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This leaflet is only a small guide, please get a good book such as The Proper care of
Guinea Pigs by Peter Guerney to help look after your pet. It is also based on UK
advice as in the UK we dont have the wide variety of shavings, hays and foods
that are available in the USA, so I cant speak for those
I would also recommend that any new owner with Internet
access should join a reputable forum such as
Cutie Cavies http://cutiecavies.proboards61.com/index.cgi
where many questions can be answered quickly
Housing
Cavies should be housed in a warm dry hutch or an indoor cage with at least 3 Sq. foot of
space per pair, preferably inside a shed or car free garage ( unless of course you keep
them indoors), especially in winter.
Their bedding is shavings or Russell Rabbit Bedding,
also they like to lie on hay, they should always have a fresh water bottle and a solid
food bowl. They should be totally cleaned out using a pet safe disinfectant at least once a
week.
Feeding
Cavies need dry food fresh each day, any Guinea pig mix will do, they also need hay to eat and fresh water
to drink preferably with Vitamin C added. Care should be taken that the vitamin
C is added regularly and that it is not very old as it quickly loses its effectiveness.
Very importantly they need to have some fresh veg. each day, such as Cabbage
or carrots or Celery, you will get to know what your cavy does or does not like to
eat. Never give your cavy Iceberg lettuce as it has recently been proven to cause kidney
damage as it contains nitrates which over time build up, a list of goodies that
I personally use are below
Care should also be taken introducing new foods as it has
to be little by little, otherwise you may get tummy upsets
Suitable fresh foods
|
Apples (in moderation can cause mouth sores) |
Orange (as apples) |
Celery |
| Beetroot (raw & can cause more
sores) |
Carrots |
Swedes & Turnips (rarely liked) |
| Corn on the cob (including leaves) |
Peppers |
Cabbage |
| Chicory |
Kale |
Celeriac |
| Nasturtiums, leaves and flowers |
Strawberry leaves and
Strawberries |
Lettuce (not Iceberg) |
| Cucumber |
Radish Leaves |
Raspberry Leaves |
| Parsley |
Banana (including skin) |
Pears |
| Melons |
This is what I use
regularly, there are probably many more things, but my motto is 'if in
doubt leave it out' |
Grooming
Cavies don't need to be bathed very much, indeed to many baths can cause dry
skin, but if your cavy gets dirty then...... use a small animal shampoo, like Johnson's
new one, Long hairs should be kept clipped, especially around their rear end for hygiene
reasons. Its a good idea to use a small animal spray for mites on your Guinea pig if they
seem to scratch a lot, this is effective on all mites except SELNICK, this is a serious
skin mite and is shown by severe scratching, dandruff and loss of hair, if this arises
your cavy need IVOMEC from your vet.
Caring
Your cavy will eventually become very tame and will love to be handled, so give it time to
get used to you, it may well sulk on its first days in a new home, ALWAYS supervise young
children with cavies to avoid over exuberance and accidents. Your cavy will soon be
whistling loudly for his/her food
Medical Problems
Guinea pigs are a hardy breed but when they get ill they do so very fast, if your cavy
goes quiet and off their food then they are probably ill so get some advice from a good
vet. The golden rule if you think your pet is ill is : KEEP HIM WARM and SEEK
ADVICE. We are happy to try help on minor medical questions but we are not yet trained
vets A good book to get is called Piggy Potions by Peter Guerney, it gives tips on minor
medical matters, also try our FAQ page.
Some vets don't know much about cavies, but ours does, if you need his name
or any advice please
contact us, we'll be happy to help.
ENJOY YOUR PET
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