A Guide To Adopting, Raising and Caring For Healthy and Happy Guinea Pigs

Healthy bodies and happy lives are important to guinea pigs, and here is how you can provide for that.

Responsible Ownership

Owning a guinea pig is not like owning a toy that can be set aside when one feels like it. Owning a guinea pig means really forming a bond with him, raising him properly and making sure he is healthy and comfortable. If you are not willing to give that, you should reconsider your bringing one home.

Establishing a solid relationship with him or between your children and the guinea pig is very essential because he needs all the loving he can get. A constant companion and playmate in the form of a fellow guinea pig is highly recommended.

Even if it means that you have to pay more for more guinea pigs, it is always better to have two or more as opposed to just one. Unlike dogs who can easily be in the company of humans because they are free to roam about, guinea pigs need to be with others in his cage. Having no interaction will make him sad and this can affect his health greatly.

Rearing Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are mostly independent creatures, even from birth. They still need to be breastfed by their mums of course, but they can get up and move on their own in under a day. Imagine that? The day after they are born, you can even feed them normal food already. You also don't have to wait long before selling or giving the babies away, because within four weeks, they can be separated from their mothers already.

Going shopping for guinea pig supplies is a breeze because a pet shop will have almost everything that he requires, such as chew toys and his cage. Guinea pigs get sick too, so make sure you research on their common ailments and consult with a veterinarian regularly to make sure that he is in the pink of health. Daily workouts and healthy meals are a must as well.

However, of utmost importance is that he has the right home. You might take this aspect of guinea pig care for granted, thinking that buying a cage that takes up the least space is perfect for him. However, it is important to know that despite being small in size, he will want a large space to roam about and run around in. This is especially important if you have more than one guinea pig.

Wire floorings are a big no-no--solid plastic with a slide-out mechanism is the best choice. A large door is also important. Remember that guinea pigs got their name because they are similar to real pigs who just eat all day! It is not uncommon for guinea pigs to grow really hefty over time. He will also need good bedding, made out of either wood shavings or Timothy hay.

Your guinea pig's daily menu should consist of fresh fruits and veggies such as apples, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, celery, oranges and broccoli. Consuming lots of Timothy hay is also very important. Feeding hours should be strictly on the hour, because guinea pigs are creatures of habit. Make sure he gets a lot of water and fresh water at that.

Hopefully these tips gave you an idea of what owning a guinea pig entails. I am sure it did not discourage you, as these tips are very easy to follow. Surely once you bring your guinea pig home, you will fall in love with him and will want to make sure he grows up properly. So use these tips as a guide and don't hesitate to do more research on guinea pig care. Enjoy!

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	Super Pet Guinea Pig Igloo Hide-Out, Large List Price: $7.99 Sale Price: $3.93
Large igloos come in four cool colors and they're made of translucent plastic so you can see your pet inside. Igloos are constructed from durable plastic making them easy to clean, plus they're odor and stain resistant...

Written by Cary Nelson using tags: guinea pigs, Pets