Is a Guinea Pig the Right Pet for You?

Guinea Pigs, also called cavies, are lovable furry critters that will bring you a lot of joy. In addition, Guinea Pigs can be a perfect first pet for children because they are easy to care for and more cuddly than a hamster or fish. Following is information to help you determine whether a Guinea Pig is the right pet for you.

If you are thinking about getting a pet for your home, you may at first consider a dog or cat. These animals are perfect for homes if you have a lot of time to dedicate to owning a pet. Dogs and cats need a lot of attention and a lot of space. Guinea Pigs on the other hand are just as cute as dogs and cats, but they do not require near as much space or care. Many people love the idea of Guinea Pigs as first pets for children because they live a lot longer than hamsters or gerbils. In fact, a well cared for Guinea Pig can live up to eight or nine years. Once you own a Guinea Pig, you will be hooked by these cute, sweet natured animals.

When you go to the store to get a Guinea Pig, it is always a good idea to look at them carefully and choose them for their personality. Each Guinea Pig has his or her own personality. Some are more reserved in nature, while others are more outgoing. If you are choosing a Guinea Pig for your child, you want to make sure that your Guinea pig can tolerate being held and petted. Guinea pigs are not known to be aggressive or to bite, but your child will have no fun with a shy Guinea Pig.

Guinea Pigs are social animals and they enjoy the company of other Guinea Pigs. If you are planning to get a Guinea Pig, you might want to consider getting two Guinea Pigs at the same time. Male Guinea Pigs get along quite well with each other if you get them when they are both babies. Male Guinea Pigs will fight with each other if you introduce them after they are grown. Female Guinea Pigs also get along well with each other. It is not recommended that you get a male and a female, unless you want to breed Guinea Pigs.

When looking at Guinea Pig cages, you need to find one that will allow enough room for movement and play. Make sure that your cage has an exercise wheel, to keep your Guinea Pig healthy and active. Guinea Pigs like to stay hidden when they sleep, so make sure that your cage has a place where they can hide. A plastic or wooden structure inside the cage is always a good idea. You will want to add some sort of lining to the bottom of your Guinea Pig cage for easy cleanup. Cedar chips are not recommended, however pine wood chips, newspaper, ground up corn cobs or kitty litter are all fine. You also want to include a large water bottle for your Guinea Pig. If you have two Guinea Pigs consider getting two water bottles. Guinea Pigs love to drink water, so make sure that you give them plenty of fresh water EVERY day.

Some experts recommend adding vitamin C drops to their water. This works well for some Guinea Pigs. However, some Guinea Pigs do not like the taste and will not drink the water. If you do decide to add vitamin C drops to their water, make sure they are staying hydrated throughout the day. If you choose not to include vitamin C drops with their water, you can supplement their diet with fresh fruit and vegetables. Guinea Pigs love fresh vegetables and fruit of all kinds. Just make sure that you do not overfeed your Guinea Pigs and use fruits and vegetables as treats. As far as food is concerned, you will need to feed your Guinea Pigs specially formulated Guinea Pig pellets available at pet stores. Guinea Pigs also needed a daily supply of Timothy hay, available in some pet stores and most farm supply stores, to help aid their digestion.

Guinea Pigs are great pets for all types of homes. When you get a young Guinea Pig, you and your child or children will have to work with it to socialize it. All family members are sure to enjoy these adorable pets for many years to come.

Until next time,

Teia

Unusual Pets – The Hamster

Heaps of fun and a lot more cuddly than a gold fish, Hamsters make great pets for both adults and children. During the final decade of the last century and the first few years of this century, millions of homes had at least one pet Hamster. Hamsters are still among the most popular small pets and with good reason.

Hamsters have many advantages as pets. Because they are nocturnal, Hamsters are well suited for people who work or attend school all day. Another advantage is that they have almost no odour and are generally clean and easy to look after.

There are three common species of hamsters, each of which has its individual characteristics. It is, therefore, important to choose the species that most closely matches the desires and personality of the person who will become the care giver. The most common variety is the Syrian or Golden Hamster. These are the largest Hamsters, measuring around five inches in length. They are also the gentlest species, tolerant in nature and suitable for young children. Syrian Hamsters are solitary creatures and should not be kept in groups. The Russian or dwarf Hamster, as the name suggests, is much smaller in size and more social. They can be reared in pairs or small groups. However, they are more lively and active, but less tolerant of careless handling and may, therefore, not be suitable for very young children. Chinese Hamsters are also small like the Russian Hamster, but they are more placid in nature and tend to be timid.

When selecting a Hamster it's best to pick an inquisitive, alert and active animal. Not only will they make a pet that is more fun than a lethargic or quiet one, but these features are also indicative of the animal’s general health. Clear eyes, nostrils free of discharge and a clean coat, free of droppings are also good things to look for when purchasing a Hamster. Diarrhoea and respiratory problems are relatively common among Hamsters so look for any evidence of diarrhoea or laboured breathing. Diarrhoea can be particularly harsh to Hamsters as their tiny bodies soon become dehydrated.

Another deadly Hamster disease is "Wet Tail.” This is caused by a tapeworm and is often fatal. Symptoms are scruffy appearance, loss of appetite and a distinctively wet tail! This is a highly contagious disease and bedding and other material used by an infected animal should be destroyed. To avoid this problem, it is important to keep the Hamster's cage clean. Hamsters are quite fastidious in their grooming and will often use a specific area of the cage as a toilet while allocating other areas for food storage and other activities. Clean regularly but not too often as frequent intrusion into its territory could stress your Hamster. About once or twice a week is best.

Hamsters need to be active and lack of exercise could result in paralysis. Some animals are actually known to get addicted to activities such as the Hamster wheel. It is important to ensure that your Hamster has lots of variety in the toys and activities you provide for it.

Hamsters also need a varied diet but aren't difficult to feed. Many mixes are commercially available including sunflower seeds, cereal, millet and alfalfa but they will also eat fruits such as apples, raisins and grapes plus vegetables like carrots and celery. Hamsters have sharp incisors which continue to grow. They need to gnaw on hard material to ensure these teeth wear down naturally. If they don't get enough wear, these teeth may grow too long and restrict your Hamsters ability to feed itself. It is, therefore, mandatory that you provide something in your Hamster’s cage that it can chew. Knowledgeable pet store staff should be able to recommend something that wears down the teeth but does not lead to your Hamster ingesting something that could cause it harm.

You Hamster needs bedding at least 2 inches deep so that it can burrow down into the bedding making it feel secure while sleeping. Suitable bedding can be purchased at most pet stores. Bedding usually consists of wood shavings with cedar, pine or a mixture of both, being the most popular. It is best to avoid woods that are contaminated with toxins, dust or strong oils as these may cause skin allergies or illness in more sensitive animals.

As with any creature with sharp teeth, Hamsters may on occasion nip an unwary handler. This can be unnerving, especially for young children. Usually this problem can be overcome as handler and Hamster become more accustomed to each other. Perhaps another concern could be that a Hamster's average life span is only about two to three years. All in all however, the positives seem to outweigh the negatives and Hamsters can be truly delightful pets giving many hours of joy.

Until next time,

Teia