[Girl In The Fire]

Yesterday we took the dogs for a walk in the woods, on the way out we ran into a man that lives down the street that was going to let a guinea pig loose in the woods. He said he had found it abandoned 2 days earlier in a nearby baseball field in its cage with a bowl of food. He was allergic to it and couldn't find anyone else to take it so he decided to let it go

We told him we would take it rather than see it turn into a coyote snack...

I don't know if we are going to keep it at this point. We have asked around a bit to see if anyone is interested in taking it, and there are a couple rescues in the area that take guinea pigs if we decide not to keep it. It seems a bit shy but nice. It's nails were way overgrown and curled around, so we took it out and trimmed them today. It lets us pet it and accepted carrots and celery, after a few minutes it seemed like it had enough and put him back in its cage.

I don't know much about guinea pigs, I have looked at a few links today... Are guinea pigs easy keepers? I have two small kids, two medium/large dogs, a parrot, and we have a limited budget, realistically we cant do anything high maintenance or expensive. Do they have any weird possibly irritating quirks? Anything else I should know?

 

[queenjane]

GPs are pretty easy....they do make weird squeaky whistling noises and can be kind of loud. They are easy to handle although i've been bitten before. Basically they eat GP pellets, alfalfa hay and fresh fruit/veggies in moderation. You should let him run around outside of his cage to get exercise (away from the other animals, obviously, if they dont have experience with small critters). I found good info at http://www.cavymadness.com/

I'm not surprised the man was allergic, thats fairly common. I'm not allergic to anything and i found the GP's hair to irritate my skin.

He's one lucky piggie to have found you though! He would have died out in the woods, or been eaten.

Katherine

 

[SabDoulaMommy]

I love GPs! They are the only rodent I'll let into my house. I find they make very easy to care for pets. They are social & do like another GP to cuddle w/, but they can be social to people too. Mine recognizes the sound when I open the refridgerator & whistles so she'll get a treat. They do need a vitamin that is in the pellets, but they also can get a good amount of fresh fruits & veggies.

 

[mama_daba]

i have never had one but for many years wanted to have one as a pet. http://www.guineapigcages.com/
has great info on making really cool cages for them and on their proper care.

 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Guinea Pigs are sweet little things but unfortunatly I am seriously allergic to them

I got one when I was 18yo and was working for the first time.

He was so cuddly but within a month I started to break out on my upper lip and it just kept getting worse and worse. I ended up having massive zits I mean the kind that disfigure. I finally figured it out and gave him to my oldest brother.

I still wasnt sure but I found out for sure when I went to lay out in the sun and layed on a blanket that he had peed on and my face ballooned up like you wouldnt believe.

As far as I know that is the only animal I cant be around.

 

[serenetabbie]

How horrible that man was going to just set the poor thing loose! Can you imagine how terrifying that would be for the little beast?

I had guinea pigs growing up and loved them. They get used to a schedule, so if you are not a normally early riser don't start feeding it at o'dark hundred. It will wake you up squeaking like a little furry alarm clock! We would buy the food (pellets, alfalfa) in a big bag that would last just about all year for next to nothing. You can give them all sorts of fruits and veggies except for things like apples and potatoes from what I recall. Good luck with your new pig

 

[boricuaqueen327]

Guinea pigs are fun! They get to know their family and greet you with little squeaks and wheeks. They are easy to feed and are strictly vegetarian. They need pellets with vitamin C, hay (preferably timothy or bermuda grass), and veggies (try to give at least one kind with vit c daily). They need large cages but you can build your own using NIC cubes as show on Cavy Cages. You can use fleece for their bedding and run it through the washer/dryer or use carefresh or aspen shavings (never pine or cedar!). They are very social so they need a buddy or lots of time with their people. I really like them, I had one a few years ago and he was a sweetheart. I also see lots of them at work and everyone loves them. If you decide to keep him here is another good guinea pig forum that I like alot. Cavy Compendium

 

[edamommy]

AHHH! I don't know a lot about gp's- but thankyou so much for bringing him in and saving him.

:

 

[Subhuti]

I will chime in ... i have had many, many guinea pigs threw the years. they are very sociable and each have their own personalities. if you are taking a rescue, they make a long time to get to know you and trust you, but with gentle handling and feeding, they will definately learn to come when called!

i would say avoid anything with alfalfa -- it has too much calcium that can give kidney stones to the gpigs. Timothy hay is better, and I believe they now make pellets from it, that include the vit c... which gp's, like humans, cannot manufacture on their own.

they also like grazing on lawns. I would agree that you have to handle them daily and let them have run around time each day around the house. they will pee and poop, but they are micro vegetarian poops, so hardly a problem.

I had one that lived til nine years of age, but generally they live from three to five years.

if at all possible, try to find a little gp friend (unless you have a pair already, can' t remember). Also, gps can become good friends with dogs in my experience.

Thank you so much for rescuing them!

 

[Subhuti]

PS, I would probably have a g.pig now but my DH thinks they are "livestock" and don't belong in the house!! But at least he's into cats and dogs, so I think I'll still keep him.

that said, when my girls are old enough, if they want guinea pigs... i would be thrilled. And DH already said he'd be OK with it!

Liz

 

[JessicaS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatskillMtnMama if at all possible, try to find a little gp friend (unless you have a pair already, can' t remember). Also, gps can become good friends with dogs in my experience.

GPs do like having friends. GPs and rabbits tend to get along well.