When choosing a pet for living in the house, many people opt for guinea pigs, caring for which seems a simple and easy task.
However, the content of guinea pigs at home has a number of features that you should learn about before buying the long-awaited animal in the house.
Choosing a guinea pig for home use
In conditions of constant employment of people who are not able to devote much time to a pet, but still want to make a pet, the guinea pig seems to be an ideal option, suitable for everyone. This is an unpretentious animal that does not take up much space, it does not require continuous care and attention. Pigs are quite friendly and calm animals that do not differ in aggressive disposition and are good for both adults and children.
But peaceful cohabitation is influenced by the right choice of a pet from the breeder. Going to the store, you need to carefully approach the purchase of a pet.
Of great importance are the sex and age of the guinea pig. Often in stores where several animals are sold in one cage, they are not divided separately into females and males. This leads to the likelihood of buying an already pregnant female, which may soon bring an offspring unexpected for the owners. Before buying, you should make sure that the conditions for the pig in the store remained suitable for her health.
Buying a rodent from the hands, the probability of acquiring a sick, weakened animal, or animal with already formed bad habits is high. Only certified sellers can guarantee the sale of a healthy and strong animal.
When choosing a domestic animal, preference should be given to good-looking guinea pigs, with glossy hair and strong teeth, because this indicates their good health. Providing proper care for a guinea pig, you can extend its life to 10-15 years, during which it will delight with its charming appearance and playful disposition.
The animal can be delivered home in a special carrier or in a cardboard box with openings for air. It is not recommended to use the box for long trips, as the urine of the animal can render the cardboard unusable.
During the first few days of life in a new house, the guinea pig often hides and behaves quietly and quietly. When the first fright disappears, the pig gets used to its home, it again becomes active and curious.
Purchase of guinea pig accessories
Creating a comfortable home for a pet is a separate important task for the proper maintenance of guinea pigs at home. Guinea pigs require a lot of space, because they are mobile and fast animals. For guinea pigs, it is best to prepare:
1) terrarium;
2) a horizontal cell;
3) a wooden shelf.
Due to the structural features of the spine, guinea pigs are not suitable for houses in several tiers with ladders under a large slope. In the house for the pet, there must be a place for the pig to run and frolic. One animal must be given at least 70-100 sq. Cm of area.
Each of the proposed types of house for a pig has its advantages and disadvantages. Thanks to the glass, the terrariums remove excess noise, dirt and sawdust outside the enclosure. Cages have a lower cost, in addition, through the bars of the lattice you can play with animals. Wooden racks look good in the interior of the room and can reach large sizes for entire families of guinea pigs, but they are much more expensive and more difficult to operate.
In the pig’s house, there must be separate food troughs and drinking bowls with water, as well as toys that do not let the pet get bored:
1) pipes;
2) rings;
3) small stairs;
4) hammocks.
The floor of the cell is covered with a layer of sawdust and straw a few centimeters. The more often sawdust or hay is replaced, the less likely there is an unpleasant odor from the animal. So that the animal feels well and does not hurt, you need to choose a dry, warm place to place the cage, which is protected from drafts.
Guinea pig diet
Caring for a guinea pig includes proper nutrition, which is extremely important for the health of the pet. The diet must include:
1) straw, grass, hay - the main food product (up to 70% of the diet);
2) fresh vegetables and fruits (up to 20% of the diet);
3) grain (up to 10% of the diet);
4) fortified supplements.
Pigs constantly need a lot of hay and straw, from which they not only make their nests, but also eat them. This helps proper digestion, relieves stomach problems and strengthens the animal’s teeth.
Rodents need a lot of food, but guinea pigs cannot be overfed. Obesity can lead to illness and death. You can feed the pig 4-5 times a day in small portions at the allotted time. This not only allows you to control the amount of food eaten, but also accustoms the animal to a certain routine, so that the animal will not beg for food at night.
Drinking water should always remain fresh, clean and accessible to the animal.
Features of living with a guinea pig
The appearance of a guinea pig will noticeably revive the atmosphere of the house. This friendly and affectionate creature is distinguished by the ability to learn and remember the simplest teams. Guinea pigs are happy to keep themselves on their hands and can even fall asleep next to the owners.
However, there are a number of features that you need to know about before deciding to make such a purchase:
1) guinea pigs periodically emit sharp screams and whistles to attract attention;
2) due to the frequent leaving of marks on the territory, cleaning should be carried out regularly, and it is best to walk the animal on special diapers;
3) the pig needs socialization, and if there is no way to devote a lot of time to studying with it, it is worth buying a second animal in pair.
The content of guinea pigs at home on the same sex is much simpler than heterosexual. Pigs quickly enter adulthood, and in order to avoid unwanted offspring and keep the animal healthy and calm, it is safer for inexperienced pig owners to abandon the idea of breeding their mate.
In order for the animal to receive enough attention from the owner, it is necessary to let him out for walks outside the house. You can fence off the territory with a small fence or a removable top of the cage, in which the animal feels comfortable. In such conditions, a pig can be taken with him out of town or in nature, because the animal benefits from fresh air and sunbathing.
Several times a year, a guinea pig can be bathed in warm water, avoiding soap in the eyes and mouth. Regular inspection and sawing of claws, as well as combing of thick hair will help to avoid the appearance of wounds and tangles, which are difficult to get rid of.
Living together with a guinea pig will give a lot of joy from watching the fascinating and unhurried life of this cute and playful animal. Observance of simple rules of care and maintenance will help to improve the life of the pig and her mood, so that she continues to delight the owner with her gentle and friendly behavior.
