How exactly to Look After Your Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs, also called cavies, are friendly and pets that are inquisitive. Nonetheless, they want dedication and attention that is regular ensure they remain healthy and delighted. Continue reading to learn how exactly to care for your pocketful of sunshine.

Guinea pigs are sociable pocket animals, can be tamed, and may live for approximately 10 years. Their nature that is friendly makes great animals. They’re also extremely smart.

1. Companionship

Guinea pigs are happiest when kept along with other guinea pigs. Nonetheless, should you keep men and women together, make certain both animals would be the sex that is same at minimum one sex happens to be desexed.

RSPCA NSW doesn’t suggest maintaining guinea pigs and rabbits together. Rabbits can spread conditions to guinea pigs, plus they may bully one another.

2. Food

Guinea pigs are herbivores. To keep them happy and healthy, they want:

• a consistent way to obtain good fresh lawn or lawn hay, such as for example Meadow, Oaten, Pasture, Ryegrass, Timothy or Wheaten hays. This is really important for using straight down their teeth that are continuously growing.
• fresh, leafy vegetables and natural herbs every single day, such as for instance broccoli, cabbage (in lower amounts), celery, endives, Brussel sprouts, bok choy as well as other Asian greens, and lettuce that is dark-leafed; and herbs such as for instance basil, coriander, dandelion, dill, mint and parsley. Understand that carrot tops should simply be provided being a treat that is occasional.
• little degrees of top-notch guinea pig pellets. These need to have at least content that is fibre of %.
• a regular supply of supplement C, such as for instance smaller amounts of citrus and kiwi fruits
• a consistent way to obtain clean, fresh water

Usually do not feed your guinea pig:

• beans
• beetroot
• biscuits
• bread
• breakfast cereals
• buttercups
• cereals
• chocolate
• Clover or Lucerne (Alfalfa) hays
• corn
• yard bushes
• grains
• lily regarding the valley
• pea pea nuts
• onion grass
• onions
• peas
• potato tops
• natural beans
• rhubarb leaves
• seeds
• spinich leaves
• sugar
• candies

3. Enrichment

Guinea pigs require a lot of area to work out – the more the better. She should work out every single day in a big, grassy area, free and safe from predators.

You might offer your guinea pig with a chewing log made from untreated lumber to wear straight down her teeth, and overturned containers to cover up in.

4. Grooming

Day-to-day grooming is vital for long-haired guinea pigs, and guarantees their coats stay static in good shape. Regular maneuvering will help build her also self- confidence, and encourage her in order to become friendly and sociable.

It’s also wise to check out the amount of your guinea pig’s teeth and toenails. Should they are too much time, get the veterinarian to trim them.

5. Wellness

Good cleaning and feeding techniques may help prevent many health that is common, including breathing infections and epidermis issues.

It is crucial to pay for your guinea pig’s hutch with a flyscreen. Carrying this out, along with maintaining her hutch clean, may help prevent flystrike. Long-haired guinea pigs are especially vulnerable to this problem, which are often deadly.

Guinea pigs, similar to animals, will also be susceptible to fleas. Get hold of your veterinarian about a suitable flea therapy if required. They could additionally suffer with mite infestations, that could cause disquiet, locks loss and itchiness.

If for example the guinea pig develops bald batches, this may be an indication of the fungal infection ringworm, therefore look for assistance from a veterinarian immediately.

To learn more about typical health conditions, click the link.

6. Housing

Your guinea pig’s enclosure should really be a minumum of one metre by 0.7 metres, and 0.7 metres high. They will need double this space if you have two guinea pigs. They will likewise require their very own, separate resting areas, which must certanly ukrainian women for marriage be covered. You need to fly-proof the enclosure using wire that is flyscreen mosquito netting, as this may help reduce steadily the threat of flystrike.

Line the hutch with magazine and grass that is soft to produce padding and steer clear of foot injuries. Don’t use sawdust, wood or straw shavings. Understand that your guinea pig requires a soft, clean, dry area all of the time, or she will quickly develop base issues. Clean her whole enclosure frequently, along with her bedding when required – frequently as soon as every day.

Keep carefully the hutch in a sheltered area that is well ventilated, between 18-26°C, and kept away from sunlight and strong winds. She should always gain access to sufficient color.

Click the link to learn more about preventing heatstroke.