrients that are non good for a guinea hogs wellness are iceberg boodle, seeds, nuts, collard leafy vegetables, bok choy, and beans ( Critical vittles, 2009, para.16 ; parity. 20 ) . Guinea hogs need a batch of vitamin C to back up their immune system, adding a addendum to their H2O and providing vitamin C to their mundane diet is important for keeping homeostasis ( Critical vittles, 2009, parity. 5 ) .
Preparing
Preparing subdivisions away into different things that prevent certain conditions that could potentially impact the animate being ‘s wellness. Having continually turning dentitions, the guinea hog lays at hazard of a really painful status. If proper stuffs to assist have on down their dentitions are non provided, their dentitions can go over adult and perchance turn into other countries of their oral cavity. This status could besides forestall the animate being from eating, ensuing in famishment ( Guinea pig pet attention, n.d. , parity. 6 ) . Personally, I provide things such as untreated wood blocks, toilet paper axial rotations, and a day-to-day supply of hay to assist maintain the dentition a healthy length. In some instances, supplying these
points for the guinea hog may non work good plenty and manual filing may be required. Just like the dentition, toenails can besides go overgrown and uncomfortable. Toenails may be worn down of course if a difficult surface is provided in the coop, but sometimes they have to be trimmed manually ( Guinea pig pet attention, n.d. parity. 5 ) .
Having a hairless or short haired guinea hog is less demanding so holding a long hairy guinea hog. They are by and large clean animate beings and bathing is non needed frequently ; nevertheless, longhaired guinea hogs require frequent brushing to forestall knots from organizing in their pelt ( Guinea pig pet attention, n.d. parity. 9 ) .
Decision
Despite their original intent in their native land, guinea hogs make first-class household pets. Their cockamamie gestures, alone sounds, and stout visual aspect are certain to do anyone cleft a smiling. Guinea hogs are the happiest when paired with another guinea hog. Supplying good farming will cut down the hazard of disease in any animate being. While caring for a guinea hog does hold some particular demands, it is worth it.
