# American Guinea Pig

> According to allpets.ai data | Source: allpets.ai

## Basic Information
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Species | Small Mammal |
| Origin | South America |
| Size Category | Small |
| Scientific Name | Cavia porcellus |
| Husbandry Difficulty | Beginner |

## Vital Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight Range | 0.7–1.2 kg |
| Lifespan | 5–8 years |
| Puppy/Kitten Stage Ends | 6 months |
| Senior Age Threshold | 5 years |

## Puppy/Kitten Development
- **Neonatal Weight**: 60–115 g
- **Growth Notes**: Born fully furred with eyes open (precocial); can eat solid food within days; weaning 3-4 weeks; pubic symphysis fuses at 6-8 months (critical for breeding)
- **Vaccine Schedule**: No standard vaccines; focus on vitamin C supplementation and hygiene

## Adult Preventive Care
- **Exercise Needs**: Moderate - daily floor time; large enclosure essential (min 0.7 m² per pig)
- **Grooming**: Low - short smooth coat; weekly brush; nail trims every 2-4 weeks
- **Annual Exam Focus**: Dental (open-rooted teeth), vitamin C status, skin/coat, respiratory, weight
- **Routine Care**: Daily vitamin C supplement; unlimited hay; fresh vegetables; spot-clean daily; nail trims

## Health Predispositions
| Condition | Onset Stage | Risk | Hereditary | Screening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scurvy (Vitamin C Deficiency) | adult | high | No | No |
| Dental Malocclusion | adult | high | Yes | Yes |
| Upper Respiratory Infections | adult | high | No | No |
| Bumblefoot (Pododermatitis) | adult | medium | No | No |
| Ovarian Cysts | adult | medium | No | Yes |
| Bladder Stones | adult | medium | No | No |

## Obesity Management
- **Risk Level**: Medium
- **Ideal BCS**: 3/9
- **Visual Cues**: Pear-shaped body normal; should not have excessive fat pads; ribs palpable
- **Daily Activity Target**: 30 minutes
- **Caloric Formula**: Unlimited timothy hay; 1/8 cup pellets (vitamin C fortified); 1 cup fresh veggies daily

## Breeding & Genetics
- **Litter Size**: 1–6
- **Dystocia Risk**: High
- **CHIC Required Tests**: N/A
- **Recommended DNA Tests**: N/A

## Behavioral Ethogram
- **Locomotion**: Popcorning (joy jumps), zoomies, following cage mates in trains
- **Social**: Obligate social species - MUST be kept in pairs/groups minimum; mutual grooming; rumblestrutting (dominance display)
- **Comfort**: Purring, stretching, lying flat (pancaking), mutual grooming
- **Stress/Displacement**: Freezing, hiding, teeth chattering (aggression/fear), barbering (over-grooming)
- **Breed-Specific**: Most common and beginner-friendly guinea pig breed; smooth short coat; wide color variety; vocal and social

## Vocalization Baseline
- **Types**: Wheeking (excitement/food anticipation), purring (contentment/annoyance), rumbling (dominance), chattering (warning), shrieking (pain/fear)
- **Frequency Range**: 200-20,000 Hz
- **Tendency**: Very High
- **Primary Modality**: Highly vocal species - vocalizations primary communication; body language secondary; scent marking tertiary
- **Tail Signals**: No visible tail

## Emotional Wellbeing
- **Anxiety Proneness**: Medium
- **Top Triggers**: Isolation (single housing), predator presence, sudden noises, being picked up from above
- **Separation Anxiety Risk**: Very High
- **Calming Interventions**: Companion guinea pig (mandatory), hiding houses, consistent routine, gentle handling
- **Cognitive Dysfunction Risk**: Low

## Behavior Problems (Six-Etiology Classification)
- **Top Problems**: Dominance disputes (rumblestrutting/mounting), barbering, food aggression in groups
- **Medical Etiology**: Dental pain causing drooling and food refusal; scurvy causing lethargy and joint pain; bladder stones causing pain vocalization
- **Fear/Anxiety Etiology**: Freezing, stampeding (group panic), hiding; rarely bites
- **Frustration Etiology**: Cage bar chewing if space inadequate; excessive wheeking for food; barbering cage mates

## AI Communication Decoding
- **AI-Trainable Signals**: Vocalization type and intensity (wheeking=anticipation, chattering=warning, shrieking=pain), body posture, popcorning frequency
- **Context-Dependent Vocalizations**: Purring can mean contentment (low, relaxed body) OR annoyance (higher pitch, tense body) - body language differentiates
- **Interspecies Communication**: Excellent human bonding; recognizes owner by sight and sound; vocal greeting behavior; enjoys lap time

## Husbandry Environment
- **Temperature Gradient**: 18-24°C (65-75°F); heat-sensitive above 27°C
- **Humidity Range**: 40-60%
- **UVB Requirement**: Not required; benefit from natural light for vitamin D
- **Diet Type**: Unlimited timothy hay; vitamin C-fortified pellets; daily fresh vegetables (bell peppers, leafy greens); cannot synthesize own vitamin C
- **Common Health Issues**: Scurvy, dental disease, respiratory infections, bumblefoot, ovarian cysts, bladder stones, skin fungus

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Citation: According to allpets.ai data