Planning to adopt a piggy? Here are some things you need to know!
Before you go out and buy a guinea pig there are some things you need to know. A guinea pig is a big responsibility and it will become a part of the family. Piggies need lots of care, time, and money before adopting a piggy make sure you can afford it. Your going to need to buy: A cage, water bowls or bottles, cage accesories and toys, and a constant supply of bedding, hay, pellets, fresh fruit, and vegetables. Also if your guinea pig were ever to become sick or get injured you will need to take it to the vet and pay the bills. Here are all the things you need to have before adopting a guinea pig...
Cages- Your piggy must be at a minimum of 30x35 , remember the bigger the better! You piggy will need a large cage so he/she can run around, sleep, eat, and use the tiolet. Your pig will do all of those things in their cage so make sure its veary big! I recommend C&C cages they are best for guinea pigs and safe for them to, for more info on C&C cages go to http://www.guineapigcages.com/index.htm.
A picture of my dear Carmel in her C&C cage.
Pellets and hay
Bedding
Toys
Fresh Veggies
Toys and Home comforts
Where do I buy a guinea pig?
This is very important to know; please do not go out to some pet store like Petsmart or Petco and my buy your guinea pig there, most animals at those stores are sick and dying. I know from experience I once bought a hamster at petco and the next day we found out she was sick so we ahd to return her. Please do not support pet stores that sell animals, at pet stores animals are considerd merchandise for profit.
The best place to buy your guinea pig is a shelter or rescue or even a local breeder. Today thousands of animals including guinea pigs are placed in shelters from neglect and abuse. A great site for finding your perfect pet is http://www.petfinder.com/ this website gives you results from local shelters and rescues for any animal at any age, size, and breed.
These are the ways you can make sure a guinea pig is healthy...
1. Is it running around, playing, active, not limping
2. Are the pig's eyes open clear of discharge.
3. Is it's nose dry and free of discharge.
4. Is the guinea pig's breathing quiet and steady.
5. Is the pig's skin healthy and not flaky, there should be no signs of bald spots except for behind the ears.
6. Check the pig's bottom is it nice and clean, is the cage free of any diarrhea.
7. Ask to hold the guinea pig, it should be nice and plump.
Which Breed?
It dosent really matter what breed of piggy you get. It really consitst on which one you like best. Carmel is a orange and white abyssinian/pervian mix she is very adorable! Though long haired breeds like shelties and peruvians need some extra grooming care than short-haired pigs.
Food
Pellets-All guinea pigs need a well balanced diet, I feed my guinea pig Oxbow's Cavy Performance, a hay-based pellet food for guinea pigs. Cavy Performance is for guinea pigs under 10 months old, it contains high protein and calcium for growing piggies. When my piggy gets older I will feed her Oxbow's Cavy Cuisine which is just like Cavy Performance but for older pigs instead. Oxbow is the best pellet food for your pig, I highly recommend it. Ask your vet what you think will best suit your piggie's needs.
Hay- Hay is a veary important part of your guinea pig's diet all guinea pigs need lots of fresh hay 24/7. Guinea pigs are herbivores which means they only eat plant material and no meat. Hay keeps their digestive system working properly and keeps them from getting dirrahea. You should buy good quiality hay for your piggies. I feed my piggy Oxbow's Western Curred Timothy Hay. Hay also keeps your piggie's teeth healthy and ground down.
Fresh Fruits and Veggies- Like humans guiena pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C so it is EXTREMLEY important that you make sure your piggie gets it's daily vitamin C. The best way to give your piggy it's vitamin C is from fruits and vegetables, nother makes a piggy more exited than it's favorite treat. Every day you I give your pig an orange wedge, make sure if they have not eaten it in about a day, throw it away so it dosent start to rot and make your guinea pig sick. I also give my piggy carrots, apples, parsley, celery, strawberry, and cucumber. Feeding fresh fruit will keep your piggy healthy!
Water
Your guinea pigs should always have access to fresh water 24/7 even if they get lots of water from fresh fruits and vegetables they still need a constant supply of water.
Most people like me use a water bottle, it's ideal for guinea pigs. Make sure your guiena pigs can reach the bottle, every day refill the bottle with fresh clean water. Once a week scrub the bottle with hot water to keep the bottle clean and free of algae. Whenever you refill the bottle test the sipper tube to make sure it works properly.
Toys and Home Comforts
All guinea pigs need toys and little houses and tunnels in their cage to make them feel safe, occupied, and at home. All guineapigs should have a pigloo. This makes your pig feel secure and protected, this is what most pigs like to sleep in. If your piggy is chewing on the pigloo constantly it's best to remove it so it dosen't cause intestinal blackage!
Guinea pigs like to feel safe and secure in their home. Profide tunnels and hideouts for them. 
Piggies love to run and hide in tunnels, also they may hide in them if they are afriad and timid. My guinea pig likes to run through her tunnel every time I see her and come to her cage door to see if I have some fresh veggies for her! Make sure your pig's cage is large enough to fit these things in their cage, if you can't fit anything into it it's too small. With tunnels make sure the tunnel is large enough so your piggy can run freely through it!
There are many cheap and fun ways to make toys for your guinea pig, with my piggy I just place a simple news paper in the playpen and she loves to go under it and make a tent! News paper is usually harmless for guinea pigs to chew on but make sure the inks are safe before you let your piggy chew on it. Also simple paper bags can be great amusement for pigs, but make sure there are no staples or tape on the bags! Guinea pigs may also enjoy some small stuffed animals, and little jiggly ball cat toys. Never let guinea pigs chew on plastic, it can cause intestinal blockage!
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