(E.B.W.) Critter Corner: June 10/2020

Feature:

Do Guinea Pigs Make Good Pets?

“Guinea pigs are sweet, easygoing & quite cute. However, before you go out & adopt one, make sure that you ask the right questions so that you know for certain whether you should.

How long do guinea pigs live as pets?

Guinea pigs have a longer life span than other small pets like rats, hamsters, & gerbils. Guinea pigs can live 5 to 7 years. If you are moving, this is definitely a good pet to transport, & much easier to travel with than cats or dogs…

What do guinea pigs eat?

To keep your guinea pig happy & healthy, you need to make sure that they have a well-balanced herbivore diet. You should be regularly feeding your guinea pig:

1.) Pellets: You can easily find veterinarian-approved commercial guinea pig pellets in your local pet store. They provide vitamins & minerals that your guinea pig will need to feel their best.

2.) Timothy hay: That's right, your guinea pig likes to have a little hay in their diet so that it gets the right amount of fiber. Hay also help your guinea pig wear down their teeth. (Fun fact: guinea pig teeth grow continually.) Just make sure that you are buying clean, fresh-smelling, high-quality hay that is free of mold, or you could make your cute little friend ill.

3.) Vegetables: The Humane Society recommends that you feed your guinea pig one cup of fresh veggies throughout the day in small individual amounts. Your guinea pig can eat:

Cucumber ,broccoli, artichoke, lettuce, kale, peas, & carrot tops

Just make sure that these vegetables are well-washed & not served cold (it might be too cold for those tiny tummies). Carrots & sweet potato can be added once to twice a week (since they are higher in sugar & might cause diabetes if eaten too often).

How much space do guinea pigs need?

Guinea pigs are not as into climbing & digging as their other rodent counterparts, & rely heavily on floor space. If you have one guinea pig, you should have a minimum of 7.5 square foot cage. 30" by 36" is a good size. If you have 2 guinea pigs, 10.5 square feet is the size you should get. You should give their cage an intense cleaning at least once a week, & do light cleaning every few days. Make sure that your guinea pigs' cage is located in a quiet, calm place in the house, & give them cozy items & soft wood chips to snuggle into…

What are guinea pig personalities like?

Guinea pigs are social, active creatures. It is best to get 2 guinea pigs because if a guinea pig is alone a great deal of the time, it can get lonely…

Make sure that you have time to spend with your guinea pigs & that you take them out of their cage to explore, cuddle, & stretch their little legs. Guinea pigs are generally pretty quiet but do make a whistling squeaking sound when they are excited or scared or... feel like it. So if you want a quiet home, know that a guinea pig will liven it up quite a bit with its squeaks & whistles.

Can you train a guinea pig?

You can train a guinea pig to do simple commands using treats. Guinea pigs can learn how to come when called, know their name, stand up, go in circles, or even jump through a hoop! Your guinea pig can even learn to use a litter box! So have fun using treats & gentle words of encouragement as you teach your guinea pig all these fun tricks.

How to bond with your guinea pig

Guinea pigs love to play & cuddle. You can gently stroke their fur & groom them. With short-haired guinea pigs, you can groom them once a week, but if you have a long-haired guinea pig they will need daily grooming, so be sure to incorporate that into your quality time. Make sure to have toys like balls, pet tunnels, & other fun guinea pig toys you can find in your local pet store. You can also hand-feed your guinea pig treats to build trust.

…If you make sure to play with your guinea pig for at least half an hour a day, you & your guinea pig will be bonded.

If all of these answers seem like they would fit your lifestyle, then a guinea pig might be just the pet for you!”