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Adopt a Guinea Pig Month
Adopt a Guinea Pig Month by Cheyenne Pratt , Veterinary Technician , Calico Creek Veterinary Clinic
Shelters everywhere are full of animals in need of forever homes . We are putting the spotlight on guinea pigs because March is ‘ Adopt A Guinea Pig Month ’. Most shelters and rescues are not limited to cats and dogs so you can often find guinea pigs there , too . These adorable rodents make great companions . They are extremely sociable creatures with a lot of personality .
Guinea pigs are originally from the Andes Mountains in South America and have been domesticated for several thousand years . Adults will grow to be 1-2 pounds . Their life expectancy is 6-8 years . The oldest guinea pig on record lived to be almost 15 years old .
Guinea pigs make good pets because they are friendly and generally easy to care for . This doesn ’ t mean you can just put them in a cage and forget about them for awhile . It ’ s important to interact with your pig daily so they bond with you . Guinea pigs are a prey animal so they are naturally skittish . The more you hold them and spend time with them , the friendlier they get . A guinea pig ’ s cage will require weekly cleaning and fresh bedding . Pigs need their nails trimmed regularly so they do not become overgrown . Long-haired guinea pigs require brushing to prevent matting . Before you adopt a guinea pig , make sure you have all of the essentials .
You will need : Cage : One guinea pig requires at least 7.5 square feet of space , and plenty of room for exercising and exploring . Bedding : Fleece blankets or paper bedding work best . Avoid cedar and pine shavings that have not been kiln dried , as the oils in these can cause respiratory issues . Water bottle : Bottles work better than bowls because they can ’ t get spilled or filled with debris from the cage . Food bowls : Heavier ones won ’ t spill as easily . Chew toys : This keeps their growing teeth worn down . Pellet food : Timothy Hay pellets ( not alfalfa ) are needed daily in addition to leafy vegetables , high in vitamin C . A vitamin C deficiency can lead to serious health issues . There are also vitamin C supplements for guinea pigs . Timothy Hay : Hay is high in fiber and keeps the digestive system working properly .
If you ’ re going to the shelter to rescue a guinea pig , consider adopting two ! As previously mentioned , guinea pigs are very social creatures and do best when they have a friend or a group of pigs to live with . Sure , you could go to a pet store and buy a guinea pig , but wouldn ’ t it be more rewarding to rescue a pig in need ? If you can ’ t find a guinea pig at your local shelter or rescue , try the Pet Finder website or app .
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Pawsitively Pets -- March
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Recalls :
Blue Ridge Beef , Virginia : Recalling its 2 pound log of Natural Mix for Dogs , due to potential Salmonella contamination . Lot number : N25 / 12 / 31 Info : blueridgebeefnc @ yahoo . com or call 704-873-2072 . ( 1 / 31 / 25 )
Blue Ridge Beef , Virginia : Recalling its Puppy Mix after some of its products tested positive for Salmonella . Lot numbers 08 / 06 / N25 and 08 / 16 / N25 . Info : 704-873-2072 . ( 12 / 2 / 24 )
Carolina Prime Pet , Inc ., North Carolina : Recalling 16-ounce bags of Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips treats for dogs - possible Salmonella contamination . Lot number 20051324L2 . Info : 828- 394-6460 . ( 11 / 25 / 24 )
Gaines Pet Treats LLC , Alabama : Recalling five ounce bags of Gaines Farmstead Chicken Chips treats for dogs - possible Salmonella contamination . Lot number 20061124 . Info : 205-607-0173 . ( 11 / 22 / 24 )
Answers Pet Food , Pennsylvania : Recalling certain lots of Answers Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs , Answers Straight Beef Formula for Dogs , and Answers Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs , after samples collected by the U . S . Food and Drug Administration were reported to have tested positive for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes . Info : 1-800-431-8480 . ( 9 / 22 / 24 )
Source : dogfoodadvisor . com , amva . org
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