The guinea pig has literally journeyed over seas in order to be here today, as Europe or North America are not the original birth homes of these small, cute creatures.

Guinea Pig Origins



In trying to find out where guinea pigs originate from, it is incredible to think that the Inca tribes in Peru were the first to domesticate this animal, early in 5000 BC. Statues of guinea pigs have been found in archaeological digs in Peru and Ecuador dating from ca. 500 BC. The tribes used the guinea pigs for their fur as well as a source of meat and took great pride in trading with the European traders such as the Dutch.

Researching their origins, it is amazing to see how far they have come from the 14th century up until today, where they are found not only in Europe and in North America, but also in all corners of the world.

The guinea pig is a rather small rodent that hasn’t got a tail and it was originally very appreciated for its meat and fur. The hiding places of this animal were the hills and mountains of the South American Andes. The Inca tribes hunted guinea pigs and used them in fur trades as well as mentioned earlier, for food.

From the South American Andes where it is believed that the guinea originated from, it embarked in a sinuous and adventuresome world journey. It can most accurately be named a world traveler and what is more, the little rodent has caused people to fall in love with it everywhere. However, in today’s society they are no longer used for their fur or meat and are typically found in a cage or dwelling inside a loving family’s home.

Therefore, how this little animal come to be thought of as "pigs" is not clear. They are built somewhat like a pig, with a large head relative to the body, a stout neck, and a rounded rump with no tail of any consequence; some of the sounds they emit are very similar to those made by pigs, and they spend a large amount of time eating. They were transported to Europe by ships and this was possible because guinea pigs did well in small spaces therefore they survived the long trips.

Numerous languages have the same name for this animal, namely calling it a pig. The German word for them is Meerschweinchen, literally "little sea pigs" (sailing ships stopping to re-provision in the New World would pick up stores of guinea pigs, which provided an easily transportable source of fresh meat; Meerschwein = porpoise, another food source for sailors). The Welsh term is mochyn cwta ('little pig'), the French Cochon d'Inde (Indian pig); the Dutch used to call it guinees biggetje (Guinean piglet)

However it is backed up by it’s scientific name as well: is Cavia porcellus, "porcellus" being the Latin word for "little pig". Cavia is derived from Portuguese çavia (now savia) from the Tupi word saujá, meaning "rat".

The origin of "guinea" in "guinea pig" is a little bit harder to explain. One of the hypotheses is that because the guinea pigs were brought in Europe trough Guinea, it is there from where they were labeled as such. "Guinea" was also frequently used in English to refer generally to any far-off, unknown country, and so the name may simply be a reference to the animal's foreignness.

Another theory suggests the "guinea" in the name is a corruption of "Guiana", an area in South America, though the animals are not native to that region. A common misconception is that they were so named because they were sold as the closest thing to a pig one could get for a guinea; this theory doesn't have a solid base because the guinea was first struck in England in 1663, and William Harvey is known to have used the term "Ginny-pig" as early as 1653. Others believe "guinea" may be an alteration of the word Coney; guinea pigs were referred to as "pig coneys" in Edward Topsell's 1607 treatise on quadrupeds.

Regardless of where it comes from, the guinea pig became a pet nowadays, and a very loved one too! If you talk to guinea pig owners you’ll see their satisfaction with this pet around. A rather busy schedule of today’s society can handle adding one more activity like keeping a guinea pig around. It is an easy-keeper.

While most small animals don't want much grooming, guinea pigs are different. Their teeth, pelt, and nails all want some express attention on a common footing. A guinea pig's front teeth prolong to grow throughout their intact life. If they are allowed to grow without any limit, the guinea pig will find it upsetting to eat and will, therefore, halt intake altogether.



The best thing you can do is to give your guinea pig with hard equipment to chew on: carrots and other hard vegetables, chew firewood or blocks, or even tree brushwood. Even although you offer these resources, however, you will hardship regularly to confirm the guinea pig's teeth to make steady they aren't fitting unmanageable. Check to see if the teeth are spinning private because this is a show of undue growth.

If you do remark that your guinea pig's teeth are receiving too long, then you essential to take him to a vet and get them trimmed down. Never try to lower a guinea pig's teeth yourself! Your vet will have the correct tools and experience to safely sleek the teeth to a typical piece.

Another tricky that sometimes arises with guinea pig's teeth, particularly if they aren't receiving all the vitamins they poverty in their diet, is that the tips of teeth may solve off. This can also make it tough for the guinea pig to eat. Take the cavy to your vet and nosh him a softer diet until the fang grows back suitably.

Guinea pigs' mustache also needs to be taken nurture of commonly. Keep in tended the guinea pigs with longer coat are vacant to require more grooming than little-haired cavies.


For dumpy-haired guinea pigs, you necessary to acquire a small brush and then use it on their wool at slightest once a week. The combing serves numerous purposes. For one, it prevents their whiskers from matting up and tangling. It also removes any chunks of dirt that may become varied up in the fleece. Because their pelt is passing, you maybe will never necessity to slim or cut it.

Long-haired guinea pigs are a different story. They necessary to be thoroughly brushed at least once per day every day. If you neediness to go out of civic for even a fasten of living, You will should to desert your long-haired guinea pig with somebody who can brush it for you since it doesn't take long for the locks to get horribly tangled. In actuality, even combing it once per day won't be enough to impede all the tangles from forming.

You will also should to do something with the curls when it gets too long since it grows another crawl in chunk every month. If you intend on viewing the guinea pig, You will should to wrap up the garnish curls so that it doesn't get trapped up around the animal's feet or mixed up in the urine and feces. Special wraps are presented, but You will want to link a breeder or guinea pig bash to find out where to goods them. If you don't idea on screening your guinea pigs, You will need to edge your guinea pig's curls every pair of months. Don't cut the curls too small. You want it just tiny enough so that it won't interfere with your guinea pig's movement.

Regardless of the font of guinea pig you have, You will also want to do periodic inspections of its coat to test for bedbugs. Lice are small sallow parasites that look like tiny worms. Guinea pigs often contract bedbugs from hay and from other guinea pigs. If you do see bedbugs on your guinea pig, you don't have to be alarmed. Generally, the bedbugs will sojourn on the guinea pigs and will not soar against your children or into your home. However, the lice do need to be treated rapidly. Your vet should give you with a shampoo that will slaughter the lice. Shampoo your guinea pigs and thoroughly hygienic their cages, then recap seven living later. You must recur the manner because it takes a week for lice eggs to produce and you want to make really to execute any of those remaining babies.


Finally, your guinea pig's nails need to be trimmed regularly also. While rowdy guinea pigs' nails are obviously worn down to an appropriate strip, this does not appear in enslaved guinea pigs. Lengthy nails can be sore to the guinea pig and to the people who practice him, bonus they can decode off or get snagged which can begin promote injury to your cavy.

You should tolerate your vet or professional guinea pig groomer to show you how to clip their nails the first time because it is more complicated than extra your fingernails. Like most animals, guinea pigs don't like to be restrained. It makes them feel vulnerable, and they'll resist as much as they can which makes garnish their nails tiring. Your vet will be able to show you ways to restrain the animal so you safely downright the garnish.

More importantly, the guinea pig's nails contain blood vessels much like a dog's. If you neat too brusque, You will cut into one of those vessels and your guinea pig will bleed copiously. When this happens you must impede the flow immediately! It won't take long for your small pet to bleed to casualty if you do nothing. Many pet supplies advertise a powder that stops the bleeding promptly. You may want to ask your vet what he recommends.

If you're anxious about hurtful your pet's toenails too short, you may be better off trimming them just a little bit but more frequently.

Except for combing the guinea pig's pelt, all other parts of the grooming process should be done by an adult, not a youngster. Clipping nails, trimming hair, and inspecting teeth should never be done by a teen. The guinea pig could become uneasy and could puncture out of fright for their own security. Or the child could make a misstep that could ground nuisance or injury to the guinea pig.

Guinea pigs, or cavies, are cut, fun-loving, and clean animals. They make great pets. However, they aren't as easy to care for as many others.

These are a few tips on caring for a guinea pig. If you're new caring for cavies, then there are many things you need to learn about proper guinea pig care.