Piggy Care

Routine Maintenance

The old adage “prevention is better than cure” is particularly true when it comes to maintaining your guinea pigs in tip top health.  If a guinea pig becomes unwell, you must act promptly as they can go into decline at an alarming rate.  There are numerous health pages available online, my particular favourite being the late Peter Gurney’s health pages at www.petergurney.com.  It is also important to find a local vet who is guinea pig friendly!  Take time to check out vets in your area, before you need one.

With this in mind, you should take a couple of minutes each day to just sit and watch your pet.  Do they look bright eyed and alert, are they eating well and moving about as usual.  On a weekly basis (the ideal time being when you remove your pig to clean out his quarters) you should check your guinea pigs coat for early signs of a parasitic or fungal problem.  By their very nature, guinea pigs are very clean animals and spend a great deal of time grooming themselves and each other.  A regular bath will help to maintain the condition of your guinea pigs coat and help to reduce the chances of a skin problem developing.

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