Creating the perfect home for guinea pigs

Guinea pigs make wonderful pets for children and adults alike. These animals do, however, require some special care, especially when it comes to housing. Although many pet supply stores sell cages for guinea pigs, they are often too small for even one guinea pig to live in comfortably. On top of that, some bedding you find in stores can be dangerous to your pet's health. Here are some ways to help create a comfortable home for your guinea pig.

Find the right cage

Guinea pigs need lots of floor space to exercise, so the bigger cage you can provide them, the better. Many cages you find in stores are far too small and do not give your guinea pig enough space for food, exercise, and a bathroom area. For one to two guinea pigs, plan on a cage that is at least between 7 and 10 square feet. Many guinea pig owners today are making their own cages out of storage cubes and coroplast, otherwise known as C&C cages. These cages offer your guinea pig a large home for less money than it would cost to buy a smaller cage from the pet store. For complete instructions on how to make your own C&C cage, go to www.guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm. No matter what kind of cage you decide to use, avoid choosing one with a wire bottom. Guinea pigs have very small and delicate feet that can easily suffer from a condition known as bumblefoot. Bumblefoot is an infection in the footpad. It is very painful and, if left untreated, can result in loss of a leg and even death.

Bedding

Not all bedding is created equal. In fact, some bedding is downright dangerous for guinea pigs, and yet it continues to be available in stores. Bedding can typically be broken down into three groups: wood chips, paper, and fleece. For a long time, wood chips were the most common type of guinea pig bedding. Go into any pet store today and you will still see rows and rows of packaged wood chips. Unfortunately, wood chips can cause a lot of allergies for pet owners and health issues for your guinea pig. Cedar, a popular bedding choice because of its nice smell, is especially dangerous for small animals and can potentially lead to respiratory issues. Store-bought paper bedding is a safer option for your pet. Remember that bedding must be changed frequently. Another cause of bumblefoot is wet bedding and unsanitary conditions. Should the cost of providing fresh bedding become too expensive, consider switching to fleece. Fleece has become one of the most popular bedding options for guinea pig owners. Unlike other bedding materials, fleece is reusable. When it gets dirty, simple toss it in the washing machine.

Litter box training

Another way to help keep your guinea pig's cage clean is to work on litter box training. Litter boxes designed specifically for small animals can be found at any pet supply store. Unlike traditional litter boxes, a small animal litter box is typically designed to fit into the corner of a cage and has a high back and low front. Shredded paper, hay, or the same material you are using for their bedding can be used to fill the litter box. To train your guinea pig, start by finding the area that your pet frequently goes to the bathroom in his or her cage. Put the litter box in that area then show your guinea pig what to do by putting some of their poops in the litter box. Your pet should be able to make the connection and start using the litter box. If he does, be sure to reward him to keep reinforcing the behavior. If he doesn't start using it, keep showing him what to do. For added encouragement at the shelter, we put a handful of hay in the litter boxes to encourage our small animals to sit in the litter boxes and, hopefully, use them.

Guinea pigs are wonderful pets and, with proper housing and care, generally live an average of 5 to 8 years. Guinea pigs spend a lot of time in their cages, especially if you're not home during the day, so be sure you are providing them with a comfortable habitat so they can have a happy, healthy, and long life.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, two cats, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.