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Post by KarenPlanetGuinea on Aug 15, 2008 22:57:11 GMT
Anyone owning an animal is now legally responsible for meeting these 5 basic needs:
1) Ensuring that the animal has a proper diet, including fresh water. A proper diet for guineas is mostly made up from hays and grass, veggies and dry food are a minor part of the diet. Fresh food is needed daily because guineas do not store vitamin C.
2) Providing the animal with suitable housing. 4 foot by 2 foot minimum for guineas situated in a shed/outhouse/indoors (house) during the damp months- September-May.
3) Each animal needs to be housed with, or apart from other animals Guineas need to be housed with a guinea(s) they are compatible with and not with a rabbit.
4) Animals need to be able to express normal behaviour. e.g. Hay can be provided on the floor of the cage for guinea to burrow in as he would do the long grass in the wild. Provide houses to hide in. Provide company so that mutual grooming may take place. Although natural the RSPCA do not recommend breeding as a need.
5) Protection from, and treatment of illness and injury. Find a guinea pig competent vet before you need one. Recommendations from guinea pig rescues are often a good place to start.
As well as these basic requirements most guinea pig rescues will have more that are tailored to a guinea pigs needs.
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