7 Tips for Bonding With Your Guinea Pig

 

Bringing home a guinea pig for the first time is always exciting. That fluff! Those floppy ears! And he makes such cute noises!

The excitement dies down a bit after the piggy parent observes that the newest addition to their family has spent most of the day in hiding. From there, the questions begin. "How do I bond with my guinea pig? How do I get her to trust me? It's been three weeks, why is he still scared of me?"

Happy 4th! Fireworks Safety Tips For Your Guinea Pigs

Abby-Roo says Happy Independence Day! While you're out enjoying the festivities, don't forget about your piggies. Like many other pets they have sensitive hearing and can easily be spooked by fireworks, car alarms, or other loud noises.

Inside My Guinea Pig First Aid Kit

 

When it comes to the pigs' health I tend to be cautious and overprepared. I even have my vet on speed dial listed right after the piggy dad. Along those lines, I've made sure to keep a well-stocked supply of medical essentials readily available in case of an emergency.

Here's a look at our guinea pig health kit, separated into first aid essentials and grooming supplies.

Glass vs. Plastic Water Bottles For Your Guinea Pig

Plastic or glass? When it's time to choose a water bottle for your guinea pig, go for the glass! Yes, glass water bottles may cost a bit more but are worth the extra. Here's why.

Guinea Pig Hay Storage

Chances are that as a guinea pig owner, you are undoubtedly familiar with the sight of hay being scattered all over the place. (Unlikely locations I have discovered hay: my handbag, the shower, the vegetable drawer of the fridge, an airplane seat, and between the pages of a book.) This holds true especially if you buy hay in large quantities such as flakes or bales, as people with several cavies are likely to do.

2013 Guinea Pig Weight Charts

Routinely weighing your guinea pig is a recommended part of guinea pig care. Since sudden weight loss and a decreased appetite are among the first noticeable symptoms of illness, regular weighing is good practice. Kitchen scales are the perfect size for guinea pigs and provide more accurate readings than the larger scales meant to be used by humans. The entire chase-grab-weigh-record process is quick and doesn't take more than a few minutes.

Another year, another ton of hay and veggies devoured. We have a routine of weighing the pigs twice a week. Here's a chart that tracks changes in their weights for 2013.

Cleaning Your Guinea Pig's Grease Gland

Quick grease gland checks are a regular part of our piggy grooming routine and a necessary part of cavy care. Out of our six pigs (all girls), Peaches tends to need the most attention here. Since she has a more active grease gland her piggy rump certainly benefits from the occasional extra wash!

Here's what you need to know about your wheeker's grease gland and how to keep it clean.

Guinea Pig Nutrition Charts and Unsafe Foods List

"Does this baby carrot contain enough Vitamin C for me?" -Abby-Roo

Ever wondered if a certain vegetable is good for your guinea pig, how much sugar they're getting from that grape, or if the parsley you're feeding contains enough Vitamin C?

Guinea Pig Predator Safety Reminder

While we've been working away on the site, the piggies have been working away on the lawn. So much grass, so little time!

Why grow wheatgrass for your guinea pigs?

We first started offering wheatgrass to our wheekers when there were only three to feed. Several years and several adoptions later, we finally started growing our own. There was no way sharing a single tiny container could keep Belka, Truffle, Peaches, Poof, Revy and Abby-Roo satisfied!

So why go through the trouble of messing about with dirt and seeds? Here are some reasons why it is worth the effort:

Cavy Facts: How many teeth does a guinea pig have?

Revy displays her peeg teefs

Q: How many teeth does a guinea pig have?

2012 Weight Charts

Routinely weighing your guinea pig is a recommended part of guinea pig care. Since sudden weight loss and a decreased appetite are among the first noticeable symptoms of illness, regular weighing is good practice. Kitchen scales are the perfect size for guinea pigs and provide more accurate readings than the larger scales meant to be used by humans. The entire chase-grab-weigh-record process is quick and doesn't take more than a few minutes.

These charts show each cavy's weight fluctuations over the past year and the overall trends beginning from when they were first adopted. Judging by the stabilization in their weights, Belka, Truffle, Peaches, Poof and Revy seem to have finished growing. This doesn't come as much of a surprise, considering that all five girls will be turning three this year.

Abby-Roo's first hair trim

Before

When Abby-Roo was adopted earlier this year her shark fin-like butt fur, while extraordinarily fluffy, was still rather short (to compare see her early photos here).

Guinea Pig Spa Weekend: Part I

Can you guess what the pigs have to look forward to this weekend?

Guinea Pig Weight Charts

Routinely weighing your guinea pig is a recommended part of guinea pig care. Since sudden weight loss and a decreased appetite are among the first noticeable symptoms of illness, regular weighing is good practice. Kitchen scales are the perfect size for guinea pigs and provide more accurate readings than the larger scales meant to be used by humans. The whole chase-grab-weigh-record process is quick and doesn't take more than a few minutes. The most time consuming part is trying to nab everyone as they scramble for cover.

We have compiled a series of charts showing each pig's growth and changes in weight over time, starting from when they were adopted. Belka, Truffle and Peaches were adopted at the same time and were all about the same age, which explains the similarities in their charts. Both Poof and Revy were a bit older when they were adopted separately later, which accounts for the different trends in their respective charts.

Hug your piggies daily!

Morry

Don't forget to hug your piggies daily! Like every other pet, guinea pigs need love and affection. The more time you spend talking to, feeding, and handling them, the closer your bond will be. With time, your cavy will learn to be more trusting and comfortable around you.

Tracking your guinea pigs weight

Regularly weighing your guinea pigs is good practice - not only does it give you an idea of what weight fluctuations are normal for your pig, but it also allows you to identify potentially worrisome trends, such as a gradual weight loss. As we have written before, sudden weight loss and decreased appetite are some of the first symptoms to show up when cavies fall ill so tracking your pigs weight is essential for their long term health (see earlier post here).

Keep your cavies warm in winter

Just a friendly reminder to keep your guinea pigs warm and dry indoors during the chilly winter months! Guinea pigs are particularly susceptible to upper respiratory infections (URIs), which can result from exposure to cold damp environments - such as soiled bedding or being kept outdoors/in the garage.

A Guinea Pig's Normal Body Temperature

Fellow cavies, does your human like to spend extra time cuddling you on chilly days? Well, this is because us guinea pigs operate at a higher normal body temperature than humans do!

It's Normal for Guinea Pigs to Eat Their Own Poop

Have you ever seen your guinea pig dip his head down between his hind legs, then come up for air chewing on something? If so, then you've witnessed your piggy eating his own poops. This is known as coprophagy, or coprophagia. Don't stop your piggy if you see him or her doing this! Although humans might find this odd or distasteful, coprophagy is an essential part of the digestive process and is considered perfectly normal behavior for a guinea pig.*