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Anyone who has ever owned or cared for a guinea pig will tell you that they are an absolute joy to have around. People often only think of cats or dogs or birds when deciding on a pet, but guinea pigs are just about the best pets that anyone can have around.
As is the case with all animals, a well cared for guinea pig is a happy guinea pig. And a happy guinea pig can spread the love and really add a lot of value to its human family.
Food and A Healthy Diet
As far as dietary habits go, guinea pigs just love to eat! They are vegetarians and will spend all day foraging and consuming grass, hay and other available
plant foods.
Do not be concerned about this, it’s quite normal for any vegetarian animal to consume larger volumes than what they meat-eating counterparts do.
In order to ensure that your guinea pig ingests sufficient nutrients, consider supplementing his diet with pellets. Pellets are available at most pet stores and veterinarian hospitals. However, remember that guinea pigs cannot live on pellets alone, as the pellets often do not contain any Vitamin C.
To this end, there are many supplements available on the market. These come in liquid as well as in chewable treat form. Failure to supplement your guinea pig’s diet with Vitamin C
supplements can be fatal.
Hay is another vital part of your guinea pig’s diet. It provides the necessary roughage to keep the teeth worn down as well as satisfying your guinea pig’s need to chew. For a treat, be sure to include a helping of kiwi fruit, orange, melon or grapes.
Ensure that fresh water is available at all times.
Habitat
Just like you, your guinea pig needs a home that is safe and free from danger to be happy. The perfect home for a guinea pig includes a roomy cage with ample hiding areas, soft bedding, toys, and of course, feeding supplies.
Cages must be constructed of guinea pig friendly metals or steel.
Guineas are chewers, so plastic and wood will not be suitable. The cage must always have a solid bottom insert, in order to protect the feet of the guinea pig. Mesh bottoms will cause injuries.
It’s also important to take note of the fact that guinea pigs are quite sensitive to extreme temperatures.
Keeping your guinea pig’s cage in a space where temperatures exceed 75 degrees will be fatal to your animal. Also, the cage must be well ventilated but not in an area that will cause a draft. This will cause your guinea pig to be uncomfortable and even to fall ill often.
Illness
When a guinea pig does fall ill, its health can deteriorate very quickly. They are sensitive creatures and it’s therefore very important to keep a close eye on their general condition. Signs that all isn’t well may include hair loss, sneezing, and coughing or even diarrhoea.
There’s no need to give up on any of your existing pleasures like enjoying
casino no deposit promotions or going to the movies, but be sure to always be on the look-out for any general ailments.
