Guinea Pig *ahem* "Care" *ahem* book

[guineapigfan9000]

I am quite worried about a guinea pig care book I saw the other day.
I don't have it with me now, but I remember there was advice on breeding. What I remember more vividly, however, was their advice on caging.
It was a photo of a hutch, which I didn't have too much of an objection to as it's not against the RSPCA.
The more pressing issues... I'll start with the location. It wasn't raised at all. The thing was resting on the ground, not pavers or anything, the bare, dusty ground where ants, spiders and, with the size of the mesh, even snakes could get in. Morever, it appeared to be behind a house or, more likely from the brickwork in the background, a garage.

Not only this, but instead of galvanised mesh as recommended by "The Essential Guinea Pig", this hutch was made of chicken wire. It looked about 10 years old and the wire was sagging on top. I reckon if a cat got on there it would have fallen through without trying. Seriously, this cage was maybe 50cm tall. The mesh was sagging at least 15cm down in the centre.

Furthermore, the non-bedroom part wasn't sheltered at all. If they'd wanted, the piggies could have stood out in the rain. And their pellets were here - if it rained for a while they'd have to either starve or go out and get soaked in order to eat a few soggy pellets (which were seeds from what I could tell). Same with the water bottle.

This cage had a wire floor, from what I could tell. We're talking widely spaced chicken wire here, it makes those breeder cages look comfortable. The wire was covered with flat newspaper, which was in turn strewn with droppings and split pellets, and looked as thought it'd been soaked by rain at least once. That would be really cold to stand on when wet!

The bedroom part of the cage was roughly constructed of wood. It was probably not much stronger than the wire part. There weren't any pictures of this part but from the angle of the one picture you could see in - no sign of warm bedding there either.

As if all this isn't enough, there was no evidence of a hay rack or any ind of hay. The cage was about 4 square feet for two guinea pigs, maybe 5, this is in total including the bedroom. And on rainy days, apart from going out into the weather to drink and eat whatever was left of the pellets, the guinea pigs would be confined to the bedroom, which looked about 1.5 square feet.

There was no way for this to be accessed other than by a little door in the bedroom. How are the guinea pigs supposed to be taken out, particularily in an emergency situation?

The book was very old and those guinea pigs have probably died by now. However this book would be setting an example to other people to treat their animals like this.
If I can, I'll borrow it and scan the picture to post here. Unfortunately I can't remember the title of the book, I should have taken a note of it. I'll find it again if I can.

[envisionary333]

Unfortunately, most guinea pig books contain inaccurate care information. Many of them are written by breeders who are focused more on just keeping the guinea pigs alive so they can reproduce, rather than giving them the best life possible. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a guinea pig book that actually gives good care advice.

[envisionary333]

You know, maybe a few members on here could collaborate to create an accurate and comprehensive guinea pig book. I would love to contribute to a project like that, and as a photographer I could supply a lot of imagery as well. Seriously!

[FoolOnTheHill]

That's really sad. I've also never seen a totally good care book, because as envisionary said most are written by breeders.
Once I even slipped a bit of paper with the addresses of here & guinealynx in a book at the library
A book made by us sounds like a good idea. Actually, I think one member has made one already and they were seeing about getting it published? I think it was cavy-cool-crazy, have to check. There are soo many bad books though, it would be hard to make people understand why one book is better.

[cavy-cool-crazy]

Originally Posted by FoolOnTheHill

Actually, I think one member has made one already and they were seeing about getting it published? I think it was cavy-cool-crazy, have to check.

Too much been happening here recently for me to really get down to completing the book, but it is written and I'm halfway through updating it. Latest possiblity I'm searching is an eBook, just to get it off the ground, then I'll go to some more publishers. Don't hold your breath though, it's taken two years with all that's been happening!

I had a whole collection of pig "care" books but got rid of most of them. They're just way too outdated.

[envisionary333]

That's great, cavy-cool-crazy! Please let me know if there is any way I can help or contribute.

[i-love-nev]

Originally Posted by envisionary333

You know, maybe a few members on here could collaborate to create an accurate and comprehensive guinea pig book. I would love to contribute to a project like that, and as a photographer I could supply a lot of imagery as well. Seriously!

I have been doing it for a long time and I have my own little studion
so I could give you a lot of images of cages, supplys what they should look like and stuff like that although envisionary is a briliant! photographer

[i-love-nev]

Originally Posted by FoolOnTheHill

That's really sad. I've also never seen a totally good care book, because as envisionary said most are written by breeders.
Once I even slipped a bit of paper with the addresses of here & guinealynx in a book at the library
A book made by us sounds like a good idea. Actually, I think one member has made one already and they were seeing about getting it published? I think it was cavy-cool-crazy, have to check. There are soo many bad books though, it would be hard to make people understand why one book is better.

dont worry I did the same loads of times but once I got permission to do it -and never got caught

[CavyLover94]

I think I found a good care book for guinea pigs! It's shocking, I know!

It's called Guinea pigs(how original!) The only thing that I don't like about it is that it has a chapter on breeding. The minimum cage space is correct. It lists the dangers of keeping rabbits and guinea pigs together, and it enforces the need for unlimited hay and a handfull of veggies in almost every chapter. In the breeding chapter it also says that breeding is dangerous and risky and says that most of this chapter is meant for unexpected pregnancies!

[guineapigfan9000]

The RSPCA page isn't bad, either.
The minimums run like this:
1 pig
RSPCA: 4 square feet
Cavyspirit: 7.5 square feet

2 pigs
RSPCA: 8 square feet
Cavyspirit: 7.5 square feet (debatable for boars)

3 pigs
RSPCA: 12 square feet
Cavyspirit: 10.5 square feet

So basically it starts out lower and then extends beyond Cavyspirit. Obviously the RSPCA is stating a base amount per pig while Cavyspirit is more complex.
The only thing I disagree with on the RSPCA page is the thing saying that neutering your boar will reduce fighting, however I think they might know they're stretching the truth a bit there. They do, after all, probably see horrors of animal cruelty beyond even what home-run rescues have to do. Maybe they're just exaggerating to encourage neutering*.

*P.S. I've only kept sows so I'm not sure about the whole neuter thing. It's obviously risky but if you do want to keep boars and sows together it's a million times preferable to breeding.

My favourite care book is The Essential Guinea Pig. They don't really list a minimum size though and the indoor cage they show is way too small. Also one of the hutches seems to have leaves on top. And you know what hutches with leaves on top suggest to me? If the outside of the hutch/cage isn't maintained, no doubt the inside is neglected. I take pride in the area around my piggies' cage as well (well okay I have to or they get booted out but I do it for other reasons).

[crazywiggy]

I think one of the worst books (at least in the UK) is the "guineapiglopedia". I haven't read all of it, just had a flick in the pet shop.
The cage size they recommend is tiny (I think it was 2 sq feet but I can't be sure) but it actually states that guinea pigs should NOT be kept in big cages as they get scared so they should be a small cage.
With so much evidence to the contrary how they can claim something so totally false is beyond me. Give the pig a hidey - not exactly rocket science is it! Grrr....

[Trivman2000]

I actually found a great care book! It enforces proper care and actually mentions C+C cages and talks about this website. It also talked a bunch about medical problems and everything!

[Ly&Pigs]

I actually found a great care book!

Can you give us the name of it please?

[FoolOnTheHill]

I'm quite sure the Guinea Pig-Lopedia is at my library, and I do believe that was the book I put the piece of paper in I don't remember what it was like; I might get it out again.

I also think it would be good if there was a good book for children about guinea pigs. Most of the ones I've seen have bad info in (like getting them from a pet shop, housing with a rabbit, feeding mixes). Children won't know any better and their parents may not research...bad news all round really.

[Trivman2000]

The name of the book is Guinea Pigs and it is basically a magazine.

[MCR_Rox]

You can actually publish a book using Cafe Press. I'm unsure how many people buy from there, though. I am working on making a hermit crab book. I still am unsure on how exactly to set it up. CafePress.com : Create, Buy and Sell Unique Gifts, Custom T-Shirts and More