The Chinese refer to the animal as 豚鼠 ( túnshǔ, "pig mouse"), and sometimes as 荷蘭豬 ( hélánzhū, 'Netherlands pig') or 天竺鼠 ( tiānzhúshǔ, "Indian mouse"). The Japanese word for guinea pig is モルモット ( morumotto), which derives from the name of another mountain-dwelling rodent, the marmot. This is what the guinea pigs were called by Dutch traders, who first brought them to Nagasaki in 1843. The other, and less common, Japanese word for guinea pig, using kanji, is 天竺鼠 (てんじくねずみ or tenjiku-nezumi), which literally translates as "India rat". [75] Diet A silver agouti guinea pig eating grass, the staple of the diet, which is often replaced with hay.

The average lifespan of a guinea pig is between five and eight years old. The world’s oldest guinea pig was called Snowball from Nottinghamshire in England. He was age 14 years and 10.5 months when he died in February 1979. Guinea pig facts for kids Chazan, Michael (2008). World Prehistory and Archaeology: Pathways through Time. Pearson Education, Inc. p.272. ISBN 978-0-205-40621-0.Foreign bodies, especially small pieces of hay or straw, can become lodged in the eyes of guinea pigs, resulting in excessive blinking, tearing, and in some cases an opaque film over the eye due to corneal ulcer. [108] Hay or straw dust can also cause sneezing. While it is normal for guinea pigs to sneeze periodically, frequent sneezing may be a symptom of pneumonia, especially in response to atmospheric changes. Pneumonia may also be accompanied by torticollis and can be fatal. [109] The glass pig decanter is hand-made at the Angels’ Share Glass studio and has a stopper for the nose so the drink can be poured out and later refilled. Mitchell, Chip (2006-11-01). "Guinea Pig: It's What's for Dinner". The Christian Science Monitor . Retrieved 2007-03-12. Usually, they also become motionless or run to the hiding if they are frightened of something happening around.

Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (1995). Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals (4thed.). National Academies Press. p.106. ISBN 978-0-309-05126-2.It is definitely a tough call to take whether the purring sound your guinea pig is making is good or bad. Guinea pigs are herd animals so should always be kept with at least one other. In Switzerland, it is illegal to own just one, and they even have a rent-a-guinea-pig service should one of your beloved pets pass away and a companion is needed!

Kallet, Arthur; Schlink, F. J. (1933). 100,000,000 Guinea Pigs: Dangers in Everyday Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics. Vanguard Press. ISBN 978-0-405-08025-8. a b Percy, Dean H.; Barthold, Stephen W. (2001). Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits (2nded.). Iowa State University Press. pp.209–247. ISBN 978-0-8138-2551-9. See also: Skinny pig A guinea pig being examined by a veterinary medical officer for a study on leptospirosis Gray, Tara (1998). "A Brief History of Animals in Space". National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Retrieved 2007-05-03.

Where to get guinea pigs

Complement, an important component for serology, was first isolated from the blood of the guinea pig. [161] Guinea pigs have an unusual insulin mutation, [167] and are a suitable species for the generation of anti-insulin antibodies. [168] Present at a level 10 times that found in other mammals, the insulin in guinea pigs may be important in growth regulation, a role usually played by growth hormone. [169] Additionally, guinea pigs have been identified as model organisms for the study of juvenile diabetes and, because of the frequency of pregnancy toxemia, of pre-eclampsia in human females. [99] Their placental structure is similar to that of humans, and their gestation period can be divided into trimesters that resemble the stages of fetal development in humans. [170]

Guerrini, Anita (2003). Experimenting with Humans and Animals. Johns Hopkins. p.42. ISBN 978-0-8018-7196-2. One of the most common problems in guinea pigs is bumblefoot, where the foot becomes swollen due to a bacterial infection, often caused by dirty bedding. They are also prone to eye problems, so it is important to use dust-free bedding and soft hay. Guinea pigs have a gestation period of about two months or a little more. When the babies are born, there may be only one, or more than six or seven. The average size of a litter is three babies. Newborn guinea pigs come complete with fur and up to twenty teeth at birth. Their eyes open soon after they are born.Sometimes, guinea pigs also purr when they are stressed out. Say you have a cat as well as a guinea pig, and your cat has sneaked into your guinea pig’s room without you noticing them. Then your guinea pigs might have got frightened with such unforeseen circumstances and may purr rather loudly to call for help. Vocalization is the primary means of communication between members of the species. [53] These are the most common sounds made by the guinea pig: [54]