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Dancerocks66   Fluff   Animalavenger  
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 #2068972


Dancerocks66
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 I might be getting a Guinea Pig!!!

I have a cage and bedding for when I get one.
And I know some basic things they eat.
But what is a list of some?


Thank you!



09/07/09  07:18pm

 #2069305


Fluff
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   Message To: Dancerocks66   In reference to Message Id: 2068972


 I might be getting a Guinea Pig!!!

Ok here’s where I can help. You will need Timothy Hay. I use Oxbo brand. I get it at Petsmart. They need fresh hay all day long to feed on. You will need a good form of pellets. Make sure you do not get food with seeds and corn in it. Even though it says for Guinea pigs it is not good for them. They can choke on the seeds and corn. Get pellets that are Vitamin C fortified. It should state on the bag. Their bodies can not produce vitamin C so as an owner you need to supply it for them. Lack of Vitamin C causes scurvy which is very painful for them. No need for Vitamin C drops. Those are a waste of money. Also they need fresh veggies high in Vitamin C. Look it up on google and you will find lists of do’s and don’ts. There are so many veggies out there. Stay away from cabbage, brocoli and other gassy veggies. Fruits can be given but just not frequently as they are high in sugar. I give my piggy 1 cup of fresh veggies a day. I buy the Spring Salad mix in the bag. Ok I think I covered it all. Let me know if you have any other questions. Just for fun here is a picture of my Chirpy.



09/08/09  01:01pm

 #2085912


Animalavenger
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   Message To: Fluff   In reference to Message Id: 2069305


 I might be getting a Guinea Pig!!!

You’ll need:
-Non-alfalfa guinea pig pellets without any seeds
-Timothy hay. There are other hays you can use, too, but some aren’t good for feeding every day. An example of a hay you shouldn’t feed every day is alfalfa. They can, however, have alfalfa as a treat every once in a while. The reason guinea pigs need hay is that they are grazing herd animals. They need to chew hay all the time to keep their teeth from over-growing and to get enough fiber in their diet.
-Vegetables. Romaine lettuce (NOT ice berg,) carrots, and many more vegetables should be provided daily for your guinea pig. This is to ensure your guinea pig gets enough Vitamin C and doesn’t get scurvy. Many pellets do contain Vitamin C, but this Vitamin C often seeps out of the pellets after a while.
-Do NOT feed your guinea pigs animal products AT ALL. They are strict vegetarians and can possibly die from consuming animal products.
-A decent-sized cage. I recommend building a C&C cage. There are directions at www.cavycages.com
-Another friend. Guinea pigs are highly social herd animals. Without a friend, they may become very bored, especially if you aren’t around them all day. Be sure to not mix males and females up; breeding can be very dangerous, especially if you do not know what you’re doing. This is why it’s important to know how to check the genders of your guinea pigs. Sometimes pet stores don’t even know what you’re doing, and you’ll have to check yourself even if a pet store employee tells you what the supposed gender is.
-A scale. It is best to weigh your guinea pig weekly. This can help you tell if your guinea pig is sick, because they often lose weight when they become ill. 3 oz + of weightloss is a significant sign that your guinea pig may be sick.
-A [b]reputable[/b] vet. Careful which vet you go to. Sometimes, even supposed "small animal vets" do not know what they’re doing with guinea pigs.

I HIGHLY recommend Guinea Lynx as a care website. They have tons of guinea pig info, including what you need. They also tell you what not to do.

www.guinealynx.info
10/19/09  01:17pm


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