Each family has its own preferences in choosing pets. Someone loves dogs, someone loves cats, there are lovers of birds, and there are people who can not imagine their home without a charming guinea pig.
The choice
of a pet must be approached responsibly. Those who decide to have a guinea pig at home often ask themselves: do guinea pigs stink? In this article, we will consider this issue in more detail and study the reviews of the owners of these
cute animals.Features of Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs belong to the order of rodents. These are cute small fluffy animals from South America. Native American tribes ate these animals for food. For these purposes, South American tribes domesticated guinea pigs another 5 thousand years BC. e.
Guinea pig is a herbivore. At home, these rodents can live 6-7 years. They communicate with each other using high sounds - squeak. Pigs do not like loneliness, therefore it is better to purchase a couple of these sociable animals so that they are not bored.
Guinea pigs are brought as pets around the world. They require a lot of time to care for themselves. But if it’s good to follow them, and most importantly, do it with pleasure, they will become true loyal friends. Returning to the question of whether guinea pigs stink too much, one can answer that this mainly depends on the correctness of care. If you remove the cell in time, then a strong odor can be avoided.
What are the breeds of guinea pigs
In fact, there are enough breeds of guinea pigs to choose for yourself a pet that is most suitable for you in character and appearance. Of the most common breeds, the following are distinguished: American, Abyssinian, Peruvian, Sheltie, American teddy, Texel, Crested, Rex, Coronet, Himalayan, Skinny. All breeds differ in coat length, color and behavior. There are both long-haired breeds, for example a coronet, Sheltie or Peruvian (the most "fur" breed), and short-haired breeds, such as Rex or Baptist. There are very interesting guinea pigs in color, for example, Himalayan. Her color resembles Siamese cats. There are rodents with curly hair - texel. They look very impressive, so they are successful at exhibitions.
There are also completely exotic animals - this is a breed of skinny. Among others, it is distinguished by the fact that the animals of this breed have practically no hair. It is available in small quantities only on the legs and face. Some people are interested in view of such a feature, how to contain them, do they stink? The guinea pig (skinny breed) stinks a little less than other breeds. But this concerns the smell of the body of the guinea pig. The skinny cell smells exactly the same as the cells of other breeds.
Do guinea pigs stink
Since this issue is very important for many potential breeders, we will dwell on it in more detail. Indeed, for some people it is the special smell of these animals that can scare off and discourage the desire to have them at home. So, do guinea pigs stink?
Every animal in nature has potential enemies, and therefore you have to adapt in order to survive. Guinea pigs do not have sharp claws and deadly fangs to protect themselves from predators. Therefore, they try to make sure that they go unnoticed. To do this, they need to get rid of the smell of their body so that the enemy does not smell the prey. In nature, guinea pigs are very clean, they are constantly washed. At home, they also take care of themselves.
Of course, if you don’t follow your pet, don’t remove the cage, the “aroma” can be quite unpleasant. The excrement of these rodents has a specific smell, however, like other domestic animals. If you clean the cage regularly, monitor the cleanliness of your pet's hair, then the smell will be quite acceptable.
Who exudes a smell, female or male?
And yet, like any animal, guinea pigs are also not devoid of their natural smell. Many people ask: who is better to choose, a female or a male? Does a male guinea pig stink? Or does the female smell more?
Of course, differences in gender determine various physiological characteristics, including the emitted smell. Males, when excited, look after the female or mark, emit a pungent odor that does not depend on the purity of the cell. Each person has a different attitude to this smell. Many owners note that it passes quickly and is not so strong. However, for some, it is still quite unpleasant.
The female may start to smell after childbirth due to a change in hormonal levels. However, this phenomenon is transient and for owners who love their pet, this is not a disaster.
How to care for your pet to avoid bad smell
Potential breeders of these furry animals, along with the question of whether guinea pigs stink, should also be interested in the question of how to properly care for their animals in order to avoid an unpleasant odor. So, the basic rules of care:
- Correctly selected cell size. Larger housing will stay clean longer. The size of the cage should enable the animal to highlight a separate angle where it will meet its needs.
- Good filler. It absorbs moisture and unpleasant odors, so there is no need to save on it. The filler must be changed regularly, avoiding severe contamination of rodent cells.
- Clean pallet. Even if you change the filler regularly, the pan may absorb odor. Therefore, it is recommended once a week to pay attention to the cleanliness of the pallet and all accessories.
- Cleanliness of feeders. Residues of water and food must not rot. They must be removed on time from the feeders and drinking bowls and washed with running water.
When guinea pigs can really smell bad
If there is an unpleasant odor from the body of your pet, this is not his individual peculiarity from birth and the influence of certain factors (for example, the state after pregnancy in females or the state of the male described above), this is an occasion to think about the health status of your pet. If your pig suddenly starts to smell unpleasant for no apparent reason, and even more so if it is accompanied by any other suspicious symptoms, this is a clear reason to contact your veterinarian. Do not neglect the trip to it, because it is up to you in this case the health, and maybe the life of your pet.
Does guinea pig stink? Owner reviews
Of course, before starting a guinea pig at home, responsible people will first thoroughly study all the information about these animals, including reviews of the owners.
So, does guinea pig stink ? Owner reviews the flaws of these cute animals, namely their specific smell, do not hide. The phenomenon takes place, but most of all this is connected, as has been said more than once, with a violation of their hygiene. A certain percentage of owners claim that their pets have a smell, even despite careful hygiene. There are those who say that their pet does not emit an unpleasant odor, and if you regularly clean the cage, there will be no problems with it. Thus, the majority of owners of guinea pigs believe that if you rarely clean the rodent’s house, “aroma” will be undoubted, and if you clean everything on time, only a small percentage of these animals will have an unpleasant smell, which is most likely due to their individual characteristics or health problems.
Conclusion
So, we figured out if the guinea pigs stink. Reviews of those people for whom these animals have become members of the family indicate that if you really love these furry animals, then the smell, which in most cases is a disposable phenomenon, should not be an obstacle to keeping them at home. Therefore, before you start a mumps, you must understand why you need it. If in order to love her and become her friend, then the smell will not stop you. If it’s just as a tribute to fashion, or because you want it to be like a neighbor, then perhaps you should not take such responsibility.