It can be difficult to understand your guinea pig’s age if you have adopted a new guinea pig into the family without any info about their age. I had the same problem when I adopted my guinea pig many years ago.
It’s essential to know the age of your guinea pig to provide them with the proper care and attention they need. If you are wondering how old your guinea pig is, you are in the right place to get a better understanding and to get a rough idea.
Top 7 Methods to Determine Their Age
These seven tips will help you get a better understanding of the age of your guinea pig.
1. Weight and Size
The easiest way to get an idea of how old your cavy is is by looking at their weight. Here is a table of what kind of weight you can expect at a certain age.
| 1 month | 0.6 lbs (280g) |
| 2 months | 0.9 lbs (440g) |
| 3 months | 1.2 lbs (550g) |
| 4 months | 1.3 lbs (610g) |
| 8 months | 1.7 lbs (800g) |
| 1 year | 2 lbs (950g) |
| 3 years | 2.2 lbs (1kg) |
From 1 to 3 years young, you can expect to see their average adult weight. An adult male cavy weighs around 2.2 pounds (1 kg) and is 10-12 inches long (25-30 cm).
A female guinea pig can weigh around 1.5 to 2 pounds (700-900 grams) with a shorter length.
2. Nail Change
The nails of a guinea pig can vary. Some have curly nails, while others have straight ones. The picture below shows an adult guinea pig’s nails.
- A young guinea pig has sharp but short, pointy nails. The nails are also white and more transparent.
- You can tell the guinea pig is getting older once its toenails become thicker and grow more irregularly. The nails also tend to turn yellow and crooked as they age.
3. Eyes
The eyes of your guinea pig can also give away their age. A young guinea pig will have bright and clear eyes, while an older guinea pig will have cloudy or hazy.
Cataracts are a significant sign that the guinea pig is getting older, roughly around six years or more.
4. Jaw Structure Change
Muscle loss affects the jaw structure of guinea pigs, so irregularities and abrasions begin in the teeth. In addition to this external problem, drooling and loss of appetite begin.
We can guess from these symptoms that they are between the ages of 5 and 7.
5. Muscle Loss
As guinea pigs get older, they lose their muscles, start to lose weight, and have saggy bellies, which is a sign that they are in the 4-5 year range.
6. Health Problems With Older Guinea Pigs
As the guinea pig ages, it will develop some problems that come with age. Cataracts can appear, as well as stiff and inflamed joints from arthritis. Especially important to do a health check if you recently adopted an older guinea pig.
7. Look at their fur
Guinea pigs are known to have a lot of different types of fur, both long and short.
Some guidance to knowing their age is that a young guinea pig will have a soft and shiny coat, while an older guinea pig is likelier to have a patchy and rough coat.
What Is the Lifespan of Guinea Pigs?
Although guinea pigs do not live as long as a dog or cat, their life span is not short. A guinea pig lives an average of 5-7 years.
But if you do not know the age of your guinea pig, you can make an estimate based on the information we have provided.
Now that we know what kind of signs can give away their age, how can we make both young and older guinea pigs live longer? Belov is my tip to you!
How Can We Extend the Lifespan of Guinea Pigs?
You can improve your guinea pig’s quality of life and longevity with these quick tips:
- Feed the guinea pig with timothy hay and some fruits and vegetables. In addition, a small amount of high-quality guinea pig pellets.
- Feeding with fibrous foods will make their sensitive digestion run like a clock.
- Having clean, fresh water and clean cages is another factor in improving their quality of life.
- Plan regular checkups with your local veterinarian to ensure your pet is healthy and catch any potential health issues early.
- Provide your guinea pig with a large cage to encourage them to move around and stay active.
- Regularly groom your guinea pig to keep its coat clean and healthy.
- Make sure that your guinea pig’s cage is kept clean and that they have a comfortable place to sleep and rest.
- I prefer to keep the cage in a quiet place, also in the daytime. Guinea pigs are prey animals and can easily be startled.
- Guinea pigs love being social and need interaction with other guinea pigs, so having at least two guinea pigs in the same cage is recommended.
Conclusion
Understanding your guinea pig’s age is vital to providing them with the proper care and attention they need.
Using the seven ways in this article gives you a rough idea of your guinea pig’s age. I hope the bonus tips at the end about their lifespan gave you some knowledge on how to give your fluffy friend a long and healthy life.
