[130] It continues to be a major part of the diet in Peru and Bolivia, particularly in the Andes Mountains highlands; it is also eaten in some areas of Ecuador (mainly in the Sierra) and in Colombia,[131] exclusively in highland locations in the department of Nariño near the border with Ecuador. [68] They share this behaviour with rabbits. However, there are some ways you can confirm if your small pet is expecting a litter: If you don't notice any of these symptoms for the following 16 days , they aren't pregnant. "Commentary Mini" for Episode 11, Season 12: Blench, R.M. 2007. If your guinea pig is expecting offspring, it's normal for their appetite to gradually increase whilst their pregnancy progresses. While courting, a male usually purrs deeply, swaying and circling the female. The level of fear could be tremendous, especially if the guinea pig is still young (less than six months old). In the TV movie Shredderman Rules, the main character and the main character's crush both have guinea pigs which play a minor part in the plot. While it is normal for guinea pigs to sneeze periodically, frequent sneezing may be a symptom of pneumonia, especially in response to atmospheric changes. Being a prey species it is important to handle them gently so as not to frighten them. The German word for them is Meerschweinchen, literally "little sea pig", in Polish they are called świnka morska, in Hungarian as tengerimalac, and in Russian as морская свинка. Did he get both my females pregnant? [45] They are timid explorers and often hesitate to attempt an escape from their cage even when an opportunity presents itself. Why Does Guinea Pig Shiver? Step 1 – Leave your guinea pig alone! [4], Many efforts have also been made to promote guinea pig husbandry in developing countries of West Africa,[132] where they occur more widely than generally known because they are usually not covered by livestock statistics. Squealing or shrieking is a high-pitched sound of discontent, in response to pain or danger. According to the "Commentary Mini" for the episode, the "costumes" for the guinea pigs were not created by South Park Studios, but rather had been ordered on line from a woman who makes them. Cavy clubs and associations dedicated to the showing and breeding of guinea pigs have been established worldwide. The Bloated giraffe takes the Guinea Pig Lion 11 decades to eat, saying that the Guinea Pig Lion only eats it every 44 years. Guinea pigs are prey animals, so being on their back is incredibly stressful. [161] Because guinea pigs are one of the few animals which, like humans and other primates, cannot synthesize vitamin C, but must obtain it from their diet, they are ideal for researching scurvy. [161] In the past, they were widely used to standardize vaccines and antiviral agents; they were also often employed in studies on the production of antibodies in response to extreme allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis. Their strongest problem-solving strategy is motion. [8], The animal's name alludes to pigs in many European languages. [62] After its cage has been cleaned, a guinea pig typically urinates and drags its lower body across the floor of the cage to mark its territory. A bubbling or purring sound is made when the guinea pig is enjoying itself, such as when being petted or held. In the case of being scared, the rumble often sounds higher and the body vibrates shortly. [96] Other serious complications during pregnancy can include a prolapsed uterus, hypocalcaemia, and mastitis. [68] Rabbits may also harbor diseases (such as respiratory infections from Bordetella and Pasteurella), to which guinea pigs are susceptible. [29], The guinea pig was first described in the West in 1554 by the Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner. Organizations devoted to the competitive breeding of guinea pigs have been formed worldwide. The Squid Bird is a natural prey to the Guinea Pig Lion. [92], Cohabitating females assist in mothering duties if lactating;[93] guinea pigs practice alloparental care, in which a female may adopt the pups of another. [115] The British Cavy Council governs cavy clubs in the United Kingdom. Females are fertile every 16 days, and if they are pregnant, you'll notice that they'll try to mount their cage mates, whilst grunting and lifting their rear end as if they want to be mounted. The heart rhythm doesn’t need to be always detectable in heart disease, but if it is, then it will help the vet provide the right treatment to your guinea pigs. Take a kitchen scale and weigh your pet every week. [125] In Ursula Dubosarsky's Maisie and the Pinny Gig, a little girl has a recurrent dream about a giant guinea pig, while guinea pigs feature significantly in several of Dubosarsky's other books, including the young adult novel The White Guinea Pig and The Game of the Goose.[126]. [117] Each club publishes its own standard of perfection and determines which breeds are eligible for showing. I got my Guinea pigs in Nov one Male other female she looks pregnant but I'm not sure when she got pregnant it's been almost 4 months now. [43] When happily excited, guinea pigs may repeatedly perform little hops in the air (known as "popcorning"), a movement analogous to the ferret's war dance. Travel in herds. Chutting and whining are sounds made in pursuit situations, by the pursuer and pursuee, respectively. Guinea pigs, Cavia porcellus, are members of the Caviidae family of the order Rodentia. Of the inbred strains that have been created, the two still used with any frequency are, following Sewall Wright's designations, "Strain 2" and "Strain 13".[112][171]. Many specialized breeds, with varying coat colors and textures, are selected by breeders. Male and female guinea pigs do not differ in appearance apart from general size. Traditionally, the animal was reserved for ceremonial meals and as a delicacy by indigenous people in the Andean highlands, but since the 1960s, it has become more socially acceptable for consumption by all people. [61] Guinea pigs tend to be messy within their cages; they often jump into their food bowls or kick bedding and feces into them, and their urine sometimes crystallizes on cage surfaces, making it difficult to remove. Keeping their eyes open all the time gives them a sense of alertness. Guinea pigs are prey animals and it can take them a few weeks to adapt to their new home, and trying to do this would add a crazy amount of stress. Similar organizations exist in Australia (Australian National Cavy Council)[116] and New Zealand (New Zealand Cavy Council). Just like rabbits, guinea pigs are prey animals by nature, which means being handled isn’t always enjoyable for them. The scientific name of the common species is Cavia porcellus, with porcellus being Latin for "little pig". To guinea pigs, it may be equivalent to being dropped into a jungle with predators with no clothes, house, food, water or tools. They can sometimes lay down and create a nice little pile of poop at the same time, caused by their digestion system constantly working on processing the food they’ve been eating (and have to eat constantly to keep … [135], Peruvians consume an estimated 65 million guinea pigs each year, and the animal is so entrenched in the culture that one famous painting of the Last Supper in the main cathedral in Cusco shows Christ and the 12 disciples dining on guinea pig. [42], Domesticated guinea pigs thrive in groups of two or more; groups of sows, or groups of one or more sows and a neutered boar are common combinations, but boars can sometimes live together. Humans and these rodents have a long history going back thousands of years, although not as pets at first. Housing guinea pigs with other rodents such as gerbils and hamsters may increase instances of respiratory and other infections,[64] and such rodents may act aggressively toward the guinea pig. They move together in groups (herds) eating grass or other vegetation, and do not store food. Some species of cavy identified in the 20th century, such as C. anolaimae and C. guianae, may be domestic guinea pigs that have become feral by reintroduction into the wild. [165][166], Complement, an important component for serology, was first isolated from the blood of the guinea pig. [22] They also are used in traditional healing rituals by folk doctors, or curanderos, who use the animals to diagnose diseases such as jaundice, rheumatism, arthritis, and typhus. [42] Larger groups of startled guinea pigs "stampede", running in haphazard directions as a means of confusing predators. Guinea pigs are classed as prey, because they are a lot smaller than many predators who would like to eat them. [33] All the large breeds of guinea pig are known as cuy mejorados and the pet breeds are known as cuy criollos. Litter size ranges from one to six, with three being the average;[88] the largest recorded litter size as of 2007 was 17. This is what guinea pigs were called by the Dutch traders who first brought them to Nagasaki in 1843. It is no wonder they try to run away as soon as anyone tries to handle them. Poor diets for guinea pigs have been associated with muscular dystrophy, metastatic calcification, difficulties with pregnancy, vitamin deficiencies, and teeth problems. [160], Guinea pigs remained popular laboratory animals until the later 20th century: about 2.5 million guinea pigs were used annually in the U.S. for research in the 1960s,[161] but that total decreased to about 375,000 by the mid-1990s. [7], The Chinese refer to the animal as 豚鼠 (túnshǔ, 'pig mouse'), and sometimes as Netherlands pig (荷蘭豬, hélánzhū), or Indian mouse (天竺鼠, tiānzhúshǔ). at least one Squid Bird goes missing every day because a Guinea Pig Lion eats it. If you value a good night’s sleep, you probably won’t get one with your guinea pig beside you. A guinea pig named Cashew features prominently in the second season of the U.S. adaptation of House of Cards. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, "NHGRI Adds 18 Organisms to Sequencing Pipeline", Story of Vitamin C's chemical discovery. A number of plants are poisonous to guinea pigs, including bracken, bryony, buttercup, charlock, deadly nightshade, foxglove, hellebore, hemlock, lily of the valley, mayweed, monkshood, privet, ragwort, rhubarb, speedwell, toadflax (both Linaria vulgaris and Linaria dalmatica), and wild celery. You'll also notice that their abdomen becomes increasingly bulky. [61] Safer bedding materials made from hardwoods (such as aspen), paper products, and corn cob materials are other alternatives.