March is National Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month! 

If you don't believe me, just click here!

Some fun facts about these little furbabies:

 Guinea pigs MUST gnaw in order to wear down their teeth. If they don’t, the teeth will grow so long that the guinea pig will be unable to eat. 

Unlike some other small pets, such as mice, they do not scratch. Guinea pigs are easy to train. While they love their “out of cage” time, they are perfectly content to spend a majority of their time in the habitat.

Guinea pigs are born with their eyes open. They can also start scooting around the room within a few hours of their birth!

Guinea pigs are very easy to feed, because they enjoy a vegetarian diet. Give them a little hay and some veggies, and they’ll be fat and happy. Make sure to include a Vitamin C source. 

Guinea pigs love to hide, so there should be some boxes and other items in which the guinea pig can get a little privacy. 

(Tooey loves paper lunch bags!)

While they are content in their cages, they also enjoy love and affection from their owners.
Most will sit happily in your arms while you watch television and will enjoy interacting with you while you let them out of their enclosures for some supervised floor time. 

Guinea pigs make wonderful pets and can provide many years of enjoyment and companionship to their owners. While the average life span is 4-5 years, the Guiness Book of World Records has one pegged at 15 years old! 

But Tooey is going to break the record and live to be 30!

By Catcalls & Dogbarks

A Cavy’s Christmas!

By Patty from Catcalls and Dogbarks

Christmas is coming, the pigs are wearing hats.

Please join the choir as they whistle, squeak, and chat.

If singin’ ain’t you’re thing, then jugglin’ will do.

If jugglin’s just too tough, then dance without your shoes!

But whatever you do....don’t FURget the prezzies!

All product photos can be found at Otter House on Amazon

October is Guinea Pig Month!

Keeping your guinea pig healthy!

Guinea pigs are really very hardy little guys. They do not require massive amounts of tedious

attention-just some basic care to keep them happy and healthy. If you can provide all of these things, you are a good candidate for guinea pig ownership!

1. Keep your piggie's cage clean and dry. Pine chips, straw, hay-no cedar chips! They are toxic to guinea pigs.

2. Keep away from drafts! This is a big one. Once a guinea pig catches a respiratory illness, it is very hard for them to recover.

3. Keep their room at a consistent temperature. Gradual seasonal changes in temperature are not a problem. Just no abrupt changes. 60 - 80 degrees is suitable.

4. Allow plenty of fresh air, but no drafts.

5. Give fresh pellets made for guinea pigs, not rabbit pellets, and water daily.

6. Daily vitamin C is essential. They are like humans in this regard, needing outside sources of this vitamin. Fresh, clean, raw veggies and fruits are best.

7. Give your piggies plenty of light without placing him in direct sunlight.

8. Keep his toenails clipped. This is an easy task-just like clipping your own! Be careful to clip below the 'quick', the fleshy part underneath the nail.

9. Examine your guinea pig often to catch any lumps, bald spots, runny nose etc. before they get serious. Playing regularly with him will keep you more alert to any changes.

10. It is possible to transfer a respiratory illness to your pet. Be careful to keep your distance when you are sick and wash your hands before touching him.

If you notice any of the following, unless you are well versed in guinea pig care, talk to your vet! These may develop into serious conditions.

Not eating or drinking, discharge from eyes or ears, diarrhea, hair loss, weight loss, dull ruffled hair, dull or half closed eyes, nose in corner of cage with little movement or hunched posture.

Yes! You CAN teach your guinea pig to play dead!

But can you teach him to fly? I will let you know after I have some lessons with Tooey!

Of the 30 or 40 guinea pigs I have had, I have lost a few to the above illnesses, mainly in my childhood years, due to ignorance. Most of my piggies have lived 4 or more years. For the little amount of care they require, they have brought an abundance of fun and joy into our lives! I can't imagine life without a guinea pig!

By Patty from Catcalls and Dogbarks on Etsy

October is Guinea Pig Month!

(That's just my own declaration!)

This month I'll be sharing some interesting and fun facts about my pets. Starting with ...their name!

Guinea pig is the common name for cavy. They originated in South America. These rodents have no visible tail, four toes on the front feet, and three toes on the back. They are neither from Guinea nor are they pigs. They are said to have gotten their name because they squeal and were sold by British sailors for a guinea, an Old English coin.

If they are properly cared for , they will live 5 to 7 years. I have had several live to that age. They are strictly herbivores. Plants only, please!

There are 11 recognized breeds of guinea pigs at this time which is the focus of today's post. Within each breed there are 23 varieties which include a number of colors and color patterns. Silkies have longer smooth coats, but the head and face are not covered like the Peruvians. Satins have a hollow hair shaft that gives the hair a nice sheen. Teddies have short wiry hair. Abyssinians have rosettes or tufts,and Americans have smooth short hair.

Here we go!

Teddy Satin

Silkie

Silkie Satin

White Crested

Peruvian

Peruvian Satin

American

American Satin

Abyssinian

Abyssinian Satin

And what have we here???

Ahoy Maties! Yo ho ho-be sure and stay tuned for next week's post about me cavy friends!

Ready for your quiz now??

Posted by Patty from CatCalls & Dogbarks