Glossary
Definitions for the guinea pig care terms used throughout our guides.
18 terms
B
Boar
A male guinea pig.
Boar Glue
Hardened semen produced by a male guinea pig. During mating, guinea pig semen hardens into a seminal plug, which helps prevent another male from mating with the same female.
C
Cagemate
Another guinea pig that shares the same enclosure.
Cavy
Another common name for a guinea pig, derived from the scientific family name Caviidae.
Cecal feces
A type of feces that contains nutrients, B vitamins, and probiotics produced through cecal fermentation. Guinea pigs eat these to support healthy gut function. They are often softer and greener than regular feces, and are rarely seen because they are usually consumed immediately.
Crest
A tuft of hair on the top of the head, where the hair changes direction and forms a small, distinct swirl.
D
Dewlap
A fold of skin and tissue beneath the chin and neck.
F
Fleece
A bedding system made of two layers: a fleece top layer that wicks urine through it, and an absorbent layer underneath that collects the urine.
P
Popcorn
Sudden jumps, hops, or twists that guinea pigs make when excited, happy, or stimulated.
Pup
A baby guinea pig.
R
Rosette
A small, circular swirl of hair on the body where the fur changes direction.
S
Skinny Pig
A mostly hairless guinea pig with small amounts of hair, typically around the nose and feet.
Sow
A female guinea pig.
U
URI
Upper respiratory infection, abbreviated.
UTI
Urinary tract infection, abbreviated.
W
Werewolf
A type of Skinny pig that has patches of fur growing on parts of its body other than the nose and legs.
Wheek
A loud squeaking sound commonly made when anticipating food or attention.
Z
Zoomies
A burst of fast running, jumping, or sudden movement that happens when a guinea pig is excited, playful, or full of energy.
