Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Selecting and placing a cage
• Part 2 of 3: Providing the basics
• Part 3 of 3: Providing comfort and entertainment
• Warnings

Guinea pigs are small animals that make fun and lively pets. Since guinea pigs spend a lot of time in their cages, it is important to make sure you have the correct size cage and that it has everything needed to keep your guinea pig happy and healthy, including food, water, bedding and entertainment.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Selecting and placing a cage

1. Consider the size of the cage. The Humane Society of the United States has indicated that most of the commercial cages available for guinea pigs are too small. In fact, most cages are designed to house smaller animals, such as hamsters and gerbils.
   • Unlike other animals, guinea pigs need floor space, not height. They need a lot of space to walk around and move around to stay healthy.
   • A cage that is too small for a guinea pig can cause the animal to become bored and depressed. Imagine spending your entire life in a closet, with little room for activity and stimulation.
   • Guinea pig cages that are too small have also been linked to the development of certain medical conditions. They are more likely to get Podo dermatitis (bedsores but on the heels) as a result of sitting still on soiled bedding.
   • Larger cages are also better if you have more than one guinea pig so that each pet can have its own personal space.
   • Larger cages can benefit you too! They are easier to clean because they allow guinea pigs to handle their toilet space separate from their living space.
2. Follow the guidelines for the correct format. Usually the recommended standard cage size is approximately 0.2 m2 per guinea pig. But this is not enough, because then there is not enough space for everything a guinea pig needs, including food, water bowl, nest and toilet. Instead, consider the following guidelines, which provide more space and include the number of guinea pigs in the cage:
   • 1 guinea pig - cage of 0.7 m2 (minimum). More is recommended. Find a cage that is 75 x 90 cm.
   • 2 guinea pigs - cage of 0.7 m2 (minimum). But 1 m2 is advised. Find a cage that is 75 x 125 cm.
   • 3 guinea pigs - cage of 1 m2 (minimum). But 1.2 m2 is advised. Look for a cage that measures 75 x 160 cm.
   • 4 guinea pigs - cage of 1.2 m2 (minimum). But more space is advised and you should look for a cage measuring about 75 x 195 cm.
3. Think about where the cage is in your home. Where you put the cage in your house is very important. For hygiene reasons, you should not place the cage in or very close to the kitchen. You need to consider several factors to determine the right location, including:
   • Temperature - Make sure you keep your guinea pig away from extreme temperatures as the animals don't like very cold, warm and humid temperatures and can get sick. The ideal temperature for a guinea pig is about 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. Keep the cage away from drafty areas such as doors and windows, and place it on a raised surface.
   • Activity Guinea pigs like to be around family activity and benefit from more attention when they are easy to see and hear. A living room is great, but make sure your guinea pigs have a place to retreat to when they need a little rest.
   • Noise Guinea pigs have very sensitive hearing and their cages should therefore not be placed near stereos, televisions or other loud noises.
4. Keep the cage safe from children and other pets. Place the cage in a place in your home where you can supervise interactions between your children and the guinea pig so that your guinea pig does not escape or get hurt. Likewise, keep your guinea pig safe from pets (especially cats and dogs) by keeping the cage out of reach of curious pets.
5. Choose a safe place, indoors or out. Some people choose to keep guinea pigs indoors where they are safe from extreme weather and predators, while others prefer to keep them out in a cage. If you choose to keep your guinea pig indoors, try to take your guinea pig out in the sun regularly so it can produce vitamin De for healthy bones and teeth. If you have an outdoor hutch, the guinea pig needs daily attention from the owner. Bring your pet indoors in extreme weather.
   • In addition, guinea pigs are social animals and thrive when they interact with humans. Keeping them out limits the options for daily socialization.

Part 2 of 3: Providing the basics

1. Put some bedding in the cage. Do not use cedar and pine sawdust as a base layer, even though it is widely available as a base layer for small pets. These materials contain phenols, which can be harmful to guinea pigs. Instead, buy paper or straw bedding as this will trap heat and keep the guinea pig warm. Guinea pigs like to dig in their bedding and make tunnels. Make sure to form a layer about 5-7.5 cm thick so that there is good absorption.
   • Replace the underlay weekly and clean locally daily where it gets wet or dirty. Guinea pigs prefer clean, dry bedding.
2. Provide water. To keep your guinea pig healthy and happy, you need to provide clean, fresh water. In general, a drinking bottle is a better choice than a water bowl because it is less likely to spill and it is less likely to be contaminated by other material in the cage (such as food, bedding, etc.).
   • Look for a gallon glass water bottle. You can also buy a plastic bottle, which is easier to find at most pet stores. Place the bottle so that it hangs on the side of the cage and is within reach of your guinea pig.
   • Give your guinea pig fresh water every day (even if the bottle is not empty.). Wash the bottle every week when you change the cage. You can use a bottle brush to scrub the bottle if there are hard-to-remove particles. You can also use a cotton swab to clean the water bottle spout and make sure it is working properly and is not blocked.
3. Place a food bowl in the cage. Guinea pigs, like other animals, need food to live. Choose a stone bowl rather than a plastic bowl. Stone bowls are more difficult to throw and are gnaw resistant. They also last longer than plastic containers.
   • Choose a wide and shallow bowl where the guinea pig can put its paws on the edge of the bowl. This is typically how guinea pigs like to eat.
   • Make sure the food bowl is placed far away from the toilet area, for hygienic reasons.
   • Clean the bowl if necessary because your pet has thrown bedding or droppings in it.
4. Put some food in the cage. Although guinea pigs rarely overeat, you should provide them with the correct amount of pellets, hay and fresh vegetables.
   • Hay Hay is important in your guinea pig's diet. Hay provides an important source of fiber and serves as feed and bedding. It also aids guinea pigs' digestive systems. Choose fresh bags of timothy hay, although orchard hay is also an option.
   • Pellets - To make sure your guinea pig is getting all the nutrients it needs, give it food specifically for guinea pigs. Give a small amount of extracted pellets (with all chunks looking the same), about a teaspoon per day. Pellets should come second to hay, which is what they need to chew to keep their teeth filed short. Getting all of their calories from pellets will make their teeth grow too long or cause them to become obese. Buy pellets made from timothy hay rather than alfalfa hay. These pellets will be fortified with vitamin C, but as this decays once the package is opened, it is important to supplement their diet with vegetables that are high in vitamin C.
   • Vegetables Vegetables are an important source of vitamin C for guinea pigs and provide them with additional nutrients. This will also help vary your pet's meals and make eating more exciting. Try to choose leafy greens, such as cabbage, mustard leaves, spinach, and Romaine lettuce, as these are high in vitamin C. Other options for fresh vegetables include bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cucumbers, peas, and tomatoes. Try to experiment and see what your guinea pig likes! Note that some vegetables can cause gas in your guinea pig's digestive system and should only be fed in small amounts, not too often. These include bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and other types of cabbage.
   • Fruit Guinea pigs love fruit! Try fruits that are high in vitamin C, such as Cantaloupe, strawberries, kiwis and papaya. But because fruit contains a lot of sugars, you should offer this in small quantities and only a few times a week. Fruit should never make up more than 10% of your guinea pig's diet.Be careful when feeding your guinea pig apples, as the acids in apples can sometimes cause allergic reactions (look for cuts and scabs around your guinea pig's mouth).
5. Keep the food fresh. Since a guinea pig's diet includes a large amount of fresh produce, you will need to constantly monitor the cage and remove anything that has not been eaten and can spoil or rot. A good rule of thumb is to check for uneaten food about an hour after giving fresh food.
   • Make sure to add pellets that contain a lot of vitamin C. Once the bag of food is opened, the vitamin C begins to decay, so it is important not to rely solely on factory food for the vitamin C. For the same reason, be sure to check the packaging date of guinea pig pellets. Discard any remaining pellets three months after this date.
6. Avoid feeding your guinea pig any other food. Certain foods can cause digestive problems in guinea pigs. One way to tell if a food is adversely affecting your guinea pig is if you notice their stools getting soft or even diarrhea. In general, you should not feed your guinea pig dairy products, beans, garlic, dry and raw lentils, onions, potatoes, or rhubarb.
   • Avoid sticky and chewy foods, such as peanut butter, which can choke your guinea pig. Other choking risks are nuts and seeds.
   • Avoid foods with sharp edges, such as crackers or chips, as these can open the guinea pig's mouth.
   • Avoid feeding your guinea pig processed foods and junk foods, including chocolate and candy.
   • Commercial treats are not necessary if you feed your guinea pig the right mix of pellets, hay and fruits and vegetables. If you want to give your guinea pig a little extra treat, mix some oatmeal into the pellets.
7. Make clean the cage regularly. Every day the wet spots should be removed and the cage should be cleaned completely once a week.
   • Make sure to remove any uneaten food and provide fresh drinking water every day. Remove any pellets or droppings that are not where they should be.
   • Once a week you should replace the dirty underlay and clean the cage thoroughly. Take out everything in it and scrub the bottom of the cage with warm water. Make sure to dry everything before putting in a fresh base layer. Once a week, completely clean the cage by replacing the dirty bottom layer and cleaning the bottom of the cage with warm water. Make sure everything is dry before putting in a new undercoat.

Part 3 of 3: Providing comfort and entertainment

1. Put some toys in the cage. Wooden blocks or cardboard boxes are good choices because guinea pigs like to chew on something; Guinea pigs' teeth never stop growing, which means that chewing toys can help keep the teeth at an acceptable length. Wooden blocks can be easily found at pet stores such as Pet's Place. Make sure not to buy wooden blocks or other toys with paint on them.
   • You can also make your own toys with items you find around the house, such as paper bags, boxes, toilet rolls, etc.
   • Make sure to only put large toys in the cage. Small toys can be a choking hazard if your pet swallows them.
   • Add a hammock. Another nice extra to hang in a guinea pig cage is a hammock, which can be found in pet stores. Although hammocks are mainly for ferrets, they can also be used for guinea pigs. However, make sure to keep an eye on your guinea pig once you hang the hammock to make sure it is safe.
2. Provide privacy. Place a small hut or tunnel in your guinea pig's cage. Every guinea pig needs its own shelter to retreat to and have privacy. Guinea pigs can be very shy and they like to hide under things and find some privacy. Again, these are things you can either buy from a major pet store or make your own at home for cheap.
   • For example, you can buy a tube or tunnel from a pet store, but for a lot less money you can make your own with an empty oatmeal box. Make sure to remove the plastic and metal tabs and all labels. To a small House To make where your guinea pig can hide in, use an old, bare (no paint) shoebox. Your guinea pig will love the tiny house and it is completely safe to gnaw.
3. Offer love and attention. Even when your guinea pig is in its cage, pay attention. Guinea pigs love to interact with people. Showering your pet with love and attention is one way to make your pet feel at home in its cage and at ease.
   • Engage with your guinea pig several times a day. It is important that you hold your guinea pig in your hands every day, hug it and touch it as often as you can. You can also let him out of the cage and give him extra exercise by running around in a small room or other enclosed space; this is also something you should include in your guinea pig's daily routine. Make sure to only release your guinea pig into rooms that do not have small openings for the guinea pig to escape or get lost. You will also need to keep a close eye on your guinea pig, as guinea pigs will chew anything they can reach, including dangerous items such as electrical cables and cords.
   • Because of their social nature, guinea pigs are happier living with another guinea pig (or more). So if you want to give your guinea pig even more company, consider getting another one!

Warnings

• Make sure the cage is large enough for the following things: something for your guinea pig to hide under, a food bowl, a toilet, and enough room to run around.
• Make sure your guinea pig cannot put anything dangerous in its mouth. Anything they can choke on doesn't belong in your guinea pig's cage.