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Guinea pigs are very low maintenance. Even children can have such a pet, starting from 6-7 years of age. The exception is long-haired pigs, which need to be brushed every day.

So what does caring for a guinea pig involve?

Feeding - 2-3 times a day.
Cleaning the feeder and airing it once a day.
Replacement of litter - once every 3-4 days.
General cleaning of the cage - once a week.
Preventive examination - 1 time per week.
Combing the coat - once every 2-3 days (only for long-haired guinea pigs).
Nail trimming - 1-2 times a year.

According to the observations of our breeders from the MMC Club, it takes about two hours a week to care for 2-3 guinea pigs.

Also keep in mind that your pig should be allowed to move around a little. You definitely need to let her out for a walk around the apartment every day. At the same time, it is worth vigilantly watching this small animal so as not to accidentally step on it or get pinched by doors. A pig that no one pays attention to may test its teeth on the furniture. Naturally, if you have other animals that may be unsafe for the rodent, they should be locked in another room while the pig is walking.

If you want to pick up a pig, then you should catch and pick it up with a quick and decisive movement. We clasp the back and chest with one hand, and place the other under the butt. Newborn pigs and pregnant females should not be carried in your arms.

Preventive examination

Once a week you need to watch the pig for a while and carefully examine it.

A healthy animal is active, eats willingly, its fur is shiny, without bald spots.

It is also important to check whether there are any wounds on the skin, whether there is diarrhea, runny nose, wheezing when breathing, or whether the eyes are purulent.

Regular inspection of your pigs will allow you to take timely action if necessary.

Combing

Short-haired and rosette pigs take care of their personal toilet on their own.

Using their claws and teeth, they clean and comb their coat. However, it probably won’t hurt the animal if we brush it with a brush and wipe it with a dry cloth from time to time.

Long-haired pigs need frequent brushing. This is necessary not only to prevent it from falling into tangles, but also to massage the skin. If the fur in some area is tangled into a lump, then it is simply carefully cut off with scissors. To comb the fur, you should use special combs and brushes. Many breeders cut their long-haired beauties for the summer so that they are not so hot. For long-haired females, it is also recommended to shorten the hair around the nipples to make it easier for babies to find milk.

Caring for short-haired guinea pigs

Guinea pigs with short fur do not need to be brushed at all, but guinea pigs, which are extremely clean animals, should be brushed twice a week only during shedding, usually in spring and autumn.

Caring for long-haired guinea pigs

Long-haired guinea pigs need to be brushed (with a soft brush) at least once a week - preferably two or three times a week - to prevent matting. Brushing provides silky shine to hair, but only in combination with an appropriate diet. If you feed your pig inappropriately, its coat will remain dull despite all efforts. A very beneficial effect on the coat will be provided if you give it sunflower seeds and flaxseed, taking into account certain ingredients contained in these seeds. (Caution must be exercised, however, since these are oilseeds, and their excessive proportion in the feed can cause obesity in the animal).

Get your guinea pig used to brushing from a very young age. Take the animal on your lap, laying down a towel first. Detangle your hair with a long-tooth comb. Animal fur can be slightly moistened with water from a spray bottle - the comb will touch and tug the hair less. Brush the fur with a soft brush until shiny. Trim matted or matted areas, especially in the back of the body, with scissors or wash with a special anti-hairball shampoo for cats (available at pet stores). Then dry the fur with a hairdryer if it's cool at home.

Bathing

You should only bathe your guinea pig if absolutely necessary. For example, if, due to diarrhea, the fur around the anus becomes contaminated with feces, or if the animal is heavily soiled with soil and the only solution is bathing.

If there is a need to bathe your guinea pig, you need to proceed as follows.

Fill a plastic bowl or shallow basin with water at room temperature to a height of 2.5-3 cm from the bottom.
Place the guinea pig in the water, soaking it only as long as necessary.
Gently wash your pig, making sure his head is always above the surface of the water.
If necessary, you can use a special shampoo for rodents (sold in a pet store), without, however, affecting the animal’s head; the shampoo should then be thoroughly rinsed off.
At the end of bathing, remove the pig from the water and carefully dry with a towel. If the room temperature is above 18°C, it is enough to dry the animal, but if the room is cooler, you need to dry it with a hair dryer.

A long-haired pig should always be dried with a hairdryer, but only set to the lowest temperature. A completely dry animal is placed in a clean and dry cage lined with hay. It must be remembered that a bathed guinea pig is especially sensitive to drafts and cold, and is susceptible to colds, the consequences of which can be detrimental.

Dental care

Lack of adequate solid food can lead to excessive tooth growth. Guinea pigs, like all rodents, continually grow their front teeth (incisors), even if they use them intensively. This poses a considerable danger, since teeth that are too long make it difficult to eat, and their sharp ends can puncture the tongue or gums. As a result, the animal stops eating altogether, and the intervention of a veterinarian is required. In addition to solid food, it is recommended to let your pig chew on various (safe for her) objects.

Sometimes there is a problem such as congenital malposition of teeth in guinea pigs. In such cases, they need to be trimmed by a veterinarian every two to three months.

Nail trimming

In addition to taking good care of your teeth, an important element of caring for your guinea pig is keeping its claws in good condition. The point is to ensure that they do not grow too long, as this would make it difficult for the animal to move. In bred guinea pigs, the claws do not wear off on their own sufficiently, so the owner is obliged to help them with this. However, this should be done very carefully and only when absolutely necessary. In this case, another person is needed to care for the animal. The most suitable tool is sharp special scissors or nail trimmers.

Excessively long claws are shortened with special scissors or claw tongs, taking care not to damage living tissue. A slight excess of the length of the incisors is eliminated using a nail file, and very long teeth are trimmed with sharp special scissors. However, if you have never performed this type of operation before, have it done by an experienced person.

Pay attention to the blood vessels. You cannot cut the claws too short, because the upper parts contain nerves and blood vessels. Damage to this living tissue causes excruciating pain to the animal, the wound takes a long time to heal, and chronic infection can occur as a complication. In a situation where living tissue is damaged, it is necessary, first of all, to stop the bleeding using a constrictor (for example, a lapis bacillus), and then take care of cell hygiene as much as possible in order to prevent infection.

Rodents' nails are trimmed at approximately 1 year of age, and then 1-2 times a year. In nature, they wear down naturally on sand and stones, but at home they grow excessively, which brings discomfort and pain to the pigs.

The cut should correspond to the profile of the claw. To prevent the claws from crumbling, you should use special tweezers (can be purchased at a pet store).

The claws must be trimmed carefully. It is better to do this in front of a bright light, so as not to make a mistake and damage the blood vessels. It is easy to recognize the place to which a claw can be trimmed in light-colored animals. Examining the claw in the light, you will see translucent blood vessels; Circumcision is allowed only within the transparent area. To do this, you need special scissors or nail trimmers. During this procedure, you need to hold the pig carefully but firmly - it will try to tear its paw out of your fingers. And one more thing: try to ensure that the cutting edge is located across the claw. It may crack if cut at an angle.

If the claws are dark, it is very difficult to determine the location of the blood vessels. In this case, this procedure should be carried out by two people: one holds the guinea pig and illuminates the claws from below with a spotlight, the other trims them.

Ear cleaning

The ears should also be checked regularly. If necessary, carefully clean the ears from dust and dirt using a paper handkerchief. Under no circumstances should you use cotton swabs! Dirty ears that emit an unpleasant odor can be affected by ear mites: the animal usually tilts its head towards the affected ear. If you notice these symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Eye cleaning

Small formations and crusts in the corners of the eyes are best removed with a damp, soft paper handkerchief. Unexpected excessive tearing indicates inflammation or a wound. In this case, you need to seek help from a veterinarian.

The ideal pet for any owner, even an inexperienced one, is a guinea pig. Psychologists have proven that a child, taking care of an animal, develops accuracy and caring. If you need a friendly pet that doesn't require any special skills, get a pig. In order not to be confused when the fluffy one ends up in the family, you need to find out everything about guinea pigs before purchasing.

Appearance and habits

The body of this animal has a cylindrical shape. The average height is 22 cm. The largest guinea pig can grow up to 28 cm. When weighed, females and males show different results. On average, the weight of females is about 1200 g, while males are about 1800. The animal’s head is large, the guinea pig’s teeth are sharp due to the enamel on only one side. The length and color of the coat depend on the breed of the pet.

These rodents have nothing to do with pigs or the expanses of water. Why did they get this name? Well, they became pigs thanks to the sounds they made. But the word “sea” most likely comes from “overseas”, since it was brought from overseas. The word was simply simplified later.

The lifestyle of pigs is very interesting for the observer. In nature, they live in families. They can live both in burrows and on the surface of the earth or even in rocks. The leader of the pack is the male. Since these rodents have developed senses of smell and hearing, it is very difficult to sneak up on a group protected by “sentinels.” In case of danger, the guard makes special sounds to warn others. Animals are very clean: like cats, they wash their own fur.

The usual temperature for them is about 20 degrees during the day and 8 at night. However, they tolerate more significant changes well.

Lifespan

Not everything about guinea pigs is known even to specialists, but they are quite well aware of the life expectancy of these animals. In captivity, a pig spends more time than most rodents. Average life expectancy is 9 years. However, there were also individuals who lived for 15 years. In nature, animals die a little earlier, because their life is full of dangers, and there is not always enough food. Thus, the better the care, the longer the animal will live.

The lifespan of a pig depends on the conditions of detention, lifestyle, diet, heredity, care, and so on.

Varieties

Since guinea pigs are one of the easiest animals to care for and also have a friendly character, they have become the most popular. Due to the demand for “piglets,” animals have been actively crossed to obtain new species.

Depending on the length of their fur, guinea pigs are divided into long-haired, short-haired and rare-haired.

Long-haired animals are very beautiful. Their fur differs not only in length and color, but also in the direction of growth of each individual hair. Among the long-haired ones, Sheltie, Coronet, Peruvian pigs, Texel, Merino, alpaca and other equally interesting breeds are especially common.

Shorthairs can have coats that vary in texture and color. Breeds belonging to this species: Self, Dalmatian, Satin, Agutin, English Crested and others.

Rare are animals that are united not by the type of fur, but by other unique characteristics. For example, kui is the largest guinea pig: the weight of an adult animal can reach 3 kg. Skinnies and Baldwins are animals with smooth bodies (skinnies still have fur on their hands).

Gender of pigs

Most new owners are interested in However, when purchasing just one individual, this is not so important - the behavior of females and males is almost identical. However, if it is necessary to purchase two animals, the issue of gender must be resolved. Adult pigs have well-developed sexual characteristics, so distinguishing them is not difficult. When buying babies you will have to be careful:

The first way is the genitals. To do this, you need to turn the animal over in your palm and press on the lower abdomen. In this case, you can feel a thin vein in the male - this is the penis. The female will have a fold of skin forming a Y shape.
The second is the anal sac. In females it is simply absent, while in males it is quite distinct.
The third method is cal. Perhaps the easiest way. It is necessary to carefully observe how animals defecate. A male guinea pig leaves behind feces that are curved at the edges and have an arched shape. Whereas in females it has the shape of an even grain of rice.

If you don’t want to breed, but you don’t want to leave the animal bored alone, you can purchase two (or more) individuals of the same sex. Preferably female, since males will constantly fight.

Communication

Even though animals are not able to speak with words, they communicate with each other using sounds. Guinea pigs, like many other animals, are fairly easy to understand. And they themselves quickly learn how to make the “breadwinner” understand their needs.

For example, pigs sniffling means that they are anxious or waiting. If this sound is interspersed with a whistle, most likely the pet is asking for food.

Rumbling has many meanings; for a more accurate interpretation, it is necessary to take into account the posture. A satisfied, relaxed pig purrs with happiness. If the tone is higher, and the movements are tense or the animal is trembling, this indicates irritation. Animals that are scared make abrupt rumbling sounds. Animals that feel angry grind their teeth and open their mouths, like lions when they roar.

With closer contact, the sounds of guinea pigs and their movements become clear to the owner, so do not regret the time spent with your pet.

Cell

The rodent is very easy to care for, even a child can handle it, because most often such animals are purchased for children.

The main point is the purchase of “housing”. The most popular are terrariums and cages with a deep tray. The main requirement for rodent enclosures is that it makes it difficult to throw out and spill out the bedding. Guinea pigs, which are easy to care for and maintain at home, are very clean animals. Therefore, the bedding (preferably sawdust) needs to be changed several times a day so that the animal does not get sick. With some effort, you can train this rodent to relieve itself in a certain place, this will simplify care.

Nutrition

Being generally unpretentious, guinea pigs sometimes die due to improper nutrition. Care and maintenance at home should include a serious approach to the rodent’s diet.

New foods must be introduced gradually. Most of the diet is hay. The remaining share comes from special foods made from various grains, which are sold at the pet store, fresh vegetables and grass.

Water and hay should be available at all times, while grains and vegetables should be given twice a day.

In order not to make a mistake when choosing fresh grass, you should limit yourself to the following types: nettle, wheatgrass, plantain, dandelion leaf, sedge, clover. Other herbs may be poisonous to your pet.

Diseases

It is impossible to know everything about guinea pigs, but you need to know at least a little about diseases. Most of them are easy to diagnose. With any illness, the rodent becomes lethargic, loses appetite, and its eyes water. In order not to play “Russian roulette” with your pet’s health, it is best to immediately take him to a specialist who will prescribe treatment.

Breeding

Before breeding, you need to think carefully about whether you are really ready for such a volume of work, because rodents breed frequently and consistently. Not every pet store will be happy with such a flow of live goods, even if it is offered a white guinea pig. Therefore, even before purchasing a pair of animals of different sexes, it is worth considering what to do with the offspring.

How to determine the sex of a guinea pig is already known. Now it is necessary to arrange housing for the future family. It is better to keep a pregnant female separately until the cubs are weaned from her.

Do not forget that pregnant animals consume more food, so you need to prepare more hay and feed.

Games

For proper development, animals need to move and play more. Therefore, the cage must be equipped with various devices for climbing, jumping, and running. If there are many animals, they need to be given a place to play together; one animal needs more equipment so that it does not get bored.

Training

Despite the fact that everyone thinks little good about guinea pigs: they are boring, stupid, they only sleep and eat, this is all a lie. With patience, you can teach the animal some tricks. And just watching a healthy, active animal is very interesting.

These animals are very friendly and sociable, so they will be happy to spend time with the owner, who, in turn, can conduct training in a playful way.

Before starting training, it is necessary to establish friendly contact with the pet so that it is completely calm and not afraid of the owner’s voice or movements.

Basic commands that all pigs are able to perform: “place”, “ask”, “paw”, “spin”. Often, owners teach their pet to sleep in a hammock, jump through a hoop, swim, sit on a shoulder, and many other fun things. Any command should be taught slowly, repeating what you have learned daily. A smart pet should be rewarded with treats, but should never be scolded.

Show just a little hard work, patience and love, and your pig will become your loyal and funny friend.

Among the small domestic rodents that love to have families with children, guinea pigs occupy a special place. This is a very unpretentious pet in care and nutrition that will delight its owners every day. Children can also take care of little pets, instilling a sense of responsibility and neatness.

The history of the appearance of the rodent breed

Representatives of South American tribes began breeding wild guinea pigs. These individuals were not like modern individuals with fluffy fur. After the discovery of America by Columbus, representatives of these rodents began to be brought to Europe.

Peru is considered the birthplace of sea pets. In ancient times, they were found in almost every home, but they were eaten and not kept as pets. Wild representatives of the breed had a dark color - black or brown.

They ran in flocks across the fields, hiding in dense bushes when danger arose. Rodents were bred for food.

Domesticated small rodents were called marine not because of their great love for sea fun and water procedures, but simply because they were brought from sea voyages. Cute and funny animals were brought mainly from America and, due to the fact that they make a squeak, similar to a grunt, they were called pigs. They are capable of making different sounds, especially if they are very frightened.

Read about some other very cute pet rodents in the article:

Appearance of guinea pigs

The smart and beautiful rodent has short legs and a neck, and the body itself is somewhat elongated. Wild species, unlike long-haired and fluffy pets, are more active and playful. Sea rodents have warm and coarse fur.

The paws have small toes with ribbed and sharp claws. Unlike mice and rats, sea pets do not have a tail.

The animal's mouth has sharp teeth that grow throughout its life. Animals wear down the cutting surface by gnawing dense stems of bushes, root vegetables and many other products. Rodents of this type also differ in color.

In nurseries and stores, long-haired species are presented, with hard hair, as well as without fluff or with small fluff.

Gender of guinea pigs

Females and males look almost the same and have similar habits, so when purchasing, it is important to know what gender the animal is and how to determine it. Baby pigs have weakly expressed sexual characteristics, but large individuals are quite easy to distinguish.

When you press on the lower abdomen, the male's genital organ will be felt in the form of a thin vein. Females have a Y-shaped fold. Males also have a prominent anal sac, which is absent in females.

One of the easiest ways to determine sex is through feces. Males leave arc-shaped bowel movements, while females poop dewy grains of rice. If there is no goal of breeding animals so that they do not get bored, same-sex pairs are chosen, preferably females, since males often fight over food and territory.

How long does the average guinea pig live?

It is fairly well known what the average life expectancy of guinea pigs is. On average they live 8-9 years. Some rodents, with proper care and feeding, live up to 15 years.

In nature, individuals die faster, because they are hunted by many larger animals. The lifespan of an animal directly depends on care, hereditary diseases, nutrition and lifestyle.

Animal Species

Friendly pets differ in color and fur length. Among them are the following colors:

Among the short-haired rodents, the following breeds are distinguished: Abyssinian, Rex, American (English), Teddy, Crested, Ridgeback. Among the long-haired representatives, there are Silk or Sheltie, Texel and Peruvian breeds. There are rodents that have no hair at all - Baldwin and Skinny.

Care and proper maintenance of pets

Funny animals don't take much time. It is enough to pay them the following attention:

Trim your nails once a year.
Combing the fur several times a week for long-haired individuals.
Inspect your pet's body at least once a week for injuries, wounds, cuts, and ticks.
Ventilation of the room. A closed animal cage must be periodically opened to allow fresh air to enter the pet. It is enough to do this once a day for easy cleaning and air flow.
Feeding. The animal eats three times a day. Food can be left in reserve.
The house is cleaned every 3-4 days. If a stench comes out of the cage, a thorough cleaning is necessary.

They should be given animal anthelmintic drugs several times a month. Deworming should also be carried out on all other pets. For active games, the guinea pig should sometimes be released from the cage. The main thing is that the animal is not injured by falling from a chair or table.

Guinea pigs do not like water treatments, despite their name. They are bathed only when their fur is heavily soiled. You can only wash part of your pet's body. They are washed in a basin of warm water. There is no need to wet the pig's head.

You can lather the fur with baby shampoo. Then it is wiped well. Sometimes animals are dried with a hairdryer, especially if the hair is very long. After the procedure, you should not place your pet in a draft or cold so that it does not catch a cold.

It is important to remove dust and dirt from your guinea pigs' ears. This is done with cotton swabs soaked in plain water. If there are ear mites or discharge, you should take your pet to the doctor.

Guinea pig cage

Most often the species is kept in cages with a plastic tray or terrariums. The main thing is convenience in changing hay, since fluffy pigs love cleanliness. To prevent your pet from getting sick, it is better to do this several times a day. What will make care easier is that the pet will be accustomed to defecate in a certain place.

As a house for an animal, it is better to choose a spacious metal cage with a deep plastic tray. They cannot be kept in wooden or cardboard containers, since a rodent can chew through the walls of such a house, and the material itself absorbs unpleasant odors.

The feeder and drinking bowl should be located at the level of the animal’s muzzle. It is tightly attached to the wall of the house. It is not advisable to place drinking bowls and feeders inside the cage, as they can spill drink and food. The cage will be filled with dirt and will be left without food.

The bottom of the cage is filled with a special filler - hay, sawdust, but not pine sawdust, straw. The litter is changed every 2-3 days. It is enough to sprinkle it 2-3 cm for large individuals.

What to feed sea rodents

Cute rodents can often get sick and even die due to improper diet. New products are introduced to them gradually. They mostly eat hay. The rest is grain mixtures that are sold at the pet store.

Fresh herbs and vegetables are suitable. Clean water must be freely available. Fresh vegetables and cereals should be given to your pet daily.

Suitable from grass:

clover;
sedge;
shepherd's purse;
yarrow;
dandelion leaves;
plantain;
mallow;
wheatgrass;
nettle.

For coarse fibers, the animals are given tomatoes, beets, apples, hay, different varieties of cabbage, lettuce, bran moistened with water, dandelions, turnips, broccoli, parsley, potatoes, seeds, and cereals.

Do not feed your pet expired or stale food, unripe or rotten berries or fruits, rotten or moldy foods.

Rodents do not tolerate hunger well, so it is better to feed them in the morning and evening, and leave some food for the day. Pregnant individuals are fed 4 times a day. In addition to hay, you need to add straw and legumes to the pig's cage. In summer you can give twigs of bushes and fruit trees, birch and oak bark, and maple leaves.

It is better to cut your pet’s vegetables into large pieces so that your pet can wear down his teeth. You should not often give sweet fruits - pears, bananas, melon, watermelon. Sunflower seeds, barley and wheat are suitable. Chalk is also placed in the house as a useful mineral supplement.

Are additional vitamins needed?

According to veterinarians, many guinea pigs lack vitamin C, so it is added to the water bottle. For 1 liter of water you need to crush 1 mg of ascorbic acid. The solution is changed daily, as the vitamin quickly loses its properties.

Rodents must eat their own droppings to obtain vitamins. B and normalization of intestinal microflora.

How to properly breed guinea pigs

Rodents usually breed profusely, so it is important to determine whether it is necessary to take pets of different sexes. Pregnant pigs are kept separately until giving birth. She consumes more feed and hay.

Animals aged 8-10 months can be allowed to mate. A female with 1-5 babies is allowed. If she cannot give birth for more than an hour, then the help of a veterinarian is necessary.

Training and games

Active rodents love to play. Their house should have different facilities for running, jumping and climbing. If there are several pigs in a cage, they should have plenty of space to hang out together.

Guinea pigs are very smart animals. They can learn to perform simple tricks. Fluffy rodents love to communicate with their owners and actively make contact. They can spin around, jump over a bar, sleep in a hammock, and sit on your shoulder. To cheer up your pet, give him a small treat.

A unique language of sounds

With the help of certain sounds, small rodents express their mood and emotions:

a persistent squeak indicates severe hunger.
Males roar in front of each other to show their importance. This is a sign that the male or females are very angry and irritated. They may also chatter and grind their teeth.
Prolonged cackling and cooing are evidence of the pet’s good-natured state of mind.
When paired, pigs often grunt. This is them greeting each other and exploring.
Males coo to females when they are trying to mate.
Quiet or loud squeals and whistles are a sign of pleasure.

Guinea pigs may moan or squeak loudly. This indicates that the pet is in pain. If your pet is sick, he will be lethargic and drowsy. Loses active appetite. His eyes may become sour and watery. In these cases, it is better to take the rodent to the veterinary clinic for treatment.

Where to buy a good guinea pig

Rodents are mainly bought in pet stores or in so-called “bird” markets. There are individuals of any age, gender, color. Depending on the breed, the cost per animal will vary.

A good standard medium-sized pig can be purchased for 200 rubles. On some forums, breeders give away their cubs for free. Purebred rodents of rare colors will cost 1000-2000 rubles. In any case, funny and interesting animals will become full-fledged and beloved members of the family.

If you decide to have a pet, but are not ready to devote a lot of time to its maintenance and care, a guinea pig is suitable for you. This is a cute, friendly, sociable and non-aggressive animal that will become a friend for any child.

Buying a Guinea Pig

You need to check if the animal is healthy. Take your pig in your arms Don't be alarmed if it becomes nervous, this is normal. Carefully examine the animal, its fur should be clean without bald spots, its body should be strong and smooth, its eyes should be clear and free of discharge, and its nose should be clean and dry.

You need to find out what gender the animal is. Females can get along together, but keeping males together is not recommended, as they can fight.

It will be useful to find out about the age of the pig. It is better to purchase 6-9 week old animals. If the animal is older, it’s okay, because with good care, pigs live up to 8-12 years.

You can transport the pig home in a special carrier or a regular cardboard box with holes made. The latter option is not suitable for a long journey, since the cardboard may get wet from the animal’s urine.

Guinea pig adaptation

In the first days, a guinea pig at home may behave quietly and lethargically. This is due to the fact that she needs time to adapt. Once in an unfamiliar place, the animal becomes timid, may eat poorly and sit for a long time, frozen in place. To help your pig adapt, try to create a calm atmosphere and touch the animal less. Talk to her in a calm voice, and only after a couple of days can you pick her up.

Keeping and caring for guinea pigs

Guinea pigs love company, so if you have one animal, it is recommended to place it in an area where the whole family gathers. Spend at least 10 minutes a day communicating with the animal, talk to it and take it in your arms, otherwise it may become sad.

Since guinea pigs are active, they need to be given the opportunity to walk around the apartment or outside every day to satisfy their need for movement.

The bottom of the cage must be covered with bedding. Sawdust, straw, hay or granular litter are suitable. If you use sawdust as bedding, make sure that it is not small, as small particles can get into the animal's respiratory tract or eyes. Granular fillers absorb liquid better and eliminate odor. It is recommended to change the litter as it gets dirty, every 2-3 days.

Don't forget about the pig's fur. It should be brushed with a soft brush about 2 times a week. Nail trimming may be required 1-2 times a year if the animal does not bite them off.

Necessary items for maintenance

Cage or aquarium. Both are suitable for keeping a guinea pig, the main thing is that their length is at least 50 cm. The larger the home, the less often you will have to clean it. It is better to select a cage with a plastic tray. An enclosure with a wooden base is not suitable due to the fact that these animals excrete a lot of urine. In a cage you can place a house for a guinea pig, in which it will sleep with pleasure, but it is worth considering that having somewhere to hide, the animals become more timid. It is recommended to set up the house only for the night. If you decide to use an aquarium for your pet, remember not to cover it with a lid.
Feeder. It is necessary that it be heavy - this will prevent the guinea pig from turning it over. It is better to buy a couple of ceramic feeders. Use one for green food, the other for dry food.
Drinking bowl. It is better to use a vertical ball drinker. The water in it needs to be changed daily. To prevent liquid from dripping from the drinker, it should be filled completely.