Feeding your guinea pig isn’t as easy as you may think

Pet owners planning to take guinea pigs as their pets should have ample knowledge of the food that they eat. In this article, I will offer information that will guide pet owners in choosing the right food for their pets.

The guinea pig mainly feeds on grass, specifically timothy hay, and supplements its diet by corography or the eating of its own feces. However, it does not consume all its feces and only chooses the special soft pellets called cecotropes, which recycle vitamin B, bacteria and fiber. Another popular choice for the guinea pig is alfalfa, but owners should be cautious because a lot of organizations claimed that when consumed in large amounts, alfalfa could lead to obesity.

Pet owners should also know that a guinea pig is a strict vegan and it is brand loyal, which means that it sticks to the first brand that it has been introduced to. Additionally, it states that an adult guinea pig is a fickle eater especially when it comes to fresh vegetables or fruits.

When planning to introduce this diet to the pet, pet owners should know that it could stop eating and will choose to starve rather than accept new food types.

Research shows that vitamin C is important for guinea pig and the ways to supply it with the nutrient is by feeding it with raw fruits and vegetables including broccoli, carrot, apple, spinach and cabbage or by dietary supplements. Recommended healthy diets for guinea pigs should include a balance of magnesium,calcium, potassium and the right amounts of vitamins A, E, and D. It also warns about imbalanced diets because of its role in the development of muscular dystrophy, vitamin deficiencies and metastatic calcification in the guinea pig.

In terms of the frequency of feeding the pet, it is suggested that a constant supply of hay or pellets should be given because the guinea pig tends to feed continuously. Moreover, the golden rule when feeding the guinea pig is that every thing should be given in moderation. Read the rest of this entry

There is evidence of guinea pigs way back 5000bc

The guinea pig or cavy, whose scientific name is Cavia porcellus, belongs to the species of rodent and originates in the Andean region. A guinea pig weighs an average of 2-3 pounds, is usually 10 inches long and its life span is 5-7 years.

History reveals that the guinea pig was first domesticated for food by tribes in the Andean region as early as 5000 B.C. This evidence indicates that this species can be taken as a pet. Also, its being soft and cuddly adds another factor to why it is suitable as a pet. Additionally, research shows that a guinea pig seldom scratches or bites if it is managed correctly early in life. It suggests that this species can be tamed by frequent handling.

In terms of its diet, a guinea pig is a vegan and can be fed with pellets, timothy hay and a nugget of corn or wheat cereal as a treat once in a while. Its housing requirements include a large cage where it can move freely, a ceramic food bowl, bedding and water bottle that has a sipper spout.

There are some things an interested owner should know about when taking a guinea pig as pet. Firstly, one should keep them in pairs or groups because lone guinea pigs are known to suffer from depression and stress.

It is recommended that one should buy a pair of female or a pair of male guinea pigs.

Secondly, owners should avoid cohousing guinea pigs with other rodents like hamsters to prevent possible contamination of respiratory and other infections. Meanwhile, breeds of guinea pigs that are suitable for domestication include the English shorthair, Texel, Peruvian and Sheltie breeds.

When selecting a guinea pig, one should not buy a panicky guinea pig and should choose the one that is active and alert. It is also important to check the condition of the skin and the coat of the guinea pig and to ensure that all guinea pigs in the cage are healthy before buying. Read the rest of this entry

The best home for your guinea pig

Always bear in mind that the bigger the cage, the better the condition of your guinea pig. For health and well-being regarding your guinea pig, it is important that you provide them a large living area as much as possible. There are cages that are easy and inexpensive as an alternative to the small cages used by breeders and those that are sold at your local pet stores.

The standard for a minimum cage is 7.5 or 10.5 square feet and you can see to it that your little pet’s behavior improves otherwise. You can deliberately enjoy new tricks of your happier, healthier, and much perkier guinea pigs when exposed to a proper environment.

Most panels are 14 inches square and allow the connector between the grids and one panel or cube is wider than a foot. It is important that you do not use grids with inner square spaces that are greater than 1.5 inches. Ensure that you are using the right kind. There are brands that have different size and will require you to measure differently or overlapping some grids using cable ties rather than connectors. Take note that you measure it twice, but cut it once.

There are also precautions that should be taken into consideration too. Babies, very young or very small guinea pigs, and pregnant mothers may require some temporary additional height that must be place on the sides of the cage. More so, any wire hay rack must be used with caution when it comes to very small guinea pigs.

There is also the old breeder-espoused cage standard that measures two or four square feet, but this no longer apply these days. The new standards set today have been proven over the years with worldwide adoption and success.

You might be asking why a big cage for your guinea pig is needed. Pet store-sized cages are glorified litter boxes. Animals should not be force to live in a litter box. Providing your cavy a bigger cage will promote exercise and exploration space that is very vital for their long-term health and happiness. Read the rest of this entry