Buying a guinea pig

Which guinea pig will you buy?
When it comes to the appearance of a guinea pig, there is a lot to choose from. Guinea pigs come in many different types and colors. There are guinea pigs with multiple combs, so your guinea pig's hair will stand in different directions. There are also Rex guinea pigs. These guinea pigs have a special coat. Many people with allergies do not react to the fur of these guinea pigs. There are also long-haired guinea pigs that need to be combed regularly.

While rabbits have many personality differences, guinea pigs have far fewer. This makes a guinea pig a much better pet than a rabbit for younger children. Younger children in particular will have a lot more fun with a guinea pig than with a rabbit. Also, guinea pigs respond very well to your voice once they get used to it. The sex of guinea pigs also has little effect on their character, making them very suitable pets.

Legislation
Since February 1st, 2015 there is a list of all mammals that may be kept. Most animals such as B. Dogs, cats and guinea pigs, everyone can keep. Some mammals may only be kept if they can meet the guidelines. These guidelines contain information about the specific conditions for each animal. These include, for example, the type of food and the minimum size of the cage. These are mostly animals that you find in zoos. Fortunately, guinea pigs can be kept quite normally. In general, the animals must have sufficient freedom of movement, be protected from inclement weather, be allowed to express their natural behavior (as much as possible), sick and injured animals must be helped immediately, and they must be provided with sufficient healthy and suitable food and water. But what does this mean for your guinea pig? Here are some things to look out for when buying a guinea pig. A lot of these things are similar to rabbits.

Where can I buy my guinea pig?
The same applies here as with the rabbits. You can buy guinea pigs from pet stores, garden centers, or animal shelters. There are also quite a few guinea pig breeders, so you can often find a good breeder nearby. It is also very important to pay attention to the housing of guinea pigs before deciding to buy an animal. While guinea pigs can be kept alone, they are naturally group animals. Therefore, it is best not to keep guinea pigs alone, but with at least one other member of the same species.

It's also important that your guinea pig is clean and well-groomed. If you want to know more about what to look out for, check out the "Buying Rabbits" section of the Pet Health Guide. Here you will find a good text about the assessment of husbandry and animals.

What requirements should the barn meet?
It is very important to know that guinea pigs are real group animals. It is therefore desirable to keep several guinea pigs in one cage. In this case, however, it is important to pay attention to gender.

Guinea pigs are not climbers and cannot jump. A guinea pig therefore feels most comfortable in a low cage that has a very large surface area. Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs are not very clean animals and produce a lot of urine and feces. They do this all over the cage. It is therefore important to use a well-absorbent litter. Sawdust creates a lot of dust, and since guinea pigs are more prone to getting pneumonia, they should be avoided. A dust-free bedding is better. Be careful not to use wood shavings, which may be made from pine or cedar, both of which can be toxic to your guinea pig. Guinea pigs are also at a higher risk of developing foot infections. It is therefore important to choose a soft bedding and to keep it clean and dry.

Since guinea pigs cannot jump or climb, the top of the cage does not need to be closed as long as the walls are at least 25cm high. An open cage also allows for better ventilation. A house is very important because guinea pigs are quite shy animals and need to be able to hide well. Not doing this will increase your guinea pig's stress levels and chances of getting sick. Guinea pigs also like to toss their food bowls, so stone bowls work best. It is better to give water from a bottle as they are easier to keep clean.

Guinea pigs can also be kept outdoors. It is important that the cage is closed from above. Guinea pigs are prey animals and will spook any bird that flies over them if the cage is open at the top. Also, the cage should be out of drafts and you should take care not to freeze your water bottles. Don't fill it with hot water, it's useless, buy special socks to put around the bottle.

Feeding your guinea pig
The water should be changed daily - this is very important because guinea pigs "spit back". Each time they drink, they spit some saliva back into the water. In addition, your guinea pig should always have access to clean hay, and you should take great care to ensure your guinea pig is getting enough vitamin C. Vegetables are allowed, but not everything. For more information see What Guinea Pigs Can Eat and check out our shop for fun items!

This text was translated by a translation machine