Thanks for coming to my guinea pig page! I am glad to know that you share the same intrest in these sweet little animals as I do. On this page you will find lots of info about feeding, housing, handling, health care, and more....
Snacks-Guinea pigs also enjoy lots of variety in their diet. Providing them with fresh fruits and vegetables makes them happy and quite excited. My guinea pigs love lettuce, oranges, and tomatoes, however every guinea pigs tastes are different. Some guinea pigs may enjoy nibbling on oats or dandelions.
Bedding-
Lots of the fun of having a guinea pig is being able to hold him, pet him, and carry him around with you. The first thing you need to do is be quiet and move slowly. When you reach in and grab a guinea pig they become startled and scamper away, running and racing about the cage. Just stay calm and slowly reach into their cage with both hands, pet them a bit and lift them out gently. Remember, guinea pigs are gentle loving animals. If you are good to them they will provide you with a loving companion.
A healthy guinea pig has clear, bright eyes, a nice clean nose, and clean ears. A healthy pig also has a smooth shiny coat. The animal will be active and alert. To ensure good health your cavy should have a visit to the vet at least once a year.
Here are some possible illnesses you can look for in your pet:
Coccidiosis-This disease is caused by a protozoan parasite that lives in the intestines. It is not common and fairly easy to combat. The signs of coccidiosis are diarrhea, loss of appetite, and listlessness. The best way to get rid of this disease is to clean out your guinea pigs cage and wash it. Your vet can also give you some medicine to put in your pets food.
Diarrhea- This is the most common and potentially damaging cavy disease. It dehydrates your animal and could actualy result in death. It is caused by too much green in your guinea pigs diet. You can easily stop it by feeding your pet less lettuce and other leafy greens, and when you do feed them greens be sure they are crisp and fresh.
Metastatic Calification-This is a fancy title for a serious problem that can be solved. Calcium deposits build up in the guinea pigs internal organs, joints, and muscles. The guinea pig loses weight, has stiff joints, and often dies. This is caused by an imbalance of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus in the guinea pig. It is aggrivated by too much vitamin D. This is why good food is so important. Simply feeding your guinea pig a balanced diet will keep this disease out of your cavy.
Muscular Dystrophy- This is not common, and is preventable. Its signs are lameness, stiffness, and a refusal to move. It is due to a vitamin E deficiency. Guinea pigs are very sensative to low amounts of vitamin E. This is why you must feed your little pal a healthy diet!
Wasting Disease-This is the common name for an all too common ailment. It is a terrible sign for an owner or breeder. The guinea pig does seem to waste away. The animal drinks a lot of water. Its chin is usually wet, and its mouth often has a stong odor. The guinea pig drops weight, hunches up, loses condition, and gradually becomes weaker until death. This is apparently a kidney disease that is very serious. Wasting disease is incurable at this point in time.
Romeo & Stanley---Molly with her babies
Guinea pig lovers have visited this site since April 1998!
