An imbalance in nutrition can cause chronic diarrhea, obesity and diseases of the heart, liver or kidneys. This outline of how to care for your cavy the proper name for a guinea pig will help your pet have a healthy long life. Guinea pig babies are cute but being pregnant is quite a health hazard and is best done by a knowledgeable breeder. If you are a pet owner please visit defra for further information on taking your pet abroad. Guinea pig care sheet slideshow share and discover. Many guinea pig health problems are preventable with proper diet and care. Oxbow has provided this basic care guide to help you keep your pet guinea pig healthy and happy. My reason for writing these pages was to provide care information to help guinea pigs lead happier, healthier lives, that they so rightly deserve. This concise brochure is available to anyone to download and distribute without cost pending email notification see bottom of page.
Your guinea pig will love all the food you offer, but if sits in their bowl for more than four hours, its time to take it away. You may print one copy of this ebook for your own personal use. You will also find important advice about breeding them and taking care of them when they are ill. The guinea pig or cavy pronounced kayvee is a member of the rodent family, closely.
We recommend the all living things 24inch wire cage sold through small angels or the my first home for rats. Guinea pigs are herbivores, so their diet should be one based on highquality guinea pig hay, pelleted guinea pig food and limited amounts of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. This ebook is for general information on keeping bearded dragons as pets. They communicate by making various sounds that have different meanings and popcorn, or jump in the air, when happy. Guinea pig care a quick guide from farm and pet place. They also include useful information for making sure your guinea pigs are happy and healthy. They are openrooted, which means they grow throughout life. They will start wandering around an hour after birth and can take solid food within a day or.
The guinea pig or cavy is a member of the rodent family with an average life span of 4 to 7 years. I read it and was a little shocked by the misinformation they have. It is a myth that two male guinea pigs will always fight. Kellyville pets has a range of guinea pigs for sale in sydney, nsw. Care of the pet guinea pig native to south america, the guinea pig is a lively, lovable rodent that requires relatively easy care. By learning about responsible pet ownership children can make a difference to both pets in their homes now and also their pets of the future. Guinea pigs prefer to live with the companionship of. With proper care and nutrition guinea pigs can live up to 10. Being a prey species it is important to handle them gently so as not to frighten them. Learn how to take care of your small animal with these great care sheets. This care guide from oxbow animal health will teach you everything you need to know about keeping your pet guinea pig healthy and happy.
Information sheet guinea pigs are great click here to open pdf file. The guinea pig guide guinea pig care book pdf over 100 etsy. Your guinea pig is a herbivore, which means he eats only plant material. A water bottle is a more practical option that will prevent your guinea pig from making a mess. Contrary to popular belief, guinea pig food will not necessarily provide all the vitamin c that your pig requires because the vitamin c in the pellets evaporates. Includes 12 care sheets, checklists and health record sheets to make your daily guinea pig routine easier. They may live 5 to 7 years or more, so the decision to bring one into your home must be made carefully. Guinea pigs are social companion animals that require daily interaction. Why not bookmark this guinea pig care sheet page so you can easily reference it for guidance on feeding and housing your guinea pig. Your rabbit will graze constantly during the day, if you notice that the rabbit and guinea pig mix has been finished each day then you will need to increase the amount that you are feeding your rabbit. The average weight of a guinea pig ranges from 500900 grams 12 pounds. The most common types of guinea pigs are the english or american shorthair, the peruvian longhaired, and the abyssinian swirled hair. Guinea pigs have continually growing and erupting teeth.
The life span of a guinea pig is 56 years under optimal conditions. Guinea pig general care guide please read this important. Guinea pigs have been domestic pets for over 400 years. They must be taken care of every single day, if not their health and wellbeing may suffer. Check for a best if used by date to ensure quality.
The guinea pig is a docile rodent native to south america. The information in this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. Guinea pigs have been in my life now for over 10 years. How to have a happy guinea pig forgetmenot animal rescue uk 1 how to have a happy guinea pig first of all rescue one, please do not go to a breeder or a pet shop there are many sanctuaries out there, including ours that have many rescued guineas waiting for a new home and if. Info for additional websites and forums which contain good information about guinea. Just remember that he is like a little kid in the way he. Guinea pig information care sheet home pet industry. Read below to learn what to feed your guinea pig, as well as other. Lively guinea pigs are extremely energetic and great to watch scuttling around with their friends social guinea pigs are extremely sociable, and when provided with guinea pig friends and a caring. Wild guinea pigs today can still be found in colombia, venezuela, brazil, argentina.
We recommend the all living things 24inch wire cage sold through. Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorinefree water, changed daily. Guinea pig pellets are the basis of your pets diet. A single guinea pig needs a cage that is at least 76 x. The advice in this care guide will help give your guinea pigs a healthy start so you can enjoy each. Flat bottom cages with newspaper, aspen bedding, or recycled newspaper lining the bottom is recommended. Little critters need checkups just like any other family pets. Guinea pig care sheet because we care 1250 upper front street, binghamton, ny 901 6077232666 congratulations on your new pet. Pup a young guinea pig is born fully developed with a full coat of hair and eyes open. These sociable, somewhat skittish creatures are easy to care for, seldom bite and are exceptionally clean. Also to help their owners, especially new owners, to take care of these wonderful little animals. With over half of all households in the uk owning a pet, animals are everywhere in the school community.
Highquality guinea pig food, timothy hay and limited amounts of vegetables and fruits. Young, ill, nursing and pregnant animals require extra. Care of guinea pigs introduction guinea pig is the common name for a cavy. At least one guinea pig friend of the same sex is recommended. The keys to a good diet for your guinea pigs are to use a. Guinea pig care, ellenbrook, western australia, australia. Twice a week, let them nibble on raisins and alfalfa. The reason so many guinea pigs in perth, melbourne and brisbane find themselves being brought in for a visit at the unusual pet vets isnt just the fine guinea pig care they receive but the expert advice offered.
Guinea pigs cannot store or manufacture their own vitamin c. Shopping list for needed supplies guinea pig pellets food bowl wood chews water bottle vitamin c supplement appropriate sized cage pine shavings or appropriate litter no cedar timothy hay guinea pig treats book. Heres a surprisingly simple way to keep to regular daily care routine. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. No guinea pig care sheet would be complete without some discussion of h ow to feed your little fellow. The guinea pig s endearing personality provides delightful companionship for both adults and families. Just remember that he is like a little kid in the way he approaches any new foodwith curiosity and a. The guinea pig is a native of peru, brazil, and argentina that was domesticated by the inca indians. Guinea pigs make great pets, but its important for kids to provide proper care on a regular basis. Keeping and caring for a pet guinea pig the spruce. For the first few days make sure you talk to him regularly before introducing your hand into the cage or stroking him.
Uc davis, vmth companion avian and exotic pet medicine and surgery service 530 75293 natural history guinea pigs are rodents from south america, most commonly known as the cavy cavia porcellus. Guinea pigs prefer to live with the companionship of another guinea pig and can be housed together with the same gender. Require 30 to 50 mg of vitamin c daily from highquality food, vitamin supplements or fruits and vegetables high in vitamin c. Guinea pigs are lively, lovable pets that require relatively easy care. Guinea pigs guinea pigs welfare tips, advice, health. They thrive on interaction with other guinea pig companions and people.
Caring for guinea pigs the animal welfare foundation. Take your guinea pig for a checkup if it displays any of these. Burgess care guides guinea pig guinea pigs are lovely animals to keep for more than just a few reasons. Educational resources wood green the animals charity. Hamster care sheet always wash your hands after handling your hamster or its housing to help maintain sanitary conditions. Cavy is short for the species name cavia porcellus. Our pet care charts for guinea pigs are the perfect tool for your child to list their responsibilities and track when they complete them. Here at the animal welfare league qld, we are very proud of our guinea pig adoption program and the way in which our piggies are cared.
Guinea pig care sheet always wash your hands after handling your guinea pig or its housing to help maintain sanitary conditions. The guinea pigs endearing personality provides delightful companionship for both adults and families. The guinea pig neither comes from guinea, nor is it a pig. Mar 19, 2012 the ultimate guinea pig care sheet in slideshow format. Hamster care sheet as with any pet, keeping a hamster requires a commitment to care for it during its life which could be 23 years or longer. The ultimate guinea pig care schedule the guinea pig blog. Guinea pigs make endearing pets especially if well socialized. Avoid a guinea pig that is either overly skinny or. Color care pamphlet caring for your guinea pig click here to open color pdf file. There are several books and online resources available which provide indepth information on guinea pigs and their. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Guinea pigs have been kept in captivity for hundreds of years, originating from the forests and grasslands of south america where their wild relatives still roam. This care sheet will highlight these important points and share some handy tips. The guinea pig guide by lesley desantis of when guinea pigs fly thats me.
Mar 17, 20 keeping to a regular schedule really isnt too difficult, even for the most novice, and possibly undisciplined, guinea pig keepers. Once settled in their new home they are inquisitive, friendly and talkative. Check your local petsmart banfield pet hospital to see if a small pet vet is on staff. It is very important you feed guinea pig nuggets, not food for other pets. Avoid a guinea pig this panicky when handled, especially if it does not relax quickly. A healthy guinea pig diet is about 20% vegetables and 5% fruit.
Overview the guinea pig or cavy is a south american. On first arriving home, your pet will appreciate being left alone for a day to adjust to the new environment. The keys to a good diet for your guinea pigs are to use a wide range of vegetables and a bit of fruit. If you clean your guinea pig cage once a week, plan to clean it the same time each week. The commitment required includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the hamster but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the hamster becomes ill which can be costly. Guinea pig care and health information jackies guinea pigs. Then when you have more specific questions, the guinea lynx site is one of the best online references for care and medical information. Molars are the rearmost teeth in the mouth, used for. Perfect for the beginner as well as the more experienced cavy connoisseur, the guinea pig guide is chock. You should offer guinea pig nuggets alongside hay and greens, to avoid selective feeding but only give small amounts.
My documentszoe fileseducation guinea pig info introduction congratulations on the adoption of your guinea pig. They have links to gl, cavyspirit, and gpc, but of course its at the bottom of the page. Animal care sheets petco is committed to responsible companion animal ownership. It is up to you how you look after your guinea pig, but you must take reasonable steps to ensure that you meet all their needs. Take your guinea pig to a vet a few days after coming home, then schedule checkups once a year. It is currently considered a part of the family, rodentia, and comes from the high plains of south america. Kids pet care charts caring for a guinea pig kid pointz. Guinea pigs often pick out the bits they like and leave the rest, leading to an unbalanced diet and some guinea pigs may eat too much and become overweight. Rescues, pet stores, and new pet owners will find great advice for getting a guinea pig off to a good start. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Guinea pigs can live for 5 6 years so be sure that you can care for them over this long period. Print single sheet, flip paper, print on back, cut and fold.
Timothy haybased pellets are recommended for adults, and avoid those made with nuts, seeds, dried fruits and corn products. Guinea pig guinea pigs can be the most endearing and wonderful family pets. Behavior guinea pigs, also known as cavies, are very social and curious animals. A chew proof glass water bottle will prevent your pig from chewing through it. Your guinea pig s formal scientific name is the cavia porcellus, so many people call them cavies. Jan 15, 2016 weve put together a quick guide below on the best guinea pig care you can offer them, including top tips. Boar adult male reach sexual maturity at 35 weeks sow adult female can reach sexual maturity as early as 4 weeks and can carry litters before they are adults. Our care sheets provide important information about the proper care of your animal. Their home needs to have a solid floor that is large enough to hold a water bottle, food dish, a hiding area, and space for exercis. A single guinea pig may get more tame but it is also a matter of personality and how much you handle it it really doesnt matter as much as in some other species. Here is what you need to know and expect from your new furry family member. Keep pigs of the same gender together if you have them as pets.
Avoid a guinea pig that is overly quiet and calm as it may be ill. At least 24 inches long, 18 inches wide, 16 inches high. Grass hay and fresh, clean water should be available to your pet at all times. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Care pamphlet caring for your guinea pig click here to open pdf file. If your pig does this, youll need to change the water bowl multiple times a day. Guinea pig the guinea pig s endearing personality provides delightful companionship for both adults and families. Guinea pigs have delicate feet, so proper cage substrate is important. The best place for care basics, a great introduction for beginners, is guinea lynxs guide to raising a healthy guinea pig. This outline of how to care for your cavy the proper name.
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