| Species | Small Mammal |
|---|---|
| Origin | South America |
| Size Category | Small |
| Scientific Name | Cavia porcellus |
| Category | Rodent |
| Original Purpose | Companion/Laboratory |
| Husbandry Difficulty | Beginner |
| Social Needs | Very High |
| Weight Range | 0.7–1.2 kg |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 5–8 years |
| Juvenile Stage Ends | 6 months |
| Senior Age Threshold | 5 years |
| 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 |
| Condition | Onset Stage | Risk | Hereditary | Screening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scurvy (Vitamin C Deficiency) | adult | high | No | N/A |
| Dental Malocclusion | adult | high | Yes | Recommended |
| Upper Respiratory Infections | adult | high | No | N/A |
| Bumblefoot (Pododermatitis) | adult | medium | No | N/A |
| Ovarian Cysts | adult | medium | No | Recommended |
| Bladder Stones | adult | medium | No | N/A |
| Risk Level | Medium |
|---|---|
| Ideal BCS | 3/9 |
| Visual Cues | Pear-shaped body normal; should not have excessive fat pads; ribs palpable |
| Daily Activity | 30 minutes |
| Caloric Notes | Unlimited timothy hay; 1/8 cup pellets (vitamin C fortified); 1 cup fresh veggies daily |
| Litter Size | 1–6 |
|---|---|
| Dystocia Risk | High |
| CHIC Required Tests | N/A |
| Recommended DNA Tests | N/A |
| 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/Health Schedule | No standard vaccines; focus on vitamin C supplementation and hygiene |
| Temperature | 18-24°C (65-75°F); heat-sensitive above 27°C |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 40-60% |
| UVB Requirement | Not required; benefit from natural light for vitamin D |
| Diet | Unlimited timothy hay; vitamin C-fortified pellets; daily fresh vegetables (bell peppers, leafy greens); cannot synthesize own vitamin C |
| Common Issues | Scurvy, dental disease, respiratory infections, bumblefoot, ovarian cysts, bladder stones, skin fungus |
| 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 |
| Enrichment Needs | Tunnels, hay racks, foraging activities, floor time, varied vegetables, companion interaction |
| Cognitive Dysfunction Risk | Low |
| Sociability Score | 9/10 |
| 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 |
| 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/Body Signals | No visible tail |
| 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 |
| Learned Behavior | Wheeks when hearing food preparation sounds; comes to cage front for interaction; litter training possible |
| Cognitive Dysfunction | Elderly pigs show reduced activity, weight loss, possible cognitive decline |
| 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 |