GUINEA PIGS

SKINNY PIG

• Almost hairless
• Popular in Canada,Europe, and Russia
• Smooth, but wrinkly looking.

SILKIE GUINEA PIG

• New variety
• The hair grows backwards from the neck
• Silky long coat
• Also called the sheltie

AMERICAN GUINEA PIG

• Most common breed
• Body similar to a brick
• Lilac, cream, white, red black in colors
• One of the easiest to maintain
• Can weigh up to 15 pounds

PERUVIAN GUINEA PIG

• Oldest breed
• Long, sleek hair which grows over the face
• Constant hair trimming
• Hardest to keep as a pet because of grooming
• Native to Austrailia

TEDDY GUINEA PIG

• Dense, wiry coat
• Curious, and great for kids
• Result of a genetic mutation
• Shorter than any other breed
• Sold in pet shops and breeders

TEXEL GUINEA PIG

• Long coat, distinctive curly fur
• Bought at special breeders, not pet stores
• A lot of time spent grooming
• Not recommended for first time owners
• Trim hair short around back and stomach

HIMALAYAN GUNIEA PIG

• Albino
• Very common breed
• Black or brown on ears and feet
• Very sensitive to bright light

REX GUINEA PIG

• Idea age to breed is 6 months to 11 months
• Bright and large eyes
• Wooly, dense coat
• Make good pets for children
• South America is the origin

ABYSSINIAN GUINEA PIG

• Short, rough coat
• They can be any color
• Very energetic and sociable
• Very prone to illnesses
• They sleep with their eyes open

FEEDING

• Grass is the natural diet
• Fruits
• Hay
• Pellets

HOUSING

• 30X36 for one guinea pig
• Room to excercise
• 65-75 degree temperature for living
• Keep cage away from loud things
• Avoid outdoor caging

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• 1.5-3.5 pounds
• 8-10 inches in length
• Lifespan is 4-5 years
• Gestation period is 59-72 days
• Active 20 hours a day

GROOMING

• Brushed daily to keep fur soft
• Rarely need bathed- causes stress
• Stiff small brush
• Small metal comb
• Check for lice or sores on skin during grooming

HANDLING

• Handled with care, they have fragile bones
• Shouldn't be handled by small children
• Should be held once a day
• Will begin to fidgety after 20-30 minutes

COMMON DISEASES

• Respiratory infections
• Scurvy
• Tumors
• Parasites
• Skin problems

CLASSIFICATIONS

• Cavia porcellus
• Kingdom - animalia
• Phylum - Chordata
• Class - Mammalia
• Order - Rodentia

CONTINUED CLASSIFICATIONS

• Suborder - Hystricomorpha
• Family - Caviidae
• SubFamily - Caviinae
• Genus - Cavia