Hello - advice

[Piggie_love]

I have been looking through the forum and i really would like to get two piggies as have been fancying them for a while and heard they are fantastic pets.
Can i get some general advice or things i should know about the care for a piggie -
As much information would be greatly appreciated, also do they get a lot of health problems or are they generally healthy animals?
Thank you O0

Hayley
xx

 

[Alfie]

Make sure you can afford them, set up costs. Then ongoing costs food, bedding etc.
I am new to this, had mine 4 weeks. They are great pets, so responsive. :smitten: :smitten:
Easier for my two kids to handle. O0

Can't help with the other questions. Sorry.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[MemberY]

Hello and welcome
Firstly, its great that you are finding out as much as possible before getting them. The are fab pets, each ones personality is different. They can be prone to certain health problems, but some of these can be minimised with proper care. A good site is www.guinealynx.com lots of info on there.
You would be better getting your piggies from a rescue. There are many looking for forever homes and you can be more assurred that they are healthy than pet shop piggies, which are not kept in the best of conditions. Rescues often have bonded pairs, so a neutered boar and sow, 2 boars or 2 (or more) sows plus you get proper care advice
Housing: look on www.cavycages.com for advice on accomodation sizes dependant on number of piggies. They love and need excercise outside their hutch/cage either indoors or in a secure run if you have a garden and weather permitting.
Diet:unlimited hay, grass when possible, good mix of veg (shopping list under food section here) and good quality dried pellet, fresh water should always be available. They can live from 5-8 years, sometimes longer so are a long term commitment.
Good luck in your search for your furbabies :smitten:

 

[Piggie_love]

Well i have 3 rabbits at the min so i understand about the unlimited hay etc, and i know about rescues poor wee animals, so would definately adopt one. I will have a look at the website and thank you for replying xx

 

[boureki]

Regarding the health issue, I would also recommend joing the Cambridge Cavy Trust (CCT) it's a charity specifically dedicated to the care of cavies and for £25 per household you get medical advice and checkups from an expert as so many vets are not guinea savvy. Also source a good guinea vet before you need to actually use one! There is a great page here to ask the right questions to find a suitable vet: http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/healthhome.htm there are links down the page, it's a really helpful site when starting out.

Well done for making the effort to find out more instead of getting on impulse O0