any guinea pig money saving tips?

olias

TBH, due to their ralatively short life span and the fact that most complaints they may suffer are likely to be less costly than say those of a cat or dog, I would just 'self insure'. Get a piggy(!) bank and put a tenner a month into it.

Olias

helping_hubby

I use http://www.exoticdirect.co.uk/ for my rabbits. They do small mammals too. But I've never claimed from them, so can't comment on that side of things.

amy104

Petplan do rabbits but I'm not sure about guinea pigs so the only one I know of is exotic direct.

Personally I don't insure my small animals and put money aside each month instead. I have 8 buns and 2 piggies so it would cost me a fortune in insurance.

Also one of the more common expensive aspects of rabbit/guinea pig health is teeth which I don't think they insure against.

CG77

Hi all,

Hope you can help. We've just bought 2 guinea pigs-did lots of reading etc beforehand but now we've got them home, I'm not sure how to tell if they're ok. They're very quiet, which I kind of expected and have spent alot of the time in the bed section of the cage, although they have been venturing out when we've not been around and hiding again when we appear. I'm pretty sure they haven't eaten or drunk anything since we brought them home at around 4pm. Is this normal? Their hay and nuggets are up on the higher level and the water bottle seems quite high. Am I just being paranoid to think they might not be able to reach them, as this was definitely how we were told to do it by the shop we bought them from.

Any advice for a newbie owner to help them settle??

Thanks in advance!

CG. x

chelle230

been a while since I've kept guinea pigs, but sounds pretty normal to me, they're just getting used to things, and a bit shy with their new family. they'll settle in a few days and will be running around quite happily.
they'll probably begin to eat when all goes quiet and they're on their own

withabix

190C for 30 minutes per 500g or until crisp

chocdonuty

I'm sure if you leave them to it you will find they will have eaten by the time morning comes- then just try and stop them, they're called piggies for a reason!
Guinea pigs make lovely pets and soon they will be running towards you for food once they get used to you

CG77

Thanks-I hope you're right! They seem very timid at the moment but that's only to be expected. I just wasn't prepared for them not to eat and drink! Hopefully that'll come soon though and they'll become happy little additions to the family!

CG. x

sukysue

Find some dandelion leaves and wash them they abs love dandy leaves, congrats on the piggies ,they really are the most sweetest of pets !

Standbyme_2

It's worth putting additional ceramic water and food bowls on the floor near their hut for the first few days until you are sure they can reach the food on the higher level and the water bottle.

I keep my 2 indoor piggies in a 5ft pen, but they go in a cage to relatives when I go on holiday. I recently upgraded the cage from an 80cms ferplast guinea pig cage to a 1.2m ferplast rabbit cage (as the rspca welfare standards recommend minimum 4ft cage for 2 piggies). The cages look similar, with food bowls on an upper level on top of the huts - but the new cage has a slightly higher hut and one of my pigs can't make it up yet to the higher level (she's still growing). So it's worth checking that they can reach the upper level, particularly if they are young and small.

Otherwise lots of hay on the floor is fun for them to hide and play in as well as being good for them to eat. Try putting a 2nd hut in so they can run between hiding places. You can buy plastic "igloos" or chewable straw huts, or make one out of a cardboard box (removing all staples and tape).

I would leave them quietly for the first few days, then try hand feeding them treats such as parsley and basil. They'll then get a chance to smell your hand and associate you with food. After 2 to 3 weeks you could try picking them up and putting them on your lap for 10 to 15 mins at a time (just don't use a treat to trick them into being picked up or they won't forgive you!). If your piggies don't take to being picked up (one of mine shrieks as if her throats being cut if picked up, although she loves sitting on our laps) try putting a fleece snuggle sack (also known as a cavy cosy) in the cage. They love sitting in these, and I use one to gently lift my piggies out of their cage and onto my lap. They usually feel so relaxed they fall fast asleep which is so cute.

Hope you enjoy your two. They are the funniest sweetest little creatures.