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16
DEC
2017
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Guinea pigs have been popular pets for generations. Today, we are better informed about how to care for these friendly little creatures, so that we can provide them with everything they need to enjoy happy and fulfilling lives. Small, sociable and chatty, guinea pigs or ‘cavies’ originate from the grasslands and lower slopes of the Andes Mountains in South America. In the wild, they live in close family groups of 5 to 10 individuals, though several groups may live in close proximity, forming a colony. When keeping them as pets, the challenge is to care for them in such a way that meets all their needs and enables them to exhibit their full range of natural behaviours.
1. A Safe and Suitable Place To Live
A good quality hutch should be draught-free, predator proof and, along with plenty of Carefresh bedding, provide a cosy place to sleep. However, traditional small hutches do not provide the space guinea pigs need to behave normally. A hutch should just be vi.. [More]
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Our 7 Point Guide To Be A Gold Star Guinea Pig Owner , Guinea Pigs South Africa , Food Guinea Pigs South Africa , Caring Guinea Pigs South Africa
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12
FEB
2017
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We would like to urge all rabbit and guinea pig owners to stop feeding their pets muesli-based foods in an effort to improve their diets. Please dump the junk. There is no such thing as a healthy muesli food. Muesli-style foods, which can contain flaked maize, peas, pellets, grains and seeds, are extremely low in fibre and have been shown to increase the risk of serious illness in rabbits and guinea pigs, with the PDSA PAW Report 2013 stating they are the cause of deadly dental and digestive problems.
We think pet owners should ditch plain grains in favour of nutritionally rich pellets that aid digestion and dental health. Any changes to your pet’s diet should be done over time though so not to upset their digestion.
Why stop, why now?
Even if your pet has been fed a muesli-based diet all their lives, they will still benefit from a swap to hay, leafy greens and nuggets. Just introduce it gradually and in small quantities to reduce the likelihood of stomach .. [More]
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Stop Feeding Muesli To Rabbits & Guinea Pigs
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12
FEB
2017
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How often should you bath your guinea pigs? Once a week? Once a year? Never? Do they need a daily brush? What about nail clipping? And what should you do about their grease gland? Here’s some essential information to help you keep your guinea pigs in tip top condition…
Time for a bath?
Unless your vet advises a bath to get rid of a bad case of lice, then guinea pigs, who are fastidiously clean creatures and excellent self-groomers, should never need a bath. If a bath is required, ask your veterinary nurse for advice, as guinea pigs find it very stressful. Use a shallow pan, which you need to fill with warm water, being careful not to have it too hot. You should only wash their body, being careful not to get any water or shampoo in their ears and eyes – and only use vet-prescribed specialist shampoo as human products can trigger an allergic reaction. You then need to rinse off your pet very thoroughly before gently towel drying them and keeping them i.. [More]
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Should You Bath Your Guinea Pigs?
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15
JAN
2017
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Did you know that rabbits and guinea pigs need different types of hay to sleep on and to eat? While grass and herb based foods, such as pellets, will provide a good portion of your pet’s fibre needs, grass is what they would naturally nibble all day long in the wild.
Providing enough fresh grass every day to meet your rabbit or guinea pigs’s needs is difficult, hay has just the same health and digestive benefits as fresh grass – but is much easier to store.
In fact, studies have shown that feeding hay should make up to 85-90 per cent of your small furry’s daily diet, that’s around 1kg of hay per week, to maintain a healthy gut and weight and keep teeth healthy.
However research has shown that the majority of rabbits and guinea pigs are not fed the correct hay, and instead are forced to chew on bedding hay, which, while comfortable to sleep on, is often unpalatable and has an unknown nutritional value.
So what’s the alternati.. [More]
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Difference Between Bedding & Feeding Hay For Rabbits Guinea Pigs Chinchillas South Africa
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27
MAY
2016
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There is a major problem in South Africa where so many pet stores, breeders and pet owners don’t realize that feeding muesli foods can kill pet rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas, according to latest scientific research.
Their attitude is that they have been feeding these foods for many years and their pets seem to be okay. They seem to turn a blind eye to any new scientific studies or recent changes in feeding guidelines announced by animal welfare organizations or FEDIAF.
The two year scientific study on the 200 rabbits by Professor Anne Meredith from University of Edinburgh made headline news all over the world in June 2013. The results from this study proved to the pet industry that feeding any type of muesli food (dry mixes) including pellets can have fatal consequences. This research is supported by every animal welfare organization thoughout the world including the RSPCA, PDSA, Blue Cross, Wood Green, RWAF and FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Fede.. [More]
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Tags :
Muesli Can Kill Pet Rabbits & Guinea Pigs , Dangers of Feeding Muesli To Rabbits & Guinea Pigs , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Guinea Pig Food South Africa , Chinchilla Food South Africa
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13
JUN
2015
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Everyone needs exercise to remain healthy. It’s simply the way bodies work. Your guinea pigs also need plenty of activity and exercise to stay healthy for the span of their lifetimes. While an extra-large cavy home is ideal, your pets still need some floor time every day to get all the benefits of an active life.
Setting up a floor time area for your piggies
The point of floor time is exercise. And for guinea pigs, that means plenty of room to scamper across an expanse of floor. Even if your pets have an exceptionally large housing area, floor time helps to stimulate them mentally, so don’t discount its importance.
To create a floor space playground choose a room, hallway or corner without wires or tight spots where cavies can become stuck. Guinea pigs tend to prefer dimly lit corners, so having one or two is a bonus. Next, protect the area. Many recommend laying bathmats to protect your floor because they are washable. An extra layer of protection in.. [More]
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Floor Time With Your Guinea Pigs South Africa
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14
APR
2015
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Did you know that it can be pretty easy to train your guinea pigs to do tricks? Guinea pigs can’t really be trained in the same way as a dog can but, with a bit of patience, time and a couple of treats your guinea pig will be able to carry out tricks at a basic level. It may take you a little while to teach your guinea pig to jump through a hoop but the important thing is to make sure you have fun with it! You’ll probably be better sticking to one trick at a time to avoid any confusion.
Repetition and consistency is the key! So make sure you show your guinea pig the same way every time – even your body language needs to stay the same! You may need to show your guinea pigs 3 times or 15 times or even 30 times, but, once your guinea pig has mastered it you’ll both feel great! The key is not to lose your patience, try to relax and enjoy bonding process with your pet.
If you’re struggling to teach your guinea pig new tricks then this could be.. [More]
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Training Your Guinea Pigs , Guinea Pigs South Africa
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29
MAR
2015
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Pellets are a smaller but important part of your guinea pig, chinchilla or rabbit's diet. They are designed to be concentrated sources of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals to help ensure that your pet is getting all the nutrients he or she needs.
When feeding pellets, it is important to remember that a rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla's natural diet contains a high volume of low nutrient food. They are grazers by nature and in the wild they spend much of their days munching on grass and grazing for food.
While pellets enable owners to protect their pet's health and give them the range of nutrients they need, they are ultimately a low volume of high nutrient food that runs contrary to the diet in the wild. Therefore, it is important to follow feeding guidelines closely to make sure that they receive as balanced a diet as possible.
Mixes vs Pellets
Mixes, also known as "muesli," are dry food mixes that are primarily cereal-base.. [More]
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Tags :
Choosing A Pellet Food For Guinea Pigs , Rabbits and Chinchillas in South Africa , Chinchilla Food South Africa , Guinea Pig Food South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa
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22
MAR
2015
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Guinea pigs' teeth grow continuously throughout their life, so they need to chew regularly to keep their teeth down to a healthy size. Chewing on their cage bars could mean they do not have enough things to chew on, but most likely they simply enjoy the feeling of the metal bars.
Why Guinea Pigs Chew
Guinea pigs are born with a natural instinct to chew. Their teeth grow continually throughout their life and chewing keeps them at a healthy length. If guinea pigs are not given enough things to chew on, they will begin chewing on items like their cage bars. If your guinea pig is chewing on her cage bars, there is no need to be alarmed. It could mean that she simply enjoys the sensation that it provides. As long as she has plenty of other chew toys designed for chewing and gnawing, your guinea pig is probably very content.
Chewing, Treats and Interaction
One fun way to get some interaction in with your guinea pigs in addition to satisfying their need to chew and p.. [More]
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Tags :
Why Do Guinea Pigs Chew Their Cage South Africa? , Gunea Pig Cages South Africa , Guinea Pig Care South Africa
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11
DEC
2014
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Guinea pigs (which are also called cavies) are remarkable pets to have. They are quite funny and charming most of the time, even when they are hiding (perhaps, especially when they are hiding). With adorable faces and long, round bodies, it is little wonder that guinea pigs have captured our attention and found a way into our hearts.
But, although they are small, guinea pigs are still pets, and that means that they need some loving attention from their owners. The biggest hurdle is, of course, ensuring that your guinea pigs have a comfortable home that is both snuggly, but not in the sun – and airy, but not in any draughts. And, once you have this right, you are well on your way to providing your pets with the best home possible. After that it is mostly a matter of feeding your guinea pigs the best possible diet and then… enjoying them as they play.
Guinea Pigs Are Fibrevores
As you learned in school, some animals are herbivores; some are (us.. [More]
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Tags :
Feeding Your Guinea Pigs
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