Hello again...

It's time to tell you about another pet. This time I am going to tell you about guinea pigs. These happy, chatty animals are my favourite small furry pet. Guinea pigs origionally came from Peru in South America, where they were kept to be eaten!!!. I think that they can make lovely pets.Guinea pigs are small and cute and come in lots of different colours. They can have smooth fur or rough fur, some have 'stars ' or 'rosettes' in thier fur that can make them look spikey and some guinea pigs have long fur.

Guinea pigs are sociable animals and it is a good idea to have 2 guinea pigs together, but make sure that you get 2 males (boars) of 2 females (sows) so that you do not end up with lots of guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can be kept with rabbits, but sometimes the rabbit will bully the guinea pig or even bite them, so it is best to keep guinea pigs on their own.

Just like rabbits, guinea pigs need a warm, secure hutch with a closed sleeping area and an open area where they can have their food and water. It is best to get a hutch with a run attached to it so thet your guinea pig can get outside to graze. It is very important that guinea pigs have access to grass and plenty of fresh green vegetables. Guinea pigs need lots of Vitimin C which is found in grass and fresh fruit and vegetables, they can become very ill if they don't get enough vitimin C.

Guinea pigs also need to have hay to eat and fresh water every day. Guinea pigs are very friendly little creatures and will soon get to know you and will 'burble' or squeak to you when you come to thier hutch with food.

If you start picking up your guinea pig from an early age it will soon get used to you and enjoy being handled. Guinea pigs are also quite nervous of loud noises so never shout or make loud noises near them. Guinea pigs are great fun to watch. When they eat their ears waggle and their noses wiffle up and down. They will run around and sometimes jump in the air and dash about.

Guinea pigs have few problems but they can get tiny mites if their fur that makes them very itchy, so if you see your guinea pig sratching a lot get your parents to take it to the Vet for some treatment. Also guinea pigs claws can some times get very long if they do have get the chance to run about a lot, if you think that your guinea pig has long claws get your parents to look at them and if necessary take them to the Veterinary nurse to get them clipped.