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Those who own guinea pigs truly understand what funny, playful, and wonderful pets they can be when treated with love and respect. Before adopting a guinea pig, it is essential to understand the care involved with these critters. Most guinea pig enthusiasts will agree that when given proper care, cavies are just as much, if not more, work than a cat. This website gives only a basic description of some of the key aspects of guinea pig care. HAYHay is one of the most important parts of a guinea pig's diet. It must be given unlimitedly and at all times. It aids in digestion and, most importantly, keeps the teeth filed down. Guinea pigs' teeth constantly grow and if no outlet for chewing is provided, the teeth can grow so long that they can prevent the guinea pig from eating. Timothy hay is preferred for guinea pigs, although any grass hay will suffice. Alfalfa is a type Legume hay that is very high in minerals such as calcium. It should be given to mothers and pups under six months old but only as an occasional treat to adult guinea pigs. Hay can be purchased in small quantities at pet stores, but it is recommended by FFGPR that it be obtained through a feed store such as Back to Nature (address). The brand of choice is Oxbow. It can be ordered through back to Nature and picked up at the store or it can be ordered online and delivered to your home. It is extremely cost efficient to buy Timothy hay in bulk as it can last up to six months if stored is a cool, dry location. Oxbow Timothy hay is available in 9, 25, and 50 pound boxes. PELLETSPellets provide your guinea pig with the nutrients necessary to be healthy and active. When choosing a suitable brand for your cavy, it is very important to check the nutrition information to be sure that the pellets contain Vitamin C. The pellets contain no nuts, seeds, or colorful pieces because not only do they add unneeded fats and oils which can lead to an overweight guinea pig, but they can cause cavies to choke. Unless the guinea pig is overweight, pellets should be available continuously. Cavies should never be fed Rabbit, Mouse, or Chinchilla pellets. The dietary needs of guinea pigs are unique from all other small animals and so there pellets are specially formulated to fit their needs. The preferred brand of pellet is Oxbow Cavy Cuisine, for adult guinea pigs, and Cavy Performance, for young, pregnant, or nursing guinea pigs. It can be purchased online or through your local feed store, such as Back to Nature. VEGETABLES & FRUITSSadly, fruits and vegetables are usually the aspect of a guinea pig's diet that are not given by owners. Many piggy parents do not understand how important fruits and veggies are as they provide them with essential vitamins, such as vitamin C. Although pellets and hay give guineas vitamins and minerals, they do not provide enough. As a general rule, at least 1 cup of veggies should be given per guinea pig daily. Some owners prefer to do one feeding and some give a morning and evening dose of veggies. FFGPR feeds the rescue piggies a mix of mainly romaine lettuce, parsley, kale, peppers, carrots, tomatoes, and apples. For a complete list of foods that can be given to guinea pigs and the Vit. C in them, please follow the links to Guinea Lynx: FRUITS, VEGETABLES, VITAMIN C. The more Vit. C the better! A few precautions: do not give guinea pigs Iceberg lettuce as it has no nutritional value and it can give then diarrhea, do not spoil your piggies with too many carrots as they are very high in sugar, and if your guinea pig's urine is cloudy, it may be due to too much calcium in their diet rather than a Urinary Tract Infection. Try to give your guinea pig fruits and veggies with less calcium. VITAMIN CGuinea pigs are unable to produce or store vitamin C on their own. In order to prevent scurvy, pellets that contain vitamin C, vegetables, and a vitamin C supplement must be given. Vitamin C supplements not only maintain your guinea pig's immune system but also enhance the healthiness of the cavy's coat. Pet stores will recommend vitamin drops that are added to the cavy's water, but they cause the water to taste bad, and they usually dissolves before the guinea pig can ingest it. It is recommended that liquid vitamin C (made for humans) be given to each cavy by mouth daily. The vitamin C recommended by FFGPR can be purchased from The Medicine Center. Its consistency is 500 mg of vitamin C per teaspoonful and each guinea pig should receive 0.5 cc per day. SIGNS Of ILLNESSIf your guinea pig experiences any of the following symptoms, please bring your guinea pig to a cavy knowledgeable vet as soon as possible. Guineas are very good at hiding illness and if not treated early, many diseases are deadly. Please visit Guinea Lynx for reliable medical information. -Refusal to eat or drink |
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