Peruvian guinea pig: nutrition, maintenance and care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Fluffy, very funny, and most importantly, unpretentious pet can be a Peruvian guinea pig. It is not difficult to keep it and even a child can do it, for whom this animal can become the best friend.

General Description

This breed was bred primarily for exhibitions, but is now actively in demand in the home. The animal has a friendly and sociable character. A small cell is enough for him, the condition of which must certainly be monitored. It is also necessary to check the availability of food, communicate with the animal - these are a few rules that are easy to follow. The Peruvian guinea pig has an accommodating disposition and responds well to human affection. She is completely non-aggressive, making her the perfect pet for families with small children.

Appearance

Representatives of this breed are distinguished by a short body, broad head and voluminous shoulders. Their main feature is a very thick, silky and absolutely straight coat 15-20 cm long. If the pig freezes, it may seem that this is not an animal at all, but some kind of wig, and thisnot a joke. It’s not even easy to immediately determine which side the muzzle is on! These guinea pigs are frequent guests of various exhibitions, where they attract hundreds of enthusiastic eyes, sitting with aristocratic pride in cages.

At first glance it seems that long hair will cause a lot of trouble, but it is not. It is very easy to comb it - it does not get confused at all. The Peruvian pig has two rosettes on its body (the so-called point from which hair grows around the circumference), and a slight swirl on the nose. On the paws and belly, the hair is short, which greatly facilitates care and does not hinder the movement of the pig. But on the head, it falls on the forehead, covering a cute face with big eyes, and on the back you can see an even parting. The colors are the most varied. The weight of adults ranges from 0.7 to 1.8 kg. When purchasing such a pet, it is important to know how many years Peruvian guinea pigs live. If properly maintained, their life expectancy can be up to 8 years.

Care

Cage must be chosen with a pallet. Well, if it has a lot of houses, ladders, toys and all sorts of loopholes. Everything should be heavy or attached to the wall (floor) so that food does not spill out and water does not spill. In a large cage, you can build a separate toilet, because animals get used to walking in one place. This simplifies the cleaning that needs to be done daily. Usually well-lit places are preferred by Peruvian guinea pigs. Contentthem in the back of a room or a dark corner can affect the pet's he alth and mood.

It is recommended to put the cage closer to the window, but only where there are no drafts at all. Sometimes a pet can be released to run around the apartment, however, at the same time you need to carefully monitor him - it is likely that he will want to hide or gnaw on furniture or carpet. It is very useful for pigs to run: it strengthens the paws, allows the pet to warm up properly. In summer, you can take the animal outside or take it on a trip, taking care of a special bag in advance. On the way, you need to take food and water for him. It is desirable that the pet spend more time with people, play, run. This helps his physical development and he alth.

Hygiene

Despite their name, guinea pigs are very afraid of water. However, sometimes it is necessary to wash them. Bathing water should be warm enough. Place the pet in the basin, apply a special shampoo to the moistened wool. After washing, the fur coat must be dried with a hair dryer, turning it on at low power so as not to scare the animal. At least once a week, it is worth cleaning the ears, cutting the claws and examining the teeth of an adult pet.

Feeding

The diet is no different from that of other types of guinea pigs. The main rule is that the food should be balanced. Although the Peruvian guinea pig is a small animal, its intestines are quite long (as much as two meters), so the digestion process is long and can reach 7 hours. Be sure to always have water in a drinking bowl, you can put a mineral stone or a piece of wood with bark in the cage - for brushing your teeth.

In no case should you feed the pig from your table. What a person consumes is very harmful to an animal. Various sweets, eggs, roasted seeds, meat, smoked meats should be excluded from the diet, otherwise troubles in the form of allergies or indigestion cannot be avoided.

You need to feed the pig 2-3 times at certain hours - for example, in the morning at 9.00, at lunch (at 14.00) and in the evening (at 20.00). It is important! Otherwise, there will be problems with the intestines, which will lead to obesity, which is especially dangerous for rodents. In addition to excess weight, the risk of various diseases increases, the most common of which is obesity of the heart. In addition, the animal will not be able to maintain hygiene due to the restriction of movement.

It is useful to give hay, vegetables, fruits (carrots, cabbage, apples), specialized food sold in stores. For wool, you can buy vitamins. Then it will become even more silky and will not fall out. It is very important to give foods containing vitamin C, the Peruvian guinea pig especially needs it. Nutrition and care for these animals are the main components for their full existence. Therefore, with proper feeding, the pet will be able to deliver a lot of positive emotions to the owners for several years.

He alth

Always carefully monitor the condition of the animal. Although with proper care they rarelyget sick, but anything can happen. A he althy animal has a shiny coat. Ears, nose and eyes are always clean.

In case of any suspicion of a violation of the he alth of the pet, you must immediately show it to the veterinarian. Especially if the body temperature rises, the eyes are watery or there is no appetite. The most common problems that occur in animals such as the Peruvian guinea pig are tumors, bruises, cystitis, skin diseases caused by parasites.

Reproduction

At about 12 months of age, puberty begins. It is not recommended to breed pigs that are over 3 years old. Pregnancy usually lasts 63 days. There are usually 2 to 4 cubs in a litter, which should be separated from their mother at 3-4 weeks.

How to choose a pet

It is best to go after him to a specialized nursery of Peruvian guinea pigs. By purchasing an animal from your hands, you will not receive guarantees that the animal was not sick and that the necessary vaccinations were given to it. It is better to overpay than to buy a sick animal, which then will have to be treated. You should pay attention to the appearance of the animal: the condition of the coat, teeth, behavior. A he althy pig should be active and curious. It is important that the coat is clean and dry. The presence of bald spots may indicate a parasite infestation, a problem that, like many animals, Peruvian guinea pigs suffer from. The price for one animal usually ranges from 2 to 4 thousand rubles.

We are responsible for those we have tamed. If you take good care of your pet,then in return he will give love, devotion, and possibly the joy of victories at exhibitions.