Guinea Pig Connection

Products For Making Veggies Last Longer

Tired of veggies -- especially cucumbers -- not lasting as long as they should, I've finally broken down this week and purchased a couple of products that claim to extend the freshness of vegetables...even washed veggies.

Debbie Meyer's Green Bags -- previously available only on TV but now showing up in grocery stores, drug stores, and retailers like Target -- offer the advantage of not taking up additional room in the fridge. Just bring veggies home, swap the store produce bags for the Green Bags, and you're good to go. You can reportedly reuse a single bag up to 10 times before it needs to be replaced. The manufacturer claims the bags help extend veggie life up to 10 times the normal life of the food.

Rubbermaid's Produce Saver line of plastic containers claim to extend the life of veggies up to 33% longer than their normal life. They will take up extra space in your fridge but offer the advantage of not having to be thrown out after a limited number of uses. The containers use a combination of a "fresh vent" and a "crisp tray" that sits at the bottom of the containers to separate veggies from the moisture that inevitably forms under them. You can find them at grocery stores and retailers like Walmart.

I should note that Ziploc makes Fresh Produce Bags with a "moisture vent." They come only in a large size (big enough to hold a head of lettuce), 15 to a box. I've only seen them at grocery stores.

If you've tried any of these products, please share your experiences.

Suitable Travel Carriers For Guinea Pigs

We're in the midst of our peak vacation boarding season at the rescue, which means pigs coming in and out of Cindy's house every weekend. We usually have a few people each summer that we need to educate on the subject of "safe guinea pig travel" -- though the number gets smaller each year (happily).

You need at least one travel carrier for transporting your guinea pigs anywhere outside of the home, including to the vet and to wherever you board your pets while you're on vacation. Transporting guinea pigs by any other means, such as cardboard boxes, plastic storage boxes, cages, or in a towel in someone's arms or lap is not safe. Sudden stops or other sudden movements in a vehicle could cause injuries to a guinea pig if s/he slides around in an unsuitable carrier.

Any hard-sided carrier that is marketed for cats is large enough to accommodate a pair of full-grown guinea pigs, without being so large that they could slide around as much as they would in a box or cage. (We do not favor soft-sided carriers for small critters.) Carrier floors can be lined with towels (or puppy pee pads) to give your guinea pigs' feet some traction, plus a towel/fleece pouch/cozy cup for them to curl up in and stay warm.

The Petmate Portable Kennel has secure locking doors on the top and front of the carrier. The top opening makes it easy for you to slip food into your guinea pigs while they're in the carrier, and to check on them in the car without risk of them escaping.

The Small Kennel Cab has a secure locking door on the front of the carrier. The carrier provides only one way in and out.

Geared more toward small critters, the Cabin Kennel has a slide lock on the side and opens from the top. The wire vent on the top of the carrier provides a small door that you can slide back so that you can slip food into the carrier, or even your hand so you can check on them during travel. This carrier isn't ideal for longer trips, but it will be sufficient if the only road trips your pigs ever go on is to the vet.

The cat carriers work for ferrets, bunnies, and chinchillas, too.

A Better Hair Dryer For Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs, by and large, don't need regular baths. That's not to say that they couldn't benefit from one every once in a while, but it's not necessary.

There are, of course, exceptions. The most common exceptions include:

• guinea pigs who are being treated for mites, lice, or skin irritations

• long-haired guinea pigs whose fur is not trimmed up above floor level (thus being left to drag through cage bedding)

• guinea pigs who have gotten dirty as a result of diarrhea or excessive urination

• long-haired guinea pigs that have been poorly groomed and brushed

• guinea pigs who have been living in/rescued from filthy living conditions

Some guinea pigs enjoy a good, warm bath. Most protest over some part of the experience, if not the entire affair. If there's a part that they hate, it's being dried by a hair dryer. You can understand why -- most handheld blow dryers are noisy and hot.

 Enter the Vidal Sassoon Answers blow dryer for fine hair. Created for humans with baby-fine, limp hair that's prone to breakage at the hands of brushes, dryers, and curling irons, this dryer is also an excellent product for anyone who has to groom small pets.

Its light weight means it's easy to hold with one hand while you're using the other hand to keep a wet and very peeved guinea pig from wandering off. It's significantly quieter than the typical hair dryer, which means it won't hurt your piggy's sensitive hearing or drown out the reassurances you coo to help steady rattled nerves. It circulates effective drying air without making your piggy feel like he's standing in front of an industrial turbo fan. And its heat settings are not nearly as hot or harsh as those found on the average for-all-hair-types dryers. Lastly, there's the "ion output" -- we're still not entirely sure what that means but do know it has something to do with the fact that your piggy's coat is soft and shiny when it's dry.

This product can be found online and at stores like Walmart for about $20.

Are Guinea Pigs Right For Your Home?

Are you thinking about bringing home a guinea pig this Christmas? Have your kids been pestering you for weeks or months to let them have one?

You're not alone.

At a Creative Memories scrapbooking event this weekend, I sat at a table with several mothers who between them have seven kids under the age of eight. The conversation turned to Christmas wish lists and pets, and two of the moms said their youngsters had been pestering them for guinea pigs.

"I don't know if it's a good idea," said one mom. "We have a golden retriever that always chases rabbits and squirrels."

"I can't take care of one more thing," said the other. "I have four kids and a cat. I know I'll end up taking care of a new pet, and I'm not always sure I'm giving the cat as much as I should."

Mentioning that I work with this rescue, I asked them some of the questions from our questionnaire...and it only took two or three for them to realize that a guinea pig and its unique care needs were not going to fit easily into their household at this time.

If you (or someone you know) are considering a guinea pig for your home, we invite you to check out Are Guinea Pigs Right For Your Home on our main Web site. Below are the critical questions you need to ask yourself:

• Are you willing to adopt a pair of pigs?
• Can you make the lifetime commitment (as many as 8 years)?
• Do you have time for the daily and weekly care routines?
• Do you have space for the proper-sized cage?
• Can you provide a safe environment?
• Can you interact with them daily?
• Can you afford the costs of care?

You can find detailed explanations for each question on our site. You'll undoubtedly think of other questions to ask yourself as you read, but it's better to ask these questions now rather than later when an animal has settled into your family. And, as always, you're welcome to ask us for more information!

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.

Wellness Exams For Guinea Pigs -- A Vet's Perspective

Every animal benefits from an annual exam and even more from semi-annual exams. 

I believe that I am an experienced child care provider to my children. I volunteer with the Cub Scouts, have taught classes at the elementary school, have taken numerous classes on First Aid and child welfare and youth protection training. I also have read books on “proper’ parenting and many articles in parenting journals. On top of this, I attended medical school for four years. I take my children to have regular wellness exams.

Based on the argument that people are experienced pet owners or experienced parents/guardians, we would no longer need doctors for preventative medicine. We would be taking a step back and practicing medicine of ages past. It still needs to be acknowledged that wellness exams should not give a false sense of security; no doctor can guarantee health -- this is as true on the human side as on the veterinary side. That said, however, the benefits of wellness exams have been amply demonstrated within our lifetime.

• Most people have regular wellness exams -- the average age of people has increased.
• Most dogs and cats have regular wellness exams -- the average age of cats has increased by about 3 years, dogs up to about 5 years.
• Most people have regular dental exams/cleanings -- most people retain all their teeth throughout life.
• Many avian patients now receive annual wellness exams -- life expectancy is increasing and less severe health problems are being seen.
• More pocket pets are being seen -- requiring more veterinarians to be trained in this area, but the pets are benefiting by seeing a qualified person.
• Reptiles are now starting to be seen more regularly and they too should benefit.

I will say that a veterinarian who is inexperienced with treating guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, reptiles or anything else out of the element can do harm. Just like in human medicine, the code of veterinary medicine is to “do no harm”. I would not treat a horse or a cow because these animals are outside of my realm of experience. I do care for most pocket pets because I have trained in this area and most of my practice is comprised of birds and pocket pets (60%).

While there are things that an observant and experienced pet owner can look for themselves, I still believe that all pets benefit from a wellness exam from a qualified veterinarian. 

Sean Pampreen, DVM
Marlborough Bird & Animal Hospital, LLC
21 South Main Street
Marlborough, CT  06447
(860) 295-1595

Guinea Pigs On National TV

If you missed it last Thursday, "The Early Show" on the CBS network did a four-minute segment on small animals, called "Pocket Pets: The Smaller The Better."

With a hamster, mice, and two talkative guinea pigs helping her, Dr. Debbye Turner talked about how pocket pets are ideal for folks with tight living quarters. While it would have been nice, of course, for the segment to have been longer, we did appreciate that she hit on some important points that prospective owners need to hear:

• "These little guys will require some special attention. Their diets are highly specialized. Their housing needs frequent cleaning. And pocket pets, by virtue of their size, require a gentle touch."
• "...pocket pets are not meant for small children. These animals' health and lives could be endangered by a child squeezing one too tightly."

You can watch the video of the entire segment, and read the accompanying article, on The Early Show site.

The Common Tunnel Toy Gets A Makeover

I learned about this toy, the Super Pet Fuzz-E-Funnel, from a friend who owns ferrets.

This nearly three-foot-long tunnel is great because, instead of just having holes at both ends like most tunnel toys, it also features two cut-outs in the middle. The unique design gives your guinea pigs twice the fun for playing hide-and-seek from each other (and you) and chasing each other during play time.

Guinea pigs who've previously been wary of extra-long tunnels will like these and their extra escape routes. You'll like their durability and that they're hand-washable.

Given its size and absorbent fluffy fleece lining, this would not be a first choice as a cage accessory, unless you want to have to hand wash this every other day. However, it's a great toy to add some variety to the play area and create an environment that's quite different from the cage.

Warm Weather Care (Revisited)

As temperatures here in Connecticut dance on one side or the other of 85 these days, it reminds us that it's time to revisit the topic of warm weather care for guinea pigs.

Many new owners don't realize how sensitive guinea pigs are to heat and how quickly they can get sick with heat exhaustion or heatstroke. It's not until hot days creep up on us that owners realize their piggies aren't nearly as tolerant of the heat as they'd thought.

Guinea pigs need a climate between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. As the temperature climbs above 75, you'll notice your pigs becoming quieter, more lethargic, with decreased appetite for food and increased need for water. Once the thermometer hits 80 or higher, they're miserable.

So to help you prepare for the even warmer days ahead, we'd like to point you to a couple of resources:

• 12 tips for warm weather care
• Comfy Cavies' hot weather tips

And if you have other questions, leave them here or drop us an e-mail. We'll be happy to help!