Avoid Getting the Old Switchoroo When Buying a Guinea Pig
Posted: Saturday, October 02, 2010
by Juan Rosario
So you've brought home, Ben, your lovely guinea pig, and today you've just found out he's...pregnant!
Many guinea pig buyers who aren't trying to deliberately breed their guinea pigs may end up at times with pregnant cavies. If you purchase a female from an undependable pet store or an unreliable breeder, you may end up bringing home more than what you bargained for. The reasons for this can vary. Either the animals were improperly sexed, not separated soon enough, or pregnant at the time of purchase. Some of these owners do not recognize the evident signs of pregnancy and simply dismiss it as a guinea pig which has eaten too much. The difference between an overweight guinea pig and a pregnant guinea pig is that an overweight guinea pig is usually larger all over, while a pregnant guinea pig has an enlarged, wider lower half that continues to get bigger and bigger even if the female's food consumption doesn't increase.
The process of finding out a Guinea pig's gender is called sexing. Contrary to what many pet stores will tell you, this procedure can be done regardless of the age of the guinea pig. First, you need to carefully pick up the guinea pig and examine its genital area. If you see a puckered looking spot just above the genital area, it's a good chance that you're holding a male. To be positive though, you can press gently just above the genital area. If the guinea pig is a male, his penis should come out. If the guinea pig is young, you can also inspect the area around the animal's rectum. A donut-shape also points to a male. This area is where the guinea pig's testicles are to be found.
Whilst sexing a guinea pig may not appear pleasant and may sound like an out-and-out invasion of the animal's privacy, you should always check rather than relying on the recommendation of a pet shop employee. Many, many families have been told by the sweet and friendly young associate selling these creatures at the local pet store that their new guinea pigs are the same sex only to find out two months later that they've just been blessed with grand pigs.
If you don't feel at ease with the process, do yourself and your family a favor-either doesn't buy the guinea pig from a pet store or better yet, just buy one guinea pig. Then go to a vet or a local reputable and experienced guinea pig breeder and he or she will be able to tell you with assurance what gender your new guinea pig is.
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