Buying a guinea pig run from a pet store - is it worth the income? This article is for people who are thinking of getting a guinea pig run or newer owners not yet entirely familiar with your guinea pig's real health needs. If you've had one a while but wondered if the run you've got is right, don't stop reading - this may surprise you.
The runs sold in pet stores can cost say $100 / £70 or more. You may easily spend this, only to find it's simply too small. Guinea pigs may be small but they have surprisingly large special needs when it comes to space. This article explores why they need so much space, how much they need, how to get a good, cheap run, and which ones work indoors and outdoors. From reading this guide, you can learn vital health issues and avoid wasting funds on a useless and/or harmful run.
Why do I need a guinea pig run?
Modern domestic guinea pigs need daily exercise outside their cage or house. This is partly to accommodate their natural behavioural patterns of scurrying about and also finding places to hide. They also have a biological need for plenty of exercise. They can become overweight if not able to burn off calories and work out muscles. Overweight guinea pigs can suffer cardiac problems, diabetes, bladder problems, breathing problems, foot diseases, constipation, and ovarian cysts in females and other diseases (1). So to avoid these problems, make sure you're accommodating their at least their minimum space requirements.
How much space do they need?
At one time, a standard special requirement advised seemed to be 4 square foot of space per guinea pig for housing. Many guinea pig experts advise a new optimal standard - a minimum of 7.5 foot square of space per guinea pig for their cage/house (1). They're sociable animals and many owners keep two or more, so the spatial need must be adjusted in a multi-'piggie' household. You don't necessarily need to increase it by 7.5 square feet for each one after the first, but experts state it does need to increase by at least 2.5 square feet for each subsequent guinea pig. Even so, you need the run for exercise - buy or make one as big as possible. So with space in mind, you need to know how to get hold of the right run without spending a fortune.
How to get hold of a good, cheap run?
Unfortunately, you may find cheaper runs sold in pet stores are simply too small - or even more costly ones simply not that great space-wise. You can save dollars buying a second hand run, thoroughly disinfect it before use - ask your vet to recommend a pet-safe disinfectant. Experts at some guinea pig rescues recommend Cubes and Coroplast - dubbed 'C& C cages' for cheap, quality modular housing. These are storage modules conventionally used for office or home storage. The spaces in the grid squares should not be bigger than 1.5 inches and they need to be connected together using cable ties instead of the connectors you'd normally use. Having found cheap quality options, do think about whether you will use the run indoors, outdoors or both.
Can I use it outdoors?
For indoor use, you could adapt a Cubes & Coroplast pack to make a spacious run - but you can't use it outdoors at all. You can easily buy other designs but the cheapest way is undoubtedly making a wood frame with covering mesh. Bear in mind Guinea pigs don't tolerate extremes of temperature, so only use it when the weather is mild. It needs to be free from sharp edges, predator proof, escape proof and child proof. If you buy from a store, make sure its large enough. If you make your own, double check it for hazards.
So to give your guinea pig the exercise it must have daily,. you need to be sure the run is larger than the housing, one hundred percent safe and built especially or indoor or outdoor use. You shouldn't buy any run from a pet store that isn't well in excess of 7.5 square feet for one guinea pig - but you will see plenty on sale that are, with outrageous price tags. A little time spent purchasing or making one with space, safety and suitability in mind and you will definitely reap the rewards of a healthier and happier guinea pig.
IMPORTANT: No information here is intended to replace a vet's advice - if you have any questions or concerns about guinea pigs, please ask your vet.
No comments:
Post a Comment