Misleading/Dangerous Info

[Noodles]

As a guinea pig owner and lover, I never stop reading up about providing the best care for my cavy. But as most of you have probably discovered, a plethura of information can lead to quite a few contradictions, which makes it even more confusing on how to provide the best care possible. I just wanted to warn everyone out there about a book that gave not only misleading, but dangerous advice on how to care for guinea pigs. In a book titled: "The Guinea Pig Handbook," it said a few things like:

1. A good cage size is about 1' by 2' large.
2. Exercise wheels make great toys for guinea pigs
3. Soak all vegetables in BLEACH before feeding them to your guinea pig
4. A large aquarium makes a suitable home for guinea pigs

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this published in what looked like a legitimate book! Although I know better than to take advice like this, a new guinea pig owner could read this book and end up killing their pets! Just wanted to warn everyone and express my complete shock and disgust.

[cavy phoenix]

In BLEACH! what on earth.

[Ly&Pigs]

Edit: I am thinking of another book. I haven't seen this one.

We mods have been aware of this other book for years. It's horrible. I was sent a copy of it by a member who actually paid to download it. The link is not allowed on this site.

You can't trust most of what you read in books because most are written by unknowledgable people or are written by breeders. You can't even trust a lot of what you read on the internet either because people spread misinformation like wildfire. There are only 3 cavy sites I trust and this one I trust above all.

[paula.m.moore]

I have this book from years ago when I still thought it was ok to have guinea pigs living in an aquarium and I don't remember seeing anything about soaking food in bleach.

I know it said you can use bleach to clean out their cages, using a solution of water and Clorox, but I really don't remember seeing anything about putting their food in bleach.

I'll dig it out and look but I really can't imagine anyone would think that, let alone write it, then get it past several publishers and editors. Maybe I'm wrong or thinking of a different book.

[crazywiggy]

Tell me about it...
Almost every single website and book I have looked at tells you to use vit C drops in water - even one vet site. I would have thought during a 7 year vet degree course they might have learnt some basic chemistry!

I flicked through one book - Guineapiglopeida I think - which specifically stated guinea pigs don't like open spaces, so they smaller the cage the better!

I appreciate the sentiment of freedom of speech, free press etc but it drives me mad that people can legitimatally publish total bull, often abusive or dangerous, and claim it to be fact. It's no wonder so many pets are kept in poor conditions when the vast majority of info out there is wrong.

[Justin]

I have read a Scholastic book for my child last night. It has such beautiful illustrations. Then it describes roomy outdoor hutch as best cage. Guinea pigs are so easily maintainable that kids can take care of them. Also the author's two best boars each had dozens of babies while with him. The babies are really really cute.. and so on. The book didn't say what the author did with the dozens of babies.

[brightwing]

Vit C drops in water is bad? >_< Can someone clarify?? I heard you can give gp's vitamin C pills.. but I don't know what brand--- and since the Vit C drops are bad for them what can I use to replace it?

[wiggley_narco]

I've seen that book; it does say to soak guinea pigs' vegetables in a 1:8 bleach water solution... scary.

And brightwing, vitamin C drops in your guinea pigs' water is indeed no good. High-quality pellets contain Vit-C, as do many fresh veggies. Try these instead.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by brightwing

Vit C drops in water is bad? >_< Can someone clarify?? I heard you can give gp's vitamin C pills.. but I don't know what brand--- and since the Vit C drops are bad for them what can I use to replace it?

Veggies. If you feed at the minimum of 1 cup of veggies per day you won't need to supplement with C at all because they will get what they need from the veggies. Please read the sticky threads in the Diet and Nutrition forum for more info.

Don't use the drops you put in water. They degrade too quickly and distort the taste of the water making the pigs not want to drink it.

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by brightwing

Vit C drops in water is bad? >_< Can someone clarify?? I heard you can give gp's vitamin C pills.. but I don't know what brand--- and since the Vit C drops are bad for them what can I use to replace it?

Vitamin C mixed in water is not inherently bad. It's just that you cannot control the dosage they get if you dilute the vitamin c in a full bottle of water. It's comparable to throwing your human medication in a gallon of milk. You can't get the right dose unless you drink the whole gallon of milk all at once. And that is assuming the milk did not alter the chemical properties of the medication.

See my guinea pigs live

[Cherish]

The worst problem with vitamin c drops in water, is that not only does the vitamin c break down, but also many brands of vitamin c drops formulated for guinea pigs also contain added sugar.
For example, I know that the brand that Pets At Home stock, and recommend you get when you buy any of their guinea pigs, contains added sugar.

Some guinea pigs get used to the taste of the sugar and begin to like it, so they drink more water, and the owners think that it's a good thing that their pig is drinking more.
When in actual fact, their little bodies aren't used to the extra sugar, and it can cause diabetes.

So steer well clear of vitamin c drops in water.