Caring For My New Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are very lovable animals. They are very affectionate and have their own personalities, which will become very evident within days after you bring them home. They love to snuggle and cuddle. They will live longer than most other small pets, usually five to eight years. Although guinea pigs are naturally healthy animals and rarely get sick, doing your part to care for them can have a direct impact on how long they will live.

However, assuming that because they live in cages, guinea pigs have little or no care requirements is far from true. They need daily care. They rely upon you to give them proper nutrition, exercise them daily, and give them lots of love.

A guinea pig will need fresh food and water every day. While this may seem like a lot of work, making it a part of your daily routine will help it seem easy. In addition, you will receive lots of love from your pig, which will make your sacrifices worthwhile.

Just as with any other animal, before you make a commitment, there are certain questions that you should ask yourself. Here is a list of things to consider as you make your decision:

Can I provide proper care for my pig every day of its life? Am I willing to let him/her live in the room in my house where I spend most of my time? Will I commit to feeding my guinea pig a healthy, balanced diet? Will I provide my guinea pig with fresh water every day? Can I provide him with a comfortable cage? Will I remove all soiled bedding every day? Can I ensure that she will be kept away from drafts, cold, too much heat or direct sunlight, and other pets? Do I have the time to care for and give affection to my guinea pig every day? Am I willing to groom him/her regularly, including baths? Do I have a place in my home where my guinea pig can exercise daily? Am I willing to take him/her to the vet when he/she needs medical attention? Does my budget allow for me to provide for all the necessities? Guinea pigs have many great attributes as pets. They do however, require quite a bit of cleaning, from their cage to the area around the cage, as they will kick out their bedding from time to time. In addition, there are several activities that you should be prepared to perform on a daily basis. Before making a decision to bring a guinea pig into your home, make sure that you are prepared to take on this daily routine.

In the end, for guinea pig lovers like myself, it's all worth it! All your hard work will be rewarded with love, affection, and companionship. If you are prepared to properly care for your cavy, I higly recommend them as pets!

By Greg Beverly | Posted on 2007-06-19 19:23:13

About The Author:

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Definition:

Guinea pigs (also called cavies after their scientific name) are rodents belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, the animals are not pigs, nor do they come from Guinea. They are originally native to the Andes, and while they are no longer extant in the wild, they are closely related to several species which are commonly found in the grassy plains and plateaus of this region. The guinea pig plays an important role in the folk culture of indigenous South Americans, especially as a food source, but also in folk medicine and in community religious ceremonies.[1] Since the 1960s, the guinea pig has become increasingly important as a staple food in the Andes, and efforts have been made to increase consumption of the animal outside South America.

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