T A B L E    O F    C O N T E N T S

 

Introduction

Origin and domestication

Guinea pigs and their relatives

The 10 stupidest statements about guinea pigs

Purchase

What I should think about before buying a guinea pig
Single, couple or functional companionship
What to keep an eye on
Cage and equipment
The right location
Litter
Cleaning

Settling

Things worth knowing about guinea pigs

Guinea pigs - fact file
Ingestion
Digestion
Physiques
Fur
Sensing and communication

Hearing
Smelling
Tasting
Seeing
Feeling
Guinea pig talk

Speech
Body language

Guinea Pigs - Breeds

Short hair
Long hair

The right handling of the animal

Lifting up and carrying
Running about in the flat
Running about on balcony or garden

Nutrition

Hay
Juicy - and green fodder
Dry feed
Nibbles
Cecotropes
Water
Chalk- and mineral stone
"Sweets"
Storage

Grooming

Fur
Claws
Weight controlling
Weekly checks
The most frequent diseases
Going to the Vet
Who cares for the animal during a holiday?

Breeding

Requirements
Attracting and mating
Pregnancy
Delivery
Development of the youngsters
The small difference
About four weeks after delivery

Index