how to care for a guinea pig

Guinea pigs are active up to 20 hours per day and only sleep for short periods. Guinea pigs are highly social - in the wild they live in close family groups of 5-10 guinea pigs though several groups may live in close proximity to form.

Pet Guinea Pig Checklist

Long-haired guinea pigs should be brushed a few times per week to decrease hair ingestion and.

. Guinea pigs typically live for 5-8 years. You can look for packaged mixes that contain sun-cured Timothy hay plus extra goodies like oat hulls and ground wheat. When full grown they weigh around 1-2 pounds and are 8-10 inches long.

Guinea pigs are ultra sensitive to heat and are best kept in areas around 65-75F degrees. First rule of correct guinea pig care. Melissa McNeil DVM an associate veterinarian with a special interest in exotic pets.

Cavy is short for the species name Cavia Porcellus. Help them out with a daily supplement. Buy some CC which stands for cubes and Coroplast.

Best Toys For Guinea Pigs To Chew Read More. To teach new small pet owners how to care for a guinea pig weve asked Dr. Its also recommended that you clean the whole cage with a 3 bleach solution at least once a week.

Guinea pigs are small and gentle-natured but lively too. Typically guinea pigs live for 5-6 years but some may live longer. Described as cuddly and comical guinea pigs love to vocalize with squeals chirps squeaks and whistles.

Also clean food and water containers dailyand. Also guinea pigs need a large amount of roughage such as timothy hay. Provide your pet with optimal or larger sized cage.

It can be very rewarding but it also has many challenges. This will keep the cage smell-free for yours and your guinea pigs sake. Also aim to clip your guinea pigs nails once every two weeks or they can become overgrown and affect the animals ability to walk.

As creatures of habit guinea pigs need to be introduced to changes slowly in regards to feedings and routines. Also your guinea pig may popcorn - bounce excitedly and repeatedly to express happiness. The grids can be assembled into cages.

Coroplast is a plastic coating on square-foot grids like corrugated plastic. Guinea pigs stay clean and rarely need baths but can be spot-cleaned with a damp washcloth and unmedicated mild soap thoroughly rinsed off or unscented baby wipes if needed. Excessive loud noises can also stress out your guinea pig.

Your guinea pig will love all the food you offer but if sits in their bowl for more than four hours its time to take it away. Guinea pig care is not something that should be taken lightly or done in a haphazard way. Guinea pigs are tail-less rodents with long short or sometimes wild hair that ranges in color.

So if youre getting a guinea pig for the family its important that a responsible adult also shares an interest in them and makes sure they get the care they need. Here are some more top guinea pig facts. Over 80F degrees can cause issues.

Guinea pig care begins with proper food and these pets eat hays forage grasses and pellets. Its important to give your pet a good step up in life so that he starts out healthy and stays that way. Were talking about 80 hay.

Some guinea pig behaviors can seem rather strange. Doing this as well as keeping her hutch clean will help prevent flystrike. The best way to interact with your guinea pig is to play with him on the floor.

The Spruce Kristie Lee. As part of their care guinea pigs need regular grooming at least weekly or more often for longhaired guinea pigs. You can read additional info about cages on Guinea Pig Cages Page.

The guinea pig neither comes from Guinea nor is it a pig. Guinea pigs cannot store or manufacture their own vitamin C. They love being handled theyre quite vocal and they rarely bite or scratch.

Guinea pigs like most pets are also susceptible to fleas. The guinea pig cannot be cooped up in a cage all day but sometimes even a guinea pig that has a lot of space can become bad. A healthy guinea pig diet is about 20 vegetables and 5 fruit.

Guinea pigs make great first petsand since March is National Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig month now is the perfect time to start looking for a guinea pig to add to your fur family. Bedding The top choices for bedding are natural paper aspen or fleece liners. If you are willing to give your guinea pig a good home with proper food attention living space grooming and veterinary care you will be rewarded with a.

Also remove wet spots in the bedding as soon as you notice them. Fur may be brushed with a soft brush. Guinea pig-safe vitamin C supplements and special guinea pig pellet food are fortified to help meet this nutritional requirement.

It is currently considered a part of the family Rodentia and comes from the high plains of South America. Guinea pigs can make great pets for families but will need a lot of time and care. Brush out any mats and loose fur with a small stiff brush or comb.

Guinea pigs live for between four and eight years and looking after them properly means. Long-haired guinea pigs are particularly at risk of this condition which can be fatal. Read on to see exactly what you will need to do for your guinea pig in order to keep them healthy and happy.

No skimping on plentiful grass hay fresh water and vitamin C. The guinea pig diet is mainly hay. Guinea Pig Feeding Mistakes To Avoid.

Stay away from sugary treats and seeds because they can cause gastrointestinal issues. Caring for your guinea pig. It is essential to cover your guinea pigs hutch with a flyscreen.

Care of Guinea Pigs Introduction Guinea pig is the common name for a cavy. Sometimes simple care mistakes lead to disaster. A review of these common guinea pig care no-nos helps you avoid them so your guinea pig buddies live the good life.

How to take care of your guinea pig. We do instead have great guinea pig cage ideas from other guinea pig owners. The guinea pigs bedding needs to be changed out twice a week at minimum.

It should reside in a high traffic area with minimal temperature oscillations Ideally 20C 22C. Guinea pigs are small pets but they require plenty of space time effort and human interaction. Download PDF of this Guinea Pig Care article Visit the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service website NATURAL HISTORY Guinea pigs are rodents originating from South America.

Guinea Pig Care How we can help Call 530-752-1393 to schedule an appointment with the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service. The most accepted explanation for its. Put the cage inside the house.

The main reason is that the pig is bored so you need to provide them with a variety of fun guinea pig toys to chew them.

How To Care For Your Guinea Pig Rspca Nsw