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2007, 2008

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Caring For Your New Guinea Pig

Essential Care Items

• Guinea Pig Pellets

• Hay/Alfalfa

• Cage

• Carefresh Bedding

• Ceramic Bowl

• Water Bottle

• Brush

• Mineral Spool

• Gnaw Stone

Pet Rating System:  1= Lowest   5 = Highest

Guinea Pig	1	2	3	4	5
Ease Of Care
Temperament
Intelligence
Cost of Care
Lifespan

Overall Rating:   1/2

Our Rating:  A guinea pig or cavy is a great starter pet.  They are easy to care for, easier to tame than hamsters, and live longer than other small animals.  Their popularity is due to their cute faces and endearing squeals of joy. 

Feeding Your Guinea Pig

Guinea Pigs love to eat.  They can quickly become overweight if you let them.  Feed your cavy (another word for Guinea Pig) a small amount of cavy pellets once per day.  Since cavies are grazers, provide unlimited amounts of timothy hay or alfalfa for grazing, which will not make them fat.  The hay and alfalfa is also good for their teeth.  Cavies love fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apples and leafy veggies.  You can supplement their diet with a small amount per day.  Be careful not to give too much fruits and vegetables because this can cause diarrhea.  Be sure to wash the fresh food to get rid of any insecticides which can harm your pet.  Cavies are the only other mammal that cannot produce vitamin C on their own.  We highly recommend guinea pig vitamin supplements found at your local pet store.  Guinea pigs should not be fed rabbit pellets.  Rabbits and Guinea Pigs have different dietary needs.  Your Guinea Pig could become very ill on a diet of rabbit pellets.  Since cavies love to jump around, use a water bottle instead of a water bowl to prevent spillage.  Have a mineral and salt spool available in the cage at all times.   These are all important to your cavy's good health. 

Housing

The cage should be at least 4 times the size of an adult Guinea Pig.  If the cage floor is made of wire mesh or screen, put down board that covers at least half the cage.  This will keep your cavy's feet from falling through and causing injury as well as give your cavy a flat area to rest.  You should keep the cage away from drafts such as air conditioners and out of direct sunlight.  There are many varieties of small animal bedding....however, we recommend CareFresh brand bedding made from recycled paper.  It keeps odors down and last longer than most other bedding.  Do not use cedar or pine shavings because they have been known to cause respiratory problems.  Change the litter every other day for a clean environment.  If you have a build up of urine crystals, you can use white vinegar to dissolve the crystals.

Exercise

Cavies are very active and like to run and jump around.  Please provide outside playtime each day for exercise.  You should always supervise them and be sure any electrical cords are out of reach.  Guinea Pigs will chew anything. 

Toys

Guinea pigs are curious and like to chew.  Bird toys are great toys for guinea pigs.  Chew blocks and paper towel rolls make great toys also.

Grooming

The more you handle your Guinea Pig the tamer it will become.  Grooming is a great way to tame your cavy.  A very soft brush or grooming glove can be used to help with shedding and keeping the coat clean.  Cavies do not require bathing.  Please check your cavies teeth which can quickly become overgrown and cause health problems.  If you notice your cavy not eating properly or loosing weight, take it to the vet for a check-up...it may just be the teeth are overgrown.

Breeding

Cavies breed very quickly and very often.  Keep your female and male separated unless you want babies.  Females are fertile at 3 months of age.

Health

When choosing your guinea pig be sure that its coat is shiny and healthy and that is does not have any hair loss.  Be sure to check  for overgown teeth which can cause malnutrition. 

Dangers

Electrical Cords     Potatoes & Beans    Two males together

Enjoy your new furry friend!

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