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Care & Amp; Health of Guinea Pigs

One of the most important care measures is cleaning the enclosure. Good hygiene goes a long way to keep your guinea pig healthy. Read here what you should consider when caring for guinea pigs.

Good hygiene in the guinea pig enclosure is important to prevent diseases and to ensure the well-being of your guinea pigs.

Together with a species-appropriate diet, a large enclosure with plenty of opportunities for activity, and sufficient exercise, it forms the basis for happy and healthy guinea pigs.

Daily care in guinea pigs

Since guinea pigs have a fast metabolism and defecate everywhere, i.e. usually do not use toilet corners, the enclosure has to be cleaned relatively often. In the urinary corners, the litter should be renewed daily and feces should also be removed daily. The entire litter should be completely removed and renewed at least once, preferably twice a week.

Old, spoiled wet food will eventually be eaten by your guinea pigs and can lead to serious gastrointestinal problems. Uneaten food must therefore be removed from the enclosure every day and the water refilled. Food contaminated with feces or urine is also thrown away. You must clean the water and food containers daily. For example, some guinea pigs use their food bowl as a toilet.

Checklist for the daily care of guinea pigs

  • Feeding with hay, fresh feed, and pellets
  • Clean the drinking bowl or bottle and refill with drinking water
  • remove leftover food
  • Clean the food bowl
  • Health check of your guinea pigs
  • remove wet bedding soiled with feces
  • if necessary, clean fecal corners
  • Check hiding spots and clean if necessary

Basic cleaning of the guinea pig enclosure

For the complete cleaning of the guinea pig enclosure, rinse the bottom bowl with hot water and a little vinegar (partially remove the urine scale). Harsh cleaning agents are not suitable for cleaning.

Antibacterial cleaning products are only necessary if one of your animals is ill. After cleaning, the bottom shell of the cage is dried and fresh bedding (e.g. made of wood chips) is added. Please do not use any agents that are supposed to reduce the smell. Perfumed litter is also not recommended! It can lead to respiratory diseases and allergies and is therefore harmful to the animals.

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