Advice when Buying a new Guinea pig
..Get large enough cages. You should allow 7.5 square feet of cage space as a minimum for one guinea pig (even that is rather small), or 10.5 for two. However, the bigger the cage the better. A hutch outside is NOT recommended as guinea pigs have a very limited temperature tolerance. Other animals could break into the cage and harm them, as well. Never house your guinea pig outside, keep them inside, where they will be safe and warm,and where they can smell you, and also so that you can interact with them more.
2
Find a good location for the cage. A place where the family frequents several times a day for decent periods of time is the best location. A living room, bedroom, or hallway is the best choice because there is frequent traffic. Your guinea pig will feel more included in your life and you'll be able to easily interact with your guinea pig whenever you pass by the cage. Just don't put the cage outside where there are lots of predators out there or in the car garage because the fumes can harm or even kill them and it can get very hot in the summer.
3
Adopt two or more guinea pigs so they are not lonely. Guinea pigs need company because they are herd animals. Thereby, you can adopt two or more of the same gender. However, males can sometimes be tricky when socializing and may fight - not every male guinea pig can be kept with other males. Therefore, castrating the male and then keeping it with one or more females will be the best choice and this is also the most natural way to keep guinea pigs. Ask your vet for details. Spend some time with your pets every day. There is no excuse for keeping a sociable animal alone. It will definitely be lonely, even if you spend as much time with it as you can.
Feeding and Watering Your Guinea Pig
1
Make sure that fresh water is available to guinea pigs at all times.
Change your guinea pigs' water bottle, clean and change it daily. Get a guinea pig/rabbit bottle with the little ball in the spout and keep it full.
Be sure to clean the nozzle frequently to keep it free of hay and pellet gunk which can breed harmful bacteria and clog the water flow.
Nozzle can be cleaned with a Q-tip.
The water bottle itself can be cleaned by putting in uncooked rice and a little water, and shaking. The rice will dislodge any greenish build-ups (algae).
If the cage is in the sun for part of the day, this can contribute to algae build-ups. In this case, cover the bottles with an opaque cloth to avoid algae.
Avoid adding anything to the water such as vitamin tablets as they become ineffective very quickly and as they do not have a good taste, guinea pigs are unlikely to drink the water anyway.
2
Make grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass hay available to your pigs 24/7. Guinea pigs are grazing animals so they need something to graze on or their digestive tracts can shut down.
Alfalfa hay should only be fed to babies 6 months old and younger, and pregnant or nursing sows, because they have a lot of extra nutrients that healthy adult guinea pigs do not require.
Timothy, orchard grass, or bluegrass hay should be fed for guinea pigs older than 6 months. It should be fed 'free choice,' which means they have some in the cage all the time.
Lack of hay can lead to malocclusion, a misalignment of the teeth that may require surgical correction, and GI Stasis, shutting down of the digestive tract often leading to death.
3
Make sure the guinea pigs get fresh vegetables daily. Green leafy vegetables should make up about 20% of your guinea pigs' diet. Be careful about leafy vegetables as too many of these can cause stomach upsets and diarrhea.
Guinea Pig servings should include plenty of vegetables high in vitamin C (as guinea pigs are unable to produce their own vit. C - too little vit. C can lead to illnesses).
Veggies good for guinea pigs include celery, carrots, off-the-vine tomatoes, cucumber, corn, small amounts of spinach and pod-peas. If a guinea pig seems unwilling to eat any vegetables, try cutting them up into slices or small chunks. Some fruits are ok for guinea pig treats such as strawberries and apple pieces but these can only be given occasionally as some of the acids can be harmful to guinea pigs.
Vegetables to avoid include any vegetable in the cabbage family, iceberg lettuce, rocket salads, red leaves, broccoli, cauliflower, beet greens, potatoes, and radishes. However, kale is good for them
Each guinea pig will require about one serving of one cup per day. Dividing the veggie meal into two servings is a good idea since guinea pigs are grazing animals who prefer to eat throughout the day instead of one big meal.[1][2]
4
Use pellets sparingly in your guinea pig's diet. Healthy guinea pigs do not need to be fed pellets. This is actually healthier and will prevent them from becoming obese. However, if they are used to being fed pellets, you need to accustom them to their healthier new diet slowly. Ask your vet for details. If your guinea pig is sick, feed good quality pellets. Oxbow's Cavy Cuisine is best for pigs over 6 months, and their Cavy Performance is best for pigs under 6 months. Kleenmama's Timothy Choice pellets is best for pigs over 6 months, and Alfalfa choice pellets only for pigs under 6 months.T
Do not feed rabbit or other small animal pellets - the vitamin content is not the same, and can be harmful to your guinea pig!
Feed a plain pellet, as pellets with seeds in them could cause choking. Pellets, hay, untreated fresh organic grass (wheat or standard lawn grass) and fresh veggies are all the foods guinea pigs need.
Exercising and Socializing Your Guinea Pig
1
Give your guinea pigs some floor time each day. Let them loose in an enclosed space. You can do so by setting up a pen in a room (an area with easily-cleaned floors) or outside if it isn't too hot or cold . Make sure to have plenty of space in their exercise area so that they can run and play. This exercise time is crucial to a guinea pig's happiness. Make sure to put a few toys and tunnels in the play area.
2
Supply your guinea pig with plenty of toys and cage accessories. You can make your own toys out of boxes, paper bags, oatmeal containers, folders, and more. Be creative and use materials you find around the house.
3
Interact and bond with your guinea pig several times daily. Guinea pigs are an inherently social species and live in herds/groups in the wild. Frequent handling each day is essential to your guinea pig's happiness. Talk to your guinea pig, cuddle it, carry it, and pet it as often as you can and set aside plenty of time to play with your guinea pig.
In some countries, it is illegal to buy single guinea pigs---rather, you have to buy them in pairs. Guinea pigs do very well having the companionship of another guinea pig.
Guinea pigs can express depression-like symptoms (loss of appetite, inactivity, etc.) if they aren't bonded with---thus, loneliness.
Keeping Your Guinea Pig Clean and Healthy
1
Spot clean your guinea pigs' cage. Try to do it daily, but at least once every two days, removing droppings and any uneaten veggies from the day before, cleaning the water bottle, and adding more hay to the cage.
2
Clean the cage thoroughly at least once a week. The frequency of thorough cleaning depends on the type of bedding used and the number of guinea pigs you have.
Remove all debris, liners, bedding, food and toys and dispose of them or clean with a guinea pig friendly antibacterial spray. Don't use cleaning products designed for humans.
Wipe down the inside of the cage/hutch with guinea pig friendly antibacterial spray. It is a good idea to let the cage/hutch air for a short while.
Now replace the bedding. It is often useful to put a layer of newspaper under your other bedding to prevent urine stains. Newspaper should not be used for bedding on its own and should not be easily accessed by guinea pigs as they may ingest the ink.
You can use CareFresh, moisture wicking fleece over towels, or aspen bedding.
Do not use wood chips or sawdust as bedding. Also do not use cedar or pine bedding, as both have harmful phenols. The same is true with pine shavings, unless it is kiln-dried.
Towels underneath fleece cut to fit your cage can also be used as cage liners - just shake off the debris, wash and reuse. Be careful that there are no loose threads though as guinea pigs feet can easily become caught up in them.
Make sure you provide an area for your guinea pig to sleep in - you can buy igloos from most pet stores or alternatively, you can provide loose hay for them to burrow in.
3
Trim toenails every few weeks. If they have dark toenails, shine a flashlight behind the nail so you can see where the quicks. If you clip too close to the vessel the toe nail may start to bleed. Use syptic powder or flour to stop bleeding.
If you are unsure about clipping the nails then it is a good idea to go to a veterinarian to have them clipped for the first time - the vet can clip them for you and show you what to do in person.
4
Do not wash your guinea pig unless it's sick. This is unnecessary and will scare your guinea pig.
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Watch for signs of illness. Know what to look for in an ill pig.[3] Take your guinea pigs to a cavy savvy exotics vet for proper treatment. Always be on the look out for even the slightest change as guinea pigs are extremely good at hiding any illness.
Make sure all guinea pigs are treated at the same time as some illnesses will spread from one guinea pig to its cage mates.
6
Check male guinea pigs every so often around their genitals, as they can get impacted. You can simply massage the area a little and if soft poop-like stuff is present, gently clean out the pocket with a cotton swab. You also need to make sure that no poop clogs the hind quarters as well.
7
Do not house your guinea pigs with rabbits or allow the two species to play together. Rabbits naturally carry a bacteria that can make guinea pigs very ill, and rabbits are bigger, stronger animals. Even a playful kick from a rabbit could kill a guinea pig.
8
Weigh your guinea pig weekly to ensure they are not losing weight, a common symptom of illness or dental problems. A weight fluctuation of up to two ounces is normal but more than that can mean serious health problems. A digital kitchen scale works best for this.
Tips
Guinea pigs need a cozy area to sleep in where they can feel secure.
Get a heavy bowl for your guinea pig's food. They can chew a plastic one to bits, or knock a light one over. Of course, more entrepreneurial guinea pigs may knock it over anyway in order to get to all of their food.
Make sure you provide at least one soft place for your guinea pig.
Guinea pigs are very social creatures. Be sure to give them a lot of love but don't be harsh or impatient if your guinea pig doesn't come to you.
For daily exercise, put them on the floor with a safe surround. Guinea pigs love to run. Be mindful that they might nibble electric cords and don't forget to closely supervise them whenever they are outside their cage.
Guinea pigs chew on EVERYTHING so when you let them out to run around, make sure to grab all important paper, books, etc.
If your pig suddenly leaps into the air or rapidly twists its neck with a little hop, it is not having a seizure. 'Popcorning' may either indicate happiness or an attempt to release excess energy, similar to a cat suddenly getting the urge to race through the house.
Guinea Pigs should have fun cages with lots of entertaining toys and other stuff. Such as cuddle cups, tunnels, chew toys, hay toys, etc. Imagine if you were living in a house with nothing to do! Treat them with care, love, and respect!
Guinea pigs also enjoy toys, which can be purchased or made depending on your budget. The less complicated the better. Empty cylinders and paper bags make perfect toys and are always welcome.