Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig !

Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig !

written by Patty of CatCalls

Tooey in Food

March is Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month!

And I am delighted to say... that I have already done so!

I am the happy owner of three fabulous fur balls that are a constant source of entertainment for me and my boys. Tooey, who I admit is my favorite, actually came from a pet store that was closing and was free with a bag of food.

Tooey preening

It was the first time in over 20 years that I bought a guinea pig from a pet store. But he and his cage mate were the only rodents left, and even though I was only going on a fun outing with my son, I came home with two new friends! They were added to the two I already I had.

CG

About a year after that, my daughter in law was working at the Akron Human Society, mainly with cats. It was August of 2008 when she told me they had just obtained a number of animals from a hoarder, including two guinea pigs. And one was gray! She knew that gray was one of my favorites, so she immediately called when they arrived. I was leaving for vacation the next week, so I couldn't take them, but she set them aside for me.

Thea's face

Two weeks later I became the owner of two young, very skittish piggies who were in dire need of a bath! My husband and I took them to the laundry room, gave them a good scrub and.... WOW! How bright and soft they became! Poor girls, though, were so scared. But with much love and lots of handling by my two sons and me, they eventually relaxed and became calm, friendly, happy pets.

Thea bathing

Today, CG and Thea are like extra kids in the family. CG is the brunt of many fat jokes as she is extremely large for a guinea pig! And Thea is always getting the "OH...what a pretty guinea pig!" comments. They both squeal daily when the refrigerator opens in mid morning as my husband makes his lunch for work. He always gives them treats. They have been the subject of many, many home school writing assignments. They each have their own little personality, though Tooey was endowed with an extremely feisty one that has won him the most favored position. But both CG and Thea are very sweet and entertaining as well.

CG with cucumbers

Guinea pigs have been a part of my life for over 30 years. I really cannot imagine life without them. They are very easy to care for, quite hearty and healthy, and very affectionate. They make great first pets for school age children. They can be shown in county fairs thorough 4-H, get along with rabbits well, and can even be trained to do simple tricks. My son once had a boar that would come when he called his name!

Tooey with glasses

This month, why not consider the rodent section of your local shelter in your quest for a furry addition to your family ?!

Wanna read more about Guinea Pigs ?

click HERE to see Patty's

article on Guinea Pig care !

Read all about... Guinea Pigs !

Read all about

... GUiNEA PiGS ...

by Patty of Catcalls

Guinea pigs are really very hardy little guys. They do not require massive amounts of tedious attention- just some basic care to keep them happy and healthy.

If you can provide all of these things, you are a good candidate for guinea pig ownership!

1. Keep your piggie's cage clean and dry. Pine chips, straw, hay but NO cedar chips! They are toxic to guinea pigs.

2. Keep away from drafts! This is a big one. Once a guinea pig catches a respiratory illness, it is very hard for them to recover.

3. Keep their room at a consistent temperature. Gradual seasonal changes in temperature are not a problem. Just no abrupt changes. 60F - 80F degrees is suitable.

4. Allow plenty of fresh air, but no drafts.

5. Give fresh pellets made for guinea pigs, not rabbit pellets, and water daily.

6. Daily vitamin C is essential. They are like humans in this regard, needing outside sources of this vitamin. Fresh, clean, raw veggies and fruits are best.

7. Give your piggies plenty of light without placing them in direct sunlight.

8. Keep their toenails clipped. This is an easy task- just like clipping your own! Be careful to clip below the 'quick', the fleshy part underneath the nail.

9. Examine your guinea pig often... so that you can catch any lumps, bald spots, runny nose etc. before they get serious. Playing regularly with your piggies will keep you more alert to any changes.

10. It -is- possible to transfer a respiratory illness to your pet... So be careful to keep your distance when you are sick and wash your hands before touching them.

If you notice any of the following, unless you are well versed in guinea pig care, talk to your vet! These may develop into serious conditions.

Not eating or drinking, discharge from eyes or ears, diarrhea, hair loss, weight loss, dull ruffled hair, dull or half closed eyes, nose in corner of cage with little movement or hunched posture.

Yes! You CAN teach your guinea pig to play dead! But can you teach him to fly? I will let you know after I have some lessons with Tooey!

Of the 30 or 40 guinea pigs I have had, I have lost a few to the above illnesses, mainly in my childhood years, due to ignorance. Most of my piggies have lived 4 or more years. For the little amount of care they require, they have brought an abundance of fun and joy into our lives!

I can't imagine life without a guinea pig!