Pet Guinea Pigs – Nathan and Sparky
Hi there,
Meet my two favorite boys, Nathan and Sparky, my pet guinea pigs. These two are pretty much the center of attention in my family. They are lovable little creatures. Just look how cute they are!
Nathan |
Sparky |
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Guinea pigs make great family pets. Kids love them. Nathan and Sparky provide hours of fun and entertainment for my son. I thought I would share some care tips with you with through this blog I made. It is my first very blog. It has been both a challenge and fun making it. I hope you like the pictures.
In there natural homelands wild guinea pigs eat leaves, stems and seeds of different kinds of grasses. For my boys I feed them fresh grass (from the backyard), hay, pellets and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Guinea pigs are creatures of habit. They like to fed at a regular time twice a day. If you stick to a routine your pet guinea pig will probably come out of its hidey-hole to greet you with squeaks little grunting sounds when it is hungry. My boys have amazing ears and know when it is meal time, even before I do.
To stay healthy guinea pigs need food which contains the goodness of vitamin C. Cavies do not store or produce vitamin C naturally so you need to provide foods high in vitamin C. Carrots, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli are perfect.
Guinea pigs love vegetables, especially carrots. Watching piggies nibble their food is quite entertaining and funny. Children love it. Sometimes my piggies will carry a special treat, such a s a piece of carrot, away from the feeding dish and find a quiet corner to eat it in. So cute.
To stay healthy guinea pigs need food which contains the goodness of vitamin C. Cavies do not store or produce vitamin C naturally so you need to provide foods high in vitamin C. Carrots, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli are perfect.
Fresh hay is important for their diet. They need it ,will nibble on grass and hey throughout the day and night. Not only is it healthy hteir digestive system and teeth, but nibbling hey keeps them entertained.
Cavies can be kept inside or outside, as long as the hutch is not in a draught. But I really believe you should keep them indoors. I would never house my pet piggies outdoors. Keeping them outdoors exposes them to predators such as snakes, foxes and bad weather, and the sun. Make your pet piggies real members of the family and house them indoors. You can get really creative and make a “fun house”. In the photo below you can see we have used a antique coffee table to make a split level home for our piggies. Only the best for Nathan and Sparky. Never ever keep a guinea pig in a garage. Car fumes will make it sick and can cause death.
For bedding you can use newspapers, old towels and blankets or a little cat bed. Bedding should be changed at least once a week if you are housing two or more. The food bowl and water bottle should be washed and dried at the same time. Check the cages water bottle to make sure the opening has not become clogged with bits of chewed food. Replace water daily
If one of guinea pigs is ever sick, the cage and everything in it should be scrubbed with hot water and an insecticidal wash.
I hope you found these tips useful. If you are going to get a guinea pig please adopt. Shelter managers work so hard to find good homes. Get you kids involved and house them indoors. If you want to learn more about caring for guinea pigs get this very helpful and informative guinea pig care guide.
