Pig Notes

Pet-Friendly Hand Sanitizers

Folks who have pets often feel they need to use a quick hand sanitizer, for pet-related reasons and not, but worry if their pets (especially the little ones) will have adverse reactions to the sanitizer when they come in contact with your hands again.

Super Pet has a gentle, effective, clean smelling Hand Sanitizer Gel. This gel features light cucumber-melon scent that neither human nor animals will mind. The product can be easily in online pet supply stores, and in some bricks-and-mortar stores (with a little more difficulty).

Another excellent product is Method's Hand Sanitizer, which comes in eucalyptus mint, green tea, and sweet water scents. It, too, is gentle and effective -- and earth friendly to boot. We especially like them for their "humanifesto," which states: "We see ingredients that come from plants, not chemical plants, and guinea pigs that are never used as guinea pigs.

Method products can be purchased online at their own e-store and are easily found at Target. Some grocery stores are also beginning to carry at least a small portion of Method's product line.

Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs

With temperatures dropping here in the Northeast (and elsewhere) -- apparently for good this time -- it's a good time to review the cold weather care needs of our piggie friends.

Cages

• Move cages away from windows and doors. More cold air slips in around the frames than most folks realize. And once the glass in windows gets cold, the immediate area around the windows feels chilly as well.
• Keep cages away from heating vents, fireplaces, and wood stoves, so piggies don't get too warm. And for other obvious (fire hazard) reasons.
• Cover cages at night with a large towel, fleece blanket/throw, or light blanket. For folks with C&C cages, you can use medium-sized binder clips to hold the cover in place and prevent it from dropping into the cage. Keep one side of the cage uncovered to allow for good ventilation.

Home Environment

• Monitor the temperature in your home. Guinea pigs are easily chilled, and you need to be extra vigilant when you have very young piggies or seniors. Guinea pigs' optimum temperature range is 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; during the winter months, keeping the temperature around 66 or 67 can help keep pigs from catching cold.
• Consider running a humidifier to keep some moisture in the air and keep everyone's skin from feeling dry and itchy.

Diet & Grooming

• Check water bottles frequently. Heating systems dry out a home, making animals and humans feel the need to drink more water.
• Serve a chunk of sweet bell pepper daily, for the boost in essential Vitamin C. Crunchy, juicy vegetables also provide a little extra fluid.
• Brush your guinea pigs weekly to help manage any itchies.

And, finally, watch your pigs carefully for signs of developing colds and respiratory illness, including sneezing and runny nose. If you see them, waste no time getting to a vet.

Online Fundraiser

Got a magazine you need to renew soon? Giving someone a gift subscription for Christmas? Looking to add a couple of new additions to your professional reading list as last-minute business expenses to claim on your 2007 taxes? Got a hobby that needs support?

Before you send in that subscription card, or order online, check out the online fundraiser that Joanne Colangelo has set up for the rescue. There are more than 650 publications to choose from, so you're bound to find what you're looking for. The best part? 40% of every purchase will go to the rescue. Anyone can participate, so please pass the link on to friends and family that you think would be interested.

Thanks for the help and hard work, Joanne! I'm off to renew my beading magazine.

A New Way To Shop & Support The Rescue

We get asked a lot about what to buy for guinea pigs in terms of routine care and extra indulgences.

To help people out, we've put together an Amazon aStore that features some of our picks for food, hay, cage accessories, care guides, and toys and treats. We've also included kids' storybooks that feature guinea pigs (without perpetuating misinformation) and some neat little toys, including the Playmobil Guinea Pig playset (pictured here).

A percentage of each purchase initiated through our aStore goes to the rescue, providing much-needed funds for general daily care of the rescue pigs.

Please visit often. We'll be updating the store as more of our favorite products and brands become available in the Amazon Marketplace.