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Guinea Pig Wannabe Owner's information collection
Here is quick overview on the most important areas you should consider before getting guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs as a species in their own right
Guinea Pig Facts - A Short Overview
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs
Guinea Pigs And Rabbits - Why Not
Guinea pigs as family or classroom pets - important aspects
Children And Guinea Pigs - A Guide For Parents
Children And Guinea Pigs - Age Appropriate Interaction And Responsibilities.
Guinea Pigs as Classroom Pets - Why Not
Guinea Pig Names: considerations, solutions, inspiration and resources
Choosing the right guinea pigs for you
Guinea pigs are prey animals that live in groups. They are not wired to be kept as singles!
Rescues, shops, breeders or online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
Companionship
Boars, sows or mixed pairs; babies or adults?
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Housing
Getting Guinea Pigs? Items You'll Need To Buy?
Cage Size Guide
All About C & C Grid Cages Around The World
Sourcing Conventional Cages And Hutches
Member Gallery: Sheds
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview
Ramps in Cages
Diet
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet
A Guide to Hay for Guinea Pigs
What to beware in new pet shop or breeder guinea pigs
Settling in and human interaction
It takes time for bought guinea pigs to settle in and build up trust. We are takling weeks or even months rather than days.
New Guinea Pigs: How to Best Manage Arrival and Settling In
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
Understanding guinea pig behaviour and caring for guinea pigs
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social key behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Vet cost and insurance information
Vet fees can quickly mount into the hundreds of pounds and dollars if you run into serious illness or require an operation. In many countries vet clinics require upfront payment. Vet cost is going to be the largest budget post in any pet's life. Freedom from pain and any unnecessary suffering is one the basic animal rights for domestic animals.
Please always make sure that you double-check the gender of any new guinea pigs. Mis-sexing is sadly not at all uncommon. Never get guinea pigs from a place that does not separate the genders! Any boar over 3 weeks is potentially able to make babies.
Young pet shop or breeder piggies often come with some health issues as their immune system is not yet strong enough when they are ripped away from their group and their lives are upturned several times with hardly any friendly human interaction before they are sold into a home where they are expected to instantly function as a cuddly, friendly pet.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
You need to factor this into your weekly or month budget, whether you get an exotics insurance (not available in many countries) or save up for a vet fund, so you can afford vet care at any time, especially in an emergency!
Please be aware that it is one of the basic animal welfare rights to have access to medical care and be free from any pain and suffering.
veterinary fees - some important information
Good standard guinea pig rescues
Good standard rescues are by far the safest place to get guinea pigs from without the risk of any unpleasant surprises.
Please be aware that there is no licensing or welfare control for either rescues or breeders, and that the results can accordingly. We have listed the vetted places we can guarantee that you are in safe hands for several countries.
Recommended good standard and safe to go to guinea pig rescues with a mandatory quarantine/health care, pregnancy watch, careful bonding and adoption policy for a worry-free start into guinea pig ownership.
UK: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/
US and some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations
More information resources for Owners
For a good start into the exciting but often equally apprehensive first weeks:
Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners
Our full forum practical information resource:
Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection
Here is quick overview on the most important areas you should consider before getting guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs as a species in their own right
Guinea Pig Facts - A Short Overview
Journey through a Lifetime: The Ages of Guinea Pigs
Guinea Pigs And Rabbits - Why Not
Guinea pigs as family or classroom pets - important aspects
Children And Guinea Pigs - A Guide For Parents
Children And Guinea Pigs - Age Appropriate Interaction And Responsibilities.
Guinea Pigs as Classroom Pets - Why Not
Guinea Pig Names: considerations, solutions, inspiration and resources
Choosing the right guinea pigs for you
Guinea pigs are prey animals that live in groups. They are not wired to be kept as singles!
Rescues, shops, breeders or online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
Companionship
Boars, sows or mixed pairs; babies or adults?
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Housing
Getting Guinea Pigs? Items You'll Need To Buy?
Cage Size Guide
All About C & C Grid Cages Around The World
Sourcing Conventional Cages And Hutches
Member Gallery: Sheds
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview
Ramps in Cages
Diet
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diet
A Guide to Hay for Guinea Pigs
What to beware in new pet shop or breeder guinea pigs
Settling in and human interaction
It takes time for bought guinea pigs to settle in and build up trust. We are takling weeks or even months rather than days.
New Guinea Pigs: How to Best Manage Arrival and Settling In
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
Understanding guinea pig behaviour and caring for guinea pigs
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social key behaviours and bonding dynamics
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Vet cost and insurance information
Vet fees can quickly mount into the hundreds of pounds and dollars if you run into serious illness or require an operation. In many countries vet clinics require upfront payment. Vet cost is going to be the largest budget post in any pet's life. Freedom from pain and any unnecessary suffering is one the basic animal rights for domestic animals.
Please always make sure that you double-check the gender of any new guinea pigs. Mis-sexing is sadly not at all uncommon. Never get guinea pigs from a place that does not separate the genders! Any boar over 3 weeks is potentially able to make babies.
Young pet shop or breeder piggies often come with some health issues as their immune system is not yet strong enough when they are ripped away from their group and their lives are upturned several times with hardly any friendly human interaction before they are sold into a home where they are expected to instantly function as a cuddly, friendly pet.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
You need to factor this into your weekly or month budget, whether you get an exotics insurance (not available in many countries) or save up for a vet fund, so you can afford vet care at any time, especially in an emergency!
Please be aware that it is one of the basic animal welfare rights to have access to medical care and be free from any pain and suffering.
veterinary fees - some important information
Good standard guinea pig rescues
Good standard rescues are by far the safest place to get guinea pigs from without the risk of any unpleasant surprises.
Please be aware that there is no licensing or welfare control for either rescues or breeders, and that the results can accordingly. We have listed the vetted places we can guarantee that you are in safe hands for several countries.
Recommended good standard and safe to go to guinea pig rescues with a mandatory quarantine/health care, pregnancy watch, careful bonding and adoption policy for a worry-free start into guinea pig ownership.
UK: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/
US and some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations
More information resources for Owners
For a good start into the exciting but often equally apprehensive first weeks:
Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners
Our full forum practical information resource:
Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection
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