Guinea pigs make fantastic pets for many different people, but to be sure that your pet is happy you have to make sure you are looking after your cavies correctly.
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| my 2 guinea pigs (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Like all pets guinea pigs are not animals that do not require care. They depend on you, their owner, to look after them and cater for all their needs. Cavies need daily care, such as feeding, grooming (especially in long-haired breeds), exercise and medical attention.
Lets start with the accommodation. Your pig's home needs to be safe and spacious (but not too large as cavies have poor eyesight and are often scared of open areas). Guinea pig cages and hutches make ideal homes for cavies as they are often made especially for them. The majority of rabbit hutches and cages are also suitable. The ideal size hutch for a guinea piggie is 3ft or 4ft (length) x 2ft (depth) x 2ft (height). Cages should have a similar amount of space. The floor should not be made out of wire or mesh as there's a danger of the pig catching his or her foot or leg and breaking it which could be fatal. Their home should also provide some privacy for the piggie. Cavies also prefer to live in pairs or small herds so their accommodation needs to be suitable for more than one piggy.
Your guinea piggie's home will need to have suitable bedding. For a hutch this is likely to be newspaper, hay and sawdust (don't use sawdust or wood chippings if your pet is allergic to them). Avoid straw as it can be sharp and guinea pigs have sensitive skin. Bedding for a cage is more likely to be shredded paper and/or hay. Bedding, whether it be in a hutch or cage, should be cleaned out weekly.
Companions: In the wild, cavies are rarely on their own; this is because they are social herd animals and feel that safety is in numbers. Therefor your pig should not be on his or her own (unless they do not get on with others or are at risk of injury from other pigs). When buying pigs you should ideally buy two (or more) from the same litter as they will know each other. Alternatively you could try introducing a new guinea piggie to a cavy you already have but plenty of time and care should be taken as one of them may feel intimidated by the guinea pig or behave dominantly. From experience I have found that females get on with females better than males do with males. You can keep males and females together but they will have to be neutered unless you're prepared for lots of baby piggies.
PLease note that guinea pigs and rabbits should not live together in the same hutch or cage as the rabbit can show aggressive behaviour and hurt the pig.
Wild guinea pigs are constantly moving and are outside in the fresh air. It is important that your pigs have a safe place they can go for exercise. Ideally this should be an outside exercise pen that is safe and secure. Never leave your piggie unattended outside.
Food is one of the most important aspects of keeping guinea piggies: it is important that you feed your pig the correct foods. They should have a dried or supplementary food that is formulated for guinea pigs - rabbit food does not have the necessary vitamins and minerals that these little pets need. Whatever food your pet has check it has Vitamin C in it as this is an important vitamin guinea pigs need as they can't make it like other animals, such as rabbits, can. Pigs also need a range of fresh fruit vegetables such as: carrots, cucumber and small quantities of broccoli, cabbage and romaine lettuce - the darker green the vegetable the better. Your pet will also need a constant supply of quality hay and grass.
Like all animals cavies need water to survive, such water that you'll need to provide. The water should be clean and changed at least every other day. It can be provided in a water bowl or a water bottle, the latter of which is more hygienic.
Entertainment: Cavies can get bored easily do you'll need to provide toys and other amusement sources to keep your piggie entertained during the day. If you have more than one pig they can help keep each other entertained whilst you are away.
All guinea pigs need regular grooming to keep their coat healthy and shiny. This is especially important for long-haired breeds (Peruvian and sheltie pigs) - if any of their stools get caught in their hair, it can become matted, draw flies to the pig and cause a nasty infection. Grooming is also a good way to bond with your pet as most cavies loved being brushed. You can also use this opportunity to check your pet's body for any abnormalities, bumps or scratches.
You should regularly check your cavy's health, the more you get to know your pet the easier it may be to tell if your cavy is unwell. Cavies are prey animals in the wild and so will often hide any symptoms of illnesses that they have so you have to thoroughly examine your pet. Guinea pig health is essential for a happy guinea pig.
If you are worried about your guinea pig in any way you should consult a vet immediately.
By looking after your guinea pig correctly, your pet is more likely to be a happy and healthy guinea pig.
Read more on how to take care of your guinea pigs at http://www.guineapigland.com/how-to-take-care-of-a-guinea-pig/ and find out more about their food requirements at http://www.guineapigland.com/what-do-guinea-pigs-eat-guinea-pigs-food/
Article Source: EzineArticles |
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