March is “Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month,” so I thought I’d shed the spotlight on these gentle, loving creatures.
While I’ve never actually had a guinea pig as a pet, I was exposed to them in fifth grade. In addition to a pair of guinea pigs, we had a hamster and a rabbit in the classroom.
I would frequently take the guinea pigs home over the weekend, and I think my mom enjoyed their company the most with their sounds of “wheet,” “wheet,” “wheet” whenever someone walked into the room. I’m not sure why we never adopted guinea pigs, but maybe we already had enough with the rabbit, three rats, mynah bird, cockatiel, dog and tropical fish that we had.
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Guinea pigs, or cavies as they’re sometimes called, are docile and rarely bite—a good starter pet for children. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), guinea pigs are social animals and prefer to live in groups of two or more.
The bulk of their diet consists of guinea pig pellets, and the ASPCA recommends supplementing the pellets with fresh fruit and vegetables. Guinea pigs are unique in that they cannot manufacture vitamin C, so you can give them foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, kale, dandelion greens and strawberries. Pet stores also sell vitamin C supplements in drop form that you can add to their water. Also, because their teeth don’t stop growing, they require a branch or piece of wood to gnaw on.
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North Star Rescue, a non-profit organization specializing in rescuing small companion animals, recommends providing a wide, flat space to house guinea pigs. They recommend 7.5 square feet as a minimum space for a pair of guinea pigs. The organization also advises against exercise wheels in a guinea pig’s house because it strains their backs.
Unlike hamsters and other small animals, guinea pigs live an average of five to eight years. For more information about guinea pig care, visit the ASPCA website and the North Star Rescue website.
Pets of the Week
Forrest and Woody are a bonded pair of male guinea pigs. Forrest is approximately 6 months old and Woody is about 1 year old. These guys are great friends but would like a home where they have plenty of elbowroom and prefer to have their own hut to sleep in privately.
For more information on adopting Forrest and Woody or other available guinea pigs, visit the North Star Rescue website.
