Age and weight of guinea pigs
Doubling the weight of the guinea pig occurs approximately 13-17 days after birth. At the age of four to eight weeks, they weigh 250-400 g.
Guinea pigs grow up to 15 months. Their growth is gradually slowing down. Then males begin to weigh 1000-1800 g, females from 700 to 1000 g. In some cases, greater weight is due to significant body fat.
Guinea pigs live from five to eight years, in rare cases – up to 15.
Aging guinea pigs often lose weight. They are no longer able to optimally absorb the food offered to them. Then, along with a sufficient amount of hay and green fodder, an increase in the diet of such nutritious feeds as carrots, concentrates and additional multivitamins is recommended. In addition, attention should be paid to a sufficient supply of the body with minerals and trace elements.
But special importance should be attached to a sufficient supply of vitamin C, which must be given at least 30 mg per kilogram of animal weight. Older guinea pigs, which may have trouble with their teeth, are less likely to turn to solid food, often eating sliced uXNUMXbuXNUMXbcucumbers or melons with pleasure.
Having lost its luster, in some places even thin fur also indicates the age of the animal. At the same time, elderly, often already with a weakened general body resistance, guinea pigs are very susceptible to skin diseases. Then fungi, as well as withers and other ectoparasites appear in them much more often than among guinea pigs, which are not yet among pensioners.
A guinea pig is considered an “old lady” from about six, rarely from seven years old.
Doubling the weight of the guinea pig occurs approximately 13-17 days after birth. At the age of four to eight weeks, they weigh 250-400 g.
Guinea pigs grow up to 15 months. Their growth is gradually slowing down. Then males begin to weigh 1000-1800 g, females from 700 to 1000 g. In some cases, greater weight is due to significant body fat.
Guinea pigs live from five to eight years, in rare cases – up to 15.
Aging guinea pigs often lose weight. They are no longer able to optimally absorb the food offered to them. Then, along with a sufficient amount of hay and green fodder, an increase in the diet of such nutritious feeds as carrots, concentrates and additional multivitamins is recommended. In addition, attention should be paid to a sufficient supply of the body with minerals and trace elements.
But special importance should be attached to a sufficient supply of vitamin C, which must be given at least 30 mg per kilogram of animal weight. Older guinea pigs, which may have trouble with their teeth, are less likely to turn to solid food, often eating sliced uXNUMXbuXNUMXbcucumbers or melons with pleasure.
Having lost its luster, in some places even thin fur also indicates the age of the animal. At the same time, elderly, often already with a weakened general body resistance, guinea pigs are very susceptible to skin diseases. Then fungi, as well as withers and other ectoparasites appear in them much more often than among guinea pigs, which are not yet among pensioners.
A guinea pig is considered an “old lady” from about six, rarely from seven years old.
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