So, this day has come.The child has grown up and is increasingly talking about a pet. Who should we choose? We are allergic to cat hair, a dog requires constant attention…. Why not get a guinea pig? They are so cute and funny, and they don’t need too much care. It’s decided - we’re going to get a guinea pig! And of course, don’t forget to take the baby with us, because he should definitely participate in the selection process.
Purchase a pet
Remember, it is better to buy an animal only inspecialized pet stores. Only there they will tell you in detail how to care for a guinea pig and give a guarantee that it is completely healthy. You should not take risks and buy a pet "from hands" at the bird market or from an ad. Since these cute domestic rodents also have diseases that are dangerous for people. Therefore, it is better to play it safe. The most optimal age for purchase is 8 weeks. What gender you choose for the animal is a purely personal matter. But if you decide to buy a couple at once, remember - males very often fight for primacy and can arrange real fights without rules. Therefore, they are placed in different cages, but females are more sociable with each other - they can be kept several individuals in one cage. Have you chosen? Now carefully observe the animal. A healthy guinea pig is active and curious. If you have some free time, then wait until the meal hour and watch how the animal eats. Usually, pigs eat food with great appetite and drink a lot of water. Take the pet in your hands, feel it, determine its fatness. Look closely at the fur - it should be smooth and shiny. There are two types of animals: with long hair and with short hair. At home, it is easier to care for short-haired pigs.
How to properly keep guinea pigs
Often, owners place the guinea pig ina small glass aquarium. This way of keeping a pet is fundamentally wrong. The furry friend should live in a cage - free, with iron bars, a strong door and a metal floor. Why metal? Do not forget that guinea pigs are rodents, and the wooden covering of the house will become a tasty morsel for them. Keeping a pet requires following some rules:
- Sprinkle wood shavings or sawdust on the floor. You can buy a special filler that can absorb unpleasant odors;
- The length of the cage should not be less than 50 centimeters;
- The cage must be equipped with a drinking bowl and two feeders;
- To make caring for your guinea pig less of a hassle, place a plastic tray on the bottom of the cage. This will make it easier to keep things tidy;
- Along one of the walls, install a trough for hay;
- Do not forget to fasten a thick rope between the rods (somewhere in the corner) and a special wheel - let the pig sharpen its teeth;
- Guinea pigs do not tolerate drafts, sudden temperature changes and direct sunlight. Therefore, choose the location for the cell correctly, in accordance with these requirements.
What and how to feed the rodents
Many owners are eager to treat theirpet with something especially tasty: candy, cookies, even ice cream. This is a fundamentally wrong approach! Do not forget that the diet of guinea pigs must be strict, otherwise the animal may get sick. In order for the feeding to be correct and complete, remember a few rules: • Guinea pigs have two meals a day - too frequent and dense feeding leads to obesity of the rodent;
- Watch your portion sizes - you need to givethe animal as much food as it can eat in 2-3 hours. At first, it will be difficult to clearly determine the norm, but after a week you will be able to fill the feeders “by eye”;
- Guinea pigs are herbivores, they love hay, root vegetables, fruits and vegetables. These products make up their diet - no sweets or pieces of meat;
- It is useful to give the pet a fresh herb (it should be dried from the dew a little). Clover, dandelions, salad are favorite in rodents;
- Guinea pigs love potatoes, carrots, beets. You can give a little black bread, cabbage leaves, fresh cucumbers and zucchini;
- No feeding should not do without water. Do not forget to periodically change it to fresh.
Pet stores sell special foods –vitamin and mineral mixtures. They are certainly useful, but you should strictly follow the instructions. After all, an overdose of even the most useful substances does not lead to anything good. By the way, you can also prepare a vitamin mixture at home, after consulting with a veterinarian. If you feed your pet correctly, it will live 8-10 years.
Reproduction
Do you want to continue your offspring?Then it would be right to buy a pair at once: a boy and a girl. Raise them to the right age (7-9 months) and you can arrange a wedding night! As soon as you notice that the female began to beat her partner, bite him and take away food, it means - she is pregnant, and it is time to move the future mother to a separate cage. The gestation period is 65 days (average). No more than four babies are born. They are born with open eyes, teeth and long hair. The babies are so independent that almost from the first day they not only drink their mother's milk, but also eat regular food with great appetite. There will be no trouble with them - guinea pigs know how to take care of their children. Do not immediately transfer the female back to the "husband". Then before you have time to blink, another offspring will appear. For some reason, many people think that guinea pigs are boring animals and there is nothing to do with them. But this is not true at all! Fluffy rodents can make funny sounds, imitate the creaking of a door. In addition, guinea pigs are able to recognize their owner and rejoice at his appearance: they quickly run around the cage and even jump. And guinea pigs love affection. Take them in your arms more often, stroke them, you can comb their fur - the animal will be very pleased. You can even play with them a little - the pig will be happy to take light teasing.
How to care for a rodent
Keeping a guinea pig is not complete withouthygiene procedures. These animals are very neat and clean: they constantly wash themselves, clean their paws and eyes. You will only have to monitor their claws and trim them in time. This must be done regularly, otherwise the animal may injure itself. If the guinea pig has long hair, then buy a comb with rare teeth, and use it to comb the animal, cleaning out lumps and tangled hairs. This procedure should be carried out once every three days. Do not limit the freedom of the guinea pig. At least occasionally give it the opportunity to walk around the apartment or balcony. Before letting the pet out, remove all objects that it can chew. Yes, such walks are associated with certain difficulties, but your pet will be very happy! As you can see, caring for guinea pigs is not particularly difficult and does not require large financial investments. This animal will become a real family favorite, and your child will be happy taking part in the life of a small furry friend. We recommend reading:
