Did you know that a well cared for cavy can live upto 8 or 9 years old? It is important to give your cavy the best care you can, so that he or she will live a long and happy life. Dont forget that it is much easier, and also cheaper, to maintain your guinea pig's health through good care, than having to take him to the vets repeatedly.
We will discuss the minimum required to keep you cavy happy and healthy - there are plenty of ways you can further enrich your cavy's life though, as a pet can naver be too cared for!
Remember, this is not an extensive list. For more detailed information, check out
Diet Cavies have several dietry requirements in order to remain healthy. These include 1/4 cup good quality timothy pellets, unlimited grass hay, and two cups of suitable vegetables each day. We recommend either Cavy Cuisine or Burgess Excell Tasty Nuggets for good pellets, as both have good nutritional values for cavies. Guinea pigs under six months of age require an unlimited supply of alfalfa pellets instead.
You can find an excellent resource on the suitable vegetables for your cavy here. Fruits are high in sugar, and should not be given more than once a week. My guinea pig doesn't even like fruits! Dandelions are a more popular treat, and can be given more often than fruit.
Companionship Guinea pigs are a herd animal, and therefore are very social. The vast
majority of guinea pigs prefer to have a same-sex guinea pig friend to
live with. Many cavies will become depressed if they live alone, no
matter how much time you are able to spend with them. Watching two
cavies play together and take naps on each other is much more
interesting to watch than one guinea pig sulking in a corner!
There are always the guinea pigs who just wont accept a friend, or
those who have come from bad circumstances and are terrified of all
other guinea pigs. These cavies require a lot more attention than your
regular cavy, as they are all alone in the world, with you their only
trusted friend.
Remember, some cavies will fight if they do not have adequate cage space!
