Hheeellllppppp!!!!!!!!?

Question

ok i needd help because i just but a guinea pig three weeks old and i want her to be really healthy and and strong and take good care of her so i need good tips

Answer 1

The websites that were already recommended are some of the best out there so I would start off reading those. As far as a cage and accessories go, I would recommend the SuperPet my first home cages, the best size for a pig has a purple base and I believe it's for rabbits, the absolute smallest cage your pig should be in is the SuperPet one with the green/teal bottom. These cages are excellent because they provide a lot of circulation and they're really easy to clean. I personally recommend a ceramic food bowl because they chew on plastic and metal ones can rust, also I would recommend not using a bowl for water since they do run around a lot and water gets dirty fast. One thing I always recommend to new guinea pig owners is a house for them to hide in, the plastic igloo shaped ones are best, they might chew a bit on it but that's ok. I like to give my guinea pigs bird toys to play with, the ones that have wooden blocks on a small chain with a bell on the end are best. Make sure your pig can reach it or else they might ignore it though, I used a chain of paper clips to make mine hang only about two inches over the bedding and they love playing with it. Some pet stores sell hay racks that hang on the outside of the cage and I would also recommend one because it makes the guinea pig actually get up and eat the hay (I know pigs that just lay on the piles of hay eating all day long, so the racks are good to keep them from getting too lazy). For bedding, never use cedar or pine because the oils are really bad for them, I use aspen bedding because it's not bad for them (just run the bedding through your hands to get out any dust) and it's also really economic, you can huge bags for under $15 at Petsmart. There's also bedding made from paper pulp and other recylced material which is probably the best bedding for them but it can be expensive. The largest bag of that bedding is usually about $20 but you can get about three full cage cleans from it, more if you mix it with shredded newspaper. Clean the cage weekly and it shouldn't smell at all, lining the cage with newspaper makes cleaning it easier and the pigs love to chew on it.

As far as food and treats go, the best type of food is just regular guinea pig pellets without all of the extra stuff in it. I just  fill the bowl up about halfway and let them it as much as they want, just keep an eye to make sure they're not eating too much. They have to have a constant supply of timothy hay so a rack is a good idea, when they're a baby (or if they're pregnant) they should have some alfalfa but if they're not a baby or pregnant, don't give them any because it can cause them to get kidney stones from too much calcium (the pellets have the calcium they need). They do need vitamin c every day so make sure they have some supplement. The vitamin c drops don't work because the vitamin breaks down in liquid and can become toxic. There's one treat I used when I only had one pig called Citrus C, they're shaped like orange slices and one can last a single pig an entire week and all of the pigs I've had have loved them so I would recommend them. You can also give them a few yogurt drops each day (read the analysis on the back of the container to check the vitamin c amount), I only give mine about three a day because they have a lot of fat in them. As far as treats go, most things in a pet store that are for guinea pigs or rabbits are good for them but they shouldn't get them often. They should get fresh fruit or vegetables everyday, the websites that were already recommended to you have lists of the fruits and vegetables they can have. The things my pigs have all liked the best are carrots, broccoli, parsley, zuchini, and the dark green parts of romaine lettuce leaves.

That's pretty much all I can think of for now. Make sure you give them lots of attention and that they have stuff to chew on and also check out the other websites because they're really full of info. Good luck with your pig!

Answer 2

No, giving your  guinea pig garlic bread is not a good idea. There is thought that bread can cause the flora in their stumacks to change.

My suggestion is to do some research, but be ware, most guinea pig sites will tell you a cup of veggies a day. A guinea pigs little body cannot handle that rich of a diet. A baby carrot, some cilantro, and some type of fruit (apples are big hits, kiwi was another fave).

Answer 3

Read these sites thoroughly. They will tell you everything you need to know:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

http://www.guinealynx.info/normal.html

http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

Good luck!