Piggy Love

For most people the desire to have a pet comes at some time in their life. And if you have children the pet quandary will most definitely arise. When choosing a pet one must consider several different points: life span, care needed, expense, exercise, and type of pet. If you're in the department for a cute fuzzy pet do consider a guinea pig.

Guinea pigs are sweet natured and cuddly. Guinea pigs which are also called cavies live about five years and are easy to care for. They require little exercise and can be litter box trained. Piggies also have their own little language. They wheek and squeak different sounds to express what they are feeling like: hunger, loneliness, anger, fear, and love.

To keep your piggy healthy you need to take care to his food and grooming. Guinea pigs eat timothy hay, alpha pellets enriched with vitamin c, fresh fruit, and vegetables. The timothy hay is also good for gnawing and keeping their teeth down. A rodent's teeth grow continually and need to be worn down. Guinea pigs also need their nails trimmed monthly. Piggies are very social creatures in the wild they travel in herds, and in captivity they're best in pairs. Or as only pets make sure you don't neglect them. If you have small children in the home you need to teach them how to hold the guinea pig. Piggies can be seriously injured if dropped.

When you buy your guinea pig you will need to also get it a cage. A piggy's cage needs to be open, airy, and as large as your space will allow. The bottom of the cage should be even and not wire. Wire floors can catch their toes and hurt your piggy. Some people choose to let their guinea pigs roam free range after they are litter trained.

Guinea pigs are proliferate breeders and this must be considered when choosing the sexes of your piggies. If you don't want a houseful of guinea pigs I would recommend separating the males and females. Sadly there are quite a few irresponsible breeders out there that generate many unwanted piggies. Before purchasing a guinea pig at a pet store please first consider adopting one at a shelter or looking on www.petfinder.com. Guinea pigs can also be neutered the same as cats and eliminating the possibility of offspring.

In conclusion guinea pigs can make a great pet. But before getting any new pet do your research and find the best one for you and your family. Love your piggy and it will love you back.