The Guinea Pig Handbook

by Sharon Vanderlip D.V.M.

Overview

The must-have pet guide for guinea pig lovers

Are you considering owning a guinea pig? Do you already have one but want to make sure you're caring for it properly? Look no further! Written by a pet expert, The Guinea Pig Handbook has everything you need to own a happy, healthy guinea pig. Full of high quality, full-color photos and instructive line drawings, this comprehensive guide also covers:

• Information on guinea pig's traits and origins
• Details on guinea pig's anatomy and life cycle
• Advice on caging, feeding, and health care

New, prospective, and experienced owners of guinea pigs will find this pet book a helpful, accessible resource. Full of detailed advice on selecting a healthy pet, coping with the guinea pig's breed-specific concerns, specialized grooming, nutrition, anatomy, health care, and first aid instruction in case of accidents, this is the go-to guinea pig guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781438005096
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	12/01/2015
Series:	B.E.S. Pet Handbooks
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	168
Sales rank:	321,289
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.40(d)

Table of Contents

1 The Name Game 1

Mysterious Ancestry 1

From Kitchens to Continents 2

Introduction to the United States and Europe 3

The Guinea Pig Is a Cavy 4

A Special Kind of Rodent 5

Cavy Classification 7

The Cavy's Place in Natural History 7

Complicated Caviomorphs 8

The Controversial Cavy 9

Cavy Characteristics 10

2 Not a "Pocket Pet"! 17

Do Your Homework First 17

Are You a Good Candidate for a Cavy? 18

Can You Afford a Cavy? 19

Other Household Pets 20

Can You Cavy-Proof Your Home? 22

Are You Allergy Prone? 23

Children and Cavies 25

3 Where to Find a Cavy 29

How to Choose Your Cavy 33

Hold Off on Holidays 34

Signs of a Sick Cavy 34

Signs of a Healthy Cavy 35

How Many Cavies Should You Keep? 36

What About Neutering? 37

A Couple or a Crowd? 38

Male or Female? 38

Color and Coat Choices 39

Cavy Charm 40

A Long-term Commitment 41

Cavies Grieve, Too 41

4 Housing 43

Housing Considerations 43

Housing Options 46

Temperature and Humidity 47

Ventilation and Lighting 47

Bedding Material 48

Keep the Cage Clean 50

Bottles, Bowls, and Feeders 50

Hideaways 52

Exercise 53

Toys for Your Cavy 53

Selecting the Perfect Place 55

5 Feeding Your Cavy 57

Cavy Nutrition 57

Commercial Guinea Pig Food 58

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 60

The Other Vitamins 62

A Menu for Cavies 62

Finicky Eaters 66

Harmful Foods 67

Playing with Food 68

Water 70

6 Your Cavy Comes Home 73

Selecting a Veterinarian 73

Preparing for the Trip Home 75

Safety First 76

Capturing Your Cavy 78

How to Hold and Cuddle a Cavy 80

Social Skills and the Congenial Cavy 80

7 Understanding Your Cavy 83

The Contented Cavy 83

The Cavy Community 84

Cavy Behaviors 86

Cavy Communication 88

Hair Pulling 93

Your Cavy's Elimination Behaviors 93

Housetraining Your Cavy 94

Cavy Charisma 96

8 Cavy Health Care 99

Keeping Your Cavy Healthy 99

How to Tell If Your Cavy Is Healthy 99

If Your Cavy Is Sick 99

Helping Your Veterinarian Help You 101

Health Problems 102

Zoonotic Diseases 121

When Surgery Is Necessary 122

Should Your Cavy Be Neutered? 122

9 Grooming Your Cavy 129

Make it Fun 129

Supplies 130

Coat Care 131

Teeth and Toenails 132

Bathtime 134

Bright Eyes and Clean Ears 135

10 Special care for Orphan Pups 137

Fostering 137

Hand-raising Orphans 138

Weaning 140

Imprinting 140

Sexing the Pups 141

The Pups Leave Home 141

11 The Cavy Connoisseur 143

Colors and Breeds 143

The Cavy Kaleidoscope 143

Recognized Breeds 146

Other Breeds 149

Finding the Right Breed 150

Identification 151

Crazy about Cavies 152

Useful Addresses and Literature 155

Index 159