New Pig Owner

[Bnuts40]

OK - well I broke down & let my daughter get a guinea pig.

From what I've read on feeding - we've been feeding her guinea pig pellets . .
Lettuce, Cabbage, Apple, Pear, Dandelion leaves, Grass. She's taken them eagerly.

Some friends told me "too much fresh veggies can cause diarreha".
Can anyone confirm (or deny) this ??

I figure in the wild, they don't go to Walmart & buy "pig food" nor do they have supervision when they eat. Though the prepared food is a good suppliment (such as in the middle of the night) - I'd like our pet to have as much of what he's "designed to eat" as possible. . . . But I don't want to give her the "squirts".

Any advice appreciated.

Bnuts

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

What type of lettuce? Iceberg is not good. I'd cut down or out on cabbage. It can cause gas. Are you feeding hay? What kind of pellets?

You have to introduce any veggie slowly. It depends on what their diet was previously. Fresh food is good. Your list sounds good. Just small bits of fruit though as they are a treat.

Have you read www.guinealynx.com and looked at www.guineapigcages.com?

They do better in pairs. Can you adopt one from a local shelter or rescue as a friend?

Please understand that the guinea pig should be a family pet and you have to play a part too. I have seen a lot of children lost interest and the piggy ends up abandoned or given away.

 

[Bnuts40]

What type of lettuce? Iceberg is not good. I'd cut down or out on cabbage. It can cause gas. Are you feeding hay? What kind of pellets?

You have to introduce any veggie slowly. It depends on what their diet was previously. Fresh food is good. Your list sounds good. Just small bits of fruit though as they are a treat.

Have you read www.guinealynx.com and looked at www.guineapigcages.com?

They do better in pairs. Can you adopt one from a local shelter or rescue as a friend?

Please understand that the guinea pig should be a family pet and you have to play a part too. I have seen a lot of children lost interest and the piggy ends up abandoned or given away.

 

[Bnuts40]

I will get to the other links in time - we've only had the new pet 4 days now. I've found many differing opinions on feeding - seems everyone has their own methods.

No it's not Iceberg lettuce - we wash it before feeding it to the pig.
The pellets are prepared rodent food (pellets, seeds, corn, little wheat biscuts) - - forgot to mention we're feeding him dry whole wheat bread too - he seems to love it.

Yes we have considered getting a second animal (I've read they are very social) - we will consider adoption.

Fruit - about 1, 1/8 in slice of apple or pear daily.

No problem if my youngun looses interest a bit (though we'll enforce her responsibility to the care of her pet) - - My wife & I won't let it become neglected.

I thought I read cabbage was a good source of nutrition & vitamins though.

More later - I gotta get my beauty rest (lots of it)

Bnuts

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You need to find a better pellet. The stuff with corn, seeds, etc is no good. Does the package say rat or rodent? Bread is no good. Don't feed it. No chips or cereal too.

Guinea pigs are herbivores. Oxbow is a good quality pellet.

(broken link removed)

Are you feeding hay?

 

[three_piggies]

How old is your daughter?
I babysitt all the time for this one family and they have a female piggy, their daughter is six and really loves the piggy, but is too young to understand that the piggy needs fresh food, water, hay, and veggies daily. I constantly have to go over to the house to check on the piggy (fill the water bottle, food, hay etc)and the clean cage. Because the daughter won't do it and if I don't go over and take care of it they (the parents) will just leave it to rott in the dirty cage with no food or water. And her parents expect her to care for it (they also neglect to check and make sure that some how it gets fed and watered daily whether the daughter does it or them), when she is only six. I would take the piggy from the family in a heart beat because it is horribly neglected. But they won't give the cavy up, because their daughter 'loves' it too much, which sickens me if you love something you take care of it. To me this is a horror story.
I am sure there a lot of stories very similar this one. (I could actually share many situations like the one above with you that I have witnessed)

Never ever expect a child unless they are about 12 and up to care for an animal. And even after the age of 12 I know some kids who still neglect their animals, there are a lot of teenagers on here that care for their piggies wonderfully. But a lot of times teenager or kids won't. With kids they don't understand it needs to be fed and watered and cage kept clean to stay alive, or they aren't sure how to properly care for it. And some teenagers just neglect to do it even though they know, they are just to busy or what ever else (being a teenager myself I see a lot animals neglected by people I know because they just refuse to take care of it).

I am not saying that your daughter won't take care of the piggy, I just want you to know that you should make sure (check everyday) the cavy is getting proper care. (PS I was not referring this story to you at all I just wanted to share this with you)


Thats great that you are considering adopting! I would definantly suggest it! On Saturday I am adopting my third piggy (this is my first time adopting a piggy though I am sad to say).

Welcome to the forums!

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Three_piggies, I had a family that I adopted a piggy out to do almost the exact same thing (as in the story above) pretty much the same situation just a tad bit different though. In the end I took the piggy away from them (because they signed a sheet saying they would provide proper care which they did not do) and adopted it out again to another family.


Welcome to the forums Bnut! Everyone is so friendly and nice here! If you have any questions just ask, people here are happy to help out!

You should really adopt a piggy!

 

[agpiggy]

Hi welcome to the forums
Have fun with your new piggie
what sorta cage do u have if you dont mind me asking?

~Agpiggy~

 

[critterlover]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new pig!

I found the number of different ways to feed a guinea pig confusing too when I first got my pig. Many websites contain misinformation. Here's a good page on feeding which is reliable:
https://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy.html#diet

You also need to feed your pig hay and it should be available 24 hours
a day. The long fibers keep their digestive system moving. Alfalfa
if your pig is under 1, timothy if your pig is over 1.

You will need to find a different kind of pellet for your pig. They need pellets specifically made for guinea pigs because guinea pigs need vitamin C added to their pellets. They can choke on seeds and dried fruit etc. I haven't found that any of the Walmart pellets are suitable. They need to be alfalfa-based if your pig is under 1, timothy based if your pig is over 1. Most people feed their pigs pellets, but some owners have been known to carefully plan their pigs food and not feed them pellets. I feed mine a small amount of pellets every day so I know he is getting all the nutrients. Here's a link to on how to find good pellets:

https://www.guinealynx.info/nutrition.html#pellets

Other than that, I feed my pig a 'salad' 2 or 3 times a day with an emphasis on leafy green vegetabls such as red-leaf lettuce and endive lettuce. Lots of people in this forum use romaine lettuce. The list you mentioned is good
except for don't feed your pig cabbage or bread. Fruits are good, but not too much. You mentioned grass and dandelion leaves. I know some people feed their pigs this, but personally I would not risk them picking up a parasite or ingesting pesticides.

Here's a good link on the best fresh foods to feed your pig:
https://www.guinealynx.info/nutrition.html#fave

I haven't had any problem with too many veggies causing diarreah, although
I have heard this can happen. Maybe people were feeding them too
many fruits or the wrong veggies.

 

[Starbucks]

I will get to the other links in time - we've only had the new pet 4 days now. I've found many differing opinions on feeding - seems everyone has their own methods.

No it's not Iceberg lettuce - we wash it before feeding it to the pig.
The pellets are prepared rodent food (pellets, seeds, corn, little wheat biscuts) - - forgot to mention we're feeding him dry whole wheat bread too - he seems to love it.

Yes we have considered getting a second animal (I've read they are very social) - we will consider adoption.

Fruit - about 1, 1/8 in slice of apple or pear daily.

No problem if my youngun looses interest a bit (though we'll enforce her responsibility to the care of her pet) - - My wife & I won't let it become neglected.

I thought I read cabbage was a good source of nutrition & vitamins though.

More later - I gotta get my beauty rest (lots of it)

Bnuts

yeah the pelleted food needs to go. please make sure that you are feeding your piggie enough vitamin c also. and no cabbage isnt good, because like mentioned, it can cause bloat. unless you were talking about kale, which is in the cabbage family, then yes, it has a good amount of vitamin c in it. but it is still a cabbage so dont go wild on it.

 

[Piglet]

Hello and welcome. Its good to hear that you're getting a friend for your piggy. Ditch the bread, because its not needed and plain pellets are always the best.

 

[Emily F.]

Hey welcome! Glad to see you here! Pretty much everyone is nice and friendly here! LoL

Emily

 

[DaCourt]

The best advice I can give you is make GuineaLynx your homepage. Everything you want to know, stuff you didn't think you needed to know, and even stuff you don't want to know is on there. (Trust me, there are things about boars that I never knew I needed to do that need to be done.)

Try green peppers. My boys love them. I some don't but mine do. GuineaLynx has a whole section on what to feed. They also like Parsley, green apples, greenbeans, kale, sometimes cilantro. Please ditch the food.

My daughter is 8 and takes care of the pigs. It is my job to remind her and to help her. She cleans the cage, cleans the water bottles and dishes, feed them, cleans the veggies, etc...it can be done, as long as the parents are there to "remind."

WELCOME!!!!!

 

[Bnuts40]

Hey,

Thanks for all the replys . . .OK here's the latest scoop :

My daughter is 11 and helps with the responsibilities for all of our other pets. (yes, I've seen sad examples of children (often too young) not taking care of - or unintentionally abusing pets) - That's where we as parents need to come in. She's a kid & sometimes needs prodded - but in general she's a good animal lover and as responsible as I'd expect an 11 yr old to be. In any case - we'll all share in the responsibilities.

I think our new addition has a pretty fair household to be living in.

Went to the farm supply yesterday & got some very fresh hay. Sorry - I'm in Georgia and apparently "Timothy Hay" is rarlely seen in these parts - from what I've learned, Timothy Hay is a grassy hay with lot of stems".
Our local hay seems to fit that description as well.

I'll heed the advice on the feeding of cabbage & read up some more . . .

The cage is a temporary one - A small animal cage about 1 X 1.5 feet.
No wire bottom - piglet has wood shaving (& now hay) bedding - It'll be OK for now as the piglet is still young (she's Small - about 5 in. when sitting - but can strech out to 8 or 9 inches.) - but it will be replaced within a couple of weeks . . .

I'm looking around for a more suitable cage - I'll probably end up building one to my own dimentions. I'm looking at about 2 X 3 feet - possibly adding a second level to it at a later date.

After my wife had our piglet out in the yard the 1st time, I've made a soft cotton leash for safety - - those little suckers can move out !

Don't know if I feel safe without a leash at this time - she's quite an explorer - maybe she'll "tame out" later where I can trust her without it.
She usually moves from the open areas to the trees & thicker vegitation (probably feels more secure there) - I was just really suprised at how fast she could travel - I just never pictured a guinea pig to be like a rat or mouse & run that way . . . . I have plans to (later) build an outdoor run for her so she won't get away into an area where she'll be hard to recover - that way I'd probably get rid of the leash.

OK enough for now - thanks for the help.

Bnuts

 

[Piglet]

Don't worry, I don't use timothy hay either. I use meadow hay which is very similar. I'm not sure that the leash is a good idea and I'm sure others would agree with me. If you want to let her outside make her a play pen.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

I agree about the leash. Sometmes they can get startled. They're prey animals by nature and skittish. You can buy or make a play pen.

A cat or something may appear out of nowhere. It's good that you're supervising her though. Make sure there is a lid or it's predator proof. Otherwise, keep up the good work!

How old is the piggie? She may like to have a friend soon.

 

[mncavylover]

Hey,
Went to the farm supply yesterday & got some very fresh hay. Sorry - I'm in Georgia and apparently "Timothy Hay" is rarlely seen in these parts - from what I've learned, Timothy Hay is a grassy hay with lot of stems".
Our local hay seems to fit that description as well.

I suggest that you order from (broken link removed). It's really great hay, has wonderful customer service, the hay is very fresh and green, you aren't supporting a pet store, and it is cheaper, even with s&h, than many places you can buy hay. I use it and it is very popular.

I'll heed the advice on the feeding of cabbage & read up some more . . .

It can cause gas in cavies, see https://www.guinealynx.com/nutrition.html#lists.

The cage is a temporary one - A small animal cage about 1 X 1.5 feet.
No wire bottom - piglet has wood shaving (& now hay) bedding - It'll be OK for now as the piglet is still young (she's Small - about 5 in. when sitting - but can strech out to 8 or 9 inches.) - but it will be replaced within a couple of weeks . . .

Wow, that is a small cage! I see you are looking into getting a c and c cage. See www.guineapigcages.com/where.htm for finding materials near you.

After my wife had our piglet out in the yard the 1st time, I've made a soft cotton leash for safety - - those little suckers can move out !

Please do not use the leash. If you fall or trip, it can jerk the cavy. It also can injure their delicate skeletal systems. They much prefer being in an outdoor playpen madce out of grids that are cable-tied together or store-bought.

Don't know if I feel safe without a leash at this time - she's quite an explorer - maybe she'll "tame out" later where I can trust her without it.

Never just let a cavy roam in a yeard freely. They are very quick and can escape easily.

I have plans to (later) build an outdoor run for her so she won't get away into an area where she'll be hard to recover - that way I'd probably get rid of the leash.

Sounds wonderful! Please just have playtimes inside for now, until you can build it. Thanks! =)

 

[Bnuts40]

Thanks for the posts.

Yea - I figured after I read some of the other posts on leashes, I's gonna get blasted by some of you . . thanks for being gentle . . . . .

I agree with the pros as well as cons on leashes.
True - due to the physical shape of a GP's neck and head, they could easily slip a collar - hence extra care must be taken to ensure a proper fit. A harness is even better. Not too restrictive when you consider it gives her an almost free run . . . Agreed - no more turning her loose . . .

If you jerk on the leash or accidentally step on it - I'm sure you will cause injury - it ain't a dog ! - I don't walk her like a dog . . Ya just can't treat it like one

While I do understand the concern, the leash allows her more outdoor time and is just more like something to add a little resistance if Piglet decides to go on too far of an adventure. Common sense tells me if she really starts struggling - time to pick her up & put her in her cage - - so far this has not been a real problem - put her in a cool sunny spot with some fresh veggies & fruit - she stays fairly well put. I give her the liberty of about 6 or 8 feet before some gentle resistance to slow her down. This could (As I've read by another poster) be a travel option as well. A run is no doubt the best way to go, but without one, I'm not totally against the use of leashes.

I am going to build a run for her, but it ain't gonna happen for a few weeks yet - in the meantime, I can't see leaving her indoors all of the time untill it's built. In keeping many various types of animals over the years - I find they adapt best if you can provide at least as much of their natural environment as possible.

The hay will have to remain Georgia Hay -

As far as I can see, what we have - is very similar to Timothy hay. I get the freshest cuts & can also get some other blends (clover, alfalfa) if I wish. I live just a couple miles from farm country here so the I have great resources with standard pricing (usually free if I just want a few pounds - the people at the feed store know me !). It really is top quality hay.
I know - the cage is small, as I said - it's temporary. Sorry - I'm not looking to buy a cage - I'm am going to build - a custom size. . As I said, it'll be about 2 X 3 feet. That's my priority right now - I'll have it within a couple of weeks.

Rest assured, Piglet is in good hands here . .
Hopefully she has a bright life to look forward to . .

Cheers

Bnuts
(broken link removed)

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You don't buy a C&C cage. You do build it yourself. www.guineapigcages.com gives you instructions on how. I made a 2 by 7 with loft for about 40 bucks.

 

[Cavyz617927]

OK, from my experience, If you feed them fresh fruit+/veggies, then you should give them plenty of timothy hay. this will help them digest the food. if they eat too much and don't have any timothy hay(fiber) then yes, it will cause dierea sometimes.
Just feed them lots of timothy hay!!! That will make sure they are healthy! And they like it too.