Pet Goddess

Selecting a Guinea Pig 2 

So, what should you look for when you go to the guinea pig breeder?  When you first arrive at the shelter or the breeders, the first thing  you will want to note is how well the guinea pigs have been cared for. Are the facilities clean? Are the males kept separate from the females? 

What is their overall attitude and body language as you look at your potential new pet? Guinea pigs are social creatures, but typically they will be shy at first. Therefore, you can’t judge how well a guinea pig has been handled by handling it yourself. Instead, you need to see the person who the guinea pig is used to being handled by. Is it calm and happy with this person? Or does it squeal and flip its body to try to get away? 

Next, you want to inspect the guinea pig. Does his coat look healthy? Look past his fur, to his skin and make sure that there are no sores, flaky skin, or fleas present. His body should feel sturdy and rounded. If it doesn’t, this could be a sign of illness. At the same time, you want to be sure that a female isn’t pregnant. A good breeder or someone knowledgeable about guinea pigs will be able to quickly determine this and should not give you the guinea pig without letting you knot its exact condition.  

As with any other type of pet, the chances are good that you will be drawn to a particular guinea pig because of appearance rather than personality. You may be attracted by his coloring or the texture of his fur, but ideally, you will spend some time watching the guinea pigs, and choose one based on his behavior or attitude. In most cases, this is more important than his colorings, unless you plan to show the guinea pig. Also check, are his ears smooth, rounded and perky? Are his eyes shining and alert? 

As mentioned earlier, it is a good idea to get two guinea pigs of the same gender. Two females will get along famously, and be lifelong friends. Two males will also get along and be friends, but there tend to be more disagreements between males than there are between females, and you might have to keep separate cages close to one another to avoid aggression but still given them the companionship they crave. 

Another thing to consider is the age of the guinea pig.  Getting babies which have been properly weaned is a good idea, as the two will grow-up together as family members, whether they came from the same litter or not.  

If you do get young litter mates, be sure to take them out to play separately at times and not always together, at the same time. Doing so will insure that they assimilate with you and not just to each other. 

Also, your new, furry little friend will, like many animals, become “closer” to the person who handles and feeds him. So, when it’s time for  a trip to the vet’s office (annually is usually adequate) this “special person” should be the one to do the handling, as it will provide some comfort and less stress to him during the examination.  

Be sure too that you fully understand his nutritional needs, because a guinea pig fed only greens will  become seriously ill! Find out from the breeder or shelter what food the guinea pig has been eating, and ask if they sell it or you can take a sample away with you until you can go shopping for it once you get home.  Fresh water, changed daily, is also very important, as is appropriate bedding. Again, the shelter or breeder can give you some to take with you so that the guinea pigs do not need to be traumatized with too many changes all at once. 

Selecting a guinea pig can seem a complicated process, but following these simple steps should lead to you selecting the right guinea pig for you and your family. Just remember, once you get it or them home, make sure to give your new pet/s lots of love and attention! 

Posted October 31, 2009 Comments(0)

After a lot of thought you have decided to get a pet guinea pig. Now, all you need to know is how to select the right guinea pig for you and your family.  

Like most pets, just any old guinea pig from a store won’t do. You also need to know how to select a healthy guinea pig. And, you need to decide if you want a long haired or a short haired one. 

Keep in mind that, much like a dog or cat, guinea pigs do shed, so regular grooming will be needed. Most seem to enjoy being brushed. 

The biggest problem that many people run into is not understanding how to determine the gender of a guinea pig. This can lead to problems, especially if you are getting more than one guinea pig, which is advised. The first thing to realize is that you are not alone, and you cannot depend on pet store staff members to know how to determine the sex of guinea pigs either. 

Please note that you should avoid buying your guinea pig from a pet store. A pet store is more likely to buy their pets from “mills” and much like puppy mills, these animals are often over-bred, and kept in horrible conditions.  

Your best bet for getting a healthy guinea pig of the correct gender you want is to work directly with a reputable and professional breeder, or with a guinea pig rescue organization. 

In these groups, you can be sure that there will be someone who can properly sex guinea pigs, so that you end up with what you expected, so you do not end up with two males who could potentially harm each other, for example, due to male aggression. 

Posted October 29, 2009 Comments(0)

The History of Guinea Pigs: Cavies

Guinea pigs make great pets, but they weren’t always domesticated. Where do these amazing creatures come from, and how did they get their names? Guinea pigs are actually Cavies, and are a part of the rodent family.

Guinea pigs have actually been on the scene for a very long time. In fact, fossils have been found that prove that guinea pigs existed as far back as 18 million years ago, but they were once much larger than they are today. In fact, fossils that have been found measure the earliest guinea pigs at nine feet!

Guinea pigs come to us from South America. They were first domesticated by the Incas. Amazingly, they were both religious icons, and a source of food. Today, unfortunately, guinea pigs are still used as a source of food in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. In spite of this, guinea pigs are a big part of folklore in Peru.

There, guinea pigs are thought to have mystical powers, and it is believed that they can heal sick people, and that they somehow help people who are dying to cross over into the next world.

Although there is no proof, it is believed that sailors brought guinea pigs to Europe and America, which actually plays into how they got the first part of their name. During that time period, guinea pigs were sold for one guinea each. The pig portion of their name is derived from the guinea pig’s rear end. If you look closely, it is rounded much like that of a pig. Guinea pigs also tend to squeal, just as pigs do.

Guinea pigs have also been used to a great extent for scientific research. You have probably heard test subjects being referred to as ‘guinea pigs.’ This is because guinea pigs have actually helped to advance medical science more than most people realize, although in the past this was typically done at the cost of many guinea pig lives. While this seems very sad, one must consider the millions of human lives that the deaths of these guinea pigs helped to save.

Today, guinea pigs are still used for research purposes, but mostly in the area of genetics and hereditary matters. In these studies, the guinea pigs are not harmed. Guinea pigs are still commonly used in ceremonies in Peru, and often given as gifts in their originating countries as well.

It is surprising that a rodent could become such a popular pet, but in the list of popular pets, guinea pigs come fourth after dogs, cats, and rabbits. They are popular choices for 4H club projects, and they are shown in Cavy shows in the United States and Canada. Cavy is another name for this adorable pet.

Posted October 27, 2009 Comments(0)

Here is a handy article full of great advuce on how to travel successfully with your pet.

Travelling with your Pet

Posted October 25, 2009 Comments(0)

At the Animal Rescue site, you can click to donate food to needy pets.

You can also click to support  other worthwhile causes such as the Saving the Rainforests, Children’s Health, and Literacy.

 Donate food to shelter animals

Posted October 24, 2009 Comments(0)

a.. 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the U.S.

b.. Between four million and six million pets are euthanized every year because they are homeless.

c.. That means between 11,000 and 16,000 pets are euthanized every day simply because they are homeless.

An animal in a shelter is killed every 1.5 seconds.

Only one animal in 10 born in the U.S. gets a good home that lasts a lifetime.

What can YOU do about this?

Spaying and neutering helps reverse the tragedy of pet overpopulation. It can also reduce your pet’s chances of developing deadly, costly medical problems, and can also improve your pet’s behavior.

Remember, the dog has no choice. YOU do. Help control the pet population by spaying or neutering your pet, and by making sure you take your pet parent responsibilities seriously.

Posted October 22, 2009 Comments(0)

Here is a great article on the emotional impact of losing a beloved pet:Losing a Pet

One question we get quite often from readers is how to introduce two new dogs to each other when they intended to adopt a new addition to the family.

One of the best ways of doing this is to have them meet on the street as if they are just passing by, and then walking together and going home. If you have a cat, try to make sure that they do not meet each other too abruptly, but are kept in separate rooms where they can become aware of each other without any danger to either pet.

By introducing them on the street, most of the time they will not get too fiesty outdoors, or feel too territorial. They will feel less need to protect you and their home. If you use a crate, you can also make sure that the new arrival has one as well, so that no one feels compelled to share or be too sociable if they don’t wish.

Remember that a crate is not a punishment at all, but the dog’s den where he can feel safe and secure, a room of his own.

There will also be a big difference in attitude depending on if they are two girls, two boys, or a mix. All but Bedlington terrier females do not tend to get too territorial or aggravated towards each other, so they should be fine. Any snarling and growling should be 2 girls so they should be taken as a serious warning sign that they should not be allowed to go too close.

If the new dog is a replacement for a bereaved pet, the other advice we want to give you is that even though the dogs might be the same breed, and even look identical, no two dogs are alike, so make sure you do not have any unfair or unreasonable expectations in this situation. The personalities and relationships will not be the same, but the good things is, they might be even closer!

Another helpful hint is to feed them separately for a while too, plus keep toys separate and so on, especially if they get snarly with each other.

And remember, you are the boss and alpha so it is up to you to make it work, which, if you have confidence, it will.

If you are adopting now, just think of what a kind thing you are doing, rescuing a dog that needs a home, especially in this economy. Best of luck with your new family member!

Posted October 19, 2009 Comments(0)

Here is a super article from the ASPCA about the possible hidden dangers of your dog and cat toys!http://www.aspca.org/news/tri-state/10-16-09.html

Posted October 16, 2009 Comments(0)