A green mark has been tattooed in your rabbit or guinea pigs left ear to indicate desexing. Many guinea pig health problems are preventable with proper diet and care. Owners can also help to minimize the risk by housing the guinea pig alone while recovering and changing the bedding twice daily to keep the environment very clean. Below are a few fun and interesting facts about guinea pigs you may not already know. Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorinefree water, changed daily.
Vanderlip was first introduced to guinea pigs as a child, when she owned and raised cavies as a hobby. Here at the animal welfare league qld, we are very proud of our guinea pig adoption program and the way in which our piggies are cared. Pet care guides for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and small mammals. Find guinea pigs available for rehoming and adoption. Getting a new pet is exciting, but also a little daunting. Keeping and caring for a pet guinea pig the spruce. Shelters have guinea pigs more often than you might think. Grooming is a vital part of the routine care of guinea pigs. Recognized sounds emitted by cavies have been defined as chatter, whistle, chirp, grunt and squeal to name a few. Learn everything you need to look after your new pets with our comprehensive guide to guinea pig care. Aug 19, 2010 a happy, healthy guinea pig can live for up to 10 years, so with good care your little friend will be around for a nice long time.
This web page contains basic information for the care of guinea pigs. They are rodents that are native to the andes mountain region of south america. The other name for a guinea pig is cavy which is the short version of their official name cavia porcellus. Children love these care sheets it helps them feel a sense of responsibility for their pets. Require 30 to 50 mg of vitamin c daily from highquality food, vitamin supplements or fruits and vegetables high in vitamin c. The average weight of a guinea pig ranges from 500900 grams 12 pounds. I had often heard people talk about the guinea pig family pet guide by peter gurney. Guinea pigs are generally hardy animals but are subject to a few common health problems. However, handbooks have a larger page count and with it, more extensive and detailed coverage of each titles subject pet. Guinea pigs mostly eat hay, supplemented by pellets, vegetables and fruit. This updated edition for guinea pig owners provides a wealth of information on the animals anatomy and life cycle, plus advice. Pet health care booklets little critters veterinary hospital. The most common types of guinea pigs are the english or american shorthair, the peruvian longhaired, and the abyssinian swirled hair. Like any pet, youll notice that guinea pigs have adorable quirks and can be very energetic, though a little less than mice or hamsters.
An identification microchip has been implanted under. Guinea lynx pamphlet and translations this concise brochure is available to anyone to download and distribute without cost pending email notification see bottom of page. Bianca zaffarano, with iowa state universitys lloyd veterinary medical center, discusses having. Smaller pets are easier to care fortake less work than cats or dogs. What every new pet owner needs is a source of instant knowledge, immediate answers to a range of vital questions. This is a great way to give a guinea pig a second chance at life. Female guinea pigs reach sexual maturity at four to five. Guinea pig day care is for when you go on holiday and your guinea pig or pigs are left in our excellent hands. The guinea pig handbook the information you need to keep your guinea pig happy and healthy from the time of their domestication thousands of years ago in south america, cavies have made their way into the hearts and homes of people of all ages and from around the world. My documentszoe fileseducation guinea pig info introduction congratulations on the adoption of your guinea pig.
Keep in mind, however, that what works best in a home isnt necessarily what works best in a shelter environment. In 60 short pages, the book provides tothepoint information and. How to care for guinea pigs with pictures wikihow pet. If you are willing to give your guinea pig a good home with proper food, attention, living space, grooming, and. Pellets have a tendency to cause guinea pigs to gain weight, so watch your pets weight carefully and adjust the amount you are feeding if they are getting overweight. The scientific name of the guinea pig is cavia porcellus and is where the other common name cavy originates. Guinea pigs aspca pet care guides for kids mark evans on. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Take your guinea pig to a vet a few days after coming home, then schedule checkups once a year. We discuss how to keep your guinea pig outside in the winter and the summer, the best temperatures for your guinea pig, and what else you should be thinking about. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents with stout bodies and are kept as pets by many people all over the country. Caring for your guinea pig involves providing the proper diet, housing, and toys, and having the right supplies to clean up after your small pet. The commitment required in caring for a guinea pig includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the guinea pig but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the guinea pig becomes ill which can be costly. This accessible book is a simple guide for junior animal lovers on how best to look. Mar 04, 2015 guinea pigs are typically a popular thought when it comes to childrens pets for a number of reasons. Pet handbooks are written, designed, and illustrated in much the same attractive style as b.
Her fondness for these gentle, affectionate animals persists, and she is is dedicated to providing them quality health care. However we strongly recommend that you have your new rabbit or guinea pig examined. Top 10 best guinea pig care guide for beginners updated 2020. Whether youre taking a guinea pig home for your kids or for yourself, the act of bringing one into your life requires the same due diligence that taking any other pet home would. If you have any concerns about your guinea pigs health, seek your vets advice.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading guinea pig care secrets. Guinea pigs can make excellent pets for both adults and children. Providing loving care to all dogs, cats and exotic pets. Care of the pet guinea pig native to south america, the guinea pig is a lively, lovable rodent that requires relatively easy care. It is a book that is beloved by guinea pig owners and many have said it is one of the best out there. Mar 29, 2016 pellets have a tendency to cause guinea pigs to gain weight, so watch your pets weight carefully and adjust the amount you are feeding if they are getting overweight. From the different breeds of guinea pig to consider, like the american, silkie, peruvian or teddy guinea pig, to their proper care and maintenance, theres a lot to know before adding one to your family. Includes 12 care sheets, checklists and health record sheets to make your daily guinea pig routine easier. This page contains general information about guinea pig care. Guinea pigs from shelters might be a little more skittish at first if they were not handled much while they were young, but most will settle down in. Each of our pet care charts is designed with a specific pet in mind. The most frequently seen issues with pet guinea pigs are respiratory infections, diarrhea, scurvy from a vitamin c deficiency, tumors, abscesses due to infection, urinary problems, and infestations by lice, mites, or fungus. This new series of guides provides answers to all those common questions in a brilliantly accessible form. Guinea pigs are small pets, but they require plenty of space, time, effort, and human interaction.
Showing how happy he is that you are going to color him. Print and fold our little guinea pig booklet and use it to store interesting facts, or make notes on how to care for a pet guinea pig. Print and fold this little hamster booklet perfect for doodles and to do lists. Guinea pig manual topics are available on the main menu. Many guinea pig owners can attest to the delightful scream of their guinea pig as they reach for the refrigerator door handle or a box of treats. Guinea pigs as a childs pet calgary humane society. Color the adorable guinea pig in this coloring page while teaching your kids about his. Little critters need checkups just like any other family pets. Guinea pig booklet little critters veterinary hospital gilbert az. Guinea pigs are happiest when with other guinea pigs, so many pet care books urge owners to keep two or more together. If an abscess does occur it is lanced and draineddebrided and the pet is placed on antibiotics.
Petcos resource center is filled with information compiled from animal care experts and veterinarians to help you find the answers you need to support your pets overall wellness. A descendant of the wild guinea pigs of south america, todays domesticated guinea pig is viewed by many as an easypet for children. Guinea pigs guinea pigs welfare tips, advice, health. Guinea pig booklet little critters veterinary hospital. They enclosure will get cleaned every day, they will get fed high quality food. Despite their common name, guinea pigs are not native to guinea, nor are they biologically related to pigs, and the origin of the name is still unclear. Buy this as part of a pets craft and activities bundle guinea pig, gerbil, hamster, dog and cat and save. The long haired guinea pigs will get brushed every day and the. Hamster, guinea pig and gerbil pet writing and craft activity to make to enhance any unit on pets and animals. Photo by maskarade purchasing a guinea pig cage in a pet shop is unfortunately a good way to ensure that it is in fact too small for your pets needs. Guinea pigs are typically a popular thought when it comes to childrens pets for a number of reasons. Take your guinea pig for a checkup if it displays any of these symptoms. Recording your guinea pigs weight and medical treatments is a valuable tool for monitoring your pets health. Buy care for your guinea pig rspca pet guide new edition by rspca isbn.
The guinea pig or cavy pronounced kayvee is a member of the rodent family. The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig cavia porcellus, also known as cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family caviidae and the genus cavia. Guinea pigs from shelters might be a little more skittish at first if they were not handled much while they were young, but most will settle down in their new homes once a routine is established. It is up to you how you look after your guinea pig, but you must take reasonable steps to ensure that you meet all their needs. Download rspca small animal care handbook rspca victoria. Owning and caring for guinea pigs can be very rewarding, but its a big. Six record sheets treatment on one side, weight on the other are included in the cavy health record book, a handy reference, summarizing much of the information available on this site. Take your guinea pig for a checkup if it displays any of these. Shop guinea pig food guinea pig behavior, sounds and personality. A happy, healthy guinea pig can live for up to 10 years, so with good care your little friend will be around for a nice long time.
They also include useful information for making sure your guinea pigs are happy and healthy. Bianca zaffarano, with iowa state universitys lloyd veterinary medical center, discusses having guinea pigs as pets. Immanuel birmelin and part of barrons complete pet owners manual series. Highquality guinea pig food, timothy hay and limited amounts of vegetables and fruits. They are affectionate and gentle animals and will bond well with their owners when handled often. Soon enough, parents and children discover that this new companion animal requires substantially more care than the childs favorite stuffed toy. The guinea pig was first domesticated as early as 5000 bc for food by tribes in the andean region of south america the presentday southern part of colombia, ecuador, peru, and bolivia, some thousands of years after the domestication of the south american camelids. Recording your guinea pig s weight and medical treatments is a valuable tool for monitoring your pet s health.
Guinea pig daily viewing recommended for mood elevation learn about taking care of guinea pigs. Males females horselover21992 males and females year old to babies and all different colors call 540 8545123 nick min. Educating our clients so that they can be actively involved in their pets health means their pets are healthier and living longer. As with any pet, keeping a guinea pig requires a commitment to care for it during its life which could be 48 years or longer. Our charts should serve as a weekly care guide but not a complete care guide. Shopping list for needed supplies guinea pig pellets food bowl wood chews water bottle vitamin c supplement appropriate sized cage pine shavings or appropriate litter no cedar timothy hay guinea pig treats book. Generally, an adult guinea pig should eat no more than. There are some people love to have a guinea pig as a pet to take care. Guinea pig fact file life span 59 years size up to 25cm diet hay, veggies and guinea pig. They originated in the andes of south america, and studies based on. Petcos resource center is filled with information compiled from animal care experts and veterinarians to help you find the answers you need to support your pet s overall wellness. Longhaired varieties need daily grooming as their coats can quickly become matted and uncomfortable. Guinea pigs are intelligent, charismatic and most importantly adorable little friends to introduce into your family.
We have researched some of the more common household pets and their dailyweekly care requirements. Today, we are busting some common guinea pig myths and looking at a few of the reasons that a parent might consider a guinea pig for a pet. The andean indians of peru first domesticated the guinea pig and used them as a food source and a sacrificial offering to the incan gods. There is some information that isnt the best idea like wheels but i dont hold it against the book. They will enjoy checking off daily tasks and keeping a log of their guinea pigs health, vet appointments. Rescues, pet stores, and new pet owners will find great advice for getting a guinea pig off to a good start.
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