Guinea pigs are considered to be one of the most domesticated rodents that we may have known of. Records show that as early as 5000 BC the mountain tribes of Ecuador and Peru have domesticated these animals for food. Guinea pigs were brought to Europe by the Spanish, Dutch and English traders where accounts date back as early as 1547. The rodents became popular exotic pets by the upper class men of society. Guinea pigs which are popularly known as cavies may weigh between 1 to 2.25 pounds and may grow in length from 8 to 10 inches long. A typical life span of these rodents may last up to four years and some even reach until seven years.

Guinea pigs, like any other pet would need the proper essentials to be healthy and happy. Care, attention and a proper amount of play and socialization are only a few essentials to mention for the proper cavy care.

Feeding

One of the most important aspects of raising your pets would be the feeding process. You must know what and how to feed your pets to make them end up as healthy as possible. Forages, hay and pellets are the ideal food groups to give to a guinea pig, as much as possible, it should be a mixture of the three since each kind of food has its own nutritional values.

Forages and fresh vegetables will contribute a lot to the health benefits of a guinea pig. Not only will it add interest to the pet but also contain vitamin C and minerals. Grass should be selected carefully before giving it to the pet. It should be important to know where it comes from. If it's gathered personally, the pet owner must make sure that the grass has not been treated with pesticides, does not have molds and do not grow near roadsides with a lot of traffic. If the pet owner gives the guinea pig forages for the first time, the process must be gradual; the amount of forages should increase through time.

Hay is another essential for the pet guinea pig, this type of grass helps the growth of the teeth of the guinea pig to be limited to a certain ideal length. The constant gnawing of the guinea pig helps the teeth to be maintained. Hay can be given as part of the daily diet of the guinea pig. Excess hay may also be given to be used by guinea pigs for nesting purposes.

Pellets are customized to contain nutrients for the pet but it is advisable to mix them with the other food types to compensate on what the pellet lacks.

Feeding is good, over feeding is another story. The amount of food should be cautiously taken into consideration to have a healthy pet.