Cavy Care 101 Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

Guinea pigs should never be given alfalfa hay. It has too much calcium and can cause urinary problems. Timothy hay, or other grass hay, is best for cavies. Give your pigs only fresh, green hay, stored in a cool, dry place.
Hay is the most important part of a cavy's diet. Cavies should have unlimited hay throughout the day.

Answer: A large wire cage with a solid bottom

When I say you need a large cage, I mean you need a cage with AT LEAST eight square feet of floor space! It must have a solid bottom of a durable material, or it will be hard on the guinea pig's feet. Keep the cage out of direct sunlight and drafts, and do not put it on the floor. I don't recommend keeping the cage outdoors, especially if you are a beginning cavy owner. Your pigs would rather be inside with their people. Keeping a guinea pig in an aquarium is downright cruel.

There is not enough space for a cavy in an aquarium, there is not enough ventilation, and ammonia buildup will cause respiratory problems.

Answer: True

Guinea pigs like to live together. Males will not usually fight each other, especially if they are littermates. Only keep one solitary cavy if you have a lot of time to spend with him/her.

Answer: Aspen

The scent of pine and cedar bedding causes respiratory problems in guinea pigs that can be deadly. Sawdust will irritate your guinea pig's eyes and get tangled in his coat. Shredded paper is also not recommended. Guinea pigs may ingest a lot of paper, which is harmful if the paper had ink on it. Corncob bedding is too dusty. Aspen, pelleted paper, and Carefresh bedding are all safe, but paper pellets may not be very comfortable.

Answer: Apple

Guinea pigs should have 2 cups of fresh food every day. This is necessary, since they cannot produce their own vitamin C. Romaine lettuce, carrots, parsley, kale, bell pepper, cucumber, broccoli, and orange (though you shouldn't feed too much citrus fruit) are all cavy favorites.
Iceberg lettuce causes gas, pears cause bloating, and celery stalks are very difficult to digest. I don't like adding vitamin C to my cavies' water because they don't like to drink anything that they aren't used to, and they may become dehydrated.

Answer: False

Fresh food is necessary! Cavies should have pellets once a day, but this should not be their sole source of nutrition. Hay and veggies are not only exceedingly important to your cavy's diet, they are guinea pigs' favorite foods. Don't give your guinea pigs pellets with seeds added -- they can easily choke on seeds, which are also very fatty.

The pellets themselves are all your pigs need. If you keep rabbits, do not give your piggies rabbit pellets, which can contain antibiotics harmful to cavies. Store pellets in an airtight container, or the vitamin C will start to wear off.

A salt lick will provide minerals.

Answer: Every day, for at least an hour

If your guinea pig is kept in a cage all day, he will become bored and overweight. Unless he is litter-box trained, keep in mind that you will have to clean up after him! Before you take him out, block any holes he could fit into, keep the electrical cords out of reach, and take any other pets into another room. Do not give your cavy an exercise wheel!

Answer: Every day

Shorthaired cavies should be brushed once a week. Remove dead hair with a brush and comb out the coat. You might have to snip mats out of a longhaired pig's coat. Guinea pigs rarely need to actually be bathed. You will have to trim their nails from time to time with a nail clipper made for cats. If you cut the quick (the blood vessel in the middle of the nail), use a styptic pencil or press the nail into a bowl of flour to stop the bleeding.

Answer: Yes

This might seem obvious, but many impulse buyers are surprised that cavies need a veterinarian. You should find a dependable vet before you buy a guinea pig, and take him in for a checkup as soon as he has settled in. Cavies are prone to many health problems that can be hard to spot -- particularly respiratory problems. Diet is a very important factor when it comes to your piggy's health, so be sure to ask your vet if he is getting the proper nutrition. Keep an eye out for any signs that your pig is ill. If he is breathing heavily or refuses food, take him to the vet immediately.

Answer: Any of these

Guinea pigs will also squeal to locate other cavies if they are separated from the group. They will chatter to show aggression, dominance, and discomfort. Chattering is also part of the mating ritual, and cavies will chatter to show that they don't like where you are petting them.

A very happy guinea pig runs in circles and hops into the air! When they are content, especially when you are petting them, cavies make purring and cooing noises.