Keeping guinea pigs as pets in your dwellings
As people move into smaller homes guinea pigs as pets can be fun alternatives to larger animals. They have many benefits other than just their small size but there are things to know if you want one to live a long and healthy life. By learning about their needs you can enjoy the companionship of a guinea pig for years to come.
There are a few basic things you need to know before making the decision to keep a guinea pig. As rodents they do have some special needs and personality quirks. All of the different breeds of guinea pigs are essentially the same creatures with similar body shapes. They are all approximately ten inches long and can weigh several pounds. Different breeds have different hair textures and lengths from the short haired American to the long haired Peruvian. There is a middle ground. The Abyssinian has shorter hair than the Peruvian and it has a dishevelled, rumpled appearance.
A guinea pig is often quite outgoing and they can be quite vocal. They are normally nocturnal however they will adjust their activity cycle and some will be quite active in the day time as well. A guinea pig is normally very friendly especially if it has been handled and treated well from the time it was weaned. A guinea pig may be quite excited at first contact or if it is in an unknown situation but they can be very affectionate.
Where They Sleep and What They Eat
A guinea pig is a fairly large rodent, much larger than a hamster or a gerbil. Therefore, the cage they live in needs to be quite large as well. Guinea pigs are extremely social animals as well so it can be a good idea to keep more than one so that they have some social interaction and stimulation. However, you should keep in mind that this can cause some problems. If you keep a same sex pair, males may fight and if you keep a male and a female, you can expect babies once the pair have reached about five or six months of age.
A home-made cage will work as well as a store bought one but you need to be careful of the materials used to make it. If it is chewable, the guinea pig will chew it. They are rodents and need a way to grind their teeth. Also, you should be careful that the materials used do not contain chemicals that could be harmful if eaten.
Bedding can be a special problem for guinea pigs. Their pens need to be kept extremely clean. A guinea pig does have urine which can be quite strongly scented and the bedding should be changed frequently. If not it can lead to health problems which can ultimately shorten the life of the guinea pig.
Guinea pigs need a healthy diet of good quality pellet food. You can also feed them fruits and leafy green vegetables although you need to make sure that you don?t give too many because this can cause health problems. You should make sure that the pellets you are feeding are made for guinea pigs. Different rodents have different nutritional needs so you want to make sure your guinea pig is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs. Other good treats include dry alfalfa hay and wooden chew toys to help keep the teeth in great shape.
Guinea pigs as pets are wonderful creatures. They can be affectionate and, with a few key pointers, easy to take care of. If you do, you can have a good friend for years to come.
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