Guinea Pig — AEMV Exotic Companion Care Guide
Source: Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV), *Exotics Companion Care Series* "How to Keep Your Guinea Pig Happy, Healthy and Safe" / "Common Disorders of Guinea Pigs" / "About Your Guinea Pig". PDF landed at pdf-raw/aemv/guinea_pig.pdf. Consolidated husbandry-and-health manual from that single veterinary-association source; figures and disease names quoted from the PDF, narrative paraphrased.
Species overview
The domestic guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), also known as a cavy, was domesticated in South America thousands of years ago. Guinea pigs are intelligent, social, generally quiet animals; as a solitary pet it may bond closely to its owner. There are at least 13 breeds recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association. They are not aggressive, preferring to flee rather than bite or scratch.
Housing & environment
- Enclosure should be set up in a quiet part of the house, maintained in an ambient temperature of 55–75°F (13–24°C). The enclosure should be at least 2ft x 3ft (60cm x 90cm) per pig, with sides at least 12 inches (30 cm) high. Best flooring is solid, covered with dust-free bedding.
- Because cavies are sensitive to heat stress, their environmental temperature should not exceed 75°F (24°C). Change bedding every few days; they are very sensitive to the ammonia in urine, which may irritate their respiratory tract.
- Substrates: shredded paper, recycled newspaper composite materials, hardwood chips or shavings, compressed wheat straw. Avoid pine, cedar and corn cob for bedding.
Diet & nutrition
- Guinea pigs are not able to synthesize vitamin C on their own; therefore a dietary source must be provided daily. Guinea pigs need at least 25mg of vitamin C daily, supplied via high-quality freshly milled pellets or veterinarian-recommended supplements.
- Commercial guinea pig pellets are specially formulated to contain vitamin C, but the content is quickly lost especially if old or exposed to light; check the manufacture date. Offer a daily small handful of dark leafy greens and root vegetables, and grass hays (Timothy, orchard, oat) always available; alfalfa hay for juveniles.
- Remove fresh food not eaten within a half hour.
Social & behavior
- Social animals that establish a pecking order; overcrowding may incite aggression. They enjoy running through tunnels and negotiating mazes. Sensitive to abrupt loud noises.
Common disorders
AEMV lists: dental (malocclusion, tooth fractures); dermatologic (alopecia, mite / lice infestation); gastrointestinal; ocular (cataracts, corneal ulcers); reproductive (Ovarian cysts, pregnancy toxemia, dystocia); respiratory (pneumonia, upper respiratory infection); urinary (cystitis, Urolithiasis); miscellaneous (heat stroke, vitamin C deficiency).
Veterinary care
- Take your guinea pig to an exotic animal veterinarian for an annual physical examination and any treatments or tests needed.
Resources (per AEMV trifold)
Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV.com); Lafeber Emeraid (lafeber.com/vet/mammal-medicine); Oxbow Animal Health (oxbowanimalhealth.com); American Cavy Breeders Association (acbaonline.com).
Honest scope note
Single-source manual from one veterinary-association trifold; a general care overview, not a substitute for species-specific veterinary advice or for the per-aspect topics already in this dataset. Figures and disease names are quoted from the AEMV PDF; no NRC-style nutrient-requirement percentages are provided by this source.