Laura-CCC4
24-08-09, 12:00 PM
Are Guinea Pigs for Me?
A guide to preparing for life with piggies
Guinea pigs need more care, and cost more money, than most people realise. Before choosing your first guineas, it is essential to be fully aware of exactly what these animals require and of what will be required of you. You must consider a number of factors when you feel you would like to take on guinea pigs.
What Guinea Pigs Need
You will spend, on average, at least two hours a day attending to your guinea pigs needs. This can involve cleaning the cage/hutch, supervising exercise time, preparing and serving food, and simply spending time with them, giving them cuddles and talking to them. The more guineas you have, the more time you should spend with them to ensure each animal has its physical and emotional needs maintained.
- A large cage and suitable bedding.
- Appropriate accessories - bowls, water bottles, hay racks, toys.
- Plenty of hay, topped up twice day.
- A good quality dried food.
- Fresh fruits and veggies buying once or twice weekly.
- Exercise time outside the cage, at least 1 hour per day.
- Love and attention.
The average life span of guinea pigs is 4-6 years, but up to 10 years is not unheard of. Do try to plan ahead and see what situations you can foresee in the coming years. If you are a teenager currently at secondary school, consider if you would like to apply to university in a few years. If you are with a long-term partner, consider if you plan to expand your human family in the near future. If you have a good job, consider the implications on your home life if you are offered a promotion or a move.
Some things you can’t plan for and you can’t foresee, but being aware of likely (or unlikely) future events is a useful step prior to deciding whether guinea pigs are for you at this point in time.
Remember that guinea pigs are social creatures, so you will need to bear in mind that you will be responsible for at least two guinea pigs.
Your Situation - Home Life & Work
- Are you a minor (under 16) and/or someone who relies financially on their parents?
If so, you must ensure your parents co-operation and support in the guineas care. Even if it is you who cares for and looks after the animal, your parents will have to take some responsibility at some point; whether it be paying for necessary supplies, or driving you to the veterinary surgery for routine or emergency appointments. Without their support, it is unfair to bring an animal who relies on you into the home. To summarise: if you rely on your parents, your guinea pigs rely on your parents.
- Do you attend school/college/university?
Are you sure you have the time to look after guinea pigs as well as keeping up with your homework/coursework or exam revision? What are your future education plans - is it possible to fit your guinea pigs into that? Some university dormitories don’t allow pets, so think about what you would do if you were faced with such a situation.
- Are there children in the household?
How old are the children? Do they have any allergies? Have you got the time to look after two or more guinea pigs, as well as fulfilling the needs of your children? How will you ensure the safety of the guinea pigs, especially when young children are around?
- Do you work?
Will you have time and energy to attend to the needs of your guinea pigs after a long day at work? Does your work take you away from home at any time?
- How are your finances?
Are you in a good financial position? Can you afford the day to day care of guinea pigs, and can you save up for vets bills?
- Do you have other pets?
If you have other pets, particularly ones larger than guineas (cats, dogs), can you ensure the safety of the guinea pigs? Are any of your other pets aggressive toward other animals (of their own, or of different, species)? How do you cope with fulfilling the needs of all your other pets, will you have the time to look after two or more guinea pigs each day as well?
Preparing for and Acquiring Your Guinea Pigs
If you have considered all of the above points and you still feel you are ready to give a pair of guineas a home, it’s time to move onto the next step - preparing for, and then acquiring, your guineas.
Preparing for Piggies
You should aim to set aside around £200 to buy everything necessary for the first month or so your guinea pigs are with you. According to the needs listed at the beginning of this article, for the first month for two guineas you will need to purchase:
- A large cage - up to £100.
- Suitable bedding and cleaning supplies - up to £15.
- Appropriate accessories (bowls, water bottles, hay racks, toys) - up to £20.
- A good quality grass hay - up to £15.
- A good quality dried food - up to £10.
- Fresh fruits and veggies - around £5 a week.
- A run or enclosure for exercise time - around £50.
Of course these prices are merely averages; a lot depends on what type of cage you buy, what type of bedding, how much hay and dried food you buy etc. The items you will need to buy routinely is mainly food, although many owners find themselves picking up a new toy or some different food bowls each time they stock up!
Aim to have all your supplies ready, and ideally the basic set up complete, at the time you go looking for guinea pigs. Most rescues require a home check be performed prior to permitting the adoption of any animals to you; it saves a lot of time and effort if you have already got everything you need.
Acquiring your Guinea Pigs
There are guinea pig rescues and animal shelters sited in most major countries in the world. Some rescues are large, public organisations, while others may be individual rescuers, or private rehomers. Many unwanted guinea pigs are advertised on animal rehoming websites. For the UK, www.guineapigrehome.org.uk (http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk) is the best place to start looking, and for the US www.petfinder.com (http://www.petfinder.com) is very popular. Even checking in local newspaper adverts, looking on Freeads and other “second hand sale” websites (that permit the advertising of animals), can turn up a surprising number of guinea pigs who can no longer stay in their home.
As mentioned before, most rescues require a home check prior to allowing the adoption. This home check is nothing to worry about; if the rescue or shelter does home checks, then it does them for everyone who wishes to adopt from them, it is nothing personal. A home check will typically last a short time, usually 10-30 minutes at most. The home checker will be looking to see that your plans for the guinea pigs meet with the rescues rules and guidelines - the main points of a home check tend to be:
- Ensuring the cage/hutch meets their minimum size requirements and is filled with a safe, warm bedding and suitable accessories;
- Ensuring the cage/hutch is located in a safe, secure area and is protected from any other animals or predators;
- Checking that you understand the basic needs of guinea pigs;
- Checking that any guineas you adopt from them will not be bred from.
Some rescues will not rehome to anyone who does not have an outdoor enclosure (or run) for exercise and grazing time, in which case the home checker will also make sure the run meets their size and safety guidelines. Rescues generally do not adopt animals out to anyone under the age or 16 or 18, in which case a parent must take responsibility for ensuring the setup is appropriate, and the rescue will hold the parent responsible for the guinea pigs’ care. The guinea pig will be signed over to the parent, not to a minor.
Provided you have considered all the things mentioned so far in this article, you have researched guinea pigs care, and you have bought and set up your future guinea pigs’ home in a way that meets or exceeds the minimums recommended by the rescue, the home check should go without a problem.
Choosing your Piggies
When you have been approved for your home check, you can decide for sure which piggies you would like to adopt. Most rescues let you reserve your chosen guinea pigs before the home check, in which case once you have passed the home check you can bring your guineas home fairly quickly. If you have not reserved any guineas, but have had a successful home check, you can meet all the piggies available for rehoming and decide on the two you feel a connection with.
Rescue Donations
Many rescues ask for a donation; some have set fees (usually £10 per guinea pig, or £15 for two), while others prefer to simply ask for a donation of any size. When making a donation, consider what would make a reasonable difference to the rescue and their efforts to save more guinea pigs. Of course any amount makes a difference, and it is unlikely you can match the price the rescue has spent on rehabilitating and caring for your chosen piggies. Aim for £10 as a minimum donation, but do give more if you can. Don’t go overboard though - remember you have guinea pigs to save for now!
The Next Chapter…
For more information on the behaviour of your new guinea pigs, do read through Wiebke’s thread explaining the settling in period and how to encourage your piggies to get used to you and their new home:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239
Also browse through the other the Reference Threads and through the rest of the forum to enhance your knowledge of your new guinea pigs' requirements. Food is a good place to start - one of the most important ongoing aspects of a guinea pigs daily life!
A guide to preparing for life with piggies
Guinea pigs need more care, and cost more money, than most people realise. Before choosing your first guineas, it is essential to be fully aware of exactly what these animals require and of what will be required of you. You must consider a number of factors when you feel you would like to take on guinea pigs.
What Guinea Pigs Need
You will spend, on average, at least two hours a day attending to your guinea pigs needs. This can involve cleaning the cage/hutch, supervising exercise time, preparing and serving food, and simply spending time with them, giving them cuddles and talking to them. The more guineas you have, the more time you should spend with them to ensure each animal has its physical and emotional needs maintained.
- A large cage and suitable bedding.
- Appropriate accessories - bowls, water bottles, hay racks, toys.
- Plenty of hay, topped up twice day.
- A good quality dried food.
- Fresh fruits and veggies buying once or twice weekly.
- Exercise time outside the cage, at least 1 hour per day.
- Love and attention.
The average life span of guinea pigs is 4-6 years, but up to 10 years is not unheard of. Do try to plan ahead and see what situations you can foresee in the coming years. If you are a teenager currently at secondary school, consider if you would like to apply to university in a few years. If you are with a long-term partner, consider if you plan to expand your human family in the near future. If you have a good job, consider the implications on your home life if you are offered a promotion or a move.
Some things you can’t plan for and you can’t foresee, but being aware of likely (or unlikely) future events is a useful step prior to deciding whether guinea pigs are for you at this point in time.
Remember that guinea pigs are social creatures, so you will need to bear in mind that you will be responsible for at least two guinea pigs.
Your Situation - Home Life & Work
- Are you a minor (under 16) and/or someone who relies financially on their parents?
If so, you must ensure your parents co-operation and support in the guineas care. Even if it is you who cares for and looks after the animal, your parents will have to take some responsibility at some point; whether it be paying for necessary supplies, or driving you to the veterinary surgery for routine or emergency appointments. Without their support, it is unfair to bring an animal who relies on you into the home. To summarise: if you rely on your parents, your guinea pigs rely on your parents.
- Do you attend school/college/university?
Are you sure you have the time to look after guinea pigs as well as keeping up with your homework/coursework or exam revision? What are your future education plans - is it possible to fit your guinea pigs into that? Some university dormitories don’t allow pets, so think about what you would do if you were faced with such a situation.
- Are there children in the household?
How old are the children? Do they have any allergies? Have you got the time to look after two or more guinea pigs, as well as fulfilling the needs of your children? How will you ensure the safety of the guinea pigs, especially when young children are around?
- Do you work?
Will you have time and energy to attend to the needs of your guinea pigs after a long day at work? Does your work take you away from home at any time?
- How are your finances?
Are you in a good financial position? Can you afford the day to day care of guinea pigs, and can you save up for vets bills?
- Do you have other pets?
If you have other pets, particularly ones larger than guineas (cats, dogs), can you ensure the safety of the guinea pigs? Are any of your other pets aggressive toward other animals (of their own, or of different, species)? How do you cope with fulfilling the needs of all your other pets, will you have the time to look after two or more guinea pigs each day as well?
Preparing for and Acquiring Your Guinea Pigs
If you have considered all of the above points and you still feel you are ready to give a pair of guineas a home, it’s time to move onto the next step - preparing for, and then acquiring, your guineas.
Preparing for Piggies
You should aim to set aside around £200 to buy everything necessary for the first month or so your guinea pigs are with you. According to the needs listed at the beginning of this article, for the first month for two guineas you will need to purchase:
- A large cage - up to £100.
- Suitable bedding and cleaning supplies - up to £15.
- Appropriate accessories (bowls, water bottles, hay racks, toys) - up to £20.
- A good quality grass hay - up to £15.
- A good quality dried food - up to £10.
- Fresh fruits and veggies - around £5 a week.
- A run or enclosure for exercise time - around £50.
Of course these prices are merely averages; a lot depends on what type of cage you buy, what type of bedding, how much hay and dried food you buy etc. The items you will need to buy routinely is mainly food, although many owners find themselves picking up a new toy or some different food bowls each time they stock up!
Aim to have all your supplies ready, and ideally the basic set up complete, at the time you go looking for guinea pigs. Most rescues require a home check be performed prior to permitting the adoption of any animals to you; it saves a lot of time and effort if you have already got everything you need.
Acquiring your Guinea Pigs
There are guinea pig rescues and animal shelters sited in most major countries in the world. Some rescues are large, public organisations, while others may be individual rescuers, or private rehomers. Many unwanted guinea pigs are advertised on animal rehoming websites. For the UK, www.guineapigrehome.org.uk (http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk) is the best place to start looking, and for the US www.petfinder.com (http://www.petfinder.com) is very popular. Even checking in local newspaper adverts, looking on Freeads and other “second hand sale” websites (that permit the advertising of animals), can turn up a surprising number of guinea pigs who can no longer stay in their home.
As mentioned before, most rescues require a home check prior to allowing the adoption. This home check is nothing to worry about; if the rescue or shelter does home checks, then it does them for everyone who wishes to adopt from them, it is nothing personal. A home check will typically last a short time, usually 10-30 minutes at most. The home checker will be looking to see that your plans for the guinea pigs meet with the rescues rules and guidelines - the main points of a home check tend to be:
- Ensuring the cage/hutch meets their minimum size requirements and is filled with a safe, warm bedding and suitable accessories;
- Ensuring the cage/hutch is located in a safe, secure area and is protected from any other animals or predators;
- Checking that you understand the basic needs of guinea pigs;
- Checking that any guineas you adopt from them will not be bred from.
Some rescues will not rehome to anyone who does not have an outdoor enclosure (or run) for exercise and grazing time, in which case the home checker will also make sure the run meets their size and safety guidelines. Rescues generally do not adopt animals out to anyone under the age or 16 or 18, in which case a parent must take responsibility for ensuring the setup is appropriate, and the rescue will hold the parent responsible for the guinea pigs’ care. The guinea pig will be signed over to the parent, not to a minor.
Provided you have considered all the things mentioned so far in this article, you have researched guinea pigs care, and you have bought and set up your future guinea pigs’ home in a way that meets or exceeds the minimums recommended by the rescue, the home check should go without a problem.
Choosing your Piggies
When you have been approved for your home check, you can decide for sure which piggies you would like to adopt. Most rescues let you reserve your chosen guinea pigs before the home check, in which case once you have passed the home check you can bring your guineas home fairly quickly. If you have not reserved any guineas, but have had a successful home check, you can meet all the piggies available for rehoming and decide on the two you feel a connection with.
Rescue Donations
Many rescues ask for a donation; some have set fees (usually £10 per guinea pig, or £15 for two), while others prefer to simply ask for a donation of any size. When making a donation, consider what would make a reasonable difference to the rescue and their efforts to save more guinea pigs. Of course any amount makes a difference, and it is unlikely you can match the price the rescue has spent on rehabilitating and caring for your chosen piggies. Aim for £10 as a minimum donation, but do give more if you can. Don’t go overboard though - remember you have guinea pigs to save for now!
The Next Chapter…
For more information on the behaviour of your new guinea pigs, do read through Wiebke’s thread explaining the settling in period and how to encourage your piggies to get used to you and their new home:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239
Also browse through the other the Reference Threads and through the rest of the forum to enhance your knowledge of your new guinea pigs' requirements. Food is a good place to start - one of the most important ongoing aspects of a guinea pigs daily life!