Small, easy to manage and relatively inexpensive are just some of the adjectives that come up when you think of guinea pigs as pets. And while these adjectives are mostly correct, it does not mean that guinea pigs do not require any care at all.
Healthy bodies and happy lives are important to guinea pigs, and here is how you can provide for that.
Owning A Guinea Pig
Do not think of getting a guinea pig as simply a purchase. It is more of an adoption. Guinea pigs are not things or toys. They need to be welcomed into the right home and the proper environment. With that said, you have to figure out if you deserve to be a rightful owner, or parent, to a guinea pig.
Guinea pigs need warmth and care, not only from their owners, but from fellow guinea pigs as well. They are sociable by nature and live by the motto that 'No guinea pig is an island'. The best thing you can do is to bring more than one of them home so that they will constantly keep each other company.
If you are thinking that getting more than one guinea pig defeats the entire purpose of getting an affordable house pet, think of what a waste of money it will be in the long run when your pig suffers a deep depression, leading his health to deteriorate and even cause his death, because you were too cheap to get him a partner. Besides, what's another $20-$50 to ensure the long life and happiness of your little one?
Rearing Guinea Pigs
It is nice to know that baby guinea pigs are not as fragile and needy as other young animals. Just give them access to their mother's milk and they will be fine. They even wean themselves off naturally by the time they are twenty-one days old. They are so self-sufficient that, on the day they are born, they can already open their eyes, run about and consume solids. And should you wish to give away or sell your baby pigs, you can already do so after a month passes.
Taking care of your guinea pig does not just mean ensuring he is disease and sickness-free, but that he is getting the exercise he needs, the right type of food and drinks, has a constant supply of chew toys and that he is living in a comfortable set-up. Luckily, it is not too hard to accomplish these things, as most of his needs will be readily available in one pet store and for reasonable prices too.
However, of utmost importance is that he has the right home. You might take this aspect of guinea pig care for granted, thinking that buying a cage that takes up the least space is perfect for him. However, it is important to know that despite being small in size, he will want a large space to roam about and run around in. This is especially important if you have more than one guinea pig.
Get a cage with a rigid plastic bottom so that his feet wont get stuck into little holes. Make sure the cage opening is big enough to accommodate the growing girth of your guinea pig, as a growing girth is inevitable because of his hog-like habits. Important also is proper bedding. Highly recommended are wood shavings and Timothy hay.
A diet of fresh produce in bite size pieces, Timothy hay and lots of H2O will keep him very healthy. Regularity in serving his meals is very important because guinea pigs find security in that.
Hopefully these tips gave you an idea of what owning a guinea pig entails. I am sure it did not discourage you, as these tips are very easy to follow. Surely once you bring your guinea pig home, you will fall in love with him and will want to make sure he grows up properly. So use these tips as a guide and don't hesitate to do more research on guinea pig care. Enjoy!
About the Author:
Cary Nelson is a lover of Guinea Pigs. If you want to learn more about Guinea Pigs you should check out his free information on guinea pig care at http://healthyguineapigs.com.
Get all the information and photos:: http://coringa.info/pets/how-to-take-care-of-your-guinea-pigs
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