How to determine the age of a guinea pig at home by signs

Guinea pigs are not long-lived, they live only about 8-10 years. Therefore, if a decision is made to have this cute rodent at home, try to find a young and healthy individual. But how to determine how old a guinea pig is when choosing an adult animal in a pet store? To determine the approximate age of a pet, it is necessary to know the age characteristics of these animals.

What is the best age to take a guinea pig?

Until about the age of 4-5 years, the animal is considered young and full of strength. But upon reaching 5 years old, the pet’s body starts the mechanism of natural aging. The animal can live for a long time, sometimes even pigs live up to 15 years. But it is difficult to predict in advance the duration of his life – a lot depends on the genetics, lifestyle and conditions of the rodent.

It is not recommended to take an animal older than 3-3,5 years, as it will be difficult for him to adapt to the hands and behavior of the new owner, as well as to a change of residence.

Breeders recommend starting a pet at the age of 5 weeks.

Until this age, it is better for cubs to be close to their mother, who not only feeds them, but also manages to give them the skills they need in later life:

• adaptation to the environment;
• foundations of social behavior;
• food habits;
• reactions in different situations.

In addition to the above, during this period, the microflora in the body is formed in babies and the foundations of immunity are laid.

If the baby is weaned from his mother before the age of 5 weeks, there is a high probability that he will not only get stress, but also problems with the work of the gastrointestinal tract in the future.

Important! At too early an age, pigs are not ready to be tamed by hand, they are shy and restless. Therefore, it is worth waiting and taking a pet at a more independent and conscious age.

When purchasing a pet in a store or from a breeder, check the age of the future pet. In case you couldn’t be told the rodent’s age or date of birth, consider looking elsewhere for the guinea pig. Or you can try to determine the age of the rodent yourself.

How to find out the age of a guinea pig

If the choice fell on an adult animal, then try to determine the age of the guinea pig at home on your own. Focus on the following features of the rodent:

Behavior and physical activity

The main features of a young individual:

• the animal is interested in everything that happens around;
• tries new foods with appetite;
• ready to communicate with household members;
• runs and plays a lot.

At an older age, animals are not so active: they sleep a lot and often and look apathetic. Older pigs often stop chewing on large pieces of food.

Weight and height

The growth of an adult is, on average, 27-30 cm. The weight of a baby up to 4 weeks does not exceed 0,5 kg. Maturity occurs at 15 months. The weight of an adult female varies from 0,7 to 1 kg, and an adult male – from 1 to 1,8 kg. How to determine the sex of an animal, read our article “Determination of the sex of a guinea pig: we distinguish females from males by external signs”

In old age, pigs tend to lose weight due to a decrease in activity, a slowdown in metabolism, and a decrease in appetite.

Skin and coat condition

In young pigs, unlike the elderly, the skin is clean, without signs of peeling or scratching, elastic. Their coat is thick, rich in color, with a sheen, without signs of loss. It should be noted that the quality of the coat depends both on age and on the presence of diseases or parasites (fleas, ticks).

Condition of nails and teeth

Carefully inspect the claws on the hind legs – they are more difficult for the pig to care for than the claws on the front. Usually in pet stores they do not have the habit of caring for the claws of pigs by sharpening or trimming them in a timely manner. Therefore, the nails of an animal can tell a lot about its age. So, at the sight of long or heavily worn, twisted and yellowed claws on the paws, one can conclude that their owner is mature. The young individual has white, sharp and strong teeth, it gnaws hard food with pleasure. An elderly pig has sharpened teeth, often with a dark coating, she tries to gnaw on small pieces of food.

Important! It is impossible to deny the influence on the appearance, motor activity and social behavior of guinea pigs of their conditions of detention. A balanced diet, regular cleaning and maintaining cleanliness in the cells are the key to good shape. Absence of nearby potential sources of infections, i.e. sick animals – contributes to the excellent appearance of the guinea pig.

When choosing a funny rodent, do not forget to ask the seller about its age, food habits and preferences. Examine the animal for obvious diseases, evaluate its appearance: the condition of the coat and skin, claws and teeth.

Take a closer look at the characteristic behavior of a rodent in a cage. If, after buying a pet, you have any doubts about the exact age or health of a rodent, consult your veterinarian and ask for detailed recommendations on caring for and making the right diet for your pet.

Video: how to find out the age of a guinea pig