Guinea pigs, also called cavies, are friendly and curious animals. Nonetheless, they want dedication and attention that is regular ensure they remain healthy and delighted. Continue reading to learn just how to take care of your pocketful of sunlight.
Guinea pigs are sociable pocket animals, can be tamed, and will live for as much as 10 years. Their friendly nature means they are great animals. They’re also really smart.
1. Companionship
Guinea pigs are happiest whenever kept along with other guinea pigs. Nonetheless, should you keep men and women together, make certain both animals would be the exact same intercourse or at minimum one gender is desexed.
RSPCA NSW will not recommend maintaining guinea pigs and rabbits together. Rabbits can give conditions to guinea pigs, plus they may ukrainian brides bully one another.
2. Meals
Guinea pigs are herbivores. To help keep them healthier and pleased, they want:
- a continuing supply of high quality fresh grass or lawn hay, such as for example Meadow, Oaten, Pasture, Ryegrass, Timothy or Wheaten hays. This is really important for using straight down their continuously growing teeth.
- fresh, leafy vegetables and natural natural herbs each day, such as for instance broccoli, cabbage (in smaller amounts), celery, endives, Brussel sprouts, bok choy as well as other Asian greens, and dark-leafed lettuce varieties; and herbs such as for example basil, coriander, dandelion, dill, mint and parsley. Keep in mind that carrot tops should simply be offered being a periodic treat.
- little degrees of top-notch guinea pig pellets. These must have a minimum content that is fibre of %.
- a regular supply of supplement C, such as for example smaller amounts of citrus and kiwi fruits
- a consistent way to obtain clean, fresh water
Never feed your guinea pig:
- beans
- beetroot
- biscuits
- bread
- breakfast cereals
- buttercups
- cereals
- chocolate
- Clover or Lucerne (Alfalfa) hays
- corn
- yard bushes
- grains
- lily associated with valley
- pea nuts
- onion lawn
- onions
- peas
- potato tops
- natural beans
- rhubarb leaves
- seeds
- spinich leaves
- sugar
- candies
3. Enrichment
Guinea pigs require a lot of area to work out – the greater the greater. She should work out each day in a big, grassy area, free and safe from predators.
You might offer your guinea pig with a chewing log made from untreated lumber to wear her teeth down, and overturned bins to full cover up in.
4. Grooming
Constant grooming is really important for long-haired guinea pigs, and guarantees their coats stay in good shape. Regular maneuvering will additionally help build her self- confidence, and encourage her to be friendly and sociable.
It’s also advisable to check out the duration of your guinea pig’s teeth and toenails. Should they are a long time, get the veterinarian to trim them.
5. Wellness
Good cleaning and feeding practices helps avoid many typical health issues, including breathing infections and epidermis dilemmas.
It is vital to pay for your guinea pig’s hutch by having a flyscreen. Carrying this out, along with maintaining her hutch clean, helps avoid flystrike. Long-haired guinea pigs are especially vulnerable to this problem, that can be deadly.
Guinea pigs, like the majority of animals, may also be prone to fleas. Confer with your veterinarian about a suitable flea therapy if required. They might also suffer with mite infestations, that could cause vexation, locks loss and itchiness.
When your guinea pig develops bald batches, this might be an indication of the fungal condition ringworm, therefore look for assistance from a veterinarian instantly.
To learn more about typical health conditions, click the link.
6. Housing
Your guinea pig’s enclosure should always be a minumum of one metre by 0.7 metres, and 0.7 metres high. For those who have two guinea pigs, they will certainly require twice this room. They are going to likewise require their particular, separate resting areas, which needs to be covered. You need to fly-proof the enclosure using flyscreen cable or mosquito netting, since this may help reduce steadily the chance of flystrike.
Line the hutch with newsprint and grass that is soft to give padding and steer clear of foot accidents. Don’t use sawdust, straw or lumber shavings. Understand that your guinea pig requires a soft, clean, dry area all the time, or she can quickly develop base dilemmas. Clean her enclosure that is entire regularly and her bedding whenever required – frequently when each day.
Keep consitently the hutch in a sheltered area which will be well ventilated, between 18-26°C, and kept away from sunlight and strong winds. She should always get access to sufficient color.
Follow this link to learn more about preventing heatstroke.
