The care and maintenance of guinea pigs is quite simple and does not cause much difficulty. This is a very unpretentious rodent that loves children and gets along well with other pets. Having decided to get this wonderful animal, people often come across various questions about caring for it. For example, how to cut the nails of a guinea pig or how often to bathe a pet. These and many other questions can be answered by rodent breeders who professionally breed guinea pigs.
Description of appearance
The following external signs are characteristic of this animal:
- A guinea pig is larger than a hamster and a domestic rat. The weight of an adult male reaches 2 kg. The female guinea pig is slightly smaller.
- The body of rodents is cylindrical in shape, smoothly turning into a rather large head.
- The teeth of a pet can grow throughout life, so their constant grinding is absolutely necessary.
- Depending on the breed, the guinea pig can be either long-haired or short-haired. And also differ in a variety of coat color.
The animals live up to 15 years, although most of them are barely up to 10. Depending on the care, the state of health of the pet will be determined, as well as its duration of existence.
Origin history
Many are interested in the question: why is the pig called "marine"? Paradoxically, the animal has nothing to do with ordinary pigs and has never lived in the sea. There is a theory that initially the guinea pig was called "overseas", but gradually the name changed slightly. It first came to Europe from North Africa, although South America is considered to be the birthplace of this wonderful animal. The indigenous inhabitants of the American continent not only ate guinea pigs, but also sacrificed them to the gods. The Indians destroyed black individuals, since they considered them a messenger of misfortune. Today, it is the black guinea pig that is considered the most fashionable and expensive species.
How to care for the animal
Even before acquiring a guinea pig, its living space should be organized taking into account all the needs of the animal. What to buy at the pet store:
- A large cage designed specifically for this type of rodent. It should have enough space for free movement. And also it should be borne in mind that in the aviary there will be household items of the animal.
- As filler for the cell, wood sawdust is used. They not only absorb moisture perfectly, but also prevent the unpleasant odor from spreading.
- In order for the pig to grind its teeth, special wooden sticks from fruit trees are purchased. Residents of suburban villages can procure them independently from their own garden.
- A house for a pig is purchased at will. Many owners do not like that the animal is constantly hiding in a closed dwelling, and they prefer not to put such accessories in a cage. This does not mean that without the house the pig will feel unprotected. In such cases, a small canopy is built or as much sawdust as possible is placed so that the animal can bury in them.
- A prerequisite is the presence of a drinker and feeder in the cage. Food scattered all over the cage looks extremely messy and unhygienic.
- To care for the animal, claw tongs are purchased. Many owners of animals doubt: do claws cut guinea pigs? Professional breeders advise doing this regularly.
These animals are very fond of various toys. You can buy ready-made plastic trinkets in the store or bring a fir cone as a gift to your pet. The main thing is that the product does not contain paint or varnish.
Bathing and temperature
It is allowed to swim the animal no more than 1-2 times a year. To do this, use a small basin, and the water is heated to a temperature of 39 ° C. The rodent is constantly held by the back, stroking and calming. After the body is soaped, a small amount of water is smeared on the top of the head and cheeks. Soap should not be allowed on the nose, mouth, eyes and ears of the animal.
Since we are talking about cutting the rodent's claws, you should know how best to do this. When to do a pet manicure - before bathing, or can this manipulation be done later? Regarding whether to cut the claws of guinea pigs before this procedure, experts advise the following: to cut the grown nails about 3-4 hours after the bath. You need to wait so that the animal undergoes stress.
The guinea pig is very afraid of drafts, so the cage should be in a protected place. In summer, it can be put on a loggia or balcony, and at the first cold snap to bring inside the apartment. This is one of the few domestic animals that, like humans, prefers to sleep at night and stay awake during the day.
Water for rodents
Depending on the type of feed, the amount of water drunk will also be. For example, in winter, when animals eat a lot of dry food, including hay, a lot of liquid will be needed. At the same time, in the summer, with an abundance of juicy fruits and vegetables, the drinking bowl will be filled much less frequently. This does not mean that you can pour water once a week and then do not worry about its presence. Just it should be constantly fresh and clean. Caring owners who wish a long life to their pet add vitamins to their drinking water.
Pigs cannot be drunk from the tap. Water should be purified, purchased in a store or previously settled, and its temperature should be comfortable.
Pig food
Guinea pigs are based on vegetables and fruits. Be sure to include cereals, seeds and herbs. It is forbidden to feed guinea pigs with sorrel, a shepherd’s bag, tomatoes and potatoes. Pregnant females need a small amount of cottage cheese, and the male can be fed with walnuts. These products are not basic, so their quantity should be minimal.
In winter, pigs are transferred to dry food, continuing to give seasonal fruits (winter apples) and vegetables. A large amount of food should not be in the cage, otherwise the vegetables will simply begin to rot, producing a stench. As a rule, rodents are given dry food in the morning and fresh in the evening.
How to trim the claws
The guinea pig has very small claws, so the trimming procedure should be carried out carefully and carefully. It is very easy to damage the delicate skin of the animal and cause bleeding. To trim, you will need special tweezers, which can be purchased at the pet store. Those who have encountered clipping claws in cats or dogs know how much pets do not like this procedure. In this case, how to cut the claws of a guinea pig? There are rules that will help to cope with this task:
- The pig is picked up and constantly stroked on the back to calm.
- They sit close to the light and take tools. It is advisable that two people participate in the procedure at once, but one may well cope.
- The animal is placed on its hind legs and pressed firmly against the host’s stomach.
- The animal’s paw should be located between the fingers of one owner’s hand, and its second palm will tightly wrap around the pig’s belly.
- The nail phalanx gently extends and the nail is cut to the place where the red veins begin.
Do guinea pigs need to cut their claws with tweezers? Conventional scissors are uncomfortable and spoil the claws, so it is better to use a special tool. After the manipulation in the cage, it is imperative to change the old sawdust to new ones, and if the finger is damaged, the foot is treated with a disinfecting solution.
Expert Advice
How to cut the claws of a guinea pig so that the procedure is correct and painless? To do this, you must adhere to some rules:
- Strong growth of claws should not be allowed. As they grow, they become stronger, and the blood vessel becomes larger and more noticeable. Such claws will be more difficult to cut physically and in terms of the risk of damage to the vessel.
- If the pig starts to worry, the procedure is temporarily stopped, and the animal is calmed.
- After each claw cut, you should pause and look at the behavior of the animal.
- If the pet has black color and the same dark claws, it will be extremely difficult to examine the blood vessel and cut the claws of the mumps. As in other similar cases, the claws of these animals are cut off completely, leaving the maximum allowable length.
- You can not use ordinary manicure scissors for these purposes, since they delaminate the nail plate.
- If there are many pets, then the owners are often interested in the question: do all animals cut their claws at the same time? In fact, the mass procedure is not required at all.
- Haircut is carried out at one angle.
And also we must not forget that the claws on the hind legs should remain longer. Thus, with the help of professional advice, anyone can cut the guinea pig's claws. How this will happen is up to the owner of the rodent to decide.