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# Posted By Kim, CVT | 5/5/08 10:13 AM

I think Guinea Pigs DO make good starter pets--more docile than hamsters or gerbils, and less likely to break than a bunny. I got my pig, Tribble (who is no longer with us) after the NY state vet boards were over that year. They were going to be lab animals otherwise. Tribble had way more personality than I thought he would--and I loved coming home to that squeal. He also used to play with my beagle, Kira.

She doesn't really need the alfalfa--but she does need free choice timothy hay for optimal GI tract and dental health. We recommend a timothy based GP pellet too--no more than 1/4 cup per pig per day. We recommend Oxbow products (www.oxbowhay.com) Make sure you get a GP pellet and use it within 3 months of its milling date--GPs need vitamin C in their diet, unlike many other small rodents.

GPs are also pretty social critters and do well together--yours may do well with another female pig.

# Posted By DrSteggy | 5/5/08 11:03 AM

thanks, Dr. S! As long as the alfalfa's already in there I guess it can't hurt. I've got the super premium pig kibble, the C drops and the C treats, too.

# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/5/08 11:21 AM

You can also teach them tricks using food lures. Peachy knew how to sit pretty, jump over small obstacles, run through tunnels and "go to bed" (get inside her house) on cue. She was a lot more fun and personality than I expected from a pocket pet, and quite the conversationalist.

# Posted By AdoptedAPBTs | 5/5/08 11:49 AM

Guinea pigs do indeed make amazing pets. I am still greiving for the female I lost several years ago. You should definately get her a cagemate. Guinea pigs live in herds in the wild and are very social. I have severe allergies but I never got more than the occasional hives from my guinea pig. She was very talkative like Apfel.

# Posted By Nicole | 5/5/08 1:29 PM

The best recommendation, IMO, is get her another g-pig as company. I have three g-pigs and they are sweet, friendly, hysterical, and noisy!

# Posted By Julie | 5/5/08 2:04 PM

Hey Dr.K--I can see I misspoke a little--your pig doesn't need the alfalfa--except as a treat. We do not recommend it to non breeding pigs because the calcium/phosphorus ratio is not appropriate for them. offer it once a week as a treat food--otherwise, timothy!

# Posted By DrSteggy | 5/5/08 2:29 PM

They actually get along pretty well with rabbits, too, although since I have an allergic reaction to my bunny, I wouldn't recommend a rabbit for your household.

Do check the shelter for a pal ... you'll find LOTS of pocket pets there.

Who knows? You may end up getting addicted and become one of the new board-certified pocket pet vets!

# Posted By Gina Spadafori | 5/5/08 2:31 PM

I don't know if gpigs are entertained by pvc tunnels? I know my rats adore them! Also, another piggie would make her feel awesome -- small rodents seem to love the company of each other. And, it helps them live longer.

Also, if you have an extra room or whatnot -- you can set up a piggie disney land and lay it out with boxes and tunnels and pieces of treat here and there. We used to have a room like that for the rats.

# Posted By ashleigh | 5/5/08 3:17 PM

I had a cavy (a pair actually, I inherited another from a classmate who got tired of hers) and they were a ton of fun ot watch. I don't remember doing anything in particular for 'enrichment' other than taking them outside most afternoons and setting the top of their cage on the grass so they could browse- not a great idea, I know now, but they really seemed to enjoy it! I wonder if they'd like a dig box (like you can make for ferrets) or a baking pan of wheatgrass?

# Posted By Cait | 5/5/08 6:19 PM

I'm completely partial to her name "Apfel" and probably would be "cooing" the word dumpling for a nickname!

# Posted By Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire | 5/5/08 7:59 PM

Not that Gina was suggesting it, but just for clarification, guinea pigs generally should NOT be housed with rabbits. Rabbits and guinea pigs have different dietary needs and different social structures. Rabbits are also quite capable of badly injuring a guinea pig with their powerful hind legs. Housing them together is dangerous and I don't really think the piggies get much benefit from it, either.

# Posted By Tara | 5/5/08 10:27 PM

Ditto the comments about not housing with a rabbit-although there are circumstances in which they get along fine, it's not worth the risk of potential bullying/killing. But they do DEFINITELY need a companion; like all social prey animals it's pretty stressful for them on their own. Easiest combination is the neutered male. Also ditto the comments about alfafa for adult guinea-pigs. Give her plenty of cardboard boxes and old empty pillowcases to hide/sleep in, construct a tunnel out of the boxes, that's well cute!

I love guinea-pig noises!

# Posted By Sian | 5/6/08 8:22 AM

My very stuff, conservative parents have kept guinea pigs for YEARS, 20 and counting. It cracks me up that these stuffy, uptight folks coo and craddle.....guinea pigs! They are fascinating creatures. And my stepmom spends so much time talking and handling hers that they always seem to have enormous smarts and personalities. Whenever I go for a visit, I can hear her and the pig having LENGTHY conversations in the other room. It always cracks me up. And the pig they have now was in no way afraid of my dog, another surprise! She actually stood on her hind legs and licked my dog's nose (I'm sure it was the preface to a bite- that pig is a nibbler), which scared the bejezzus out of my dog.

# Posted By Creature of Habit | 5/6/08 8:51 AM

Good thing you don't live in Sweden or you'd be operating outside the law with only one GP! So get those "play dates" going! Wonder how they plan on enforcing this? And have they planned housing for all the confiscations from abuse?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe...
Under a new Swiss law enshrining rights for animals, dog owners will require a qualification, anglers will take lessons in compassion and horses will go only in twos.

From guinea-pigs to budgerigars, any animal classified as a “social species” will be a victim of abuse if it does not cohabit, or at least have contact, with others of its own kind.

# Posted By CathyA | 5/6/08 9:14 AM

Congratulations on sharing your life with a guinea pig! You will surely become Apfel's slave!
As a herd animal, she needs a friend! Please adopt! She needs another female or neutered male. NO rabbits...their powerful hind legs could unintentionally hurt her and their dietary needs differ. I give my 5 guinea pigs Oxbow GTN-50C Vitamin C tablets daily, Oxbow Cavy Cuisine pellets, timothy hay (free access), and fresh water, fruits, and vegetables daily. I highly recommend C & C cages! Take a peek at this website for information: http://www.guineapigcages.com.
A great website is http://www.guinealynx.info.
Apfel should have daily time out of her cage to sit with you and/or run around a bit. She will reward you with lots of wheeks, purrs, whistles, and maybe a song! (My Teddy "chirps" and it's just delightful!)
Enjoy her!

# Posted By Joanne | 5/6/08 10:16 AM

I guess I'll be going pig rescue shopping. If anyone knows a good one in South Florida please let me know.

# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/6/08 10:20 AM

Young piggies have sharp nails like little needles. At about one year of age, they will become broader, and you won't have to worry as much about being scratched. You *will* need to keep an eye on them and trim them if they get long, though.

As a vet, you have a unique opportunity to not only give Apfel the best care, but the best *medical* care. Some of the best exotics vets (I take exception to the term "pocket pet" - it has come to be synonymous with "disposable") in the world are members of various posting boards and mailing lists, and they are usually more than happy to provide information for sincere inquiries.

And, to add my $.02 - yes, piggies enjoy company. A companion (or three!) will help Apfel pass the time when you are not there to dote on her.

# Posted By Mr. Guineapig | 5/6/08 10:39 AM

To keep my rats nails blunt I put a couple of breeze blocks in their cage. It seemed to wear them down nicely. I bet if you let local shelters know you are open to another cavy one will turn up ;) It has a way of happening...

# Posted By emily | 5/6/08 11:49 AM

Hi Dr. Khuly,

I recommend the Wildlife Care Center in Ft. Lauderdale as a place to look for a guinea pig to adopt. Check out their list on Petfinder - http://members.petfinder.org/~FL509/
Good luck finding a friend for your piggie.

# Posted By Susan G. | 5/6/08 12:15 PM

As far as vitamin C supplementation goes- I just give mine a variety of fresh veggies. Dark Leafy greens, bell peppers, strawberries, celery, carrots (in moderation), apples, and oranges. Vitamin C is unstable and breaks down over time- especially when exposed to water (thus the reason the drops in the water bottle are pretty useless). My oldest pig is over 7 years and I have never had any health problems with either. They also get free choice timothy hay and measured alfalfa-based pellets (the timothy ones are hard to find where I live).

Both are un-neutered males. I 'fostered' Alfalfa for the humane society. When I realized that he was mine permanently and my roomate moved with her two females (who lived in a neighboring cage) I decided a cagemate was in order. I got Norman, who was surrendered as a single pig, from the SPCA. When I introduced the two there was so much wheeking! They were both very excited and despite a little dominance in the beginning, they get along great!

Both of my males have had mammary tumors which were successfully removed and have not re-occurred. Definately keep the alfalfa to a minimum- and research diet- pigs are prone to bladder stones and are not great surgical candidates. The websites mentioned are fantastic references, especially for interpreting your pigs vocalizations.

# Posted By Meghan RAHT | 5/6/08 12:49 PM

Forgot to mention
Have a good look though Apfels hair for little white bugs- lice are very common in Guinea pigs- I treated mine with a single treatment of Revolution.

# Posted By Meghan RAHT | 5/6/08 12:52 PM

My guinea pigs love a fresh perspective on food. Sometimes I stuff orchard grass (oxbow) into a toy- and they go nuts over it. I also have a flexible (large) ferret tunnel that is a favorite play toy, they love to run through it on their way around the cage. I also have occasionally seen my pigs playing with roll toys- like a ball, or something with a bell in it.

Sometimes I wonder if they like to flip things over just for the fun of it. Any largish plastic structure (pigloo, or other such thing) if it is light weight they flip it over as if it is a game- and it may be for them)

Primarily, however I think they enjoy a change of pace, and new places to hide. I have a couple of ferret hammocks strong up around the cage. When they don't think I"m watching they will occasionally hop up in one...but mostly like to hide under them. I also like to have part of the cage more 'secluded' with a blanket over one side, so they can feel hidden if they want to. Different levels to a cage is always fun- but be careful, because they will fall/jump from one level to another so it either needs walls or be low enough to not be a problem.

And like everyone else said- Adopt a friend! There are many, many, friendly piggies in shelters that need a good home and some cage mates. My guinea pigs interactions with the each other have fueled hours of fun watching.

# Posted By Tim McGee | 5/6/08 4:33 PM

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