Friday, June 3, 2016

Basic GUINEA PIG Care

Generally, caring for a guinea pig is no different than caring for any other small extremely fragile mammal.  These mammals are larger than a hamster but smaller than a rabbit.  They rarely bite and respond to being treated gently.  They respond well in pairs and the owner may want to consider a second guinea pig as a companion.  Allow the guinea pig to get acclimated to the new cage without distractions by placing a towel over the cage for a day or two.  Refrain from handling the new addition for a few days, let the guinea pig get used to being near a new owner before frequent handling.

English: Three famous library pigs in Keswick,...
Three famous library pigs in Keswick, Ontario (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cage:

Purchase an adequately sized cage of the guinea pig.  A cage that is 30 x 36 is very adequate.  The cage should be well-ventilated and have a solid floor.  The material of the cage should be plastic, wire, or stainless steel and as escape-proof as possible.  A latching door or lid for ease of access when removing or returning the guinea pig to its home.  Wood, paper, and hay are all good cage floor cover and make good bedding material for a guinea pig.  Always avoid cedar, corncob, or straw as these may be harmful to the pet over time. 

General Care:

Keep the cage clean through cleaning the cage regularly.  Remove droppings and stale food every day.  Scrub the bottom of the cage thoroughly with warm, soapy water.  Provide sufficient gnawing material, as the front teeth do not stop growing.  Gnawing materials keep the front teeth trimmed.  Feed only a vegetarian diet, carrots can also be used as a treat or gnawing toy.  Add vitamin C to the water to maintain health and to prevent illness.  Brush long-haired guinea pigs daily to prevent unwanted tangles.  Comb short hair daily to keep the fur groomed and healthy.

Veterinarian Care:

Know the guinea pig's regular behavior to be better alerted to any problems.  If the guinea pig appears listless, stops eating, or there is the appearance of blood in the stool or urine get the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.   The sooner the pet is transported to the doctor the better the chances an illness can be treated or avoided.  Mites or lice may also present a problem and should be treated by a veterinarian.  Annual check ups are also vital in keeping the guinea pig healthy.




Owning a guinea pig is fun for people of all ages.  They are very low cost and do not cost much to maintain.  Assure optimum health with a good diet and plenty of chew toys.  Provide a play tunnel for privacy or sleep times.  An igloo can also provide a private place for naps and sleeping.  Provide fresh drinking water on a regular basis.  Hang the water bottle where the guinea pig has easy access.  Be sure that wood chews are free of any chemicals before presenting as a chew treat to the pet.  Food dishes made from heavy plastic are ideal for guinea pigs.  


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