This practice, known as coprophagy, is essential. While they reach sexual maturity earlier, Guinea Hogs will reach their full size at about 2 or 3 years of age, topping out at approximately 200 to 300 lbs. Obesity can be a real issue in sedentary pigs, especially if they are kept in too-small habitats. I have a year old female American piggy. Rat Names – Over 200 Great Ideas For Naming Your Pet... Hamster Breeds – Differences, Similarities, and Choosing the Best One. Flooring should be a solid surface, not mesh or wire. The American guinea pig is the most common breed and is very popular due in part to their sweet and friendly personalities. Remember, though, no more than three unspayed male guinea pigs should room together. How to Care for Baby Guinea Pigs. American Guinea Pig Size. Beck, Angela. Origin: The American guinea pig originated in South America, particularly in the Peruvian Andes. They have smooth, short and soft coats that lie flat and come in a variety of colors ranging from very dark to very light coats with unique patterns. Some Guinea Hog lines are smaller and slower growing - adults topping out at 200 pounds. Do guinea pigs eat their babies if you touch them? Habitat must be placed in a draft-free area that is not exposed to direct sunlight. So now read on to learn all about this smart, cute, small mammal! If a female guinea pig does not give birth before she is six months old, her pubic bones will fuse. In this article, we share fascinating American guinea pig facts. In these cases, it may be better for the pig’s wellbeing to continue housing it alone – sudden change can be very stressful to guinea pigs. Look for a guinea pig that is active, curious, friendly and open to being handled. For many enthusiasts, the American guinea pig is “the” guinea pig to choose. To stay healthy, guinea pigs must have constant access to their own feces. The most common breed of guinea pig, the American cavy epitomises the reason that guinea pigs make such an excellent choice of pet for children. Litter sizes ten… Coprophagy is not a sign of ill health — it is a sign of a healthy guinea pig. Guinea pigs are safe, lovely pets that don’t typically bite. A heritage hog breed, the American Guinea hog may be the best pig for your small homestead. your guinea pig can exercise in your home. Since they are short-haired breeds, American guineas shed a lesser amount of hair than long-haired breeds. Considered one of the larger-sized rodents weighing up to three pounds (48 ounces), the American Guinea Pig is physically characterized by its stout body, short, flat coat appearing in a variety of colors, rounded nose, and the absence of a tail. These guinea pigs were brought to the US during the early 1900s and were originally called English guinea pigs. Plus, there is nothing like cuddling a soft, furry guinea pig in your arms! This article has been extensively revised for 2019. Environment. These are some of our favorites: American guinea pigs are very popular pets today. A guinea pig’s teeth are what vets call “open-rooted.” This means they will grow continuously throughout your pig’s lifetime. Playing with them, trying new foods, cleaning their cage together has also been bonding experience for my daughter and I as well! The origins of this breed lasts 5000 years B.C. They also have fairly exacting environment needs to stay healthy. Our readers’ most popular and frequently asked questions about the American guinea pig. Although an American guinea pig might also be … Appearance. Guinea pigs as a whole are accustomed to living in groups. Here are a few things you may wish to consider if you’re a potential guinea pig owner. Have recently had a piggie in my back yard. They have excellent temperaments, are easy to take care of and are robust in their health. Guinea pigs can develop abscesses anywhere, but oral abscesses are the most common. Typically this happens both inside the gums and outside, causing injury and infection. I adore them both. In fact, the American guinea pig is one of the three most popular guinea pig breeds of all time (sharing this honor with the Abyssinian and the Peruvian). These include poor wound healing, skin and coat problems, joint swelling, and mouth and skin ulcers and bleeding. Guinea pigs weigh 500 to 1,500 grams (roughly 1 to 3 pounds) and have a body length of 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16 inches). Most guinea pigs will weigh in between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds at maturity, with males outweighing females. First, if you are purchasing a young American guinea pig from a breeder, it is advisable to get two pigs – the same gender or fixed. If you think adult guinea pigs are cute, you should see them when they are babies! They were first domesticated around 5000 BC in the Andes, but it wasn’t until the 1500s that humans began to selectively breed Guinea pigs, creating several different varieties. The agouti guinea pig is an amazingly beautiful guinea pig which is loved the world over for its smooth coat and distinctive ticking. Guinea pigs are great pets to have and there a several different breeds to choose from. The American is the oldest and most popular Guinea pig. They wean their babies at three weeks of age. If she tries after the fusing, the fused bones will prevent her from giving birth. Before you bring home an American guinea pig pet, be sure you have already located a knowledgeable exotic vet. However, they are more easy going than some other guinea pig breeds. The American Guinea Pig breeds are descendants of the South American Tschudi Guinea Pig breeds. And only you can determine whether now is the ideal time to start a new life with your guinea pig. The American Cavy Breeders Associationnotes that the American guinea pig breed is one of the three original breeds shown. Unless they’ve passed some form of waste — urine or poop — and remained unclean for a long time, they’re unlikely to smell. American Guinea Pig Size. Guinea pigs can develop respiratory infections and pneumonia quite rapidly. Some of the color variations of American guinea pigs are; dalmatian, Himalayan, white crested, lilac etc. Fur Texture: Straight, smooth, silky; should not have side-whiskers, ridges, rosettes, or feathering, Color: Over 20 colors divided into five groups are recognized, including self group (black, beige, chocolate, lilac, cream, white, red, red-eyed orange), agouti group (silver agouti, golden agouti, dilute agouti), solid group (silver solid, dilute solid, roan, brindle, golden solid), tan pattern (chocolate tan, lilac tan, beige tan, blue tan, black tan), and marked group (Dutch, dalmatian, tortoiseshell, Himalayan, broken color). 3. American guineas are easily available at animal rescues, shelters, or local pet stores where they are typically priced at around $20. Raise these hogs on pasture for superb meat and charcuterie. Its Size and Temperament Suit the Smaller Homestead Adult American Guinea Hogs range in height from 22 to 27 inches tall, and 46 to 56 inches long. The shedding, however, increases during the springtime and summer months when they need to be brushed more frequently to get rid of loose hair. If your baby cavy was separated from its mother, then you’ll need to hand-feed it. To avoid inadvertently supporting guinea pig mills, it is best to get your new guinea pig pet directly from a reputable breeder. Diarrhea is another common health concern that can arise from stress, imbalance of digestive flora and certain bacterial infections. The American is the oldest breed of guinea pig. Here are some examples: When you bring your cavy home, they need a few supplies to feel comfortable. So, you are smart to seek out as much information as possible about the American guinea pig. American guinea pigs are smart and social and they wear their hearts on their sleeves. All guinea pigs are considered tailless, although they do have tiny stumpy tales that are hard to see underneath all that fur. Like other mammals, guinea pigs can suffer from fleas and lice as well as ringworm. This is because most pigs carry the bacteria responsible for respiratory illness. Finally, we’ll discuss the health and habitat needs of these precious furry cuties! The mother and unborn pups could die. guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) resemble other cavies in having a robust body with short limbs, large head and eyes, and short ears. The typical lifespan for the American guinea pig is 5 to 7 years. There are some very important reasons the American Guinea Hog is a perfect choice for today’s homesteaders. Hi, I’m a teacher,and will be purchasing two piggies as a classroom pets. The average litre size for guinea pigs is usually 2-4 piglets. It can also occur in the ureter (narrow tube connecting the kidney to the bladder) or urethra (the narrow tube carrying the urine outside the body). This makes sense because the more babies there are, the less room they have to grow when inside the sow. The American Guinea Pig breeds are descendants of the South American Tschudi Guinea Pig breeds. Experts believe it was first domesticated around 5000 BC in the Andes. Guinea pigs are small creatures. Instead, the guinea pig is believed to cure a number of illnesses, including arthritis and jaundice. Give them some safe pet toys to play with so that they can keep themselves engaged and entertained. Guinea pigs are much friendlier and social creatures and do not need as extensive taming. You can also put its cage in a guest room and just get someone else to be in charge of your piggy. But, a lot of factors go into determining how big a guinea pig gets. The American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA) groups these colors into 5 categories: agouti, self, marked, solid and tan. Height: Adult American Guinea Hogs (at 2 years of age) range from 22 to 27 inches tall, adult males sometimes averaging one or two inches taller than females. So while pregnant, avoid cleaning your cavy’s cage and don’t touch its saliva, urine, blood or droppings. Make sure your guinea pig comes from a clean and healthy living situation. Otherwise, a guinea pig can easily be injured if dropped, squeezed or handled too roughly. They stay awake during the day and early evening and mostly rest at night. My 13 year old daughter and I love taking care of them and learning about guinea pugs together. Make sure to keep your American cavies’ bedding clean. How Big Are Baby Guinea Pigs? Experts believe it was first domesticated around 5000 BC in the Andes. Guinea pigs can develop calcium stones in the kidney and bladder. American (9) 4. While many breeds of hogs can get up to 800 or even more than 1,000 pounds, the AGH adult weight is usually in the 250 to 300 pound range. Trim your guinea’s nails when they grow too long. We recommend using half water half evaporated milk. It was caused when human sailors didn’t have access to fresh fruit on long sea voyages. Guinea pigs must have uninterrupted access to fresh hay. Without sufficient material for gnawing and chewing, the teeth can grow to an unhealthy length. In the Andes today, some people either lack or do not trust Western medicine. Their coat is also smooth, often one colour – however they do … However, some few captive guinea pigs have lived to be a whopping 14 years old! A newborn guinea pig may weight anywhere for 60 to 120 grams and be 3 to 4 inches long, depending on genetics and size of the litter. They can have solid (one color) fur or patterns. The origin of American guinea pigs can be traced back to thousands of years in the past when the earliest ancestors of guinea pigs occurred around the Andes Mountain in South America. No, this is largely a myth. With so many potential health issues to watch out for, you may be wondering what you should look for to be sure you select a healthy baby American guinea pig! While these are usually benign, they may still need to be removed for your pig’s safety. © 2021 (ThePetStep.com). Temperature should remain in the range of 65 to 75°F (18 to 23°C) to avoid heat stroke. This applies whether at the breeder’s or from the rescue housing. Let them run outside in a predator-proof area or around the house for about an hour. Sometimes, guinea pigs are kept alone and then relinquished to a rescue organization or animal shelter. Just create a safe space where they can do a few laps on their own. Where the average adult guinea pig size typically is about 10-12 inches, the Rex guinea pig’s size at maturity is as much as 17 inches which is 1.5 times greater than the average guinea. Be gentle with it and it will come to know you as a bite-free zone. How to Get Your Guinea Pig to Stop Biting You. They even live longer, healthier lives if allowed to have a guinea pig companion. Guinea pigs also purr like kitties, squeal like pigs and chatter like squirrels. If you have ever seen a guinea pig “popcorning” with happiness (hopping up and down repeatedly), you know how easy it is to fall in love with these fuzzy cuties! Your guinea pig will also need feeding hay to eat. Unlike size, which is fairly homogeneous, guinea pig coats are diverse. American guinea pigs have vivacious and social personalities. That way, you won’t panic when you see it happening! Elliot P. MRCVS, Wiki How. The American guinea pig can range in size from 1 to 3 pounds. Despite its name, the breed is not from the country of Guinea, though the foundation stock was thought to be derived from West Africa.Newer DNA studies point to European origin. Unless you plan to breed your guinea pigs, however, be extra careful that your new pet pigs are fixed or same-gender! The bigger, the better. However, she will need time to finish the birthing process before you can or should hold them. I consider most of the "American Guinea Pig" films to be the next level in Horror movies. They’re also fairly healthy although they require regulated living conditions. Most guinea pigs will weigh in between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds at maturity, with males outweighing females. These stones are painful and can cause lethal obstructions. They need to eat this to get maximum nutrition and maintain digestive health. Generally, guinea pig cages should be as big as possible. Female guinea pigs are particularly prone to bladder infections, which are also linked to the formation of stones. Hence, the nickname “cavies.”. As guinea pigs spend a lot of time in their cage, it’s very important for the proper guinea pig cage size. Look out also for clean soft fur, healthy teeth and gums, healthy feet and skin. It is recommended that you give your American guinea pig at least one hour of time to run around outside of their cage, but we are big believers of unlimited playtime so use this number as the absolute minimum. You may make your hand moist using water so that loose hair sticks to it. Eventually, guinea pigs were brought over to Europe where royals like Queen Elizabeth I bought them as pets. Fully grown adult American Guinea Hogs range from 46 to 56 inches, measured from a point between the ears to the base of the tail. Pregnancy and pets can be super tricky. There is plenty of room for variation here depending on health, breed, and age. They have a straight to slightly arched back. Did you know that guinea pigs are the 12th most popular pet choice in America today? Use a teaspoon rather than with a syringe because baby American guinea pigs can choke this way. Congrats on getting pregnant! Eventually, guinea pigs were brought over to Europe where royals like Queen Elizabeth I bought them as pets. Colors range from white to black, blue to beige, red to orange, cream to chocolate brown. American guinea is one of the founding cavy breeds that was recognized and shown by the American Cavy Breeders Association. You may also adopt a rescued pig in need of a new home. They may also run around in their cage occasionally — be sure to leave it uncrowded. Melrose Park, IL: Lake Book Manufacturing, Inc, 2014. Size: 8 to 9 inches Lifespan: 4 to 7 years Breed profile: American guinea pigs are noted for their prominent ears and round nose. Baby American guinea pigs need their mother’s milk for the first few days of their life. Older animals may grow larger. You can either use full-fat goat’s milk or make a milk mixture. Length at maturity varies from 8 inches to 12 inches. Personality. Even better, if you’re doing so before you make the commitment to care for a piggie of your own! This is much preferable to bringing home a guinea pig and then discovering you have to relinquish it due to your hay allergies! The American guinea pig is one of the three most popular guinea pig breeds of all time. When your pig gets stressed, the bacteria can get triggered. Since there is limited space in our living areas. It’s a win win. American guinea pigs are smaller than most other guinea pig breeds and are on average, seven to nine inches long. They’ll need to be able to choose when to go to bed and when to be active. It’s also one of the most popular and is probably the breed people picture when thinking of guinea pigs. Some other small mammals are similar to the American guinea pigs in many ways. You may use recycled pelleted beddings, or aspen and kiln-dried pine shavings. American Guinea Pig Breed Information – A Complete Guide. You can read more about this on our guinea pig diet page. Its regular diet should include unlimited timothy hay, a cup of fresh fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens, about a one-eighth cup of quality pellets, and a plentiful supply of fresh, clean water. Often, younger children may do this without meaning to cause harm. This can cause your pig’s skin to become itchy, crusty, scaly and, over time, hairless. Hamsters, guinea pigs and mice can carry a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV) which can cause severe birth defects and miscarriage. What Is the Smallest Guinea Pig Breed? The American guinea pig can range in size from 1 to 3 pounds. Mama guinea pigs will not reject their babies because you touched them. Remove soiled bedding and replace it with a new one. Breeders tend to use the word cavy to describe the animal, while in scientific and laboratory contexts, it is far more commonly referred to by the colloquial name guinea pig. The reason these films are so terrifying is because this type of Horror actually is real and takes place on a daily basis in the world. This distinguishes them from many other small “pocket pets” that are nocturnal (active at night). If you suspect you may have an allergy to hay, you may want to first purchase some hay and handle it for a week or so to see if you develop allergies. These breeds pretty much eat the same, are the same size, and need just about the same type of care. Length at maturity varies from 8 inches to 12 inches. The shedding, however, increases during the springtime and summer months when they need to be brushed more frequently to get rid of loose hair. Shedding. Where does the American guinea pig come from. When it comes to size, Ridgeback guinea pigs are the smallest with some adults being only five inches long. These cuties are social and enjoy the company of other guinea pigs. Still, it’s important to keep your cavy’s cage and bedding clean and fresh. They’re both male and I got them for a project, but I can’t wait for the companionship of the years to come. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Plus, there should be a clean area around and under the tail. I just brought in a two month old “baby” and after some typical rumble strutting and wheeking, they have become harmonious cage mates! This small size was one of the reasons it almost became extinct. American guinea pigs are smart and can even learn tricks. What to do? Yet, they’re vastly different in other ways. Untreated or improperly treated diarrhea can be fatal. The most serious health issues for guinea pigs are respiratory, digestive and dental. The American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA) recognized it as the American guinea pig in the 1960s. Guinea pigs don’t sleep much but take naps throughout the day and night. Description and Physical Characteristics of Guinea Pigs, 8 things you didn’t know about guinea pigs, Skinny Pig Breed Information – A Guide To The Hairless Guinea Pig, Cockatiel Care – A Complete Guide To Looking After Your Bird, Guinea Pig Breeds – Discover 13 Different Cavies, Guinea Pig Sounds: A Guide To Guinea Pig Noises, Cute Guinea Pig Names – 200 Unique Names To Choose From. Bacterial and fungal skin infections and parasites can plague guinea pigs. Otherwise, you may end up breeding lots of little piggies! American Guinea Pig Size They grow up to 10inches on average, although some will be smaller/bigger depending on the individual, somewhere between the 8-12inch range. Do you have an American guinea pig living at home with you? Habitat should be located in a quiet area during sleep hours. The male boar guinea pig will typically weight more that the female. Your email address will not be published. It definitely did not fit into the factory farm environment. The number of pups in the litter also has an effect on how big each baby is - a larger litter will tend to produce smaller offspring. American guinea pigs tend to stay at the shorter end of the spectrum lengthwise, with adults only reaching about 8 to 9 inches (20-22 cm) at maturity.