Pampered Pets

The weather is getting warmer and Easter is all over – so make sure you are a pet owner for all seasons with these tips.

Now spring has sprung and April showers may be pouring down on owners everywhere, it could be a good idea to ensure you have the best pet health care plan in place for your four-legged friends this season.

Easter has just passed, leaving many of us with mountains of uneaten chocolate and festive confectionery – all of which can be a welcome addition as we wait for May flowers to bloom. No matter how tempted you are to give your dog such a goodie, you mustn’t; they’re damaging to both cats and dogs. The last thing you need is a sick pet and a claim on your pet insurance. Instead, why not spoil him with some specially-prepared pet treats?

Spring cleaning is as distasteful to pets as it is to their owners. The furniture moving, strong chemicals and effort involved in spring cleaning can be very disturbing for pets. To make it easier, why not confine your kitty or pup to a smaller room while you reorganise another?

Spring cleaning can be much more agreeable for your pets if you avoid harsh cleaning fluids and use more natural ones like vinegar and baking soda.

As the weather gets warmer, you may be inclined to allow your dog to romp in the garden for longer periods of time. However, you should make sure that your pet cannot get out of the garden through an open gate or a hole in fence or hedge before letting him out of the house.

The American Society for the Protection of Animals (ASPCA) points out the fact many pet owners like to take their moggies and mongrels in the car with them on long spring journeys – so it is important to practise good road safety in this case.

It has been noted by the pet health care centre that inner ear or eye injuries and lung infections can be caused by flying debris and insects, and that serious injuries or worse can be caused by sudden stops or turns.

Provide your pet with a comfortable carrier so that you are not distracted by his wandering about in the vehicle whilst you are driving. If your pet climbed into the driver’s seat, it could even impede the brake pedal which can be very dangerous indeed.

By placing the carrier on the front seat next to you, you will be reminded not to leave your pet in the car; on a hot day this can be fatal. If this is not possible, make sure that a named passenger is responsible for taking the pet out of the car.

If you are planning to take your pet on holiday with you, remember to check the terms of your pet insurance, as a good policy will include some vet’s fees cover whilst abroad.

You will be able to relax and enjoy yourself with your pet this spring and summer if you follow these basic tips that will, in turn, keep your pet happy and healthy!

Benefits of a humane mice snare

It keeps the mouse alive! A few folks desire to catch the mice alive so they can let them loose at a field in the vicinity in order to breathe one more life.

A lot cleaner given that pest remnants aren’t spread all over the floor. Together with a humanitarian mice snare, the pest just isn’t harmed therefore eliminating it is very trouble-free.

A good number of humane snares cover up the bait so it is not a risk to different pet animals or youngsters.

Disadvantages of humane rat traps

As the snares are very unknown to the pests, it might actually take them a while to become accustomed with it before they take off close to it. This will result in pretty sluggish results.

Several people let loose of the mice too close to their abode and they are able to find their way back. Each and every time suggest you drive in your automobile for no less than 5 minutes prior to freeing them just to make positive.

Though automatic mousetraps claim to be a gentle technique to execute rats which have gotten into your personal home, it is incredibly kind to catch pests in a no kill mousetrap and next release them in a somewhat biological atmosphere, whether or not this may be a playground, a pasture, or a forest beside your residence. Live snares are merely as effective similar to automatic traps and always function a lot better compared to snares. They even get rid of the nasty clean up of deceased or immobilized mice. By means of live traps everything that is necessary to do is bring the trap outdoors, press down a lock and next the mouse would remove itself, mostly with out touching it.

No kill mousetraps are the perfect to have round a dwelling with little youngsters or pet animals. Like for example, if you happen to own a hamster and it takes off, you may right away track down your hairy pal trapped in an electronic mousetrap. If you happen to utilize toxin or cutting bucket traps for your pests your kitty or puppy may well consume the venom, many a times along with dangerous consequences. Snap snares may perhaps be a sign of nipped or even wounded fingers for children. Live traps not only safeguard the existence of the rat, on the contrary also the well being and good of your entire family.

Typically a no kill mouse snare is just a prison intended for mice. There is a trigger fastener entry at one part that snaps close. A tripped trigger means that mouse has gone into in the trap. This is a one route entrance and thus the mouse can not leave from that same route. As a substitute it should stay and eat the bait you have supplied meant for it until you take it outside. It is best to examine your live traps roughly one time daily or it’s possible you’ll find yourself with an involuntarily starving rat.

You’ll have the option to take the whole snare, put it inside a bag and take it to your selected ‘let loose’ spot. Then the majority of snares have an external let loose trigger which unfastens the top of the trap and next the rat is able to flee. Even if you are squeamish concerning mice, the propose of no kill traps denotes that you may open the fastener devoid of ever even having the chance of coming into contact along with the mouse.

At How-To-Kill-Mice.com, you will learn all about rat poison, get rid of mice in walls, and little nipper rat trap.

There are many people who don’t even consider the possibility to adopt a pet when looking for a four-legged friend. While you search for a pure breed, millions of  pets remain in shelters waiting for a good-hearted human to take them home. Maybe, people are misinformed or prejudiced  against animals in shelters, and they fear there is a problem with such animals.

This is only partly true, because lots of pets end up in shelters because they were lost and nobody reclaimed them, or the  owners moved and couldn’t take them or simply due to lack of money to support the pet. Even those  who are really keen on purebred can find a great pet in a shelter. Lots of  animals are actually ruined by incorrect training, and they are afterward dumped in shelters. You could change their life if you decided to adopt a pet.

Another issue is whether to adopt a puppy or an older dog. Consider your situation carefully before choosing your pet. The kind of house  you have, your age, temperament and the presence of kids around the house are the elements to influence your decision.  Adult dogs for instance are preferable when you want a steady mature behavior, and you don’t have enough  time to dedicate to a puppy. There are nevertheless many other things  that you need to check before you adopt a pet.

You should be aware that you assume a great responsibility when  you adopt a pet. You should not adopt because  you are in the right mood; your reasons should be more profound than that.

Prepare the house before the pet arrival. Make sure it is  safe and comfy. A loving positive  attitude will make the pet adapt more easily to the new living space.

Get an evaluation of the dog behavior, talk to the caretaker at the animal shelter and learn about the animal’s medical  history. When you adopt a pet from a  shelter, it is usually vaccinated and clean of parasites, but you ought to verify such aspects nonetheless.

Seek a bit of advice to determine which pet would be most suitable for you. For instance, while some people prefer pure breeds, others prefer mixed breed animals because of the  lower incidence of genetic health problems before you adopt a pet.

You’ll feel like you’re  doing something really good when you adopt a pet from the shelter. You give an animal another chance to a better life.

Guinea pigs, which are just as commonly called “cavies” were discovered and domesticated several thousands of years ago, and ever since then they have been working their way into the hearts and homes of people from all over the world. Cavies are adored for their affectionate and gentle character, and their amusing personalities. Pet guinea pigs can be found with an abundance of variations in their coat colors and textures. Cavies are loved as pets by both young children and adults alike.

Cavies love to sit on laps and be petted. They are just plain easy to care for and are not demanding. As with any domesticated pet they do have a few special requirements, including a safe and comfortable home as well as a loving and affectionate owner who will take time to hold and caress him or her.

Be Sure to do Your Research First

It really is only reasonable to your new pet that you complete your homework ahead of time and understand ahead of time about your pet cavy’s requirements as well as behaviors. To be a conscientious pet owner you need to be mindful that looking after pet guinea pigs calls for plenty of planning, dedication, and also time. Understanding as much about guinea pigs before you buy one will help you determine if keeping a guinea pig as a pet works with with your existing lifestyle.

Will You Make a Good Cavy Owner?

There are several things to consider that will help you decide whether a cavy would make a good pet for you. How you live life and what you do tend to be essential factors in figuring out if a cavy will fit into your life. Owning a pet is not always an easy thing. It requires a commitment over a long period of time. In the case of cavies this commitment means spending “snuggle” time with them on a regular and consistent basis. They will need veterinary care which requires financial resources. So prior to taking the plunge make sure that you are ready willing and able to do what must be done to provide a warm and caring home for these wonderful creatures.

Cavies and Young Children

Children love animals, and children particularly love pet guinea pigs. They are fuzzy, warm, soft, and gentle. They really enjoy being cuddled as well as caressed, and in addition they hardly ever bite, although they might affectionately nibble on little fingers on occasion.

Children love to show their affection for their pet guinea pigs by hugging and kissing them. As hard hard as it may be, make sure that your children don’t accidently love your cavy to death. At times youngsters don’t realize just how fragile smaller pets can be and without realizing it they may squeeze them too hard and injure your cavy. Make sure that your children never pick up their cavy by the nape of it’s neck, or by it’s limbs or ears. Simply instruct your young ones to be gentle and your cavy will certainly give back the love.

Summary

Owning a couple of pet guinea pigs can create an excellent opportunity for adults to teach children about pets and the importance of humane care, and respect for all living things. Guinea pigs are wonderful first pets given that they tend to be easy to care for, and they are extremely loving and affectionate. Be good to your pet cavies and they will give you lots of love in return.

Bio/Resource

Guinea pigs are gentle creatures. Mike Andrews is a 52 year old native of native of Colorado, and has been a life-long animal lover and guinea pig enthusiast. Mike would like to see that all pet guinea pigs are properly cared for. He has written additional articles relating to pet guinea pigs on his webpage at http://www.petguineapigsinfo.com/pet-guinea-pigs.  Please visit his website at http://www.PetGuineaPigsInfo.com and check out his FREE 10 part mini-course on the proper care and raising of happy and healthy guinea pigs.

There are many people out there that almost seem to be scared when it comes to buying pets because they feel that it is going to be very tough when it comes to training the thing, this is often not the case.

Family

If you are intending to have a baby at some point or have children already then make sure the animal is used to them. The best thing to do is actually wait until your baby is born before getting a dog if you are pregnant because just like people they will get jealous of losing the attention which could result in them lashing out. You need to also make sure that every member of the household is present when you are teaching the dog so it knows you are all boss.

House Training

Training your animal to not poop indoors is something that you must do and this is because if you don’t do this you are going to face a lot of problems indeed. A puppy or kitten are very similar to babies in the respect that they are infants and they really cannot control their bladders and bowels so if they do something wrong please try not to lose your temper with them, they can be told without shouting. Even if they decide to take a nice wee against the sofa. One of the best things to do when it comes to potty training is to actually make sure that you feed them at the same time and take them out into the garden afterwards. After playtime is another time where puppies and kittens often need to go so make sure you take them after this. Over time the puppy will learn what to do and will do the business on its own accord.

Health

If your animal gets ill and you don’t do anything they will start to dislike you so make sure you take them to a small animal vet or animal hospital. The same goes if they need something like animal physiotherapy.

If you do these things I am sure it will be fine!

If you’d like to bring your dog out, leash training becomes necessary. Dogs stepping outside of their owner’s fences are mandataed to be on a leash. Although it sounds a little harsh, leash training is an important part of dog schooling. Below are pracitcal guide for training your dog with a leash.

You might want to read Dove Cresswell puppy & dog training online review to help with your dog training .

1. Keep a steady steam of patience. Dogs train at their own pace. Your dog’s learning depends on two things: your commitment and his breed. Beagles need more intense training as they easily get distracted. Bichon Frises are not as smart as Collies; they won’t learn as fast. Of course, you must follow guidelines and be firm and consistent when training. If you fail to be consistent, dogs get confused and your training will last weeks longer.

2. Age has a bearing. Puppies settle in to a collar and leash faster than adult dogs. If they had not had a leash prior, adult dogs need an adjustment period.

3. Direct your dog’s attention to the training. In whatever way you do it, it is essential for your dog to be responsive during training. If he has a short attention span, don’t train in places where he’s easily distracted. Like, if you’re outside, train at the back, rather than the front yard. Passing cars and passersby divide your dog’s attention. If your trainee is a hyperactive type, exercise him vigorously to tire him a little; he’s likely to pay attention better that way.

Have a look at Golden Retriever Training Information to find out more on training this breed.

Pick Your Equipment.

Today, you have more than one collar and leash option to help you and your dog achieve your training goals. The customary fat leash is usually enough for instilling obedience in young puppies. In rare cases, you might need any of these specialized training tools to be more effective:

1. Head Collar.This kind of collar is very much like a horse’s collar. It allows you gentle control of your dog with two loops – one around the mouth, the other around the neck. For preventing your dog from a habit of lounging, this is an excellent choice. Your dog is still able to move his mouth freely; the collar effectively prevents lounging as it turns a forward movement of the head into a sideways motion.

2. Retractable leash. This leash has a push-button control that lets you take up slack quickly. This is excellent if you’re allowing your dog to walk around further away from you. Your dog can walk at a certain distance ahead of you and you need not worry. However, if you’d like your dog to learn “heel”, don’t let him get too far away from you.

3. Choke/Prong Collars. From its name, you’d likely have surmised this collar uses pain to train. Attached to the leash, this collar won’t let your dog stray. You can tighten the collar to choke him a bit or jab him with spikes to remind him not to pull. Your purpose is only to cause your dog some discomfort with a little pain, not seriously hurt him for misbehaving.

For more on this, see this article on Dog Leash Training Guide.

If you are taking a ferret as a pet then the most important task would be to get it vaccinated. Ferrets can be trained effectively, but it is not so easy to train them, as compared to dogs and cats. The difficult part for training ferrets is to make him learn the household rules.

As in the case of other animals, the easiest way to train a ferret is through rewards. For good behavior you should give it food, otherwise keep it caged and pay no attention, no matter how much it whines. It will soon change its behavior.

Ferrets are energetic creatures and love to move around a lot. As a result, the rooms can be messed up. Another common problem is nipping. But with a little bit of patience, ferrets can be trained not to nip and use the litter, instead of messing around.

As in the case of other pet animals, ferrets can be trained to come if its name is called out. By training ferrets in this way, helps you to save a lot of time and anxious moments, as ferrets usually creeps into some small places or holes. You should also remember to reward the ferret with food as and when it reacts to your call. This will also make him obedient.

Ferrets usually love chicken pieces or semi-moist liver flavored treats. A good idea when training ferrets would be to place some semi-moist treats in a tin box and shake it when you call the ferret. He will soon learn to come as soon as he hears his name and the rattling sound of the tin.

Frequent interaction is very important for raising a happy and healthy ferret. If the ferret is a new baby pet, the owner should spend some time with it during the early days of its domesticating. By nature ferrets are playful, especially when they are babies, and they can easily be trained during this period.

While educating and training, the most crucial factor is to let the ferret to unwind and relax. This is necessary because he can pay more attention and learn when he is in a relaxed mood. One thing that should be taken into consideration while training is bringing him to the same place again and again as he will feel more at home at a familiar location away from distractions.

If you have enough time and patience for training ferrets, you can train the pet ferret to bring things, sit up or roll over. This can be achieved if you repeat and reward him often. Once you are successful in the training process, the joyous moments of playing with it would be many.

Even if you take great care of your pet cavies, they can still become ill. Cavies can be fragile animals, so it is very important to recognize and get treatment for your sick guinea pig as early as possible. A successful recovery may depend on getting your pet early treatment. This article is intended as a guinea pig health reference source, providing you with information that will hopefully assist you in recognizing the signs and/or symptoms of an illness or disease that your cavy is suffering from. If you recognize symptoms of illness or disease then get your pet to a small animal veterinary clinic as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.

Commonly Seen Health Problems in Cavies

Cavies can be afflicted by a variety of infections, and by parasites, which can cause problems with their eyes, ears, and their digestive system. You should develop a daily routine whereby you give your pet cavy a daily “examination” to check for signs of illness. This doesn’t have to done in addition to a regular daily play or cuddle ritual; in fact it can be a part of the ritual and really just involves careful observation. The important thing to remember is that this is something that needs to be completed nearly every day, due to the fact that guinea pigs, should they become sick, can decline fairly quickly and without prompt treatment they could die from their illnesses. Here are some commonly seen health problems:

• Respiratory Problems: Cavies are highly susceptible to respiratory problems. If you hear your cavy sneezing, wheezing, or just having difficulty breathing, you need to pay attention to these symptoms as they may be caused by bacterial infection and your pet could develop pneumonia, the most frequent cause of death in cavies.
• Skin and Hair Problems: Watch out for these signs of skin problems: dry itchy skin, loss of fur, and oozing sores. There can be a number of different causes for these symptoms which can include allergies, skin parasites, stress, and disease. don’t try to diagnose and treat these yourself, your veterinarian will need to diagnose the exact cause and prescribe a treatment.
• Digestive Problems: Intestinal bacterial infections, not eating a proper diet, experiencing stress, or living in a dirty cage can all be causes of your cavy having diarrhea. If your guinea pig has diarrhea, or is constipated, he should be treated promptly, otherwise it could very quickly result in dehydration, and possibly death.
• Eye Problems: Eye problems are usually caused by injury, infection, or an irritating object in the eye. Check to see if your pet’s eyes appear dull, have a discharge, or if he keeps them closed. If that’s the case then you must immediately put him in a darkened room as the problem could possibly be painful and make their eyes hypersensitive to light.
• Ear Problems: Ear problems can be brought on by an infection, parasites, or injury. The signs that your cavy may be suffering from ear problems include scratching, shaking their heads, tilting the head to one side, and loss of balance.
• Dental Problems: Your cavies teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. Chewing on coarse hay, hard food pellets, and perhaps small twigs or sticks will help keep the teeth trimmed. If you notice that your cavy’s teeth are not growing in proper alignment you need to seek treatment from your vet. If not dealt with this is very painful leading to your cavy’s refusal to eat, and might actually bring about starvation and death.
• Heatstroke: Cavies can overheat very easily if exposed to high temperatures. It will quickly become weak, unresponsive, and eventually comatose. Without having immediate treatment it will eventually die.
• Dehydration: This can be caused by your cavy not drinking enough water, prolonged exposure to a hot environment, or from diarrhea caused by illness.

Preventative Care is Best For Guinea Pig Health

Good guinea pig health starts by you providing your cavy with preventative health care. You’ll be able to avoid numerous common guinea pig illnesses, which will be a lot easier, and much less expensive, that treating illnesses. Guinea pigs are robust little creatures and with planned preventative health care they will enjoy a longer and healthy life.

Here are some basic levels of care that you can provide your cavy to keep him healthy:

• If possible have two cavies – they love companionship and it really is best for them
• Provide healthy, nutritious food, supplement with vitamin C, and give them plenty of clean, fresh water
• Make sure they have lots of room in their cage or hutch to run around, play, and get their exercise.
• Make sure they have “hideaway” in their cage where they can be alone if they need to
• Make sure their cage or hutch closes securely, is clean, dry, and away from cold drafts
• Make sure that their cage location is not subject to extreme heat or humidity
• Keep them in a quiet environment, but not isolated away from the family – they like your company
• Give them fun toys, and specifically chew toys, to keep their teeth healthy and trimmed
• Cavies are highly social animals; give them lots of your attention.

Summary

Guinea pigs are generally hardy little animals. Even if you take great care of them they may still get sick occasionally. A daily routine that includes handling your pet cavy so that you can give it an “examination” is a good idea. Don’t ignore signs of an illness in your pet – seek veterinary care right away for a better chance of a quick recovery. Your pet cavy needs you – take good care of him!

One of the most important things that you can do to ensure your guinea pig’s health and happiness is to make sure your cavy has a nice clean home to live in, and that he has plenty of room to run around!

It isn’t difficult to please and house your pet cavy. They will be very content in one of the wide variety of guinea pig cages that you can find at your neighborhood pet store. They don’t require much to be happy in their home but they do have a few simple requirements: a secure cage so they can’t escape or another family pet can’t get in, a solid floor, the right kind of bedding material, a hideaway for privacy, and protection from extreme heat and cold.

As you will learn, or may have read in some of my other articles, cavies are very social creatures. They enjoy, and actually need, the company of other guinea pigs. If you are reluctant to keep two guinea pigs then you will need to plan on spending plenty of time with your pet to keep him from getting lonely and bored. If they get lonely or bored they will get depressed and may develop behavioral problems like chewing on itself. If you think you might be willing to raise two cavies then be sure to include that in your plans to choose and appropriate cage.

Size Does Matter

Where your cavy is concerned, the bigger the cage the better. Your pets need lots of room to romp around and get exercise, and the more exercise a cavy gets, the happier he’s going to be. Your cage also need to be large enough to accommodate space for their hideaways, their toys, their food bowl, and their drinking bottle.

Minimum cage area recommendations are as follows: somewhere between seven and eight square feet for a single cavy; somewhere between ten and eleven square feet when you’ve got two cavies; for every extra guinea pig in your cage you ought to have somewhere between two and three additional square feet of living space. This amount of room will give your cavies plenty of space for romping. Without adequate exercise your furry friend will get fat, and overweight cavies are more likely to develop health problems.

Given ample space your guinea pigs will be really playful, running laps around the cage running after each other, leaping and hopping!

Guinea pig cages mustn’t be a glass enclosure of any sort, such as a fish tank. These type of glass enclosures will not supply sufficient ventilation or clean air, two things your guinea pig requires. Additional fresh air also means that the cage will always be dryer, and this is a more healthy habitat for your pet. Cavies can tolerate the cold better than they can tolerate heat, and a well ventilated cage will allow heat to dissipate easier. However, you must be cautious not to locate the guinea pig cage in an area which is subjected to cold drafts. Cavies are susceptible to respiratory system difficulties, and when subjected to chilly, drafty, and damp conditions they could quickly develop pneumonia and die. Lastly, avoid guinea pig cages with wire bottoms because your pet can get their toes and feet caught in the wire mesh.

A little hideaway house of some kind is an essential element of your guinea pig’s home. Occasionally guinea pigs need somewhere to hide out and enjoy a little “alone time”. Something as simple as a bit of cheap pipe will certainly perform the job beyond adequately. Have a bit of fun assembling this hiding spot – your guinea pig is going to be happy!

It’s important to select the correct bedding material for your guinea pig cages. There are many type of bedding material available at pet stores. Just be sure you only buy products which are labeled as being bedding materials for caged animals, otherwise you could be getting something that looks similar, but may actually be harmful to your pet. I’ve found that the ideal bedding material is a mix of shredded paper product and cut hay. It is advisable to line the bottom of the cavy cage by using newspaper, after which you can arrange in a covering of the mixed bedding materials. The paper will absorb urine and the hay will stay dry, and give your cavy something to nibble on!

Have you researched, studied, and prepared? If so, then your guinea pig will adapt and adjust to you very quickly, and you and your new cavy will get off to a great start! It’s time to bring your guinea pig home!

Your Cavy’s First Veterinary Check-Up

Sometime when young guinea pigs are brought into pet stores by the breeders they often experience an enormous amount of stress. As you may already know, changes in the environment and surroundings are difficult to handle for most guinea pigs. This stress can affect their immune systems and make them susceptible to things like upper respiratory infections, which are contagious. Thus your goal is to make sure that your pet has not been infected by any of its cage-mates, and is off to a good start health-wise.

Your new pet really should be examined by a vet during the very first few days after you acquired him. If you haven’t by now, now is the occasion to locate a great vet that is an expert in small animals. Be sure to ask your vet lots of questions during your pet’s initial exam; its better to have health questions answered ahead of time rather than in an emergency situation.

Home Sweet Cavy Cage

In planning and preparing to bring your new pet cavy home for the first time you should have already purchased or built a cage (or hutch) for your new pet. Remember that a cavy needs adequate cage space to be health and happy. He needs plenty of room to run around and get his exercise. In fact, introducing them initially to a smaller cage will make them feel very anxious as they have hardly any means of hiding.

Accordingly be sure that you’ve gotten as much as possible prepared for him before you bring him home that allows you to pop him into his brand new home as soon as you arrive. Also make sure that you have provided a hideaway-house in their cage so that they can retreat there if they get scared. It’s very important to provide this hiding place right from the beginning. If you don’t provide this, they can get very stressed.

Even though you'll be mightily tempted to pick up your new guinea pig friend right now, you need to allow him no less than the first 24 hours to be able to get used to his new environment. You must remember that your new pet is in a brand new home and a new habitat, and he is probably somewhat scared right now. As soon as you pick him up and try to cuddle him its just going to make him all the more afraid and stressed.

Make sure your pet’s cage is out of direct sunlight and cold drafts. the cage should be kept in a well-ventilated space and placed in a room where you spend much of your time. Remember that cavies love company, and if you isolate them away from people or other activities they will quickly get very lonely which will very quickly have a negative impact on their health.

Anxiety, illness, and early death can be totally averted by putting together your cavy’s cage the right way and supplying them the proper diet and care from the start!

Have a Cavy-Safe House

Before you bring your guinea pig home you need to make sure that you have made your home safe for your new pet. Cavies need “floor time” and a safe place to roam. For this reason you should create a pet-safe room where there is nothing dangerous for them to chew on or otherwise injure themselves. Make sure they can not reach any kind of hazardous plants or chew up on power cords. Be sure to remove any rodent traps or poison from the room or from any cabinets in the room (cavies love to explore!). Rodent poisons are deadly for cavies, just as they are for mice and other vermin. Also be sure that there are not any household cleaners or chemicals about that they can get into and ingest.

Bonding with Your Guinea Pig

Never make an effort to grab and hold your new pet until you’re feeling that he has grow to be comfy with his new cage and new setting. If he is comfortable he will be actively checking out his new cage and not disappearing in his hiding place. Now you need to get him accustomed to you, and you need to do this very slowly and methodically, and gain his trust.

The best way to get your pet to trust you is, without a doubt, bribery. This is accomplished by giving your cavy special treats like carrots or cucumbers. Gently open the cage door and place the treats just inside the door. Then close the door and patiently wait for the cavy to accept the treat. Maybe you have to try this several times, but at some point he will associate you and the treats.

Once this “connection” has been made, and the trust has been established, you can now attempt to pick up your cavy. The correct way to pick up your pet is by using two hands; with one hand you will carefully put it under his chest, and with the other put it under his rear end. Be sure not to squeeze too tightly – be gentle. Then pull your pet in to your chest or place him on your lap so he feels safe and doesn’t thrash around. Avoid putting him down on a tabletop or anywhere else where he could fall. Talk to him with a soothing voice, pet him gently, and give him a treat.

You and your cavy will soon be best of friends, and your pet will actually look forward to these cuddling sessions. They’re very easily spoiled!

Summary

Preparation is key before you bring your guinea pig home for the first time. Before buying your new pet guinea pig it’s important to learn a little about what you’ll need to take care of them. Your new pet guinea pig is entirely dependent upon you for it’s health and well-being. Make sure that your guinea pig’s new home is waiting for him or her, and that it is safe and comfortable.