Pet Habitat South Africa

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27 Aug 2014

Caring For Guinea Pigs

Posted By : Guest

Filed Under : Guinea Pigs | Pet Care

Did you fall in love with guinea pigs the first time you saw one? You wouldn’t be the first person that happened to; nor will you be the last. These simultaneously inquisitive and timid creatures are set to melt hearts forever. That’s because they’re wonderfully adorable! Although, you should never make the mistake of ignoring the basic needs of your guinea pigs – or you’ll be left with a broken heart.

Not sure what your guinea pig needs are? Just follow this simple guide, and your guinea pigs will fall in love with you as quickly as you’ve grown attached to them.

Adopt a Pair

Guinea pigs hate to live alone. And, before you retort with the fact that you live there too, that’s not exactly the company that your little piggy needs. Okay, your guinea pigs will grow to love being with you, but it’s not normal for them to have people (as it’s become normal for people to have pets). In the wild, guinea pigs live in groups and that’s exactly how they like it. So, although you’re unlikely to have the space in your home for several guinea pigs, you’ll need to make room for at least two.

Male and females make the best pairing, but same sex couples should get on just fine too. You’ll need to have your cavies neutered or spayed (even if they’re the same gender) as this will prevent unwanted pregnancies, fighting and reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in females. If you’ve never bonded guinea pigs before then you should consult your vet for expert help and advice.

The Best Home for Your Guinea Pigs

It’s up to you whether your guinea pigs live indoors with you or in their own garden paradise. Either way, you’ve got to make sure your pigs have plenty of space.

Although you may have grown up believing that guinea pigs can and should live in hutches, researchers have discovered that this is extremely detrimental for these animals. They need significantly more space than just a hutch because exercise is terribly important for their health. But that doesn’t mean you should toss the hutch in the bin; you’ve just got to change the way you think of it. Rather than an all-inclusive cage, think of the hutch as a bedroom and build on from there.

Guinea pigs need to be able to run when they feel like it and retreat when they’re frightened (which, when you first bring them home, will seem like it happens frequently). So, the hutch needs to be connected to a run that is always available. Runs cannot be just a fenced in space – though they certainly need a boundary and a fence. Becuase of their status as prey animals, guinea pigs will keep to the outside edges of this area unless there are scattered obstacles, such as cardboard boxes, to break it up. Additionally, guinea pigs are very susceptible to overheating and sun rashes, so at least part of this area must be completely shaded at all times.

Don’t forget, guinea pigs can’t clean their own homes, you’ve got to do this every week to ensure a clean, and clean-smelling, hutch and run.

Feeding Your Guinea Pigs

All pets have a few things in common; they need to eat, and if they’re tucked up nicely in your home – they cannot get food on their own accord. You will need to concern yourself with your guinea pigs food every day, though it’s not that difficult to manage.

For a start, guinea pigs are fibrevores. In short, that means they need plenty of fibre in their diet. Of course, it is a little more complicated than that. Guinea pigs have specialised digestive systems built around their need for fibre. And, understanding how it works will help you better to understand their needs.

There are two types of fibre: digestible and indigestible. Your guinea pig needs both. Indigestible fibre, as the name suggests, just passes through the body. This allows all your guinea pigs’ internal processes to continue working smoothly and stimulates their desire to continue munching on hay.

Digestible fibre, on the other hand, begins to break down in the stomach and then moves into a special, appendix like organ called a caecum where it ferments until it is easily digestible. Your guinea pigs will then excrete the resulting caecotrophs before re-consuming them. It may sound rather disgusting, but it’s what your pet needs to do in order to get enough fibre into his diet. And that’s when he’s eating fibre-rich timothy hay. Could you imagine feeding anything else as a primary food?

Keep in mind though, hay is just the beginning. Your guinea pig also needs a few fresh greens and water. On top of this, there are specially formulated guinea pig snacks and excel treats. Remember though, your cavy may be a fibrevore just like rabbits and chinchillas, but they each have their own dietary needs. So, only buy food that is specially recommended for guinea pigs.

Exercise and Well Being

Your guinea pig may not look (or behave) as though she’s got any agility at all, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need to exercise. Of course, you’ve covered this by providing a run, but you will want to make sure you also add new items and challenges to stimulate your pet. As natural foragers, hiding treats and changing the scenery on a regular basis are great ideas to keep your pets in peak condition.

Vets recommend that all guinea pigs are neutered or spayed regardless of their living arrangements (including all males or all females). It’s not only known to prevent unwanted pregnancies, it also reduces the risk of certain cancers and cuts down on aggressive tendencies. Guinea pigs also need annual check-ups. Fortunately, this is a great way to confirm that you’re doing a wonderful job of raising your piggies.