A Guide to Caring for Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are docile creatures that are easy to look after and choosing the right guinea pig bedding, cage and nutrients, will help them lead healthy and happy lives. Guinea pigs live on average four to five years and can even live as long as eight years with adequate care and attention. Being aware of your pet’s specific needs, including selecting appropriate bedding for your guinea pig, is vital to keep your pet fit and content. This article gives a guide to choosing the ideal guinea pig bedding, cage and food for your rodent.
Guinea Pig Bedding - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop
Choosing Guinea Pig Bedding
Keeping Your Guinea Pig Cage Dry and Clean
Following the 2009 family movie G-Force, guinea pigs have grown in popularity as a pet. So if you are thinking of getting one, you will need to know how to care for them properly. One step towards this is buying suitable guinea pig bedding to keep your pet comfortable and healthy.
It is essential to keep your guinea pig cage dry and clean, and SmartBedz is a great choice for your pet. It can absorb 400 percent times their volume when it comes into contact with liquid, which helps keep the cage dry. This means you can spot clean the cage daily by taking out the swollen pellets and replacing them with fresh ones. This causes the least disruption for your pet and means you can provide a much more thorough clean-out of the cage on a less frequent basis, by removing toys, food bowls, water bottles and nesting areas.
Spot cleaning the cage with SmartBedz is also a much more cost effective too, as you are not using so much litter. It means that one bag of SmartBedz can go a long way.
Guinea Pig Bedding - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop
Selecting Natural Bedding for Your Guinea Pig
As guinea pigs live and play in their litter/bedding, they need a natural product which is dust-free and safe for them to use.
Sawdust contains fine particles which can cause irritation and allergies. This is because rodents forage with their nose and can breathe in the dust. Most cat litters contain chemicals that mask smells, which can be harmful to a guinea pig. Untreated straw is too sharp for your guinea pig as it contains hard stalks that can get into their eyes.
Another form of bedding to avoid is soft wood, such as cedar or pine shavings. These can be hazardous to a rodent. Cedar wood, for example, contains natural oils that give off an aromatic scent. Although it is an attractive form of litter to use as the aroma masks the smell of ammonia, it can cause respiratory problems in small animals and should never be used.
An alternative is SmartBedz which is a non-toxic, organic product made from pulverised straw pellets so it is completely safe to use. The dust has been extracted and the resulting product compressed into pellets. This makes an ideal bedding for your guinea pig and is comfortable for them to tread and sleep on.
Edible Guinea Pig Bedding
As guinea pigs nibble at almost anything, including their bedding, it is important to choose one that will not harm their digestive system. As SmartBedz is a natural product it is completely edible, so your pet can chew on it safely.
Disposing of Guinea Pig Litter
SmartBedz is organic and can be safely disposed of by being flushed down the toilet in small quantities or put on the compost heap in the garden.
Bedding for Your Guinea Pig - Buy SmartBedz from our online shop
Choosing a Cage for Your Guinea Pig
As guinea pigs like to be in a group, it is best to find a cage that is large enough to accommodate two or more. To choose a suitable cage for your guinea pig it is first important to decide whether you are going to keep them indoors or outdoors.
Guinea pigs kept indoors tend to be tamer than those kept outside as they are more used to human contact and ordinary domestic sounds. If they are kept indoors, they will need either a traditional wire cage or an aquarium type cage with solid sides. Wire cages are generally too small for a guinea pig so it is better to opt for the aquarium variety.
If they are kept outside, traditional hutches generally provide living and sleeping quarters and some of the more elaborate ones have split level designs. Choose a run for them so they can get adequate exercise. Make sure the run is fully enclosed, to keep them safe from dogs, cats, foxes and other predators.
Cages with a solid ground should have adequate bedding for your guinea pig, which is dust free to avoid allergies.
What Should I Feed my Guinea Pig?
Guinea pigs eat grass and hay as part of their natural diet. Hay should be made available for them to eat even if they have pellets or a commercially available guinea pig mix to eat.
Your guinea pig will also need a sufficient amount of vitamin C to keep them healthy and to prevent scurvy (10 mg daily is the recommended amount). They can get this from raw fruit and vegetables such as carrot, apple, broccoli, brussels sprouts and celery.
Avoid bread, pasta or biscuits. Research has shown that these items can be hazardous to your pet and can contribute to fatal diseases. Do not feed your guinea pig chocolate as this is poisonous for your rodent.
Looking After Your Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs teeth grow all the time, so it is important to always provide them with something to gnaw on (such as wood) to help keep their teeth worn.
Although guinea pigs by and large are fairly healthy creatures, rodents can experience a variety of different ailments so if your animal does have worrying symptoms, it is best to contact your local vet who can advise you.
A healthy guinea pig should have clear eyes and ears, clean feet and a clear, glossy coat. Also look for teeth that are well aligned as guinea pigs can experience dental problems.
Consult your vet if they have breathing problems, diarrhoea, eye problems, skin conditions or anything else that may cause you concern.
Guinea Pig Litter - Click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop.