Goldies Guineas

Before you consider buying yourself or a loved one a first guinea-pig, please do take some time to read the following notes:-

Guinea-pigs are extremely social creatures, and like to be kept in groups.  If you are keeping one pig on its own it will require constant handling, and will need toys to play with at all times.  This is important to avoid boredom, which can lead to the animal chewing its own fur, as well as eating the cage!!

Everybody seems torn as to whether two girls or two boys make the best pets.  In my experience there is absoloutely no difference, and should you ever need to replace one, the new pig should be accepted by either sex. If you are looking for an additional pet to be caged with an existing pig, please let me know so I can help you to ensure the best possible chance that the two will become firm friends.  For obvious reasons I will not sell a pig if it is to be permenately housed with the opposite sex.

Whether your pig is housed inside or outside, they will need cleaning out twice a week.  This stops them getting cold on the damp sawdust in winter, and stops the flys being attracted to the cage in the summer.  The cage should be dis-infected every time they are cleaned out with a good quality cage cleaner, and allowed to dry before the pets are returned to their home.

If you are intending to house your new pet outside, you will need to place the cage in a protected area of the garden, to ensure the pig does not boil in the summer and freeze in the winter.  If this is not possible, please ensure you have a sunshade over the cage in the summer, and a waterproof blanket over the cage in winter (a normal blanket will freeze to the cage if it is wet and make the pig even colder).

If on the otherhand you are intending to use an indoor cage, you will need to ensure the base of the cage has high sides to it, otherwise you will be constantly clearing up sawdust!  The cage will also need to be placed away from radiators or gas/electric fires, as artificial heating is likely to dry out their skin and can cause severe irritation.  Indoor pigs also need vitamin supplements in their drinks, as lack of sunlight and vtamins can sometimes lead to bone disorders.

Guinea-pigs need a very high fibre allowance in their diet, so it is essential they get plenty of hay every day.  This also helps to keep their teeth down, and should mean they never need to be cut.  An alternative to hay is readi-grass, this is essentially dried grass and is very high in vitamins.  However, it is best not to feed this more than once or twice a week as a diet too rich in certain viatmins has been known to cause problems for pigs.  I use a combination of the two, and the variety certainly seems to keep my pigs interested.