A Proper Diet is the Cornerstone of Good Health

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Housing For Health and Happiness

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Good Nutrition -- Cornerstone of Good Health

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HOW TO RECOGNIZE QUALITY PELLETS

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Forages Can Be An Important Part Of Your Guinea Pig's Diet

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Friday, October 30, 2015

Guinea Pig Eyes and Eye Conditions

How well can guinea pigs see? Can they distinguish colors? What does a normal eye look like? Do your guinea pig's eyes have a discharge? Is this normal?

  • Guinea Pig Eyes
    • Color
    • Discharge
    • Signs of Illness or Injury
  • Eye Conditions
    • Cataracts
    • Entropion
    • Blindness
    • Fatty Eye (Pea Eye)
    • Microphthalmia
  • See also Tracis' Reference Forum Links:
  • Cataracts/Nuclear Sclerosis
  • Enucleation (Eye Removal)/Infection
  • Enucleation/Bulging Eye(s)
  • "Growths"
  • Osseous Choristoma Osseous Choristoma can appear as an unusual white spot in the eye.
  • Osseous Metaplasia Osseous Metaplasia can appear as an unusual white, uneven "ring" around the outer part of the eye.
  • Ruptured Eye/Perforating Trauma of the Eye
  • Glaucoma
References and Links

Guinea Pig Eyes

Normal eyes are clear and bright. They protrude slightly and are of the same size. Guinea pigs normally keep their eyes open all the time, even when sleeping. A very few may sleep with their eyes fully closed. While guinea pig vision is relatively poor, a guinea pig can distinguish colors.

Horst Bielfeld describes an experiment using 3 different colored identical food bowls in his book, Guinea Pigs -- A Complete Pet Owner's Manual. Place a food item in the same colored bowl, changing the order from day to day. Eventually you'll find the guinea pig searches out the colored bowl with food.
Eye Color Guinea pig eyes come in a variety of colors. Breeders identify these colors as dark, dark with a ruby cast, and pink. Dark eyes can be further described as brown, black, or blue. Healthy eyes reflect red in a strong light. This is especially noticeable in ruby pigs, whose dark looking eyes have a pronounced red cast to them, especially noticeable when photographed with a flash. The guinea pigs in the top row have pink and ruby eyes respectively. The eye at the top of the page belongs to the top right guinea pig below and is also ruby. The guinea pigs in the bottom row have dark eyes. Go Up
 
Eye colors.
 
Eye Discharge
Natural eye cleaning fluid.Normal Guinea pigs excrete a milky white liquid which lubricates their eyes and is used to help them clean their faces. After the eye fills up with the white fluid, the guinea pig will then take their front paws and make washing motions. This may happen several times per day although you may never even notice. VC Richardson describes a "milky ocular discharge" as "a normal fluid which is released from the eye as part of the grooming process."
Abnormal
These signs warrant an examination by an experienced veterinarian.
Signs:
  • Crusty eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Cloudy eyes
  • Receding eyes
  • Protruding eyes
  • Ulcerated eyes
What these signs may mean:
  • Upper Respiratory Infection
  • Injury
  • Abscess
  • Tooth Problem
  • Dehydration/Illness
  • Cataracts
  • Diabetes

Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)

Crusty eyes can be a sign of an upper respiratory tract infection. A guinea pig with a respiratory infection may also have a snotty nose, be lethargic, and may not be eating. Respiratory infections are treated with antibiotics. Read the Dangerous Medications list before you see a vet. IF A RESPIRATORY INFECTION IS SUSPECTED, SEE A VET IMMEDIATELY.
Injury
A single watery or cloudy eye may be the result of an injury. Abrasions, cuts, or punctures of the eye can result from accident, hay pokes, or fighting. Examine the eye closely, especially around the rims. Sometimes a bit of hay will work itself up behind the eye and if it's partially visible can be pulled out by tweezers. If the eye shows signs of abrasion or clouds over in any way, or looks red in the white area, or seems to be swollen or sinking or squinting - get your guinea pig to an experienced veterinarian.
TREAT EYE INJURIES PROMPTLY TO PREVENT EYE LOSS.

Other

Protruding eyes can indicate an abscess, elongated roots, or other problem. An x-ray can often help diagnose these conditions. Conjunctivitis, foreign items stuck behind the eye, dry eye, ulcers, and tumors can be the cause of a swollen eye. Often eye infections or damage will result in a general cloudiness of the entire eye. Watery eyes may be the result of a plugged tear duct.
What the vet will do:
A vet will check the eye for signs of damage or disease. He/she may flush the eye and stain it to look for abrasions or ulceration and then prescribe eye drops like Chloralean or Gentocin. If the eye seems dry, the vet may perform a tear test or send a sample of the fluid to the lab for analysis. Medications like Chloralean can clear up ulcers very quickly. Application of an ophthalmic triple antibiotic eye ointment 2 or 3 times daily may help reduce redness.
Veterinary ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat difficult eye problems.
DON'T DELAY SEEKING VETERINARY TREATMENT.
EYE PROBLEMS CAN RESULT IN PERMANENT DAMAGE OR EYE LOSS IF NOT TREATED.
"Allergies"
Allergies are extremely rare in guinea pigs. Do not make the mistake of diagnosing eye discharge as an "allergy".SEE A VET. Your pet is depending on you! Go Up

Cataracts

A cataract is an opacity of the lens the eye. Cataracts can be either inherited or the result of disease or age. Older animals often experience a gradual clouding of the eye. Quick onset is reported to occur in some guinea pigs with diabetes. Read MORE about diabetes.

Congenital Cataracts

Cataracts are present in the young of some lines and may develop in early adulthood in related animals. Breeding from these lines is discouraged. Other young may be born with partial cataracts. These animals appear to see adequately. (VC Richardson)
  • See also: Cataracts/Nuclear SclerosisGo Up

Entropion

Entropion is the turning in of the eyelashes and irritation of the eye experienced by some newborns. The eye may turn milky white and develop a corneal ulcer. Teddies, Rexes, and Texels tend to be more prone to entropion than other breeds. In most cases pups outgrow this condition after a few weeks. The irritation can be eased by applying a sterile eye lubricant such as Stye several times during the day. Stye is available at most pharmacies near the eye and contact lens products. Ophthalmic BNP is another product that can be applied 3 or 4 times a day. Some pet owners work the lashes out of the eye when applying this ointment.
Entropion is generally genetic. Josephine observed:
"I had a pair of Crested Satin sows from a huge inbred colony (started with two pigs living in a chicken coop and turned into more than 30). Depending upon the degree of problem, BNP can and should be applied. Artificial tear ointment at the least to minimize corneal abrasion. One sow corrected herself giving it a couple of weeks and a steroid ophthalmic. The other had bilateral entropion. She had one eye that got better with the steroids and one that required surgery. The procedure went really well.
"It is a painful condition, so pain meds should be considered if it is going to be more than a few weeks to surgery. It is difficult, though since you don't want to give NSAIDS. Sometimes a topical anesthetic preparation (proparacaine) can help.
"There are several schools of thought on this one. Some vets will "tack" the eyelids when they are very young to prevent going to the full surgery later. It has to be done while they are small. Some wait and do the full surgery later if indicated." Go Up

A blind guinea pig.Blindness

Guinea pigs seem to have poor eyesight to begin with. Some guinea pigs are blind due to age, injury or genetics. A guinea pig born blind may have other genetic defects (see microphthalmia below). Observing your pig's behavior in an unfamiliar environment can help determine if your guinea pig is blind. A blind pig will often startle more easily. A light shown into the eye of a blind pig may reflect white rather than the typical red reflected by a normal eye.
Blindness does not seem to bother most pigs, who readily adapt to loss of sight. Provide your vision impaired pig with a familiar environment so he/she can find food, water, and hay easily. Go Up

A guinea pig with fatty eye or pea eye.Fatty Eye or Pea Eye

Pea Eye
Pea eye (or fatty eye) is a permanent protrusion of the conjunctival sac, thought to be inherited. Pea eye and fatty eye are frequently grouped together by vets as conjunctival swelling. These conjunctival protrusions can be removed by laser if they are interfering with vision. Guinea pigs with pea eye generally do not seem to be uncomfortable and treatment is usually not necessary.
Red Eye
VC Richardson describes a condition she calls 'red eye' that reportedly shows up under stress or in the presence of an irritant like smoke.
Fluid Retention and Pea Eye
In some guinea pigs, pea eye may be caused or aggravated by fluid retention. Not all guinea pigs with heart conditions and pea eye show changes when using lasix but one owner observed that the pea eye always present in her pig with a heart condition (heart disease confirmed at autopsy) became much less noticeable after the animal was given lasix. She also observed a 50% reduction of pea eye for another pig (also with heart disease confirmed at autopsy) after 6 weeks of a low daily dose of Lasix. Her theory is that in some pigs, pea eye may be caused by fluid build-up due to poor circulation.
Inflamed conjuctiva.Treating Inflamed Conjunctiva
Salana's guinea pig with an inflamed conjunctiva was treated with flurbiprofen, an anti-inflammatory drop, and then gentamicin. The vet reasoned that by reducing the inflammation, the gentamicin could better treat the source of the infection. She found that antibiotic drops alone did not seem effective. The anti-inflammatory/antibiotic combination worked well and cured the problem for about three or four months, until it again returned.
"Cherry Eye"
"Cherry eye" in other animals generally refers to a gland located near the base of the 3rd eyelid that is pink in color rather than the normal white conjunctival color. Josephine notes that there is no evidence of a guinea pig having a 3rd eyelid.
In a guinea pig, it is instead a lacrimal (tear producing) gland made up of lymphatic tissue and it is this gland which becomes infected and/or inflamed in cherry eye and prolapses. Cherry eye in dogs is considered uncomfortable, especially when the condition is more severe and covers more of the eye. In contrast, pea eye is usually not painful or uncomfortable.
  • "Cavies do have several lacrimal glands in the perimeter of the orbit. One called the glandula lacrimalis can become infected or inflamed and become more visible (prolapse). This may not be "Cherry Eye" per se, but I have not been able to find another term that is accurate to explain the situation. It does present in an identical manner...
  • "..."Cherry Eye" will only occur in the bottom "inside" corner of the eyes since that is where the lacrimal glands are located. Conjunctival or other swellings are a possibility all around the eye. Normally pea eye is found in the corners of eyes as well and can be due to subscleral fat in the region, but researchers are still finding many possible scenarios for pea eye.
  • "[Anatomical] information can be confirmed by using A Colour Atlas of Anatomy of Small Laboratory Animals, Volume 1: Rabbit and Guinea Pig by Popesko, Rajtova, and Hurak (Saunders is the publisher). Go Up

Microphthalmia

Microphthalmia is a congenital condition where the eye is either very small or non-existent, rendering the guinea pig blind.
According to VC Richardson, it is generally the result of breeding a roan X roan or dalmatian X dalmatian. These white guinea pigs are known as "lethals". They may also have disorders of the digestive system and the animal may be missing one or more teeth. In a roan X roan or dalmatian X dalmatian mating, there is a one in four chance of breeding a lethal. Severely affected guinea pigs will die. Responsible breeders will never intentionally mate these breeds.
Lethals can be affectionate pets. They require extra medical care and may require hand feeding. Lethals tend to live shorter lives, depending each pig's particular genetic problems. Einstein (a lethal) stands to the left of Doom, a roan. Go Up
 
Guinea pig with microthalmia.
 
Regarding lethals, Salana writes:
Every roan pig has one copy of the roan version of the gene, and one copy of the normal version. Since it's random which copy of the gene they pass on to each baby, there's a 25% chance of getting roan from mom and from dad--this makes a "lethal". The normal version of the gene is necessary for prenatal development of nerves, coat colors, and teeth, so babies with no normal copies don't have their eyes, ears, teeth, and sometimes internal organs develop properly. These pigs can die before birth, shortly after birth, at weaning (if not properly identified and treated), or as adults. Usually lethals have shorter lives than normal pigs.
Einstein, for example, is the baby of a pig I bought in a pet store. He had to have his first tooth trim at 3 weeks of age, and has had to go to the vet once or twice a month his entire life. He's blind, deaf, and has no front teeth. His back teeth grow in wrong, causing lots of pain and injuries to the insides of his cheeks. Because of his tooth problems, he has to eat soft food all the time, and since he can't eat it efficiently, he's a runt, much smaller than his mother and brother....he died at 2 and a half years old, because the lining of his small intestine wore away. He had to have his molars trimmed at least 30 times in his life.
Photographs on this page thanks to Pinta, Amanda Jenkins, and Salana.

References

Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs by V.C.G. Richardson -- Library of Veterinary Practice, 2000
Guinea Pigs -- A Complete Pet Owner's Manual by Horst Bielfeld (1977) 1983 Barrons
The Veterinary Ophthalmology Information Centre -- includes links to:
  • Canadian Association of Veterinary Ophthalmology
  • American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists -- find the Public/Veterinarians list and select "Ophthalmology Articles"
  • American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology
  • Veterinary Journals: Tables of Contents - at the University of Montreal
Online articles:
  • Comprehensive article on guinea pig eye problems in Veterinary Ophthalmology (2010) 13, Supplement 1, 54–62
  • Article on rabbit and rodent ophthalmology by D. Williams

Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics



The following antibiotics are commonly used to treat a variety of problems in guinea pigs. Most antibiotics are prescribed in oral form for the pet owner to administer at home, though several can be administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular routes. Be sure to read Antibiotic Advice -- What You Need To Know About Antibiotics.
  • Bactrim (SMZ-TMP; trimethoprim sulfa; Tribrissen; sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim, Septra)
  • Baytril (Enrofloxacin)
  • Chloramphenicol (Chloramphenicol sodium succinate, Chloramphenicol palmitate)
  • Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Vibravet)

Bactrim -- (trimethoprim sulfa; SMZ-TMP; sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim; Tribrissen, Septra)
Oral Dosage: 30 mg/kg q12h (i.e. 30mg/kg is given every 12 hours, for a total of 60 mg/kg in 24 hours)   dotCalculate Dose in mg and cc
Bactrim is a commonly used human and veterinary antibiotic and generally comes in a standard suspension. Each 5.0 ml of this pediatric oral suspension (one of the drugs sometimes referred to as "the pink stuff") contains 200mg sulfamethoxazole and 40mg trimethoprim/5ml for a total of 240mg active ingredients/5ml or 48mg/cc. A dose of 0.625 cc would provide 30mg bactrim for a pig of one kilo (2.2 pounds).
It is considered by some to be the drug of choice for urinary tract infections (UTI's). Louise C. notes it is used for urinary tract, ear and lung infections and kills the following: P. carnii, E. coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas cepacia, Pasturella, Clostridia, Proteus, Salmonella, Shigella, Brucella
For more information on bactrim, see www.marvistavet.com. and www.veterinarypartner.com Go Up

Baytril -- (Enrofloxacin)
Oral Dosage: 2.5-10.0 mg/kg q12h   dot Calculate Dose in mg and cc
Baytril can be administered by oral, subcutaneous or intramuscular routes.
Baytril is considered one of the "big guns", frequently used to treat guinea pigs with bacterial infections. Read additional information on baytril's use/misuse and efficacy on this thread. Louise C. notes it kills: E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, S. aureus. Baytril can affect the appetite, more likely when given orally. Ideally baytril should only be used on adult pigs as it is believed to interfere with proper growth, particularly in long term treatment. Bactrim (Tribrissen) is a safe alternative for young pigs.
For more information on baytril, see www.marvistavet.com Go Up

Chloramphenicol -- (Chloramphenicol sodium succinate [Subcutaneous, Intramuscular], Chloramphenicol palmitate [oral])
Oral Dosage: 50 mg/kg q12h   dot Calculate Dose in mg and cc
Louise C. notes it kills: H. influenzae, S. typhi, Rickettsia, Neisseria, Mycoplasma which cause lung infections. Go Up

Doxycycline -- doxycycline hyclate, doxycycline monohydrate (Vibramycin, Vibravet)
Oral Dosage: 5mg/kg q12h   dot Calculate Dose in mg and cc
Doxycycline is an advanced analogue of the tetracycline family of antibiotics with broad-spectrum activity against gram+ve and gram-ve bacteria including penicillinase-producers and anaerobes as well as rickettsia, chlamydia and mycoplasma. Activity has been demonstrated against a wide range of bacterial organisms including Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp, E. coli, Pasteurella spp, Haemophilus spp, Clostridia spp, Listeria spp, Bacteroides spp, Bordetella spp, Klebsiella spp and others.The use of tetracyclines in newborn animals may lead to permanent yellow staining of teeth. Avoid using doxycycline in pregnant animals in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy and in newborn animals in the first month of life.

DANGEROUS MEDICATIONS

Some Medications are Deadly to Guinea Pigs



While all antibiotics will affect the gut flora of a guinea pig, some are deadly and can cause a fatal enterotoxemia.
All penicillin based drugs are toxic to pigs!
Amoxicillin (Clavamox) is one that is frequently and mistakenly prescribed by unknowledgeable vets.
Ensure your pig is not prescribed any penicillin based drugs. A vet experienced in treating guinea pigs should never prescribe any of these medicines and should be able to provide you with a more complete list of toxic medications or find that information. If not, find another vet.
A guinea pig given any of the following medications orally may require medical intervention.
  • See also: diarrhea

Medications to Avoid! This list includes some of the most deadly antibiotics. Derivatives of these drugs may also cause problems. Using drugs like amoxicillin can make a bad situation worse so it is best to avoid them completely.Avoid these medications and their derivatives:
  • amoxicillin (Clavamox)
  • ampicillin
  • bacitracin
  • cefadroxil
  • cephalexin * (derivative: Cefadroxil)
  • cephalosporins
  • cephazolin
  • chlortetracycline
  • clindamycin
  • dihydrostreptomycin
  • erythromycin
  • lincomycin
  • oxytetracycline
  • penicillin
  • streptomycin
Rabbits have a similar digestive system. The chart at the bottom of this www.rabbit.org page describes the dangers associated with using many of these same medications. Keep in mind this is a list for rabbits. Never give guinea pigs penicillin in any form by any route.
Some medications should never be prescribed, some can be given by injection but never orally. If there are better alternatives, do not risk use of an injected antibiotic but use a safer one. Other medications may be tolerated only topically (apply very sparingly -- if the animal ingests the medication, diarrhea and enterotoxemia may result). Eye medications are considered topical and are generally safe so long as they are not ingested.
Sources/References Information regarding safe medications can be obtained from the following reference books, which also list the above medications as dangerous to guinea pigs. Do not add any medications to your guinea pig's drinking water. Dose your guinea pigs individually to ensure they receive the correct amount of any medication.
  • The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents by J.Harkness DVM and J.Wagner DVM (Williams & Wilkins - a Lea and Febiger Book)
  • Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs by V.C.G. Richardson (Blackwell Science Ltd.)
  • The Exotic Animal Formulary by James W. Carpenter, MS, DMV et al (W.B. Saunders Company)
  • Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents - Clinical Medicine and Surgery by E.Hillyer DVM and K.Quesenberry DVM (W.B. Saunders Company)
* Regarding cephalexin--mentioned above--(derivative: cefadroxil), a pet owner at CaviesGalore reported her guinea pig had a serious reaction to this drug, eventually resulting in its death. Other sources claim it is very harsh on guinea pigs. Do not administer this drug orally. Because there are so many other safe and effective medications, cephalexin is best avoided. PRINTABLE PDF: Dangerous Medications

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Treats - Forages - Hay


Treats



Most treats that you buy from petstores aren't good for your cavies. Many contain high amounts of sugars that can lead to diabetes, digestive and dental problems. Many contain harmful preservatives such as ethoxyquin, BHT and others. Many contain animal fats, corn oils, corn syrups, and dairy products- all of which are not good for cavies. Cavies are lactose intolerant and should receive no dairy products of any kind. They are also strict herbivores so any animal products are to be explicitly avoided. 

There are also treat sticks that contain seeds and nuts which cavies should not have due to choking hazards and the obesity factor. 

Forages



There are many forages that guinea pigs can eat. Please make sure before feeding to wash thoroughly. Also all forages must come from chemical and pesticide free areas and avoid areas close to roadsides as fumes from cars can contaminate. You also do not want to use grass or other forages from areas where dogs, cats or other animal species urinate or defacate. 

Grass can be fed daily in unlimited amounts once your cavies are used to it, otherwise start with a small amount and increase daily for several days.

Dandelion leaves are quite high in calcium, best fed every 3 days or so. 
Everything else, use your best judgement and give in small amounts. 

Also want to mention, if it's not on this list it may not be edible. So please ask before feeding.

1.    Grass (common grasses are edible, avoid ornamental grasses), cat grass/wheat grass is also popular and can be grown in pots or containers.
2.    Clover (Trifollium repens or Trifolium pratense)
3.    Dandelion (Teraxacum officinale) - pick leaves, stems, flowers (even root OK)
4.    Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
5.    Blackberry leaves (Rubus plicatus) - pick young & tender leaves and shoots
6.    Calendula (Calendula officinalis) - leaves and flowers
7.    Caraway (Carum carvi)
8.    Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
9.    Chickweed (Stellaria media)
10.  Cleavers / Stickyweed / Goosegrass / Bedstraw (Galium aparine)
11.  Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
12.  Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaeae) - berries, leaves in moderation
13.  Cow Parsley (Anthiscus sylvestris)
14.  Dog Rose (Rosa canina) - ripe fruits
15.  Duckweed (Lemna minor) - aquatic
16.  Fennel (Foeniculum capillaceum)
17.  Field Violet / Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor)
18.  Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris)
19.  Lemon Mint / Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
20.  Linden / Lime Tree (Tilia cordata or Tilia platyphyllos) - flowers with
pale yellow leaflets
21.  Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)
22.  Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
23.  Plantain (Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata)
24.  Raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus) - pick young & tender leaves and shoots
25.  Spearmint (mintha spicata)
26.  Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
27.  Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
28.  Silverweed (Potentilla anserina)
29.  Vetch (Vicia x)
30.  Yarrow (Achllea millefolium)
31.  Whortleberry / Heidelberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) - berries, leaves in
moderation
32.  Wild Chamomile (Matricaria chammomilla)
33.  Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) - berries and leaves



Hay - Vital for your Guinea Pig




UNLIMITED Timothy Hay (or a grass hay) is recommended for guinea pigs. For young cavies under the age of 4 months and pregnant or lactating mothers, alfalfa hay is also recommended. For those cavies, you could mix half Timothy and alfalfa. Since alfalfa hay (a legume, not a grass hay) is too high in calcium, it should only be given to adult cavies as an occasional treat. Timothy and alfalfa are types of hays, not brands of hay. Other grass hays include orchard hay or meadow hay.
According to Dr. Curt Nakamura, an exotic vet specialist at Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos, California, grass hay is an important part of a cavy's diet:
"One of the most important items in the guinea pig diet is grass hay, which should be fed in unlimited quantities to both adults and baby guinea pigs. It is important to provide an unlimited source of hay because pellets do not provide enough long fiber to keep their intestines in good working order. The long fibers stimulate muscle contraction of the intestines to improve and maintain gut motility (to prevent gastrointestinal obstruction).
"I cringe when I see photos of cages with nothing but pristine shavings and maybe a small hay rack on one end. Pigs LOVE hay and LOTS of it! They love to PLAY in it, SLEEP in it and under it, EAT it, RUN through it, and of course, poop and pee in it! Be generous in the cage. Change it or refresh it every few days. Your pigs will love you for it."
Teresa, Cavy Spirit
Chewing hay is also important. Like rabbits, the molars in guinea pigs are constantly growing and must be ground down by chewing. Constant chewing on hay promotes healthy and normal wear on their molars. Treats and chew sticks are not efficient at wearing the teeth.



Alfalfa hay is rich in protein and calcium, but when combined with pellets it doesn’t have the proper ratio of calcium and phosphorus. This can lead to improper gastrointestinal motility, such as diarrhea. It also may predispose certain guinea pigs to calcium oxalate bladder or kidney stones. Timothy hay is a better choice and is becoming more readily available. It’s important to keep your guinea pig sleek, so cut down on the amount of protein and calorie-rich pellets while feeding timothy hay."
Packaged Timothy hay found in stores is frequently dry and stale and less nutritious compared to what you can order from a farm. In addition, most farm hay can be delivered to your door in just a few days at a fraction of the cost of pet store hay in a variety of quantities.
If you must buy hay at a pet store, look for the greenest, freshest hay possible.

Buy the Bale! If you have a lot of guinea pigs and can store some extra hay, then finding a local source of good Timothy or grass hay by the bale is definitely the cheapest way to go. The most a bale of hay should cost from a farm or hay distributor is around $20 and that's for approximately 200 pounds of hay! Some feed stores will let you buy partial bales or in bulk. Feed store prices may be slightly higher. Some farm or hay sources will let you buy half bales.
Timothy 2nd-cut is generally preferred over Timothy 1st-cut. First-cut still has the seed heads on the hay. Second-cut is softer and greener. Shipping time and/or cost may factor into your decision on where to buy hay. Please supply your cavy with fresh hay. They will love you for it!

According to Oxbow, "The first cutting is harvested in mid summer and is more mature, containing a higher stem to leaf ratio and is coarser in texture. It is actually healthier as it is higher in fiber and lower in protein than a second cutting timothy. But many small animals do not find it as appetizing.
The second cutting Timothy is an immature cutting of hay and therefore contains a higher leaf to stem ratio. It is harvested in the late fall and is very soft and palatable to small animals. It is our leafiest hay and our most popular hay."

If you use hay for bedding or as a top layer of bedding, or if you are liberal with hay on the floor of your cage, be sure to change it frequently. Hay does not absorb urine; it can mold and cause a damp environment for your guinea pigs. So be generous with fresh, clean hay!

Hay can be stored for many months, depending on how fresh it is and if kept in the proper conditions. It should be opened to breath when you get it. Keep it in a dry and well-ventilated place, not in plastic. A wooden or cardboard box is ideal. If you get a bale or a partial bale, it will stay fresher longer if you break up the bale as little as possible. If you get a whole bale, try standing it on end, pop the strings, and use a section (or flake) at a time off the top. Just be careful as some bales expand more than others. If you get hay shipped to you, open the bag, leave the hay in the box, cut and remove the plastic.


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