Introduction
When it comes to taking the right steps in caring for your guinea pig, you piggy lovers want the best you have to offer them. And we guinea pig owners know that there will be some ups and downs. Taking mental notes, watching your guinea pig carefully, and seeing what they like are just a few of the big responsibilities you have as a guinea pig owner. You must also clean their cage, give them the right diet and exercise, and bathe them. Here are some tips, and easy step-by-step instructions to help first time--and experienced--piggy owners.
CLICK HERE for a printable copy of a Daily/Weekly Check List for you!
Visit the FOOD page for everything you need to know on your pig's food.
Visit the CAGES page for everything you need to know about keeping your pig in a cage.
Visit the SOS page for emergency situations and what to do, including how to bond with your pig.
Visit the IS MY GUINEA SICK? page for help if you might think your pig is sick.
Health at a Glance
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Behavior Test: Stick your hand inside the cage. If your Guinea Pig runs for their house, that's perfectly normal. After a little while though, curiosity should get the better of their fear. The guinea pigs should stick their noses out the the box and have a look around to see what's up.
How your cage should look > The cage must be large and clean. A thick layer of small animal bedding is essential for keeping guine apigs. > Ventilation must be good. > Water and a hay rach must be available in the cage. > It's important to give them twigs and branches to chew on. > In a large herd, the animals need several houses. |
Holding your Guinea pig
Holding your guinea pig is very important if you don't want broken bones, hurt backs, etc. So here's some tips that can help you correctly handle your Guinea Pig(s).
Cleaning their cage just got a whole lot easier.
A easy, simple, inexpensive way to make cleaning your guinea pigs cage quicker.
Take some left over newspaper you find around the house. You can even just got out and buy some!
Before you put bedding into your guinea pig(s) cage, lie newspaper down on the bottom. Make sure you fill mostly all of the gaps and the newspapers are overlapping eachother.
Now fill the cage with bedding, overtop of the newspaper. When its time for the next cleaning, just roll it up and toss it!
If you have trouble rolling up the newspaper, put more layers of it on the bottom to keep it from falling apart.
Tip for the heat
I have a great idea for keeping cool in the heat. That idea is to get a sock and a water bottle. Fill the water bottle with 95% ice and 5% really cold water. Screw the water bottle's lid on tight, and put it in the sock. Now put it in your piggy's cage. They love lying next to it and on top of it! After about 6-7 hour's, though, refill the water bottle again. My piggies ADORE this!
-Heather F.
(pictures to the right and bottom) Regular water bottles work just as great, but canteens work just as well. So if you don't have a water bottle on hand, check to see if you have any type of closed-lid bottle.
WARNING: Make sure your bottle doesn't have any chewable plastic on it; your guinea pig could accidentally swallow this. |
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A Potty Box!!
Want a way to reduce your Guinea Pig's waste by 30% less? A Potty Box can help. I even have one, and I can say it really works. And so you can join in, here's the litter that has worked the best for me:
Click here for a bigger picture.
. . . and hey, here's a helpful Potty Box to go with it. To see a bigger picture click here.
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Here's a helpful tip for bathing you guinea pig: Does your guinea pig splash water all over the bathroom in a desperate attempt to escape the water? Then place a towel around the sink so when the water splashes, it hits the towel...not the floor. You can even take a washcloth and put it int the sink. That way less slipping, and more washing. |
Bathing Your Guinea Pig in 3 Easy Steps
Once every month, you should bathe your Guinea Pig. This is important in keeping your Guinea Pig healthy, happy, and clean. Visit the videos page to watch a video tutorial on how to bathe your pig, also.
- Start by filling a bathroom sink with warm water. Try not to make it too hot. Place your Guinea Pig in the water and gently pour water over its body avoiding his/her head.
- Now add a little bit of shampoo to its fur depending on the size of your guineapig. (I recommend buying Guinea Pig shampoo/small animal shampoo, but if you can't, then use baby shampoo, or tear-free kids shampoo.) And Gently massage into fur. Make sure to get their stomachs and chests.
- Pour water over its body until all soap is gone. Again, try to avoid its head. Take your Guinea Pig out of the water and place him/her on a small towel, or wash cloth. Now, dry your Guinea Pig thoroughly,(its ok if she's still a little damp), and place her back in her back in her cage.
*For Long Haired Guinea Pigs, you should blow dry your Guinea Pig dry with a hairdryer on low, on the cool setting.*
Children and Guinea Pigs
- RESPECT Teach your children consideration, respect, and love for the animals
- PROPER TREATMENT Show your children how they must treat their guinea pigs.
- CARE Make sure that the guinea pigs are fed regularly and that their cage is clean.
- TRUST Guinea pigs easily form a bond with their little friends and become tame relatively quickly.
- HARMLESS Guinea pigs do not bit or defend themselves; instead, they run away when they've had enough.
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