Guinea Pig...Welcome to the Burgess Excel Care Guide for guinea pigs. Please read through this guide...

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Guinea PigCare GuideAn easy-to-use reference guide to looking after your guinea pigs.

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Burgess Care Guides | Guinea Pig

Welcome to the Burgess Excel Care Guide for guinea pigs. Please read through this guide and keep it handy for reference.

www.burgesspetcare.com

Contents:

Introduction to Guinea Pigs 4

Owning Guinea Pigs 5

Guinea Pig Nutrition 6

The Excel Feeding Plan 7

The Excel Range 8

Housing & Exercise 10

Behaviour and Companionship 12

Health & Wellbeing 14

Burgess ExcelCare Guide for Guinea Pigs


Guinea Pig

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 4-8 years

GUINEA PIG Male – Boar NAMES: Female – Sow Young – Pups

ANIMAL FAMILY: Cavy Family

BEHAVIOUR: Active throughout the day, taking short naps.

DIET: Herbivores (their diet should be made up of 85-90% good quality feeding hay or grass)

HOBBIES: Squeaking, popcorning and socialising with other pigs.

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Introductionto Guinea Pigs

Owning Guinea Pigs

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Did you know?


Guinea pigs are lovely animals to keep for more than just a few reasons:

• Lively - Guinea pigs are extremely energetic and great to watch scuttling around with their friends

• Social - Guinea pigs are extremely sociable, and when provided with guinea pig friends and a caring owner they can become fantastic companions.

• Clean - Guinea pigs are great at keeping themselves clean and can even be litter trained!

If you’re thinking of keeping guinea pigs it’s important that you understand the commitments involved.

Many people get guinea pigs as they believe they are ‘easy’ to look after. However, guinea pigs require a high level of both monetary investment and commitment from their owners. They also have complex dietary needs. We recommend getting some advice from a vet or a local rescue if you are thinking of keeping guinea pigs.

If you do choose to get guinea pigs we’d really recommend that you adopt from a rescue centre such as Blue Cross, RSPCA or Wood Green The Animals Charity where you’ll get great advice on how to look after your piggies.

Guinea pigs are also known as cavies.

Guinea Pig Nutrition

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Guinea pigs need extremely high levels of fibre in their diet. Without high fibre foods their digestive systems will not work correctly; their gut should be in constant motion with the right balance of fibre, and without this they are susceptible to digestive problems. Your guinea pigs also need high levels of protected vitamin C which should be found in high quality nuggets for guineas and certain fresh greens.

Guinea pigs’ teeth are designed to continually grow as they get worn down by the fibrous grasses they feed on in the wild. If guinea pigs do not get enough abrasive foods their teeth will become overgrown making it painful for them to eat at all. That’s why it’s so important that you ensure your guinea pigs’ diets are made up of roughly 85-90% high quality feeding hay or grass.

Guinea pigs also have a tendency to selectively feed, if you feed a muesli style diet they are likely to eat the high starch and sugary elements of food leaving the higher fibre pieces. Feeding a nutritionally balanced high-fibre nugget or pellet will help avoid this.

It’s also extremely important that you stick to feeding your guinea pigs according to feeding guides on pack. Overfeeding nuggets or treats can reduce hay intake and lead to obesity.

Oesophagus

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Ascending Colon

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Jejunum Small Intestines Ileum


The ExcelFeeding Plan

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Natural snacks can be fed in small amounts either by hand to help bonding, left in housing to keep your guinea pigs occupied or sprinkled through feeding hay to encourage foraging.

Fresh water should always be available. Change it daily and ensure it hasn’t frozen in the winter months.

Can be fed as a treat to add variety and provide additional nutrition. Have a look at our guide to feeding greens below to find out what can be fed to your guinea pigs.

EVERYDAYGrasses (not lawn clippings), dandelion leaves, plantain, herb robert, rose bush leaves, nasturtium, wild geranium, strawberry and raspberry leaves, hazel tree leaves & branches, willow tree leaves & branches, apple tree leaves and branches, Hawthorn, brambles, goosegrass, blackthorn, nettle (dried), cauliflower leaves, celery leaves, green pepper, kale, mint, romaine lettuce, spring greens.

OCCASIONALLY(INSMALLAMOUNTS)Apple (pipless), banana, savoy cabbage, turnip, carrot tops, swede, spinach, parsley, basil, dill, oregano, coriander.

High-quality, dust extracted feeding hay or fresh grass should make up 85-90% of your guinea pigs’ diet. You should make sure it is freely available and replace the hay with fresh hay every day.

Should be fed as a supplement to feeding hay or grass to ensure your guinea pigs get all the minerals they need.

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Excel TastyNuggets & Hay

Excel Feeding Hay with Dandelion & Marigold• 100% natural ingredients• High in Beneficial Fibre (63%)• Dandelion may aid urinary tract health• Marigold helps support a healthy

immune system• Dust extracted for respiratory health

Composition: Timothy Hay 98% • Marigold & Dandelion Mix 2%. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 63% • Crude Protein 8% • Crude Oils & Fats 1.8% • Crude Fibre 33% • Crude Ash 7%.

Excel Feeding Hay with Chamomile • 100% natural ingredients• High in Beneficial Fibre (63%)• Chamomile is known for its

calming properties

• Barn dried and dust extracted for respiratory health

Composition: Timothy Hay 98% • Chamomile 2%. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 63% • Crude Protein 8% • Crude Oils & Fats 1.8% • Crude Fibre 33% • Crude Ash 7%.

Excel Guinea Pig Nuggets with Mint• Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre (36%)• Prevents selective feeding• High levels of protected vitamin C• Contains a natural prebiotic to

support digestive health• With natural antioxidants to support

the immune systemComposition: Grass, Wheat, Soya Bean Hulls*, Oat Feed, Hi Pro Soya*, Lucerne, Yeast, Sugar Beet Pulp, Mint (1.25%), Soya Oil*, Limestone, MonoCalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Ligno-Cellulose, Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (0.25%), Minerals. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial fibre 36%, Crude Protein 17%, Crude Oils & Fats 4%, Crude Fibre 17%, Crude Ash 6.5%.

Excel Guinea Pig Nuggets with Blackcurrant & Oregano• Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre (36%)• Prevents selective feeding• High levels of protected vitamin C• With oregano to help support digestion• Delicious blackcurrant for extra flavour

Composition: Grass Meal, Wheat, Lucerne, Maize, Soya Bean Hulls*, Oat Feed, Hi Pro Soya*, Peas, Wheat Feed, Unmolassed Sugar Beet Pulp, Yeast, Soya Oil*, Limestone, MonoCalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (0.25%), Blackcurrant (0.1%), Oregano (0.06%). Analytical Constituents: Beneficial fibre 31%, Crude Protein 17%, Crude Oils and Fats 4%, Crude Fibre 15%, Crude Ash 6%.


Excel Apple SnacksDelicious dried apple pieces, with parsley stems that guinea pigs will love.

Excel Gnaw SticksGnaw Sticks are a great snack which helps to replicate guinea pigs’ natural environment and encourage their natural behaviour.

Excel Country Garden HerbsA natural mix of herbs and grasses which is high in fibre. This blend is great as a tasty topper or sprinkled through feeding hay to encourage foraging.

Excel Mountain Meadow HerbsA natural mix of herbs and grasses which is high in fibre. These blends are as a tasty topper or sprinkled through feeding hay to encourage foraging.

Composition: Dried Apple (99%) • Parsley (1%). Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 2.5% • Fat Content 1.1% • Crude Fibre 7.1% • Crude Ash 1.9% • Moisture 18.5%.

Composition: Willow Sticks • Apple Sticks • Hazel Sticks.

Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 7.4% • Fat Content 3.4% • Crude Fibre 43.1% • Crude Ash 2.4% • Moisture 6.3%.

Composition: Meadow Hay • Oat Herb • Wheat Herb • Dandelion 10% • Mint • Plantain (ribwort) • Milk Thistle Seed • Marigold • Cornflower •Chicory. Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 11.9% • Fat Content 2.5% • Crude Fibre 21.1% • Crude Ash 8.7% • Moisture 14%.

Composition: Meadow Hay • Parsley Stalks • Oat Herb • Wheat Herb • Dandelion • Chamo-mile Plant 10% • Milk Thistle Seed • Fennel Seed • Hibiscus • Sage • Marigold Blossoms Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 13.7% • Fat Content 4.8% • Crude Fibre 20.9% • Crude Ash 9.2% • Moisture 14%.

Excel Nature Snacks

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Housing & Exercise

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How big should my guinea pigs’ housing be?Your guinea pigs’ housing should be permanently attached to a larger space within which they can exercise freely at any point in the day or night, whether this is a safe guinea pig-proofed room indoors or a large run outdoors.

The housing itself should be as big as possible but an absolute minimum of 4ft by 2ft. Your guinea pigs need as much space as possible so that they can relax and feel at home. The run area should also be as large as possible so that your guineas can roam more like they would do in the wild.

What goes into my guinea pigs’ housing?Your guinea pigs’ housing should have several safe hiding places so that they can hide if they feel scared, including the main shelter(s), cardboard boxes and tunnels. The main shelter(s) should be secure with plenty of soft, safe bedding such as clean, dry hay and straw or shredded paper. Make sure any lining used in the main living area is dust free – wood shavings and sawdust both work well.

The housing should also have toilet areas available separate to their sleeping areas, you can use newspaper, hay/straw and/or a paper based non-expanding litter.

Your guinea pigs should have a constant fresh supply of good-quality feeding hay, placed in hay racks and areas that are separate to the bedding area. There should also be fresh, clean water constantly available.

Where should I house my guinea pigs?OutdoorsWhen kept outside your guinea pigs’ housing should be sheltered from the elements, provide enough warm bedding be well-ventilated but dry and free of draughts. Your guinea pigs should have a secure, escape-proof shelter where they can rest and feel safe away from any predators. If the temperature drops below 15 degrees, ideally guinea pigs should be moved indoors. The housing should be attached to a large grassy area which they have access too at all times.

IndoorsGuinea pigs can be kept indoors but it’s important that you get your guineas used to common household sights and sounds slowly over a period of time. It’s also important that they are protected from other animals who are their natural predators.


All areas your guinea pigs move around in should be fully proofed to ensure that your guineas are safe and protected from hazards. The temperature for your guineas’ housing should ideally be kept at between 17-20 degrees celcius – some warmer areas of your house may be too hot.

You should have a toilet area for each of your guineas which is separate from their bedding area. It’s also important that you provided plenty of enrichment through toys, tunnels, platforms, hays and grass pots.

What toys should I give my guinea pigs? Guinea pigs are very playful and need lots of guinea safe toys. Many of these can be found at your local pet stores, however great inexpensive options are cardboard tubes and boxes, hay crackers and unused plant pots.

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eHow often should I clean my guinea pigs’ housing?You should give your guineas’ housing a quick clean daily. This should include cleaning out the toilet area, removing any soiled bedding, throwing away uneaten fresh food and washing the food and water containers.

Each week you should give the housing a thorough clean, removing and replacing all the bedding. However, do place a small amount of old, but clean bedding back in the housing area so the guineas have a familiar smell to go back to.

Every month you should give your guineas’ housing a ‘deep clean’, taking everything out, scrubbing the housing with an animal-safe cleaner and replacing bedding with fresh hay or a guinea pig safe alternative.


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Behaviour & Companionship

How should I handle my guinea pigs?If you need to pick one of your guinea pigs up it’s important to remember that they have delicate spines so need to be picked up carefully. Try not to hold them too high from the floor as they may get startled and jump.

To pick your guinea pig up place one hand around their chest area and support their hind legs with your other hand. Hold them close to your chest for security.

How many guinea pigs should I keep?Guinea pigs are extremely sociable animals and can get depressed without social interaction with other guineas. You should keep guinea pigs in at least pairs where possible, adopting siblings is great as they already know each other so are less likely to fight. If you are introducing guinea pigs to each other for the first time you should introduce them slowly and follow your vet’s and the rescue’s advice.

If you are keeping a mixed sex pair or group make sure you get the males neutered to avoid any unwanted litters.


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How often should I interact with my guinea pigs?Guinea pigs enjoy interaction with humans as well as their piggy friends. It’s important that you make lots of time daily to interact with your guinea pigs.

Can guinea pigs be aggressive?Guinea pigs are not aggressive by nature but when scared or angry they may make a hissing noise with bared teeth and can very occasionally nip.

Can I keep guinea pigs with other animals?It is unwise to keep guinea pigs with larger animals as guinea pigs are a prey species and are likely to see larger animals as a threat, becoming stressed. You should also not keep guinea pigs with rabbits as rabbits have very strong hind legs and can accidentally injure their guinea companion. Rabbits also carry a bacteria which doesn’t cause symptoms for them but can cause respiratory issues for guinea pigs.


Health &Wellbeing

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Should I vaccinate my guinea pigs?Guinea pigs don’t need vaccinations but it is important you take your guineas to the vet at least once a year to help prevent any illnesses developing.

Should I wash my guinea pigs? Guinea pigs tend to clean themselves and bathing them can cause unnecessary stress, therefore it is recommended not to bathe your guinea pigs unless absolutely necessary. If your guinea pigs do need bathing because they are dirty you should use a specially formulated guinea pig shampoo and be sure to keep them warm after their bath.

Grooming your guinea pigs with a guinea safe comb can help with bonding, long haired guineas are likely to need grooming more often.

How often should I take my guinea pigs to the vet?You should take your guinea pigs for a veterinary check-up at least once a year and check that they are eating properly and passing plenty of droppings every day.

Guinea pigs are a prey animal so will hide signs of ill-health which makes regular vet visits really important in order to help avoid illness.

What should I do if one of my guinea pigs is acting differently?If one of your guinea pigs shows a change in behaviour or in their eating or drinking patterns you should seek the advice of a vet as soon as possible.

Should I insure my guinea pigs?You should insure your guinea pigs to help manage costs to ensure they receive their veterinary care that they may need.

What are the common problems to look out for:DentalDisease

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems found in guinea pigs. It can be caused by a lack of abrasive fibre in a guinea pig’s diet, the affected guinea pig’s teeth become overgrown making it too difficult for them to eat properly. If you notice one of your guinea pigs is eating less than usual you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.

In order to help prevent dental disease you should feed your guinea pigs 85-90% feeding hay supplemented by a small


portion of nuggets to prevent selective feeding. You should also check your guinea pigs’ teeth regularly.

VitaminCDeficiency

Guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C so require an outside source of vitamin C. Without enough vitamin C your guinea pigs could develop scurvy which can cause blood clotting problems and lead to problems of the skin and joints. If you notice that one of your guinea pigs has less energy than usual or has difficulty walking, loses their appetite or develops diarrhoea you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.

You should feed your guinea pigs nuggets that contain protected vitamin C and a handful of fresh greens each day to make sure they get enough vitamin C.

Parasites

Guinea pigs are susceptible to parasite infestations and fungal infections. If you notice hair loss, open wounds or thick dandruff on one of your guinea pigs this can indicate one of these issues. If you notice any of these symptoms take your guinea pigs to the vets as soon as possible. Keeping your guinea pigs’ housing clean and changing bedding daily can help reduce the risk of parasites.

Obesity

Guinea pigs need plenty of exercise or they can quickly become obese. It is important that you also feed your guinea pigs according to the feeding guides available to avoid them overeating.

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Guinea Pig...Welcome to the Burgess Excel Care Guide for guinea pigs. Please read through this guide...

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Transcript of Guinea Pig...Welcome to the Burgess Excel Care Guide for guinea pigs. Please read through this guide...