Hi! You have purchased at least one of my guinea pigs as a pet or breeding animal. Congratulations.
Whether you are a long-time Cavy owner, or a first time lover of guinea pigs, I find it’s good to learn how the breeder has kept their animals, as it helps in the transition of a piggie to new home.
I focus on raising piggies for health and temperament. I do my best to give you the best guinea pig I can.
Whether you are a long-time Cavy owner, or a first time lover of guinea pigs, I find it’s good to learn how the breeder has kept their animals, as it helps in the transition of a piggie to new home.
I focus on raising piggies for health and temperament. I do my best to give you the best guinea pig I can.
Basics of Care
Guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own Vitamin C and therefore need you to supply it for them. You can do this is a few different ways.
1. feed them a made for guinea pigs food that is JUST pellets. This feed will contain a shelf stable vitamin C.
2. feed them rabbit pellets, and them give them 1/4 chewable vitamin C every day. I find they like the orange flavours the best. Pregnant or sick guinea pigs need more vitamin C.
3. feed them copious amount of high vitamin C content fruits and veggies. They require more than you think they might, so it's best to not aim for this as being your sole method of providing Vitamin C.
Beyond Vitamin C they require clean water daily, fresh feed, some hay, and some fresh feed. Guinea pigs will get to know the time of day you feed them and start "encouraging" you to hurry up with the goodies. :)
1. feed them a made for guinea pigs food that is JUST pellets. This feed will contain a shelf stable vitamin C.
2. feed them rabbit pellets, and them give them 1/4 chewable vitamin C every day. I find they like the orange flavours the best. Pregnant or sick guinea pigs need more vitamin C.
3. feed them copious amount of high vitamin C content fruits and veggies. They require more than you think they might, so it's best to not aim for this as being your sole method of providing Vitamin C.
Beyond Vitamin C they require clean water daily, fresh feed, some hay, and some fresh feed. Guinea pigs will get to know the time of day you feed them and start "encouraging" you to hurry up with the goodies. :)
Guinea pigs get mites from it seems like everything. It's part and parcel of raising piggies. I find once they have it and are treated for it, they don't get it again.
Part of me is convinced that guinea pigs just carry a mite infestation on them but simply don't get it until something stresses them. But I can't find evidence that proves that. I do know that if you don't breed guinea pigs that catch mites easily you will get less cases the longer you breed them.
The mites they get are specific to guinea pigs so you don't need to fret about catching mites from them. Nor will any other pets get mites from them.
ALL my guinea pigs are treated preventatively against mites before they go to new homes. This doesn't mean that they won't catch mites, I'm just trying to prevent them from getting them. :) I use ivermectin.
Part of me is convinced that guinea pigs just carry a mite infestation on them but simply don't get it until something stresses them. But I can't find evidence that proves that. I do know that if you don't breed guinea pigs that catch mites easily you will get less cases the longer you breed them.
The mites they get are specific to guinea pigs so you don't need to fret about catching mites from them. Nor will any other pets get mites from them.
ALL my guinea pigs are treated preventatively against mites before they go to new homes. This doesn't mean that they won't catch mites, I'm just trying to prevent them from getting them. :) I use ivermectin.
Guinea Pigs and Fresh Food
My piggies are used to eating a variety of lettuces, carrots, some apple, parsley, and broccolini (in the winter). In the summer they eat a variety of produce AND all the weeds in my garden. They tend to be somewhat suspicious of new feed and it may need to be offered to them several times before they recognize it as food. I alternate with pellets and vitamin C in the mornings and fresh feed in the evenings.
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