Do you own a guinea pig that is bored, unhappy, or depressed?If pigs aren't given enough stimulation and care, they can show signs of depression.Keeping life interesting and exciting for your guinea pig is important.The article will give you pointers on how to make your pig happy.
Step 1: Make sure your pig is well taken care of.
The refusal to eat or drink can be a sign of illness.It's important to confirm that your guinea pig is bored and depressed, which can be treated with increased stimulation and socializing, and not seriously ill.Do you know if your guinea pig is suffering from other signs of illness, such as drooling, loose stools, puffed-up coat, and frequent coughing or sneezing?If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see a vet.If you don't notice the other signs, then consider the following steps to make life more exciting for your guinea pig.
Step 2: Make sure your pig has a friend.
There are animals that thrive with people.A bond between a human and a pig can't compete with one between two pigs.It is against the law in Switzerland to own just one guinea pig.Every guinea pig needs to be kept with a companion.Two guinea pigs don't require a lot of work.One or two guinea pigs will need 7.5 square feet of space.When you can't socialize with the guinea pigs, they will keep each other company.A companion can help build your pig's confidence and be more comfortable around you.
Step 3: The guinea pig's cage needs to be large.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, most cages for guinea pigs are too small.The pigs love to move around.guinea pigs have plenty of space in their cages to run, exercise, and play.The pigs need a minimum of 7.5 square feet of floor space in their cages, but more space is even better.If you have two guinea pigs, try to get a cage that is 30" x 50".There should always be room in the cage for exercise space, a food bowl, tunnel or box, and a place for your guinea pig to go to the bathroom, as a general tip.If you want to know how many square feet you need, take the number of guinea pigs and divide it by four.
Step 4: There is an ideal location for the cage.
If you want your guinea pig to be part of the family and be seen and heard, you should put the cage in a living room or family room.guinea pigs have sensitive ears and do not like loud noises.Don't allow the cage to be used for anything that emits loud noises.The cage should be placed in an area that is neither warm nor cool.Extreme cold or heat can cause the pigs to become ill, as they don't like extreme temperatures.If you want to avoid heat sources and drafty spaces, aim for an area that is about 65-75 degrees.
Step 5: Appropriately organize the cage.
Try to keep food dishes, water bottles, houses, and toys away from the walls of the cage so that your guinea pig has lots of space to run and play.Place all cage accessories in the center of the cage to create a perimeter that is free of obstructions for your guinea pig to run around in.Change up toys, houses, and their locations in the cage to keep them interesting for your guinea pig.
Step 6: Feed your pig well.
Provide your guinea pig with plenty of hay to make sure they have a balanced diet.You can grind the teeth of your guinea pig to keep them in good shape by eating fresh hay.It's important to keep the pigs healthy and happy because they can eat, run, and play in the hay.It's important to provide an unlimited source of grass hay because food pellets don't contain enough fiber to help the digestion.Provide your guinea pig with hay, food pellets, and vegetables every day.Bell peppers and leafy greens are good sources of vitamins C and E for guinea pigs.Changing your pet's meal choice will make eating more exciting.You can experiment to see what your pig likes.Vegetables include carrots, cucumbers, peas, and tomatoes.Add fruit to your pig's diet.The pigs love fruit.cantaloupe, strawberries, and kiwi are high in vitamins C and E.Make sure that you only give fruit as a treat a few times a week because of its high sugar content.The food should be fun.You can make a kabob out of your guinea pig's favorite veggies by threading them together with twine and hanging them on the side of their cage.A metal pole can be purchased from pet stores.The food should be fresh.Constantly check the cage and remove anything that isn't eaten.If you want to avoid giving your guinea pig spoiled vegetables, you should not feed them anything you wouldn't eat.It's a good idea to make sure your guinea pig is eating 25mg of vitamins C and E a day.
Step 7: The bedding in the cage should be soft.
Soft and abundant bedding is required for the delicate feet of the guine pig.Provide about 2 inches of bedding so that there is enough padding and absorption.Since it's warm and absorbent, wood or fleece is the ideal bedding material.Make sure the hay you use is soft and high quality.Hay can hurt a pig's eyes.If the bedding becomes wet, be sure to change it.Remove wet patches and replace them with clean bedding.guinea pigs don't like damp bedding and it can cause health problems.guinea pigs prefer clean, dry bedding and are more comfortable in cages that provide this.Even though cedar and pine shavings are available for small pets, do not use them as bedding.The phenols in these materials can be harmful to the animals.Only use kiln-dried pine.Don't use wire bottom cages.bumble foot is a health issue.
Step 8: It was clean.
The cages should be thoroughly washed and cleaned once a week.The food should be removed from the cage and droppings at the end of the day.You can give the cage a good scrub with warm water if you replace the bedding at least once a week.Before putting the bedding back in, make sure the cage is completely dry.
Step 9: Give your pet toys.
It's important that you remember that safety is your top priority and that many commercial toys can fall apart and leave small pieces behind.They don't always like the same things, so you'll need to experiment with different toys.The simpler the toy, the better.Make sure that the toys you put in the cage are large enough for the guinea pig to not swallow them.guinea pigs like to chew on things, so wooden blocks are a good choice.The teeth of a guinea pig never stop growing, and chew toys can help gnaw them down to a comfortable length.You should make sure that the wooden toys you buy are not painted.A tunnel is a good toy to include.The pigs love running and sleeping in their cages.You can purchase a tube or tunnel at a major pet store, but you can also make one at home using an empty container.
Step 10: Don't play with certain toys.
Don't give your pig exercise balls or wheels.guinea pig's feet, back, and toes can be injured by these toys.There are toy options listed.guinea pigs can get their head stuck between the wires if they play with wire hay balls.
Step 11: You can make "hidey houses" for your pig.
The guine pig likes to hide under things and has a little privacy.Hidey houses and tunnels make them feel safe.These are things that you can either buy at a pet supply store or make at home.A guinea pig should have at least one wooden structure in their cage, whether that be a little wooden house or a tunnel.Wooden structures help ground down the guinea pig's teeth and keep them safe.If you have more than one guinea pig, you should have at least one extra house.If you have three guinea pigs, you should have four hidey houses.Peace in the group can be maintained by having one house that isn't designated for a particular pig.Old, plain is the best way to make a house where your pig can hide.There are no dyes in the shoebox.The little house is safe for chewing.You could put paper bags on the sides of your house to make a cave.You could put a toy and hay in the bag to make it even more fun.To hide your pig, you can make towel tents.To drape over a corner of the cage, cut up or fold old bath towels, and make sure to remove any tags or loose threads.You can use pins or clips to secure the towels in place, or you can loop the towel through the wires of the cage.You can reuse the "tent" if you need it, it's a great alternative for a hiding spot.
Step 12: Each day, give your guinea pig one hour of floor time.
If you don't have a large cage, give your guinea pig some floor time each day.If you want to keep your guinea pig happy and healthy, give them some additional exercise by letting them run around a small room or other enclosed space.Make sure to only let your guinea pig out in rooms with no small openings so that he can escape or become lost.Make sure to avoid places where your guinea pig could get stuck in, such as under sofas, behind ovens, etc.It's important to keep a close eye on your guinea pig because they will chew on anything they can, including electrical wires and cords.When your pig is let out of his cage, make sure the wires are not unplugged.If you allow your guinea pig outside, they could become easily lost or considered as prey by larger animals.
Step 13: Two guinea pigs should be kept together.
There are two or more pigs in a group.If you only have one guinea pig, consider adopting another and you'll see the benefits, including higher levels of activity and increased exercise.You have to buy them in pairs in some countries.If you want to get another guinea pig, make sure it's the same sex as the one you already have, or it will be neutered or spayed.If a male and female guinea pig are housed together, they will likely mate and the female pig will become pregnant, which is quite dangerous.guinea pigs are found in herds in the wild, but do not house more than two of them together.With limited space, boas can become territorial.In large groups of three or more, sows can co-exist peacefully.
Step 14: You should bond with your pig regularly.
guinea pigs like to interact with humans.Socializing with your guinea pig is a good way to keep them happy.Talk to your guinea pig, cuddle them, carry them in your hands, and pet their fur as often as you can.You can show your love for your pig by showing it!It's important to give your guinea pig special attention every day; handling, cuddling, and touching him as often as you can.
Step 15: Handle your pet with care.
guinea pigs are small animals with delicate bones so make sure to support the entire body.When they are being returned to their cages, some guinea pigs jump.Such falls can cause serious injuries and even death.Wrap one hand around their chest and use the other to support their hind feet and bottom.It's a good idea to hold your guinea pig against your chest.Make sure to approach your guinea pig from the front, so as not to frighten them, as you pick them up and handle them.If you want your guinea pig to not struggle when being held or put back in their cage, you can train it to be a jumpy pig.If you want to put your guinea pig back in the cage, hold them a few inches above the floor.As long as they are in your hands, don't put them down.If you squeeze them too tight, you could damage their back and cause paralysis.Don't let your guinea pig go since he will probably try to run away if you let him go.Hold them until they stop moving.Your guinea pig will learn that they can be free after several training sessions.Young children shouldn't be allowed to carry a guinea pig in their hands because they may accidentally squeeze it or drop it.
Step 16: You can teach your pig tricks.
The pigs are smart.They can be taught to stand on their hind legs, spin, run in a circle, and respond to their name.guinea pigs aren't as easy to train as other rodents, but you can be successful with a bit of patience.guinea pigs are more receptive to training and learning tricks.Before you start training your pig, make sure you tame them.Operant conditioning means that you have to reward your guinea pig each time they complete a task in order to teach your tricks.Put the whole trick together by rewarding small movements.If you want your pig to run in a circle on command, you'll need a pocket full of natural treats and something that makes noise, like a clicker.If you give the command "turn" and he does it, click the clicker and reward him.He will learn that when they hear the clicking sound they have done something right and that there will be a reward.Make it more difficult to earn the reward by repeating the signal until your guinea pig has mastered it.You should train with your guinea every day.