Guinea Pigs As Pets

 Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are fun pets. They like to eat green peppers, oranges, romaine lettuce, parsley, spinach, carrots, plums and apples.

They must have 10 to 30 mg of Vitamin C everyday since they don't store it. They also eat plain guinea pig pellets, at least 1/4 cup per day but you can feed this free choice. They need an unlimited supply of timothy hay as well. This helps with their digestion.

And, of course, fresh water every day. Always change it even if its still full.

Another name for a guinea pig is cavy.

They can be housed in large cages with pure pine shavings (kiln-dried only). Other woods have additives which can be toxic and cause them respiratory problems.

They need exercise and a lot of attention. Putting two or more guinea pigs in one cage is not advised. They will fight and bite each other causing severe harm to each other.

Their front teeth grow continuously so they need to chew on wood sticks. They can be purchased at your local pet store. They should be natural with no paint on them.

Don't bathe your guinea pig. It washes away the natural oils and his/her skin will dry out.

If they get sick, always check with a veterinarian before medicating. Penicillin is toxic to them.

Their lifetime is relatively short, usually 5 years. Happy Pet Tips © 2015

About the Author

Writer and gourmet cook

 Phyllis Wasserman

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