Guinea Pig Information For The Newbie

The arrival of your new guinea pig (or cavy as they are called) is a joyous occasion. These little fur balls will no doubt add big smiles, lots of laughs and tons of fun to the household. To make this passage easy and comfortable for you and your pet, I invite you to learn more guinea pig information.

Naturally, as soon as you arrive at home, you’re going to want to pick him up and pet this little fur ball. That will be just fine, but should be done at a minimum, as this constant contact with new fingers and hands can be a stressful ordeal for any animal adjusting to new surroundings. Your guinea pig should have a place to hide where he feels safe. Multiple hideaways for two or more cavys is recommended to avoid guinea pig brawling.

Occasionally, when walking up to your cavy’s cage, you’ll notice they scurry for cover or duck out of sight. This natural instinct is brought about by the fact that, in the wild, guinea pigs were preyed upon for food by larger animals.

An important part of this guinea pig information is your pet’s diet. Starting off with this simple plan is the key to a long healthy life for your cavy. Under no circumstances should you ever feed your guinea pig meats or dairy. Always have water available. The majority of their food (75%) should be dry hay and store bought guinea pig pellets with vitamin C. Vegetables and fruits, such as romaine lettuce, carrots, broccoli, apples, kiwi, and oranges should round out the last 25% of the daily diet.

Adjusting to a new environment can be a somewhat anxious time for your new pet. To make this change a more comfortable one you should avoid placing your guinea pig where frequent changes in light, temperature, and sound take place. Stereos, TVs, refrigerators, heaters, air conditioners, fans and direct sunlight can be harmful to your cavy’s health. A mild or tranquil setting is best for the break-in period.

Before you introduce your cavy to any other household pets, it’s important that they know you first. A surprise visit from Max or Princess can scare the daylights out of your little fur ball. Guinea pigs are very capable of getting along with other pets when the process is slow and gradual. Use discretion.

Unlike other nocturnal rodents, guinea pigs are active during daylight hours and will generally sleep at night.

This concludes our brief on guinea pig information. It is my hope you can take some ideas you find here and apply them to your guinea pig experience.