M
mollym
Hi!
My name's Molly, and I thought I'd make a brief (well, sort of!) FAQ about guinea pigs. Enjoy!
Q.What is a Cavy?
A. A cavy is another name for a guinea pig, which comes from it's scientific name, Cavia Porcellus.
Q. How do I clip nails?
A. Ok, so if you look at the diagram below (a bit rough i know - i'm not really good at that sort of stuff lol) you can see the nail. You can see the Kwik inside the nail. A kwik is the blood supply in the nail. If anyone you know has ever cut the nail and it bled, it's because they cut into the Kwik.
Ok, so, on the diagram you can see a red line across the nail. This is where you need to cut. It is just before the Kwik
To clip, it is best to have a helper and to sit the piggy on the helpers lap. Your piggy needs to be in the standing position (on it's hind legs) facing AWAY from the helper. Hold the guinea pigs foot gently but not so the guinea pig can move it around alot, and simply, in one firm movement, clip off the end. What ever you do, do not twist your piggies foot/nail.
If you cut through the Kwik, do not panic. The piggy will probably squeal, all you need to do is apply pressure to the wound and it will stop bleeding shortly afterwards.
If your still not confident, go to the vets and get the nails clipped.
Hope it helped!
Q. Are guinea pigs nocturnal? (do they sleep during the day and wake up at night?)
A. No - Guinea Pigs are animals that sleep Little and Often, which is what they do in the wild so they can look out for their many predators.
Q. What is a suitable cage size for two piggies?
A. A 2x3 (76cm x 91cm) is recommended as the minimum for two piggies, but a 2x4 (76cm x 127cm) cage is prefered.
Q. Where do guinea pigs originate from?
A.South America
Q. What is a guinea pigs gestation (how long the guinea pig is pregnant for) period?
A. On average, between 60 or 70 days.
Q.How long is a guinea pigs lifespan?
A. The longest an average guinea pig can live up to is 7 - 8 years, which is longer than most small animals!
Q. I'm new to guinea pigs - how many should i get?
A. I (And many others) Recommend you get two, because guinea pigs are natural herd animals, and it is normal for them to be with friends. Also, it would feel awful on your own except for a weird alien with not alot of hair coming occasionally!
Hope this helped someone!
My name's Molly, and I thought I'd make a brief (well, sort of!) FAQ about guinea pigs. Enjoy!
Q.What is a Cavy?
A. A cavy is another name for a guinea pig, which comes from it's scientific name, Cavia Porcellus.
Q. How do I clip nails?
A. Ok, so if you look at the diagram below (a bit rough i know - i'm not really good at that sort of stuff lol) you can see the nail. You can see the Kwik inside the nail. A kwik is the blood supply in the nail. If anyone you know has ever cut the nail and it bled, it's because they cut into the Kwik.
Ok, so, on the diagram you can see a red line across the nail. This is where you need to cut. It is just before the Kwik
To clip, it is best to have a helper and to sit the piggy on the helpers lap. Your piggy needs to be in the standing position (on it's hind legs) facing AWAY from the helper. Hold the guinea pigs foot gently but not so the guinea pig can move it around alot, and simply, in one firm movement, clip off the end. What ever you do, do not twist your piggies foot/nail.
If you cut through the Kwik, do not panic. The piggy will probably squeal, all you need to do is apply pressure to the wound and it will stop bleeding shortly afterwards.
If your still not confident, go to the vets and get the nails clipped.
Hope it helped!
Q. Are guinea pigs nocturnal? (do they sleep during the day and wake up at night?)
A. No - Guinea Pigs are animals that sleep Little and Often, which is what they do in the wild so they can look out for their many predators.
Q. What is a suitable cage size for two piggies?
A. A 2x3 (76cm x 91cm) is recommended as the minimum for two piggies, but a 2x4 (76cm x 127cm) cage is prefered.
Q. Where do guinea pigs originate from?
A.South America
Q. What is a guinea pigs gestation (how long the guinea pig is pregnant for) period?
A. On average, between 60 or 70 days.
Q.How long is a guinea pigs lifespan?
A. The longest an average guinea pig can live up to is 7 - 8 years, which is longer than most small animals!
Q. I'm new to guinea pigs - how many should i get?
A. I (And many others) Recommend you get two, because guinea pigs are natural herd animals, and it is normal for them to be with friends. Also, it would feel awful on your own except for a weird alien with not alot of hair coming occasionally!
Hope this helped someone!
