Ginea Pigs, need help quick!!

[misdee]

just been given a pair of ginea pigs, and have just put them out in their hutch (they have been living outside at their old place) but have noticed there is no bedding in the hutch. should i put some shredded paper in there to keep them warm? i have palced a blanket over the front and the hutch is position so its out of the wind, but am worried they may get cold.

and they need a clean, they are very sticky, and ones fur is draggin on the ground, should i attempt to do this myself over the weekend, or shall i take them to cleaned up properly? i will be taking them to the vets on monday for a check up.

They are quite vulnerable to cold so some paper would be a good idea. I would just keep them warm and fed until the vet sees them. Remember to give them fruit and fresh greens each day as they need Vit C. Good Luck!

They are quite vulnerable to cold so some paper would be a good idea. I would just keep them warm and fed until the vet sees them. Remember to give them fruit and fresh greens each day as they need Vit C. Good Luck!

o,, will see what i have in the shredder.

Are you keeping them outside misdee?

Mine are inside so I lay lots of sawdust on the bottom but that is more to soak up wee etc as opposed to keep warm. I then put straw in as even though they are inside they like to be able to hide by nature. I then also put some hay in but thats for them to chew!

If they are kept outside they should definitely have bedding in there and also a little "house" or somesuch to hide in.

they are outdoor ones, i dont have an indoor hutch or anywhere to keep them inside atm. I will get some sawdust straw and hay tomorrow at the garden centre. i used to have a rabbit so am guessing its similar care.

oh they are cute, the kids have renamed them charlie and rachel (even tho they are male lol)

Hiya Misdee, do you want to talk to me on MSN, I've got a large knowledge on guinea pigs.

Becca has just diverted me to this as I helped her with hers when she got them, if you are on msn add me [email protected]

just get loads of old newspapers and shred them into thin strips into a big pile in the sleeping corner till tmrw and a blanket (just to let you know - dont give them sawdust as it may go in their eyes)

just exactly as you said and they be happy

have they got any dry foods? if not, fresh fruits and vegs - my 2nd lot were mad on peppers but my 1st lot werent keen ! so g. pigs are different as they loves anything that is lubricated eg cucumber, grapes,apples, pears etc....

about sawdust - dont let the piggies sleep in it.. just have it under the newspaper and the hay on top of the newspaper and a tube too for their hiding place as they are very shy.

This is best Guinea Pig [grin}

that is fab!

sawdust is bad for guinea pigs, the dust gets in their eyes & they are prone to getting conjuctivitus.
Get wood shavings instead if you possibly can (phone around & find somewhere that sells it in large bags for bulk prices).

Failing that folded newspapers isn't bad bedding if changed frequently (& at least it's easy to clean out).

The real keen owners will sterilise the cage frequently, too, btw.

GPs can handle typical cold winters in England, even snowyness, but they can't handle drafts -- and especially not getting wet and being in a breeze. So they need a sheltered place out of the wind most of all.

Mine loved tomatoes & bananas, but not all GPs do.
Make sure they have some proper GP food, don't be tempted to get them rabbit food instead.
Interesting fact: GPs are among the only 3 mammal species (Humans, GPs & something else) whose liver doesn't make Vitamin C from other nutrients; that's why we/they need a daily source of Vit. C..

i was considering the hamster food but have been told no, by bubs, so they will be feasting on brocoli, apples, carrots and peppers.

get "Gerty" guinea pigs foods (its in a blue small bag) as mine were fussy and if i got any other g. pigs foods, they wouldnt eat it!

"What everyone else has said"

Would also mention making sure they have lots of hard stuff to chew as their teeth grow really fast. Our vet says the best guinea pig food has little bits of hay in because it is good for grinding their teeth down. One of ours stopped eating for a while when his brother died and his teeth started to grow in different directions which cost us a fortune at the vet's. Their mouths are so small that they have to have a GA to get their back teeth clipped back. Broccoli stalks, parsnips etc are good. I was told not to give too many carrots but can't remember why! The vet (who has about 20 gpigs at home and fancies himself as the practice expert)also said that the outer green bit of corn on the cob are excellent because they are very hard and fibrous but I could never get mine to eat them.

Oh god, I forgot, I feel really dumb now. GPs can DIE of hay deficiency. And they are also prone to obesity.

The best way to feed them is let them have fresh hay or grass 24/7 (esp. long grass clippings & dandelions, I used to ask neighbours if I could cut their overgrown lawns to get fresh grass for my GPs), but strictly limit how much of their other food/packaged GP food they get, unless they have an outdoor run & get to run around A LOT. I think there's a rule of thumb of how much non-hay food they should have, something like 50g or 100g per adult GP per day.

oh, and last post: things like spinach & carrot tops have too much oxalic acid in them... not good for guinea pig kidneys (contributes to them getting stones). OK to give those things occasionally, but only occasionally. Most lettuce is similar : best only as occasional because it has high water & low nutrient content.

Celery is bad as too fibrous & might get stuck in their intestines.

Rhubarb & potato/tomato leaves are poisonous. Be careful about potato peelings: terrific for Vit. C but may be high in solanine (same stuff that turns potatoes green, & is also poisonous to people). Some peole would say no potatos at all for GPs.

Ours used to have mostly fresh stuff because we could get it from our horse's field every day. They can eat clover, tares (vetch), shepherd's purse, plantain, goose grass, milk thistle, dandelion (leaves and flowers). If you prune your fruit trees they will enjoy a bit to chew on.

It's nice to see them chomping away on natural food, and cheap too

they will be having a feast come the summer, my garden is full of dandlions lol

Ours used to sleep in mounds of hay (extra mounds in cold weather)and munch their way through it while they were in there. (Our hutch had a small sleeping compartment.) Fantastic stuff, hay

But hay can be damp and/or mouldy in the centre so when you buy it make sure it's fresh, clean and dry.

Not got anything to add to the advice already given, just wanted to say hope you enjoy them. Gp's are the cutest. I have had them on and off for 20 years! and love 'em to bits (hence the username lol).

Nice to see quite a few other gp owners on mumsnet.

I think guinea pigs make fantastic pets, i have three and one of them shouts and screams and squeaks everytime i walk past him, the other two do it for food, but cheeky chappie doesn't do it for food, he wants, his chin tickling