Short ears, a stout body, beautiful sparkling eyes, and no tail are the features of a South American guinea pig that belongs to the family Caviidae.These rodents were domesticated in South America as a source of food in 5000 B.C. Guinea pigs live in savannas, forests, grasslands, mountainous and bushy areas in South America.If you plan to get your own guinea pig at home, then spend some time finding out what type of guinea pig would best suit your family. Guinea pigs are herbivore animals that mainly feed on vegetables, leaves, grass, fruits, etc. These species eat processed pellets made from alfalfa hay or timothy hay and vitamin C to stay healthy. Guinea pigs weigh between 1.5-2.5 lbs (680-1,133 g) and have a body length from 8-10 in (20.3-25.4 cm) long. They have 20 teeth, a triangular shape face and their teeth never stop growing. The Guinea pig has to keep chewing to prevent its teeth from growing too long. They communicate using chirps, wheeling, and squeak sounds! They have a short, silky coat and need daily combing and brushing.Female guinea pigs are called sows, and male guinea pigs are called boars. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. The females have a gestation period of 59 to 72 days, and after the gestation period, they have a litter size of up to three to four pups. The pups are fully grown at 14 months old. It is said that the lifespan of guinea pigs is more compared to other rodents. Guinea pigs have an average lifespan of three to eight years. The breeders call them cavies.According to IUCN’s Red List, this species is in no danger of extinction or threatened and is listed as Least Concern. The common health problems they suffer from are respiratory infections, diarrhea due to improper diet, and eye infections. Weasels, birds, and other animals are its predators. Around the world, there are five popular guinea pig species found in the wild and fourteen different breeds of domestic guinea pig bred with unique appearances and personalities. Few popular guinea pig breeds are- American/English guinea pig, Abyssinian guinea pig, Skinny pig, Teddy guinea pig, Peruvian guinea pig.If you have found the above facts about guinea pigs interesting, why not find our other interesting articles on do guinea pigs bite and do guinea pigs sleep with their eyes open?How to cut guinea pig nails?Guinea pigs are calm and affectionate, which is perfect for a pet owner. Guinea pig’s nails grow continuously and very rapidly. If your pet’s overgrown nails are not cut on time, they might file downwards, causing pain and discomfort. Hence, the golden rule is to trim the guinea pig’s nails regularly. Trimming the nails of a guinea pig can be difficult for owners as they wriggle and twist their bodies. So, let’s learn the tips and tricks for perfect and smooth nail clipping without hurting these rodents.Before starting the process, gather all the tools required for guinea pig’s nail trimming. Trim the nails in bright light to avoid over clipping. Carefully wrap your guinea pig in your hand towel, leaving its feet accessible. Do not wrap too tight so that they feel suffocated. Make your pet feel relaxed by offering their favorite treat, which will help distract your pet during nail clipping. The most challenging part of nail clipping is holding your piggy in a still position. It’s better to sit on the ground and place the piggy on your lap, facing against your stomach. This way its toes will be pointed upwards, and getting the nails trimmed will be easy and quick. Gently pull each leg you want to trim and leave the other one once the clipping is done. Secure your guinea pig’s leg by holding it with your hand in between the thumb and the index finger, and it is ready to trim.Using Nail Clippers On Your Guinea PigAll pets require grooming. Some require attention on hair, some on their skin, and a few on their body. Guinea pig’s nails grow fast and their nails can curl downwards if not clipped on time.When trimming your guinea pig’s nails, the first question that comes to our mind is, can we use human nail clippers? You can use the human nail clippers if you do not have an animal clipper. However, it would be better to use animal clippers, as human clippers do not open as wide.You can take the help of your vet, or professional groomer, or any experienced person if you find it difficult to trim your guinea pig’s nails.Trimming A Scared Guinea Pig’s NailsSome guinea pigs get wriggly or twist their body while trimming their nails, and some are frightened. It becomes difficult for new pet owners in such a situation. There are a few steps and tips that can help the owner make this task easier and less stressful.Relax your guinea pig by offering their favorite treat like leafy vegetables, cucumber, parsley, etc., to munch while clipping. Put on some light music or talk to your piggy to get their attention. Use a soft towel. Sit on the floor to avoid guinea from falling and hurting itself. Use good-quality pet nail clippers.What to do if the nail starts bleeding?Guinea pigs are active pets, and they need a large area to move around. Clipping a guinea pig’s nail is a little tricky; it requires a lot of patience and practice. Firstly we need to understand your piggy’s nails. Identify the ‘quick’ in the nail. Quick is a blood vessel under the nail. It is easier to locate the quick in clear nails than in dark nails as the quick is pink in color. If your pet’s nails are not clipped regularly, the blood supply may reach the nail tip. To prevent this blood supply or quick reaching to the tip, a routine nail check is necessary. Clear nails are much easier to cut compared to black nails.It is challenging to locate the quick or blood vessels. In some cases, you may cut the quick part of the nail which will cause it to start bleeding. So what are the precautions required when the nails start bleeding? Firstly, do not panic if the nail is bleeding. Take a deep breath. Apply styptic powder, ointment, or corn starch at the nail tip. These powders will help to control the bleeding. Apply pressure on the nail tip to stop the flow of the blood. You can even put the bleeding nail of your piggy into a bar of soap or beeswax. Put your guinea pig back in their cage only once the bleeding has stopped. If the bleeding continues, it would be advisable to consult your vet.Why cutting guinea pig’s nails is important?Guinea pigs need regular nail clipping. If your pet guinea pig keeps biting their nails this is a sign that its nails have grown and need trimming. A guinea pig’s nails should be clipped at least once a month.If their nails are not cut on time, they might curl down the pet’s feet and create discomfort while walking or moving around. Clipping helps to stop the blood vessel from reaching the tip.Pet owners should keep in mind these points before introducing these pets into their families. These species need ample space in their cage for exercise. They are effortless to tame and only need minimal grooming. Guinea pigs rarely bite and make wonderful pets. They do require proper care and attention. Check with your local shelters or rescues before buying one.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how to trim guinea pig nails, then why not take a look at do guinea pigs smell, or guinea pig facts?
Short ears, a stout body, beautiful sparkling eyes, and no tail are the features of a South American guinea pig that belongs to the family Caviidae.
