guinea pig help

[sanctuaryworker]

Hi my husband and I decided to adopt a special needs guinea pig. We have never had guinea pigs before. So I wanted to know if anyone had any advice.

I have a 2 story cage set up for her but I was wondering if anyone here has any experience using pine bedding (the thick kind made for horse bedding) I have heard positive and negative things about it.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I used pine shavings for mine, but don't use cedar shavings, the fumes are bad for them. If you have specific questions, I'd love you help you out!!

 

[cozycritters]

Most guinea pig experts agree NEVER to use wood chips of any kind. The fumes are bad for them, they may carry some kind of mite, and if the guinea pigs chew on them it will kill them.

We found out to listen to this the hard way.

 

[sanctuaryworker]

well I think we decided on shredded paper now. The organization uses that for the g.pigs and they say its super easy to clean.

THis little girl was dropped on her head and now has a constant twitch but she's been looked at by a vet. who says its not life threatening or compromising to her quality of life.

I'll post pics of her tomorrow!

 

[RabbitMage]

If there's anything affecting her balance, a single-story cage might be safer for her. Also, guinea pigs can't handle wire floors.

They say the same thing about wood shavings and rabbits, but we've used pine around our rabbits for years with no ill effects. The only time I've heard of an animal getting mites from bedding, it was from Carefresh.

 

[cutiepieacres]

as long as its kiln dried pine or aspen its fine. As mentioned Cedar is no good and can burn their feet and lungs. I have raise piggies for over 15 years and currently have 60 and have always used kiln dried pine.

Newspaper works but it doesnt assorb very well so you will need to clean more frequently and can turn light colored piggies black from the ink coming off.

I too would keep her in a one story cage with her former injury another fall could be detrimental and with her balance off she may not be able to do two stories as well. A cube and coroplast cage might be a good idea they arent too expensive and can porvide lots of play space for a piggie. http://www.guineapigcages.com/

Make sure to feed a quality feed, one that contains only green pellets no "junk" and depending on her age and how many veggies and fruits she has had starting her slow if she is young or hasnt had many get her eating lots of veggies and some fruit. I personally wont feed any parsley because of the high oxalic acid content.

Most inportant have fun with your new baby! I bet she will be spoiled in no time. Piggies are so special and even with as many as I have I know each one individually and they are all so sweet.

 

[ladycrotalus]

Dont forget lots of timothy hay daily.

Im a fan of the websites cavyspirit and guinealynx

For my rabbits, rats, mice, birds, and some of my snakes and when i had guinea pigs, i always used kiln dried aspen bedding. I hate pine and refuse to use it with any of my critters. Anything that has a strong smell i stay away from.

 

[CountryMom]

I have used pine shavings (kiln dried) and pine pelleted bedding for years without a problem. You really should be careful in what is written on most pet guinea pig sites. Some give miss information without experience. I use the pine pellets mainly because they are the best for odor control. I have a large herd and show as well.

Please don't forget that whatever guinea pig feed you buy it has to have added vitamin C and be fresh. Vitamin C only lasts about 4 months on the shelf. So look for the mill date if you can.

I do not recommend two story cages even for healthy pigs. The reason being as they kick out litter, poop and urine when up on the upper floors if the sides are not covered. If they are, then dismantling the cage for cleaning become quite the chore. I think you can have a better cage with more space by being bigger. Also I advise people to add play areas with cardboard boxes, wood houses, and plenty of toys. We use hanging bird toys for them to chew. And also hard plastic cat tumblers with the bell inside. And we have the hanging hay balls as well.

I feed ours hay that we have like Timothy, Coastal, or Alfalfa.

 

[Godsgrl]

Congrats on your new pig! How exciting! Be sure to give your pig green leafy veggies every day. They don't produce their own vitamin C, and can die without it. Kale, Romaine, broccoli, all the green leafy stuff works well. You'll soon learn the particular tastes of your critter. We have one that loves bell pepper, and one that won't touch it.

Good luck!!

 

[sanctuaryworker]

I have been giving her her greens while she sits on the couch with me, she loves greens so I am hand feeding them to her so she will learn to like me, or at least associate me with good things.

SHe's very different because when she becomes excited or scared her head begins to twitch uncontrollably and she will bite while this is happening. ( I am trying to get a video of it. ) So I go in and let her have her fit then I pet her for a few minutes and then I pick her up. Do all guinea pigs nibble? She hasnt bitten me but when she was done with her greens she started to nibble my knee.

I dont have great pics of her yet but here are the few that I have

Does anyone have any ideas what she may like other than greens. I tried some pepper and watermelon today and she had no interest...