Post by Jenny on Jan 16, 2006 13:10:46 GMT 7
Just thought I'd mention a few things that are important or interesting or possibly useful.
Like us, cavies don't make their own Vitamin C and so they need to be given food that contains a goodly amount of this vitamin daily. If you ever see your piggy "bunny-hopping" instead of walking normally, suspect Vitamin C deficiency.
Cavies should not be given antibiotics that contain Penicillin as it can be deadly to them.
Cavies need hay daily (as much as they want) as it aids their digestion and helps keep their teeth in trim. (Their teeth grow constantly and will overgrow if the cavy stops eating). They should also have grass daily.
Contrary to popular belief, cavies are not big lumps that just eat, sleep & sit, although they are good at it. Given a large area to run around in, that's exactly what they will do - run, run, run. It's amazing how fast those little legs can go. If they are kept in a small cage, they will attempt to do laps in that. Boars do this more than sows.
Cages should have a solid floor or if cavies are kept on the grass, no floor at all. Wire floors are bad for their feet and can cause injuries. Cages should be strong and predator-proof.
Cavies need clean water daily. Some don't drink very much if given lots of juicy vegetables so don't worry if they don't use their bottles too much.
Heat (hot weather) is far worse for cavies than cold weather. They need to be protected from the elements. Direct sun is a killer, even on milder days. Good air circulation is vital.
If you have a male cavy (boar) he will eventually get a mucky grease gland (on his butt end - where his tail would be if he had one) and the hair will become matted and this can attract parasites and flies. Clean this off with Eucalyptus oil on a cotton pad and then shampoo area and rinse and dry off. Don't get Eucalyptus oil on his private parts, just use enough for that small area and if you clean it regularly, then it won't get too bad.
Guinea pigs eat their own poops sometimes (ok, all the time). This is perfectly natural and healthy. When you see the head between the legs for a brief moment, that is what he is doing - fetching one of the "special poops" and then he'll happily munch on it.
Boar glue (semen) is exceptionally difficult to remove as it sets like super glue. This can often be found on piggy's nose or on other piggies.
This is not usually a concern as it will come off eventually and so will the hair that's attached to it. Too bad if he's going to a Show.
Cavies can suffer from several different skin complaints. They can get a mite which causes Sarcoptic Mange and several other mites as well. They can get lice. There are treatments available for these problems and it's best to treat all of your piggies at the same time.
They can also suffer from fungal skin complaints. There are several pet shampoos available for mild fungal skin problems.
Roan to Roan or Dalmation to Dalmation breeding can cause babies with deformities. Not all babies from these breedings will necessarily have problems but the risk is there.
I'll add more as I think of things if you like.
Like us, cavies don't make their own Vitamin C and so they need to be given food that contains a goodly amount of this vitamin daily. If you ever see your piggy "bunny-hopping" instead of walking normally, suspect Vitamin C deficiency.
Cavies should not be given antibiotics that contain Penicillin as it can be deadly to them.
Cavies need hay daily (as much as they want) as it aids their digestion and helps keep their teeth in trim. (Their teeth grow constantly and will overgrow if the cavy stops eating). They should also have grass daily.
Contrary to popular belief, cavies are not big lumps that just eat, sleep & sit, although they are good at it. Given a large area to run around in, that's exactly what they will do - run, run, run. It's amazing how fast those little legs can go. If they are kept in a small cage, they will attempt to do laps in that. Boars do this more than sows.
Cages should have a solid floor or if cavies are kept on the grass, no floor at all. Wire floors are bad for their feet and can cause injuries. Cages should be strong and predator-proof.
Cavies need clean water daily. Some don't drink very much if given lots of juicy vegetables so don't worry if they don't use their bottles too much.
Heat (hot weather) is far worse for cavies than cold weather. They need to be protected from the elements. Direct sun is a killer, even on milder days. Good air circulation is vital.
If you have a male cavy (boar) he will eventually get a mucky grease gland (on his butt end - where his tail would be if he had one) and the hair will become matted and this can attract parasites and flies. Clean this off with Eucalyptus oil on a cotton pad and then shampoo area and rinse and dry off. Don't get Eucalyptus oil on his private parts, just use enough for that small area and if you clean it regularly, then it won't get too bad.
Guinea pigs eat their own poops sometimes (ok, all the time). This is perfectly natural and healthy. When you see the head between the legs for a brief moment, that is what he is doing - fetching one of the "special poops" and then he'll happily munch on it.
Boar glue (semen) is exceptionally difficult to remove as it sets like super glue. This can often be found on piggy's nose or on other piggies.
This is not usually a concern as it will come off eventually and so will the hair that's attached to it. Too bad if he's going to a Show. Cavies can suffer from several different skin complaints. They can get a mite which causes Sarcoptic Mange and several other mites as well. They can get lice. There are treatments available for these problems and it's best to treat all of your piggies at the same time.
They can also suffer from fungal skin complaints. There are several pet shampoos available for mild fungal skin problems.
Roan to Roan or Dalmation to Dalmation breeding can cause babies with deformities. Not all babies from these breedings will necessarily have problems but the risk is there.
I'll add more as I think of things if you like.
I must admit the only thing I didn't know up there was about the boar glue! When do you separate the male bubbies from their Mothers?
