Guinea Pig: Natural History

Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus)
Natural History The guinea pig is a native of Peru, Brazil,

and Argentina that was domesticated by
the Inca Indians. Guinea pigs are also
known as “cavies”, a term derived from
the South American vernacular. Male
guinea pigs are called “boars” and
females are “sows”.
Taxonomy Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Suborder Hystricomorpha
Family Caviidae
Breeds Eleven breeds are recognized with the three most popular being:
Peruvian: long hair
American or English: short hair
Abyssinian: whorled or rough hair
Guinea pigs require exogenous vitamin C. Commercial guinea pig pellets

Diet
contain vitamin C. Also supplement vitamin C with small amounts of fruit and
vegetables. Feed small amounts of pellets (1/4 cup per day) and free-choice
grass hay.
Husbandry Guinea pigs are crepuscular.

Caging should be well ventilated with solid flooring. Be sure to provide visual
security in the form of a hide box.
Clean and change water bottles frequently.

Clinically normal rabbits harbor a variety of bacterial organisms that can
cause death and disease in guinea pigs. Never house guinea pigs and other
rodents near rabbits.
Normal Temperature 99-101.5 F 37.2-38.6 C

Physiologic Pulse 230-380
Values
Respiration 40-100
Body weight Adult Male 900-1200 g
700-900 g
Adult Female
Mean life span 5-7 y
Sexual maturity 2-4 months 2 months (F) 3 months (M)

Males will exhibit mounting behavior as early as 1 month of
age. Females can become pregnant as early as 4-5 weeks of
age.
Gestation 59-72 days (average 68 days)
Litter size 1 to 13 (2 to 4 is the usual)
Birth weight 45-115 g (inversely related to litter size)

70-100 g
Weaning age 21 days (180 g)
Target 65-79 F
environmental 18-26 C
temperature
Anatomy/ Physiology
Females must be bred before 6-9 months of age. Immature males and
Musculoskeletal: females have a fibrocartilaginous pelvic symphysis fusion, which becomes
ossified over 1 year of age. The symphysis remains cartilaginous in
primiparous sows so the pelvic canal can dilate allowing passage of the large
fetus.
Urogenital: Males have lateral scrotal swellings on each side of the anus.
Accessory glands include a prostate, coagulating gland, bulbourethral gland,
and seminal vesicles. Seminal vesicles are large, yellow-white tubular
structures, which lie dorsal to the bladder. The seminal vesicles may be
confused with the uterus.
Gastrointestinal: Incisors 1/1 Canine 0/0 PM 1/1 Molar 3/3

Dental formula All teeth are open-rooted.
The lower incisors are normally 3X longer than the upper incisors.
Respiratory: All rodents are obligate nasal breathers.
Important • Bacterial pneumonia

Medical • Dystocia
Conditions • Fur mites
• Hypovitaminosis C or scurvy (can reportedly occur w/in 4d of dietary
decrease)
• Malocclusion
• Pododermatitis
Restraint Most pet guinea pigs are calm, gentle animals that rarely bite. To pick up a
guinea pig, cup one hand gently under the thorax and use the other hand to
support the hind end.
Large volumes: Jugular vein, cranial vena cava
Venipuncture Small volumes: Cephalic vein, lateral saphenous vein
Antibiotics to Avoid antimicrobials that attack only gram-positive bacteria such as beta-
Avoid lactams.
P.L.A.C.E.:
▪ Penicillin
▪ Lincosamide, lincomycin
▪ Amoxicillin, ampicillin
▪ Cephalosporins, clindamycin
▪ Erythromycin
References Banks RE, Sharp JM, Doss SD, Vanderford DA. Exotic Small Mammal Care
and Husbandry. Durham, NC: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010.
Brown C, Donnelly TM. Treatment of pododermatitis in the guinea pig. Lab

Anim 37(4):156-157, 2008.
Dyer SM, Cervasio EL. An overview of restraint and blood collection

techniques in exotic pet practice. Vet Clin Exot Anim 11:423-443, 2008.
Mitchell MA, Tully TN. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. St. Louis, MO:
Saunders Elsevier; 2009.
Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents:

Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 2004.
O’Malley B (ed). Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species.

Saunders Elsevier. 2005. Pp. 197-208.
Author: Christal Pollock, DVM, Dipl. ABVP-Avian; Lafeber Company Veterinary

Consultant
Date: February 14, 2010
To cite this page: Pollock C. Basic information sheet: Guinea pig. LafeberVet website.
Feb 14, 2010. Available at http://www.lafebervet.com/small-mammal-medicine/guinea-
pigs/basic-information-sheet-8/.

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Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus)

Natural History The guinea pig is a native of Peru, Brazil,

Guinea pigs require exogenous vitamin C. Commercial guinea pig pellets

Husbandry Guinea pigs are crepuscular.

Clean and change water bottles frequently.

Normal Temperature 99-101.5 F 37.2-38.6 C

Body weight Adult Male 900-1200 g

Sexual maturity 2-4 months 2 months (F) 3 months (M)

Gestation 59-72 days (average 68 days)

Litter size 1 to 13 (2 to 4 is the usual)

Birth weight 45-115 g (inversely related to litter size)

Weaning age 21 days (180 g)

Gastrointestinal: Incisors 1/1 Canine 0/0 PM 1/1 Molar 3/3

Respiratory: All rodents are obligate nasal breathers.

Important • Bacterial pneumonia

Brown C, Donnelly TM. Treatment of pododermatitis in the guinea pig. Lab

Dyer SM, Cervasio EL. An overview of restraint and blood collection

Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents:

O’Malley B (ed). Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species.

Author: Christal Pollock, DVM, Dipl. ABVP-Avian; Lafeber Company Veterinary

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