Health survey of pet guinea pigs in Norway

Abstract

Guinea pigs (Cavia Porcellus) are popular pet animals in Norway. This study aimed to research the current husbandry, health, and welfare of pet guinea pigs in Norway. An online questionnaire consisting of 100 questions was shared with two of the largest Norwegian guinea pig interest groups on Facebook, having 3300 and 1400 members respectively. In total, the questionnaire yielded 284 responses originating from guinea pig owners representing all the different Norwegian counties. Data were collected between the 7th of February and the 10th of August 2023.