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Guinea pig Caresheet
Guinea pigs are very docile and gentle in nature and make ideal starter pets for older responsible children. They rarely bite or scratch, but are easily stressed, so they require careful handling. They are very timid and shy by nature. They are generally sociable animals and are most content when kept with other guinea pigs.
These animals come in several breeds. The most common are the English short hair (also known as the American) and the Abyssinian. The American guinea pig has a short smooth coat as opposed to the ruffled coat of the Abyssinian.
They're not particularly agile and do not climb well, rarely attempting to escape from their cages. They have poor eyesight, but well-developed senses of hearing and smell. They are also surprisingly good swimmers. They are nosey, friendly characters that are easily frightened and always rummaging around for something to chew on.
They often will whistle as an expression of excitement when their owner approaches or feeding is expected. They will also purr when being held or petted.
Cage:
Aquariums are not recommended, as they provide poor ventilation, and wire-flooring in cages irritate their feet. A solid-bottom cage is best. For the health and welfare of your pet provide as spacious a living area as you can manage. Bigger is better.
Recommended cage sizes:
One guinea pig: 7.5 sq ft...30"x36"
Two: 7.5 sq ft to 10.5 sq ft...30"x50"
Three: 10.5 sq ft to 13 sq ft...30"x62"
Four: 13 sq ft...30"x72"
Clean the cage completely once a week by replacing dirty bedding and scrubbing the bottom of the cage with warm water.
Diet:
Timothy Hay (or a grass hay) is the animal's natural diet. Alfalfa hay is also recommended for the younger ones 4 months and younger. Guinea pigs are herbivores ( unlike hamsters who are omnivores ) and like primates are unable to produce their own vitamin C. Without enough vitamin C in their diets, they can become very ill with scurvy. It is recommended that 1 teaspoon of vitamin C be added to 12oz of water daily. Broccoli and cauliflower are very high in vitamin C.
Bedding:
Bedding should be relatively dust-free shavings (Aspen, Hemp, Kiln-Dried Pine) woodchips, hardwood pellets, grass hay, etc. Cedar is toxic to these animals and should never be used. Bedding should never be allowed to get damp. Be sure everything's dry before adding fresh bedding. Change the bedding once or twice a week.
Weight:
Adults weigh between 1.5 - 2.5 pounds (700 - 1200gms) and measure between 8" - 10" (20 -25cm) in length.
Life span:
They will usually live an average of four to five years.
Unlike many rodents, these animals are born with fur and their eyes open.
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Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs are one of the most favorite pet of households in recent times. In fact they are so abundantly domesticated as pets, that if you are to look forward to meeting one, you should check a family with kids in your neighborhood, and chances are that you will find one there. You seldom find it in the wild now.
What is surprising is that even though they are so heavily domesticated, seldom do guinea pig owners have decent knowledge on how to care and keep one.
This is alarming, considering that these cute little pigs are so delicate a creature and many have known to die prematurely and mysteriously because of some illness that their owners could not recognize earlier, or worse, their pet guinea never gave them the time to after the first symptoms surfaced.
Guinea pigs are very vulnerable to health ailments and all the more in the hands of owners who do not know how to care, though they would definitely like to posses that kind of knowledge to save their loved ones.
The core aspects that influence healthy living and prosperous life for a guinea-pigs are the following:
Diet
Housing
Health Tips
Grooming
Breeding
Sexing
Behavior
Companionship
Aging Diet:
Guinea-pigs thrive on a diet of vegetables, pellets and quality fresh hay.
Forages - These tasty grasses and weeds are guinea pig's weakness.
Hay - The staple diet of guinea pigs should be hay. Guinea-pigs who have unlimited amount of hay are found to be a happier and healthier crop.
Nutrition - Even though from the rodent family, guinea-pigs are strictly vegetarian unlike their cousins. You need to know for sure what they eat and what they do not.
Pellet - Guinea Pigs are fond of pellets. This is why they are used as bribes to reward them for good behavior.
Food Chart - Guinea pigs cannot manufacture Vitamin C in their body. Using a proper food chart would let your keep a tab of the right amounts of Vitamin C, Calcium and Phosphorus that you feed them.
Housing:
The right kind of cage will make your guinea pig feel at home. Build a wrong one and you would own a guinea pig with lower spirits and stressed.
Bedding - Probably the most important aspect within housing is bedding, a uncomfortable one would lead to wearing your guinea pig and raise health issues.
Free Space - Even though in a cage, guinea pigs need to feel like in the wild. Give them free space to run and exercise. The more you could afford, the better and happier your guinea pig would be.
Cleanliness - Caring your guinea pig by maintaining proper hygiene in its cage is vital to its health. Proper cleaning of its cages periodically ensures that no skin related diseases surface up.
Health Tips:
The five secrets every guinea pig owners should know about for a healthy guinea pig.
Weighing your guinea-pig - It is advised that you weigh your guinea pig as frequent as weekly to ensure that it is normal. You don't want to have a underweight or overweight guinea pig. Unchecked weight on guinea pigs, would lead to health complications.
Handling your guinea-pig - Handling a guinea pig involves tact and care. Be cautious to not damage its delicate lungs while you pick it for feeding and caring.
Exercising your guinea-pig - Don't forget that your guinea-pig is in reality an animal that lived in the infinite domain of the wild. They need some exercise just like you do, to keep them in shape and good health.
Quarantine your guinea-pig - If you are adding a new guinea-pig to your cage, make sure you quarantine it since the older guinea pigs are not accustomed to its newer mate's presence.
Reading your guinea-pig - Guinea pigs endorse various kinds of behavior patterns. You need to know what is critical (life threatening) and what is not.
Grooming:
'Show guinea pigs' or not, either of the breeds need to be groomed to look beautiful and stay healthy.
Shampoo your guinea-pig - Although guinea pigs never bathe, sometimes you need to do just that. Use a baby shampoo and be gentle with it while bathing. BTW do you know what a 'grease gland' is?
Clipping the nails - To maintain hygiene and proper care, clipping of nails of your guinea pigs is a must. However there are aspects that you need to take care about when you clip, or else it would lead to injury.
Breeding:
Guinea pigs are ready to breed within as early as 4 weeks. There are critical aspects that you need to consider when breeding your guinea pig. First of all make sure you have space to accommodate the new ones.
Sexing:
When you have more than one guinea pigs, how do you know which ones a male and which one is not? Be positive on who's who before you start pairing them.
Behavior:
Chirping, Wheeling, Pop corning and more, you need to know exactly what means what, in order to understand your guinea-pig and form an unbreakable bond with it.
Companionship:
How does companionship affect your guinea pig? Would two male guinea pigs live harmoniously with each other? What could you do to get them to get along together?
Aging:
Like all living beings, guinea pigs age too. Take care to ensure that it ages gracefully.
Losing your pet and Euthanasia - Guinea pigs are cute pets to have. Their death could be as painful as that of any family member's departure. You would need to learn to read the signs and prepare for the imminent when its time.
These are most of the tips, in a concise manner that, I could offer for guinea pig owners seeking proper guinea-pig care tips for their loving pet.
About the author:
Roger Date is an expert on Guinea Pigs. With over 20 years of expertise in dealing all things 'guinea', Roger is one of the most sought after expert by guinea pig owners with burning questions that they need answers to.
Roger has authored a number of books on guinea pigs, and his latest publication is the 'The Ultimate Guide on Guinea Pig Care', available at http://www.PetGuineaPigAnswers.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roger_Date
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