Basic Care For Cavies

• GET THE RIGHT CAGE-First I would like to point out NOT to use rabbit cages for guinea pigs!! I learned my lesson. The bottom wire on rabbit cages are not made for cavies. Cavies have small toes that can go THROUGH the wire, and it makes them panic, resulting in a broken toe(s), or even worse, a dislocated hip. My first Abyssinian broke her toe on a wire cage, which made her unshowable.
• FEED THE RIGHT FOOD-Some people feed their cavies rabbit food. This is fine, as long as you feed extra Vitamin C. Guinea Pigs need Vitamin C, or they will have a disease called Alopecia, which is a disease where they lose all their fur because of a Vitamin C difficiency. Cavies cannot produce Vitamin C like many other animals can, so it is critical that you provide it for them. Most guinea pig feed has a little Vitamin C in it, but I STRONGLY recommend that you give them more besides that.
• WATER BOTTLES AND FEEDERS-Most people water their cavies with gravity-flow water bottles, which prevents diseases from forming. If cavies had their water in a cup on the floor, they are most likely to spill it, or find it useful for their bathroom.(haha)Algae and other harmful bacteria can form in their dish, making them sick when they drink. Gravity-flow bottles are the best way to water you cavies. They are relatively cheap, usually under $5.00.(Or if you are a breeder and need lots of bottles, catalogs usually give discounts) There are many things that you can use for a feeder. Some people use hay feeders for rabbits, and others use cups or dishes. This is fine, as long as the food doesn't spill on the floor. If the cavies eat off of the floor of their cage, they could get very sick.
• KEEPING THEM HEALTHY-It is important to keep cavies healthy. The vet bill can be VERY expensive. One time, not too long ago, my cavies kept dying and I didn't know why. I finally took one to the vet. I found out that it was a bacterial infection, and that it is highly contagious. The vet bill was $51.00 for an office visit, 1 injection of Vitamin C, and $8.00 worth of medicine. They key to keeping cavies healthy is to never let them get sick!! :o)

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