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Have you ever thought what it would be like to be able to talk to your fluffy friends? While we can only wish for that to happen, being familiar with the sounds and noises your Guinea pigs make can be the next best thing to understanding what they’re trying to say. Aside from the advantage of being able to better communicate with your cavies, knowing what message they’re trying to get across can be vital when it comes to taking care of them. Like any pets, Guinea pigs have t

We often get asked why we don't rehome our pigs and rabbits for free? We get asked how donations are spent? How much does it cost to run a rescue?! So I thought I’d explain some of the costs. The simple answer is, ALOT! Here are just some of the things we have to pay for weekly - -So firstly we go through 2 bales of hay a week at £9 each. - We use 1 bale of readigrass at £17.75 -We go through to 2 bales of bedding at £8.50 each. -We spend £50+ a week on fresh veg. -We go thro

Do your water bottles get green in the sun? Mine do get a bit scuzzy. One of these was left on top of the hutch block for a week with water in the sun. You can see just how green it goes!! This is what your piggies are drinking if you don't clean the bottles properly, at least once a week. Here's how we do it: - Add a little bit of fairy liquid into the bottle - Then a small amount of uncooked rice, you can also use dishwasher salt. - Add some water and shake shake shake! The

Some guinea pigs are more susceptible to heatstroke than others. Knowing if your cavy is one of them will help you keep your pet happy and healthy throughout the year, but especially during summer and spring. As is the case with humans and other animals, very young and older guinea pigs are not able to control their body temperature when it is too hot or too cold. This is because of their small size or as a result of them becoming frailer as they get older. If your guinea pig

Guinea pigs can really struggle with the cold weather, so it is important to offer them plenty of protection. Housing your guinea pigs outdoors - If you choose to keep your guinea pigs outdoors, the hutch should be moved into a shed or outbuilding, a damp hutch can cause serious health issues to your guinea pigs. If you don't have a building you could move into a more sheltered area from wind. - Provide warm, dry hiding places in their hutch and run such as wooden boxes, tunn

What is a hay poke? Hay poke is an injury to the eye which could be an abrasion, cut, ulcer or puncture. How does it occur? Hay either comes into direct contact with the eye or becomes lodged. Lodged hay may work its way into the eye lids or behind the eye causing further damage. How can you identify it? Hay pokes generally cause a cloudy, blind-looking eye. In more severe cases you may notice an ulcer or protruding red flesh from the corner of the eye. Your guinea pig may al

Bonding guinea pigs! A little guide to help you settle your new pigs. Should it be Male or female? Young or old? First and foremost, you want to make sure that you do NOT end up with a breeding pair or a pregnant female. If you have a male, you will want another male. If you have a female, you'll want another female. This is the easiest path to take, since it doesn't require surgery to neuter you male guinea pig. Spaying females is very rarely done. Guinea pigs all have the

The grooming needs of short-haired guinea pigs are minimal but if you have a breed with longer hair, you will need to invest more time into caring for them. Regardless of their hair length though, all guinea pigs require regular nail trimming. Nail Clipping You can use human nail clippers or nail clippers designed for cats and other small animals. These look like little scissors with small notches toward the end of the blade for cutting the nail. Some people even use nail cli

Fungal infections like Ringworm often start on the face as areas of patchy, itchy often sore with some hair loss. There may be multiple patches, on the back and limbs, especially in warm weather or when the air is damp in winter. In guinea pigs, the tufts of hair may be stuck together by a crust. When this dries up the lesions become dry and scaly. These tufts will fall out and hair regrow in about 4 weeks. Active infection is quite common, many animals can be carriers. Stre

Hay A piggies diet should be 80% hay!! Guinea Pigs eat for around 16 hours a day so there needs to be a lots of good quality hay on offer. Not only do they eat it but it is crucial for keeping their teeth from growing too long! Guinea pigs teeth grow continuously, without hay the teeth grow too long and the pig can no longer eat! They also love to hide, play and sleep in it too! Hay must be available at all times. Hay racks are great to allow them to pull strands out to eat,