General Facts about Guinea Pigs:

• Guinea pigs cannot sweat or dissipate heat. Unlike other animals they do not have any sweat glands and as such must be monitored for heat stroke in summer months. Try placing frozen bottles of water wrapped in towels in their cage to help keep them cool.

• Guinea pigs do not tolerate humidity well. Damp environments and draughts can cause respiratory illness and distress. It is important to provide a dry, clean environment at all times.

• Young boars (males) must be removed and weaned from their mothers at 3 weeks of age as they reach sexual maturity at this age. The reason sexual maturity is at such a young age is because Guinea Pigs are born precocial which means they are born very well developed unlike other rodents. As they are so mature at birth they have a much shorter time frame to sexual maturity.

• Castration will not alter a Guinea Pigs behaviour. Male Guinea Pigs will not show any decrease in dominance related behaviours such as mounting. It will however decrease the risk of prostate cancers and impaction issues later in life. Discuss any surgical procedure with an experienced exotics vet.

• They cannot tolerate any form of penicillin and it is not recommended to administer these medications to Guinea Pigs. There are many safer alternatives.

• Guinea Pigs do not have any nerves in their teeth

• Guinea pigs practice copography (eating ones of faeces) to obtain B Vitamins which are not digested during the first intake of food.

• Guinea Pigs are social animals and love to live in groups of 2 or more.

• When choosing a cage, be aware that wire bottomed cages can cause Bumble Foot, a painful ulceration to the foot.