For ages: 8 & up, with adult supervision
Pet lifespan: 5-8 years
Pet size: approximately 7"-12" (18-31 cm) long
Nutrition
Choose a fortified diet, made especially for guinea pigs. Fill the bowl approximately 3/4 full.
Offer a handful of Timothy hay every day to add needed fiber to your pet&rsquos diet.
Vegetables
Treat your guinea pig to small amounts (approximately 1/8 cup) of carrots and dark green leafy
vegetables like collard greens, kale or mustard greens daily. Take care not to overfeed these
fresh foods. They contain a lot of moisture and too much can cause an upset stomach.
Fruits
Vitamin C-rich fruits like sliced kiwi and oranges are tasty and nutritious treats. Give one or
two tablespoons every other day.
These hard and crunchy treats keep your guinea pig's front teeth trimmed -- always keep one in
the habitat.
Water Change and fill your guinea pig's water bottle with clean water every day. Don't forget to add
the vitamin C drops.
Health
Signs of a healthy guinea pig:
* Clean, bright eyes
* Full, slightly-rounded body
* Soft fur with no bare patches (hairless area behind each ear is normal)
* Eats and drinks normally
* Well-formed droppings with no diarrhea
Things to watch for:
* Overgrown front teeth
* Bare patches in the fur
* Diarrhea or discolored droppings for longer than two days
* Lethargic behavior; seizures or tremors
* Weight loss; not eating or drinking normally
* Sneezing; discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth
