Why Guinea Pig-Proof?

Articles

Guinea Pigs - Safety

Why Guinea Pig-Proof?

Your guinea pig may want to spend all his time in your company if you let him out of his cage. Guinea pigs are social animals that look to each other for protection and forewarning of dangers in the wild. They congregate in herds, and each animal keeps an eye out for predators. Tame guinea pigs are no different, and unless you have herds of wild guinea pigs running through your house, your pet is going to look to you for safety and security. If he sees you do something, he thinks it's okay for him, too.

Unfortunately, this just isn't the case, and you will need to safeguard your guinea pig against the dangers he is completely oblivious to. A guinea pig running loose in the house is exposed to dangers from electricity, chemicals, poisons, toxins and drowning unless you have properly safeguarded his home.

Knowledge is the key to safeguarding your pet. You can't be expected to properly protect your pet unless you know what his unique needs and weaknesses are. By reading this article, you will acquire knowledge of the many household hazards and what to do to prevent them.

There are a few basic steps to guinea pig-proofing your house:

Is your pet's cage made from wood, wire or plastic? If there is rust on the wires, or the cage is painted with a lead or zinc-based paint, your guinea pig could be in jeopardy.
Keep cords and other dangerous chewables out of your pet's reach. Guinea pigs need to chew on things to prevent their teeth from growing to an unhealthy length. This may mean your guinea pig will chew on cords and other household items if they are within reach. This is dangerous since every time your guinea pig chews through a cord, he risks serious electrical shock or death. Other chewable items can be toxic, such as cleaning sponges or empty plastic bottles that once held chemicals.
Know where your guinea pig is before shutting any doors. Your guinea pig will follow you around the house, and slamming doors can either hurt him or trap him inside.
Look around on the floor for sharp or dangerous objects before letting your pet out of his cage. Your guinea pig is not overly cautious about what he puts in his mouth.

Guinea pig proofing is not hard to accomplish, and it is well worth it for the extended time you will have with your affectionate companion. Combine your newly acquired safety techniques from this article with knowledge of basic first aid procedures and keep your veterinary emergency phone numbers posted by the telephone. This will ensure your guinea pig will be contented and healthy for a good while to come.