Difference between revisions of "Help Your Guinea Pig Live a Long Life"
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#* Place the cage in a room with stable temperature. Guinea pigs can't stand high temperatures, drops or increases. | #* Place the cage in a room with stable temperature. Guinea pigs can't stand high temperatures, drops or increases. | ||
#* Bed the floor of the cage with guinea-pig bedding bought at the pet shop. Change it regularly so your guinea pig doesn’t live in its own feces. | #* Bed the floor of the cage with guinea-pig bedding bought at the pet shop. Change it regularly so your guinea pig doesn’t live in its own feces. | ||
| − | #Install a food station and a water dispenser. Food and water dispensers for guinea pigs are widely available online and in pet shops. Look for a sturdy model and make sure that it’s big enough to feed the number of animals you own. Place them in an accessible place.<ref>http://www.guineapigmanual.com/guinea-pig-health/</ref> | + | #Install a food station and a water dispenser. Food and water dispensers for guinea pigs are widely available online and in pet shops. Look for a sturdy model and make sure that it’s big enough to feed the number of animals you own. Place them in an accessible place.<ref name="rf1">http://www.guineapigmanual.com/guinea-pig-health/</ref> |
#* Give them something to chew on. Guinea pigs need to keep their teeth down. If you leave a piece of wood from an apple tree or any other orchard wood, your animal will be able to use its teeth safely. | #* Give them something to chew on. Guinea pigs need to keep their teeth down. If you leave a piece of wood from an apple tree or any other orchard wood, your animal will be able to use its teeth safely. | ||
#* You might not see your guinea pig drinking often. It’s perfectly normal as they also extract water from vegetable matter. | #* You might not see your guinea pig drinking often. It’s perfectly normal as they also extract water from vegetable matter. | ||
#* Don’t use anything else than orchard wood or a chewing threat from a pet-shop. Other types of wood can be toxic and could kill your pet. | #* Don’t use anything else than orchard wood or a chewing threat from a pet-shop. Other types of wood can be toxic and could kill your pet. | ||
| − | #Add a few toys. Guinea pigs are playful animal and welcome intellectual stimulation. You should be able to find ready-made toys, such as balls or tunnels, in most pet shops. You can also try to make your own<ref>https://www.wikihow.com/Entertain-Your-Guinea-Pig</ref>. Here are a few ideas: | + | #Add a few toys. Guinea pigs are playful animal and welcome intellectual stimulation. You should be able to find ready-made toys, such as balls or tunnels, in most pet shops. You can also try to make your own<ref name="rf2">https://www.wikihow.com/Entertain-Your-Guinea-Pig</ref>. Here are a few ideas: |
#* Try putting fruits and vegetables on a string and hang them from the cage. | #* Try putting fruits and vegetables on a string and hang them from the cage. | ||
#* Build a little cardboard house where your guinea pig can play. | #* Build a little cardboard house where your guinea pig can play. | ||
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=== Taking Good Care Of The Guinea Pig === | === Taking Good Care Of The Guinea Pig === | ||
| − | #Provide a balanced diet. The foundation of your guinea pig’s diet should be grass hay. It’s a good source of fibres and keeps teeth down. It’s important to let the animal have constant access to the grass hay and to other sources of food. <ref>http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/hay.html</ref> | + | #Provide a balanced diet. The foundation of your guinea pig’s diet should be grass hay. It’s a good source of fibres and keeps teeth down. It’s important to let the animal have constant access to the grass hay and to other sources of food. <ref name="rf3">http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/hay.html</ref> |
| − | #* Guinea pig food as sold in pet shops is heavily debated. Avoid food with large concentration of calcium, a potential cause of urinary infection. Also avoid muesli<ref>http://www.pfma.org.uk/guinea-pigs-nutritional-requirements</ref> | + | #* Guinea pig food as sold in pet shops is heavily debated. Avoid food with large concentration of calcium, a potential cause of urinary infection. Also avoid muesli<ref name="rf4">http://www.pfma.org.uk/guinea-pigs-nutritional-requirements</ref> |
#* There are several types of grass hay. You can find them in pet shops or at equestrian centers. Put the hay apart from the bedding. You don’t want your animal to eat and go to the toilets at the same place. | #* There are several types of grass hay. You can find them in pet shops or at equestrian centers. Put the hay apart from the bedding. You don’t want your animal to eat and go to the toilets at the same place. | ||
#* Fresh, preferably organic, well washed (you can use a commercial vegetable wash or water and vinegar mix, rinse well after) leafy greens are a treat for guinea pigs. These include green leaf lettuce, escarole, red leaf lettuce, cilantro, and curly endive. You can give a few strawberries and pieces of apple but don't exaggerate. Guinea pigs are prone to obesity! | #* Fresh, preferably organic, well washed (you can use a commercial vegetable wash or water and vinegar mix, rinse well after) leafy greens are a treat for guinea pigs. These include green leaf lettuce, escarole, red leaf lettuce, cilantro, and curly endive. You can give a few strawberries and pieces of apple but don't exaggerate. Guinea pigs are prone to obesity! | ||
| − | #* Look for food enhanced with C, as Guinea pigs can't produce it themselves. They also need high levels of vitamin A, which can be found in carrots.<ref | + | #* Look for food enhanced with C, as Guinea pigs can't produce it themselves. They also need high levels of vitamin A, which can be found in carrots.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#* Change the water daily to avoid bacterial infection. | #* Change the water daily to avoid bacterial infection. | ||
| − | #* Avoid potatoes, rhubarb, tomato leaves and flowers. They are poisonous to guinea pigs.<ref | + | #* Avoid potatoes, rhubarb, tomato leaves and flowers. They are poisonous to guinea pigs.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#Introduce a new friend. Guinea pigs are very sociable and will love company. Keep guinea pigs of the same sex or already spayed/neutered pairs. Guinea pigs are social animals but they aren’t above fights. | #Introduce a new friend. Guinea pigs are very sociable and will love company. Keep guinea pigs of the same sex or already spayed/neutered pairs. Guinea pigs are social animals but they aren’t above fights. | ||
#* Introduce a new guinea pig slowly. If you find that your guinea pigs are fighting, separate them with a wire shelf, which allows them to see and smell each other, but prevents them from fighting. | #* Introduce a new guinea pig slowly. If you find that your guinea pigs are fighting, separate them with a wire shelf, which allows them to see and smell each other, but prevents them from fighting. | ||
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#* Most veterinarians will take care of your pet but a few specialise only in guinea pigs. Look for them on the internet or in the phone book. | #* Most veterinarians will take care of your pet but a few specialise only in guinea pigs. Look for them on the internet or in the phone book. | ||
#* Bring your guinea pig for a check-up at least twice a year. | #* Bring your guinea pig for a check-up at least twice a year. | ||
| − | #* Your veterinarian will probably recommend to neuter your male guinea pig during the first visit. This might cost a bit of money but will make your guinea pig quieter and happier in an enclosed environment.<ref>http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/guineapigs/health</ref> | + | #* Your veterinarian will probably recommend to neuter your male guinea pig during the first visit. This might cost a bit of money but will make your guinea pig quieter and happier in an enclosed environment.<ref name="rf5">http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/guineapigs/health</ref> |
#* The veterinarian will also treat the animal for external and internal parasites such as worms. | #* The veterinarian will also treat the animal for external and internal parasites such as worms. | ||
| − | #Constantly check for injuries. Older guinea pigs sometimes have feet wounds. If this happens, see a veterinary surgeon and get softer bedding or spread out a soft cloth at the bottom of the cage. Observe your guinea pig actions. If anything seems wrong, don't take too long to act. A small infection can be lethal.<ref> http://www.guineapigmanual.com/guinea-pig-health/</ref> | + | #Constantly check for injuries. Older guinea pigs sometimes have feet wounds. If this happens, see a veterinary surgeon and get softer bedding or spread out a soft cloth at the bottom of the cage. Observe your guinea pig actions. If anything seems wrong, don't take too long to act. A small infection can be lethal.<ref name="rf6"> http://www.guineapigmanual.com/guinea-pig-health/</ref> |
#* Don’t forget to cut the nails of your guinea pigs as they might be a cause of injury. Remember to be gentle. | #* Don’t forget to cut the nails of your guinea pigs as they might be a cause of injury. Remember to be gentle. | ||
#* Don't give them medicine unless prescribed by a veterinarian. You might kill your guinea pig. | #* Don't give them medicine unless prescribed by a veterinarian. You might kill your guinea pig. | ||
| − | #Be on the look-out for worrying symptoms. If you notice crusty or swollen eyes, dandruff, inflamed ears or nose or irregular breathing, call immediately your veterinarian. You should also bring your guinea pig if it’s behaving erratically or if you notice anything uncommon.<ref | + | #Be on the look-out for worrying symptoms. If you notice crusty or swollen eyes, dandruff, inflamed ears or nose or irregular breathing, call immediately your veterinarian. You should also bring your guinea pig if it’s behaving erratically or if you notice anything uncommon.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#* Check their front teeth. Only veterinarians should take care of overgrown teeth. | #* Check their front teeth. Only veterinarians should take care of overgrown teeth. | ||
#* Their life expectancy can vary a lot. They can live between four and eight years. | #* Their life expectancy can vary a lot. They can live between four and eight years. | ||
