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by Jacki
In my quest to find out various guinea pig related news I came across the so called “kung fu guinea pig” that’s currently terrorizing dogs and other animals in the Slovakian countryside. As it turns out, this ninja chopping fur ball isn’t a guinea pig at all, but a hamster. However – there are still some amazing images in various news articles of it taking flying leaps and scaring off all sorts of foes.
And much as I wanted to dedicate a whole blog to this amazing little creature, I then came across a video that I just had to share with you.
Because, as those who have already have piggies as pets will need no convincing of, when it comes down to our guinea pigs – cavies certainly kick some butt:-). … 
by Jacki
Although if you live in the north of the country you might not yet believe it, but summer really is on the way. Yesterday saw Chicago boasting 80 degrees and the deep south with the mercury pushing way up in the 90s. Oh yes, folks… summer is here.
And whilst this is great for us, it’s not so good for our guinea pigs. Not only does the heat affect them, but the humidity as well. And if your piggies are older, poorly, rehabilitating or fragile in any way whatsoever, they’ll be even less well adapted to cope with the rising heat.
The ideal temperature for our piggies is between 62-75 degrees Fahrenheit, although some pigs will begin to feel the temperature when it climbs over about 72 degrees. …
by Jacki
Most of us have probably heard about animals being used as a therapy for various human conditions. Dolphins might spring to mind, along with dogs and cats – and even horses. But guinea pigs?
Well, our furry friends are starting to cause quite a buzz in the medical world, and various pilot schemes around the country are proving extremely successful.
One such example is that run by the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program (formerly the Delta Society), in Wyoming. They have two guinea pigs registered as therapy animals, and the story of how this occurred is just lovely. A woman called Erin Maggard has supported the Central Wyoming Hospice for the past 25 years, and had noticed how a friend and resident had responded to therapy dogs that came to interact with the residents.…
by Jacki
A recent news article in a British paper has highlighted the problems of pet shops selling guinea pigs that have not been correctly sexed. Now, we’re pretty sure that this isn’t a uniquely British problem, as we’ve come across many a case of so called ‘same sex’ pairs of guinea pigs producing a surprise to their owners.
The UK charity – Wood Green Animal Shelter, Cambridgeshire, England – is now doing its bit to educate the local pet shops in how to sex their guinea pigs.
When you think that a male guinea pig becomes sexually active from three weeks old, and that a female is able to get pregnant within hours of giving birth, and that piggies can have up to six pups at a time, you begin to appreciate that wrongly thinking you know the sex of your piggies can be a big problem.…
by Jacki
One of the strangest types of guinea pigs you might come across is the bald, or hairless, variety. And although they might look a little strange when you first see them, these bald babies certainly have a unique charm of their own.
Perhaps it stems from our general perception that most animals (barring reptiles) are covered to a greater or lesser extent in hair or feathers, so the first time you see a hairless guinea pig you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s suffering from some kind of medical condition. But nothing could be further from the truth, as this is literally how these fellas are meant to be.
There are two types of hairless guinea pigs; The Baldwin, and the Skinny Pig (which I must say is the most fantastic name!)
The Baldwin
Baldwins originated through a genetic mutation from a pair of breeder’s piggies. …
by Jacki
Owning guinea pigs really does enrich our lives, and they give us so much joy. But have you ever stopped to wonder what our piggies need back from us?
Below are the 10 commandments for guinea pig owners – things that most of us do without even thinking about it. But, being as there are still far too many instances of ill treatment and lack of knowledge towards our furry friends, it can never hurt to spread the word that little bit more.
Picture by tetleyboy and reproduced under attribution license courtesy of Creative Commons and Flickr
1. My life is likely to last 5-8 years. Changes to my routine and separation from you will be painful for me. Please remember that before you buy me.…
by Jacki
We all know that guinea pigs are prey animals, and that generally it’s necessary to keep them safe from other family pets who might cause them stress.
However, there’s always the exception to the rule. And we at SPS adore hearing about animal friendships that span the species and prove that a friend is a friend, no matter how big, small, furry or hairy.
Prepare some tissues, because this video about Sunshade the Airedale Terrier and her family of guinea pigs is guaranteed to bring a lump to the throat of any animal lover.
Sunshade had always shown great interest in the guinea pigs at the local pet store. So in 2010, after the dog had successfully survived a tough battle with cancer, her owners decided to get her what she’d always wanted – some guinea pig buddies of her own.…
by Jacki
I don’t know about you, but one of the nicest things about small pets (well, any pet actually), is the actual care you give on a daily basis. And one which is mutually appreciated on both side is that of grooming your guinea pig.
Long haired guinea pigs obviously present a slightly bigger challenge in the grooming stakes than short haired, but both will enjoy and need regular brushing. There are many tools available at various pet stores to purchase specifically for this purpose. However, a soft brush intended for human babies and/or a metal greyhound comb will also be perfectly suitable.
Photo by rowkitcat and reproduced under attribution license courtesy of Creative Commons & Flickr
If you’ve got a new guinea pig it might take a little while for him or her to become accustomed to being groomed. …
by Jacki
Have you heard the tale about Red the guinea pig and his NCAA winner selections? This is a great story about how Red, with the help of his owner, made predictions for the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Using pieces of lettuce (and carrot, and other yummy treats), the video below show exactly how Red came to his decisions as to which team was going to win.
And for those of you who didn’t watch and were wondering if he was right, then sadly the answer is no. But the video is so cute that we just had to share it with you.
Till next time – love those piggies.
Oh! And I almost forgot… We’d love it if you’d help us in our mission to make the nation’s small pets the best kept in the world.…
by Jacki
We’re delighted to be able to give our SPS community a guest blog from Angela Mitchell, Editor in Chief of Guinea Pig Today.
Following our article last week about Guinea Pig Adoption month we thought this was a great way to continue. Enjoy…
I was the smallest one in my class through school. I was also the youngest. As an alliterative to being picked on, I often went greatly ignored. However, it didn’t leave me with any less ambition. It didn’t leave me with less desire for friends or a relationship. In my world, I knew I was important. I waited for someone to give me a chance. I keep this in mind when it comes to small animals. Small animals don’t deserve any less love.…
