tips2
Welcome back! Have you visited our new forum?
In this section, we’re going to talk about one of the most important things to a guinea pig whom you’ve just brought home. It is, of course, the cage that you’re going to house him in!
Your cage should be big enough that two or more guinea pigs can run free. I’m not saying you need a giant cage, but leaving your guinea pig in a tight space his entire life simply isn’t fair.
Basically? The bigger, the better. Whatever your budget allows for, of course – but if you can afford a larger cage, your guinea pig is going to thank you with love and happiness. If you plan on having two or more (which is recommended), you should always choose a larger size.
I’m sure you’ve read somewhere that 2.5 square feet per guinea pig is enough room, but anyone who has ever owned a guinea pig can tell you that it’s simply is not.
Estimate about 7.5 square feet for one, or 10.5 for two. Sound like a lot? Not when you consider that overweight guinea pigs are more likely to have health problems; and the more exercise a guinea pig gets, the happier he’s going to be.
Unfortunately, most pet stores do not carry cages large enough to recommend, so I placed a list here http://guineapigresource.com/guinea-pig-cage/ of some of the best guinea pig cages online. You may find this helpful.
Your cage shouldn’t have a wire bottom, but instead should be more solid. A plastic bottom is the most common.
A slide out area for easy cleaning is also a good choice, but not required; so make sure that this is a second on your list of must-haves for a cage.
A big door is also a good addition to a guinea pig’s cage, and make sure that you have plenty of room to get your hand in to pet, love, and pick up your piggy.
If you simply can’t find a cage to meet your needs, consider making your own guinea pig cage to house your new pet. It won’t take you very long, and it’s extremely rewarding – not only because you’ll have a cage that your guinea pig really loves, but because it will, without a doubt, outshine anything you could have purchased.
If you don’t follow these vital
(but easy) steps, you’ll make the same
mistake that countless other guinea pig owners make …and caring for your guinea pig can end up being a strain on you …
That’s why you owe it to yourself
and to your pet to check out my guaranteed guinea pig
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If you use the easy methods in this
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guarantee.
In fact, try my system out for two
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If you’re serious about keeping
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Sincerely,
Heather Jones
We’ve covered a lot in the last five emails, including “how to choose a guinea pig” and “what to put your new piggy in”.
Now, we’re going to touch on the subject of what goes in the cage, aside from the guinea pig, of course.
What do you need to keep your little guinea pig happy and content? Well, not too much – for the most part, guinea pigs are easy to please and content with what they have.
You’re going to absolutely need somewhere for your guinea pig to “hide”. Because they’re animals of prey from the wild, when scared or tired, they often choose to hide somewhere out of sight.
There are a lot of choices for you in this regard, and the more places your guinea pig has, the better.
A PVC pipe works not only as a hiding place, but it makes a great tunnel for your pet to play in and explore. This keeps him active. An overturned container with a hole in it for climbing in and out also works as well, so take your time in the pet store and see what they have.
For their water, the use of a drinking bottle is the best option. It’s easy for them to use, and easy to fill up. Your guinea pig also can’t knock it over or turn it upside down when he gets bored, which is a good thing.
A hay rack is a good choice for people who also use fresh hay as their bedding. This means that your guinea pig won’t be eating soiled hay between cage cleanings, and many pigs love to pull long strands out of the rack for fun.
Many people love to ‘change it up’ with their terrain, and add rocks, bricks, and tubes for playing in – we’ve already covered putting in PVC pipe for a lot of fun (don’t forget that elbow and ‘T’ joints!).
Bricks are very cheap additions, and rocks are often free. This will ensure that your guinea pig’s claws aren’t getting out of hand, and they love to climb and get exercise. This also keeps them agile and active.
What more could a guinea pig ask for?
In our next email, we’re going to talk about the very best guinea pig treats, and what will make your little piggy go wild.
Heather Jones
P.S. Head over to http://www.guineapigresource.com/tips/ to get information on guinea pigs now, instead of waiting for the next email!
Here are a few good options:
Buy guinea pig food pellets with added vitamin C and store in a cool dry location.
Feed your guinea pig fresh fruits and dark leafy greens (think parsley, kale, spinach, collards, chard, and dandelion greens) every day. This is actually much cheaper and more effective than buying fancy supplements. Just make sure you quickly clean up any uneaten food as fresh foods spoil faster and this can make your guinea pig sick.
More is more, right?
If you follow the steps above, there is very little chance your guinea pig can get TOO MUCH vitamin C but it is possible to overdose so don’t give more than 5 mg per pound body weight per day. If your guinea pig is pregnant you’ll want to double that amount.
Whew! That’s all for today, see you tomorrow!
Heather
P.S. If you haven’t checked out http://www.guineapigresource.com/tips/ please do so! You’ll be glad you did.
We’re going to cover something that’s near and dear to your guinea pig’s heart. His food, of course!
Guinea pigs are unique in the way that their bodies don’t produce Vitamin C. Because of this, you need to feed them plenty of Vitamin C-rich foods, or they can develop scurvy (Oh yes, just like the pirates used to.)
Guinea pigs are also herbivores, not carnivores. This means that they can’t process any meats or meat products; and what’s more, they don’t even like them.
Dairy products are also dangerous for guinea pigs, and they’re simply not made to consume them. You need to remember to avoid these altogether with your guinea pig, and you’ll be doing good.
Instead, feed your guinea pig treats that have fresh greens like spinach and loose leaf lettuce, kale, and even parsley. Guinea pigs also have a wide variety of foods they enjoy, so don’t skimp when it comes to dandelions (not treated with chemicals) and even kiwi.
Guinea pigs can also eat carrots, celery that’s been cubed, mustard greens, tomatoes, and even apples. The guinea pig diet is wide; but remember, it has to stay fresh with plenty of vegetables – meat just isn’t a choice.
Your pet’s main diet should be made up of mostly timothy hay and commercially available food pellets, complimented by the fresh fruits and vegetables that you can purchase.
You should look for a pellet that is 20% crude protein and 16% fiber; and make sure that it has some Vitamin C listed in the label, as guinea pigs are unable to produce it themselves.
Some of the best foods for them are simple grass (free of chemicals, of course), carrots, and tomatoes because of the high levels of Vitamin C that are found. Here are links to what I feel are the best quality products on the market: Oxbow Cavy Performance Guinea Pig Food Oxbow Cavy Cuisine Oxbow Timothy Hay Oxbow Daily C Chewable Vitamin Supplement
Now that you have their diet down, in our next email, we’re going to talk about a guinea pig’s undying need to chew, and one of the most interesting things about their personalityl.
Until next time,
Heather Jones
P.S. Want more? Go to http://www.guineapigresource.com/tips/ and learn more about guinea pigs, the adorable little creatures.
Why hello there,in this section, we’re going to cover two things – one is your guinea pig’s need to chew, chew, and then chew some more.
The second is something that many owners absolutely adore, and something you don’t see anywhere else.
You might roll your eyes when you see that your beloved pet has, yet again, chewed through that toilet paper roll. But don’t get too annoyed, it’s actually a very important thing!
Like most rodents, your guinea pig’s teeth are going to continually grow throughout their entire life. Really, from the time of their birth, their teeth never stop growing.
Because of this, a guinea pig has a near undying need to chew. And boy, do they chew – the majority of their time is going to be spent chewing on one thing or another.
Make sure to regularly head to the local pet store and keep safe chew toys close at hand. If you want to go more organic, you can give your pet untreated branches and twigs from the tree out in the backyard. However, you shouldn’t give your pet wood from cedar, apricot, peach or cherry trees, as this is extremely toxic to them.
The Popcorning Effect?
Have you ever noticed a guinea pig jumping straight up in the air, much like a piece of popcorn does when it’s being cooked? Well, if you haven’t, you’re in for a treat.
This adorable and loveable reaction isn’t out of the ordinary – he’s doing it because he’s simply too happy to contain himself. This is a wonderful sign that your guinea pig loves you, and is leading a happy life.
In our next section, we’re going to talk about guinea pig exercise, and what you should do to ensure that your guinea pig is in top health his entire life.
Best, Heather Jones
P.S. http://www.guineapigresource.com/tips/ has more information on raising and caring for a guinea pig, so don’t hesitate to head there now and find out more.
