Cleaning:
This has to be done regularly, even if you use
the wire floored cages. Their droppings have to cleared away at least every
other day or more often if you have more guinea pigs staying together.
The cage should be scrubbed preferably every week, using a disinfectant
for animals and vinegar to scrub away crystalline deposits of urine.
Guinea pigs don't require regular baths but may need one if they are extremely dirty or have had diarrhea. Show guinea pigs are usually not bathed at all if it can be helped as bathing removes coat oils.
Feeding:
You can feed your guinea pig twice a day and
leave alfalfa or timothy hay for him to munch on when you are away. However,
some owners find no problems with leaving pellets in the whole day. You
must monitor your guinea pig's health and make sure he is not putting on
too much weight. Take out your cold foods from the fridge beforehand and
wash them thoroughly.
This enclosed space should be as guinea proof as possible - make sure there are no potted plants about or wires within reach of your guinea pig. Don't leave valubles lying around which you don't want your pet to step or chew on. By not giving your guinea pig a chance to be "bad", you give yourself less of a chance to be unhappy with your guinea pig.
Most guinea pigs do not really enjoy being picked up as it is probably a frightening experience for them - after all they usually only see a few inches above the ground and human heights can be dizzying for them. What some guinea pigs would rather do is just to rest on your lap.
However, some guinea pigs just prefer to be on their own and they do have their own moods so do allow them to do what they like or it could make both of you unhappy.
This most important consideration for guinea pigs apparently seems to be whether they are getting enough Vit. C. There are Vit. C tablets which you can give him and some owners give their guina pigs some made for humans. But, you could actually be hurting your guinea pig if you give him too much as Vit. C is toxic at high levels. Do consult your vet about giving him supplements of this type.
Guinea pigs are also prone to some skin problems
such as fungal growth and mites. These are indicated by a loss of fur and
continued scratching by your guinea pig. These are best dealt with by a
vet as it may be hard to differentiate between the two and some of the
drugs used can only be prescribed by a vet.
Other conditions include:
- Malocclusion of premolar teeth
- Scurvy/Vit. C deficiency
- Heat stress/heat stroke
- cancer
- foot conditions
- pneumonia
- intestinal infections
