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Fun with Guinea Pigs!

Posted in Pet Food choices, Small Animal Care Pointers | April 14th, 2011

Guinea pigs are lots of fun and not just for kids! Guinea pigs (also called Cavy or Cavies) are excellent pets for adults. You don’t have to worry about your pet being alone for too many hours because guinea pigs should live with at least one cavy companion. No walking required, and the cavies are nappers. This means they can be alert and ready to play at any time of the day. Vegans may find guinea pigs a great pet, too. The cavy diet is also vegan.

Generally, the guinea pig’s diet should consist of good-quality guinea pig pellets (not seeds) in a heavy bowl and lots of fresh hay daily in a hayrack. Most cavies do best using a water bottle, and it should be cleaned daily. They also require fresh green vegetables daily. Avoid giving your cavy corn, onions, leeks, wheat, dairy, meat, sugar, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, seeds, or nuts.

Occasionally provide a small bit of fresh fruit or carrot. Guinea pigs do not make their own Vitamin C and must have it in their diet, either fresh or with supplements (like Oasis Vita-drops). Lack of Vitamin C can be deadly.

Never use straw. The hard stems can cause eye and foot injuries and it is not edible. INSTEAD use hay. Make hay available at all times. The best for adult cavies is timothy hay or orchard grass. Alfalfa hay for pregnant or young cavies.

The Guinea Pig owner has lots of fun with their pets! There are six ways to have fun: guinea pig contests, ‘pignics,’ online forums, cavy shows, virtual events and volunteering. There are lots of website resources: http://www.guinealynx.info/, http://www.cavyspirit.com/, http://www.guineapigcages.com/, http://www.petfinder.com/, http://www.cavymadness.com/, and http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/guineapigexpert