General Care for your Guinea Pig
The general care of any pet starts from the day you
obtain your first animal. One or two guinea pigs kept as pets take up
little time to care for but obviously, the more you have, the greater
the amount of time that will be required for routine care, and this
should be carefully considered before you end up with more than you can
cope with. Obtaining your Guinea Pig pet
Guinea pigs can usually be obtained from pet
shops, or directly from the breeder; animals from the former source are
ideal as pets, but are usually of mixed or dubious pedigree, so if you
require animals from which to build up a stock for exhibition, you are
best obtaining them from a breeder.
The general condition of guinea pigs is reflected in
the feel and appearance of the fur; unhealthy animals having dull and
uneven coats which are rough to the touch. Sick animals will often sit
hunched up in a corner, oblivious to what is going on around them and
these should always be avoided. Always choose animals which are alert
and inquisitive, have sleek even coats and are of the variety required.
It is best to purchase a young guinea pig when it is
around 6 weeks of age, when it will not be too old to settle into its
new surroundings and tame well. At the same time, it will be old enough
to look after itself and, if it has been well raised, should be fit and
healthy.
Handling Guinea Pigs
If you are buying your guinea pig from a pet shop or
a breeder, it is advisable to ask the supplier to show you how to handle
it correctly. To keep guinea pigs calm and tame, they must be handled
frequently and gently. They must learn that they are in no danger when
they are being picked up, and as guinea pigs will fall heavily if
dropped, there is a likelihood that they could be severely injured. A
baby guinea pig may be picked up by grasping it gently but firmly around
the body in the chest region and placing it flat on the palm of the
other hand whilst still gently restraining it. An adult guinea pig
should be picked up by sliding the hand under the chest and restraining
the front legs with the fingers. Transporting Guinea Pigs
After you have purchased a guinea pig it should be
transported to its new home as quickly as possible. It is best to place
the animal in a box, or stout cardboard carton, to which has been added
a bundle of clean hay. It will snuggle up in the hay and feel secure
during the journey. A carrying box should, of course, have adequate
ventilation holes and when in use should be packed with with clean dry
bedding.
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Pretty much ALL pet stores order in their animals from mass breeding factories where they breed their animals to the death in horrific conditions. When at the pet store they are normally kept on cheap, dusty bedding with cheap food, no veggies, no hay and little water. They care much more about money in their pockets than about the animals. I have heard countless stories of people bringing their new pets (especially guinea pigs) home that are wrongly sexed, pregnant or ill. Please do not put your money into these places.