| Guinea pigs - good things come in small packages | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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Animal lovers looking for a pet they can spend time with but who also want something smaller than a dog or cat should look into guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are a domesticated form of the cavy, which is a rodent originating in South America. The guinea pig is a good pet for a family who may not have all the time in the world to take care of a pet with more responsibilities, such as a dog. But as with all animals, you must have the time to give proper care and affection. The good news is that guinea pigs are one of the smaller pets however, that are easier to manage on a busy schedule. Guinea pigs make great pets because they can be independent and left alone while their owners are at work though they are also a pet that likes to be affectionate and cuddly, so you get the best of both worlds. Guinea pigs should be handled often if the owner wishes to have an affectionate pet. A typical guinea pig has a lifespan of three to six years and can weigh up to two pounds. On average, guinea pigs can range anywhere from eight to 14 inches in length. There is no distinct look for a guinea pig in terms of hair style and color; they can have short, smooth hair to longer hair. The colors can also range from black and white to an array of brown hues. Guinea pigs are vegetarians. They should be given typical guinea pig food from your local pet store, but they can also eat various vegetables such as carrots, peas and most green leaves. However, you will want to stay away from lettuce as this can cause colic in the guinea pig. Guinea pigs also enjoy fruit such as oranges and grapes. You do not want to feed your guinea pig too much of the vegetables and fruits because this can lead to diarrhea, so keep these food products as an occasional treat. To ensure that your guinea pig is getting a sufficient amount of vitamin C, you can put a vitamin C supplement into their drinking water. In addition, guinea pigs should also have a plentiful amount of grass hay and this should always be replaced when the animal has eaten it all. Guinea pigs do require some maintenance such as a regular cleaning of their cage. If you do not clean the cage on a regular basis, the cage will begin to smell. A cage should be cleaned out once every two days if you have one guinea pig. If you have more than one guinea pig living in the same cage, it should be cleaned out daily to ensure tidiness. Guinea pigs are relatively clean animals and do not require much grooming, however, you may want to consider giving your guinea pig a bath once a year. Make sure that when you give your guinea pig a bath that the water is lukewarm and filled to where the animal can move around but not drown. Guinea pigs are not a fan of water so you want to ensure you have the animal held securely so it cannot not hurt itself if it tries to escape its bathing quarters. As with any pet, make sure that the shampoo does not come in contact with the animal's eyes. One last note regarding guinea pigs - they like to breed. If you are purchasing more than one guinea pig and are looking to keep them in the same living quarters, make sure they are of the same sex. Did you know:
Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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