| Guinea pigs, or cavies, are cut, fun-loving, and clean | | | | enough. Give him either liquid or tablet supplements |
| animals. They make great pets. However, they | | | | of vitamin C to be safe. |
| aren't as easy to care for as many others. This | | | | Nails |
| article will teach you how to take care of a guinea | | | | When learning how to take care of a guinea pig, it's |
| pig. | | | | important that you know you need to trim his nails |
| Food | | | | regularly. If they aren't cut, they will keep growing |
| First, you need to learn what to feed your pet | | | | and start cutting into your pig's pad. This may cause |
| guinea pig. Pellets made specifically for cavies should | | | | an infection. At the very least, it will be very painful |
| be the staple of your pig's diet. Make sure he has | | | | for your cavy. Therefore, try to trim his nails about |
| access to pellets throughout the day. It's also | | | | once a month. |
| important that you feed him fresh fruits and | | | | Housing |
| vegetables. You can feed him kale, collards, apples, | | | | You need to buy your guinea pig a cage large |
| lettuce, tomatoes and others. | | | | enough to give him ample room to move around. |
| He will also need a constant supply of fresh hay. | | | | As a minimum, try to provide about four or six |
| Hay helps them grind down their constantly growing | | | | square feet of space. Make sure that the floor of |
| teeth. If the teeth are allowed to grow excessively, | | | | the cage isn't raised. Cavies have very sensitive |
| it will be too painful for him to eat other types of | | | | feet. |
| food. | | | | Bedding |
| Supplements | | | | You will also need bedding for your pig's cage. |
| Guinea pigs can't make their own vitamin C, so they | | | | Some of the most common bedding options include |
| need to get it from their diet. It's very important | | | | wood shavings, hay, and paper products. Make sure |
| that your pig gets this important vitamin, or he will | | | | that you don't use bedding that's too hard on your |
| develop scurvy. The brand of pellets you feed him | | | | pig's feet. |
| may contain additional vitamin C, but this is often not | | | | |