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I
Want to Buy a Piggy What Do I Do ?
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Ok, you have read through 'Is a Guinea Pig / Cavy the right pet for me' and decided that you are ready for the commitment. What to do next !
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Step
1
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I would suggest the first thing you do is either obtain several books on Guinea Pigs - or bookmark some good guinea pig websites and have a jolly good read through this site where you should find all you need to know. Recommended Reading: (These books can be bought online from the Winking Cavy Store or via petshops).
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Step
2
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Decide
what sex and how many guinea pigs you will obtain - see below
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Step
3
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It
is also advisable to contact a few vets in your area to ask if they are
experienced in dealing with guinea pigs and find out what they charge.
You do not want a nasty surprise should one of your piggies become ill.
If you have problems finding a good vet contact the Cambridge
Cavy Trust (CCT) and ask where your local rodentologist is. You can
also take your piggy to the CCT for treatment (if you are in the UK!)
as long as you contact them first.
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Step
4
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Start
researching what breed/coat type of guinea pig you would like - see
below
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Step
5
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Start
up a special 'pig' saving fund so when you need supplies or vet
care or just to buy your pig a gift, you have funds available - can you
do chores to earn some extra pig money ? Showing you are happy to earn
money to help take responsibility for caring for your pig is a very good
thing to do !
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Step
6
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Start
preparing for your new arrival - see below
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Also, make sure you know someone who can look after your piggy when you go away on holiday - perhaps you can alternate this with other piggy owning friends.
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WHERE
TO OBTAIN YOUR PIGGY
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There are a variety of places to consider when thinking about where you could get your pig from:
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Animal Rescue Centres Check out the Links pages for details |
Give a homeless piggy a loving forever home after their unsettled start in life. It is a sad fact that there are a lot of guineas, through no fault of their own, that are hoping to find a new and loving home sitting in animal rescue centres - they might be unplanned baby pigs, pigs who's owners developed allergies to them, pigs who's previous owners dog tormented them, pig's who's previous owners have gone away to college and their parents don't wan't the responsibility, pigs who's owners just got bored or fed up with them - lots of reasons and lots of pigs - a good rescue centre will make sure you know how to care for your new pet, will check your home is suitable and might also be able to rehome a pair of pigs that are already bonded together. |
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Friends
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Ask around your friends - if any keep guinea pigs they may have had an unexpected litter and want good homes for them - this is a great way to learn from your friend how to care for guinea pigs too, plus you can help look after each others pigs during holidays etc. |
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Breeders
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If you want a particular breed of guinea pig you will need to locate a breeder of the specific type you are after or visit a cavy show where you may find young cavy's for sale. |
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Pet Shops
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There are normally a variety of pigs available in pet shops. However, pet shops vary in quality and standards of care - Do not obtain a guinea pig from somewhere that does not look after their animals, that includes all the other types of animals (plus birds and fish !) do you want to support these kinds of people ? The more people buy animals from them the more they will obtain and sell. Have a word with the management and point out what they are doing wrong, then go check up on them in a few days - I have been known to do this quite often !! Don't buy your pet supplies from there either, they don't deserve your money ! Pet shops have been notorious in the past for sexing pigs incorrectly - so males are kept in with females - resulting in you possibly buying a pregnant pig unknowingly - be aware of this and make sure you check the sex of the pig you buy yourself and also check the sex of the other pig's your new friend is in with. |
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Small Ads
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Backyard breeders or owner's who's pigs have surprisingly given birth to a litter of cavies sometimes advertise for new homes in the local paper or local ad-boards, vet's notice boards, school notice boards etc |
No matter where you get your pig from, when you go to look at the piggies have a look around and make sure they seem clean & healthy in well maintained pens. Learn how to recognise a healthy guinea pig so you know what to look out for. Also check that the males & females are kept separately as piggies can breed from 4-6 weeks of age - you do not want to buy a piggy only to end up with babies a few weeks later.
If any of the guinea pigs in the same pen as the one you want to buy / adopt is ill you'd be best to steer clear. The same goes for if you see loose droppings in the pen - but make sure you point this out to the seller.
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Trixie, Flicky
& Ally, Snowballs, Billy and Poppy all came from other sources - see
below !
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WHAT
BREED / COAT TYPE
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I would say the coat type is more important than the breed - the 3 main coat types are shorthaired (a huge variety), longhaired (sheltie / peruvian) and 'rough' haired (abysinnian / rex). There are even more coat types and an amazing variation of colours / patterns / hair textures & lengths to choose from. Check the Breed / Variety page - but this is not a complete list !
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short and
neat / rufty-tufty / long and luscious !
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The main consideration here is that the long haired breeds will require more grooming and need regular trims around their back ends to prevent them from becoming matted & smelly. If you are beginner piggy owner or if the piggy is for a young person you may want to opt for a shorthaired guinea to start with. But the choice is yours out of whatever pigs are available for rehoming with you.
Recommended Reading: Peter Gurneys - Whats My Guinea Pig?
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WHAT
SEX & HOW MANY ?
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If at all possible please start with 2 piggies so they will be company for each other. Guinea pigs are herd animals which means they are happiest living in a large and social group with plenty of interaction. If you want to keep several piggys together (and the possibility is that once you get piggies you will want more) I would recommend obtaining female piggys (sows) as these will generally live together happily in groups, whereas with boars, you are normally limited to housing no more than 2 together in the same pen. Though of course you can keep several 'pairs of pairs' with each pair living in separate pens ! If you already have a pig and you are looking for a friend for it, then ensure you know how to 'sex' a guinea pig as the person you buy them from may not (if you possibly can check the sex of the other pigs in the same pen so you don't end up with a surprise a month or so down the road). Make sure, of course, that you have checked the sex of your existing pig too. You do not want to introduce a male piggy to a group of females and end up with a lot of babies. So, if you want to start with one with the possibilty of adding a few more in the future I would go for sows.
The other great option here is to obtain a sow and a neutered boar - often rescue centres have neutered boars available - but you don't want more than one boar in with sows or you will encounter agression problems between the males. Billy, who had already been neutered when he came to live with me, happily lives in a pen full of girls !
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Not
at all hen-pecked Billy....
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For tips on introductions see the 'Adding to your existing herd' page.
| Remember ! Piggies are herd animals and like the company of their own kind, no matter how much love you can give them - if you have had 1 single pig for a while and you get her a friend you will be amazed at how she comes to life and you see a whole new variety of behaviour and sounds ! |
OK, so you now have read your books and websites, found a good Guinea Pig vet, decided what type and what sex piggy you want and have located one to buy - what next ? Get everything ready and get excited !
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PREPARING
FOR YOUR NEW ARRIVAL
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Before going to pick her up ensure you have her accommodation set up and all necessary supplies at the ready - you will need.... [everything is covered in great detail in the Piggy Care section - make sure you read thoroughly], but a quick run through follows:
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Recommended size - at least 3ft x 2ft for 1 or 2 pigs - general advice is to increase the size by 2sq ft for each additional piggy - but really go as big as you can possibly go ! This can be shop bought or home-made. Do not get a cage with a wire floor as your piggy can damage her feet. |
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Location:
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Have
a good think of where to put her cage - in a family room is a good idea
so she will get lots of attention - but not in a busy walkway or in a
draft or somewhere dusty (URI's..) and not where she will be subject to
a lot of direct sunlight and suffer from heat-stroke ! I wouldn't recommend
a dark, damp cellar/basement either - your piggy should have access to
natural daylight and good ventilation. If you have young children consider
placing the cage up high out of their reach ! If you have other animals
make sure they cannot get to your pig either !
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Dry
food which includes Vitamin C, eg.- Gertie Guinea Pig / Oxbow Cavy Cuisine
and Fresh food: Carrots, cauliflower leaves, celery, parsley etc to provide
lots of Vitamin C. Lots of Fresh Hay - your piggy must always have plenty
of this to provide work for her teeth and essential roughage for a healthy
digestive system. (Readigrass is also a useful thing to feed). Fresh
Water: Bottle / Bowl
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Everything
Else !
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A
secure carrying box for safe transportation is also required. Please
read the Preparation checklist on the next
page to help you get everything you need !
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Checks: When you go to pick up your
piggy a final check is very important - a good pet store / owner will not
mind you doing this. Hold the piggy and check just once more that it is
the correct sex and healthy.
Check the eyes, ears, feet, coat |
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Page Last Updated: 06/03/06