Hello!
My name is Pamela. I have two kids, ages 11 and 8, and one guinea pig, about 1 1/2 years old. She is a hand-me-down pig. Her former family bought a ferret and the kids lost interest in poor Penny, so we offered to take her. She moved in two weeks ago. I really didn't know what I was getting into!
Penny lives in a standard store cage. My husband is opposed to allowing a rodent to roam the house, so we bought a large plastic baby pool and we socialize for an hour or three every day.
I feel sad for Penny! She needs more room, but we can't provide her with a larger cage right now - funds and space are tight. Also, I know nothing about cavies. We were using pine bedding and feeding her 5 carrots every day, along with the acceptable things.
I'm trying to replace her (now aspen) bedding with towels, since she loves to sit on an old towel in her pool. I also want to clean up her diet - right now it's cavy food, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, an apple piece once in a while, and too many carrots.
Mostly, though, I want her to be able to get some exercise and play. She won't play with us and she doesn't seem interested in anything but food. She loves my daughter and will squeal for affection from her, but Penny could live without the rest of us. Am I expecting too much when I think she should play more?
Any advice?
My name is Pamela. I have two kids, ages 11 and 8, and one guinea pig, about 1 1/2 years old. She is a hand-me-down pig. Her former family bought a ferret and the kids lost interest in poor Penny, so we offered to take her. She moved in two weeks ago. I really didn't know what I was getting into!
Penny lives in a standard store cage. My husband is opposed to allowing a rodent to roam the house, so we bought a large plastic baby pool and we socialize for an hour or three every day.
I feel sad for Penny! She needs more room, but we can't provide her with a larger cage right now - funds and space are tight. Also, I know nothing about cavies. We were using pine bedding and feeding her 5 carrots every day, along with the acceptable things.
I'm trying to replace her (now aspen) bedding with towels, since she loves to sit on an old towel in her pool. I also want to clean up her diet - right now it's cavy food, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, an apple piece once in a while, and too many carrots.
Mostly, though, I want her to be able to get some exercise and play. She won't play with us and she doesn't seem interested in anything but food. She loves my daughter and will squeal for affection from her, but Penny could live without the rest of us. Am I expecting too much when I think she should play more?
Any advice?