cut the hair or not it's depends on you. and cutting a piggy hair is not easy...

u can check the type over here
http://www.namemyguineapig.co.uk/typeofguineapig.html

i buy this one.dunno good anot since the good shop today dint open.is it okay?

the pet shop ppl say this food can for hamster and guinea=.=inside contains corn,pellets,is it bad?....do u knw internet where can i order better ones?

food mix with nuts, grains, corn kuaci is a BIG NONONONONO~! plain HAGEN pallets specially for guinea pigs are the best for them...DO NOT FEED THEM food mix like that...better giv ur hamster instead.....grains n nuts are not good for them lo....

PETSHACK have delivery/internet service, you can order there or you go the place itself...

btw where do you live? and where do u shop 4 ur pet supplys?

YAYA!they even have kuaci inside!!!!all these is for hamsters right?izzit even good for hamsters=.=....ii live in a kampung near raub...very far from kl so very hard to find good pet shop here.petshack?internet delivery service?give me the web.or number also can.wanna best for my pettie.

you should take care of ur GP well, they are sensitive and timid creatures...they LOVE attention....and you will be happier when u see ur GP happy ma, right?

cut gp hair? i think urs r sheltie or peruvian...any pics ar? i do cut a little of Nao hair below her butt, coz it tends to kena her own pee n poo...smelly....but the rest of her hair i let it be...plus GP can barber thier own hair wan, so i let them style themselves la

---

Added on January 2, 2009, 6:40 pmhere you go : http://www.petshack.com.my/

oh raub...so FAR!!!! i thought you live in selangor/kl....if you live around here i can take you to my usual shopping spot, n guide u abit on GP stuff...me oso not "terer" la but we can both learn....too bad....

---

Added on January 2, 2009, 6:43 pmaha more gud news!! i spoke to my mom last night, and she agree to give me a bigger space for my GP cage after my house renovation, so will do major upgrade on my gp cage...yay!!

This post has been edited by kaoru himura: Jan 2 2009, 06:43 PM

oh raub...so FAR!!!! i thought you live in selangor/kl....if you live around here i can take you to my usual shopping spot, n guide u abit on GP stuff...me oso not "terer" la but we can both learn....too bad....

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Added on January 2, 2009, 6:43 pmaha more gud news!! i spoke to my mom last night, and she agree to give me a bigger space for my GP cage after my house renovation, so will do major upgrade on my gp cage...yay!!

[/quote]

haha.sometimes i come down kl de....when i come down i go meet u lo^^.i will try bring my guinea piggies too^^...yea,wanna learn more...now they okok with me but im still afraid they dont like the way i take care them now.1st time u bought gp what u do after that?congratz!ur gp will be more happier place to run around.hey u have hamsters too dont u?i got too,but share with my sister.

This post has been edited by vchy: Jan 2 2009, 07:34 PM

chocker ?
emm .
i think its dangerous for your GP.
they dont like it i guess .
n it might hurt their neck .
harness oso not good for GP .

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Added on January 2, 2009, 8:27 pmits a no no no .
=.="
some petshop might think tht guinea pig is hamster spesis but its not.
when i 1st buy my GP they gv me the rabbit pallet =.=".
GP oso need a lot of hay/grass .
u cn by your's GP HAGEN pallet my GP seems to like it.


This post has been edited by xUeki: Jan 2 2009, 08:35 PM

Cutting animals hair need to use very sharp scissor, their hair is much more then human hair.

hey... my gp is very happy izzit?
they keep chuut chut chuut chutt.... while i brush their hair
so cute...

Hahaha. Are you sure they're not complaining? Check out some guinea pig sounds online and see what they're trying to tell you.

My girls like to moan and complain when I brush their fur.

i want to see your cage setup~~~ hehe

i refer to the audio, it's definately is a chut chut sound... and they roam around in my living hall in the half finish colorpalst

not yet finish la...i m short of wire and colorplast

This post has been edited by sweetcat: Jan 2 2009, 10:26 PM

hw much u bought the coroplast??
and hardware shop got sell ?

lol, chut chut means wat? wheeking?

my colorplast is small piece de... big one too thick n my fren who work in advertisement firm say nid to buy big piece...
my size can bought in stationary shop, is teh biggest size u can get in stationary shop about RM7.50 per piece...

i ter cut patah one piece, so now not enuff to cover edi...

i tape 2 big piece together... the tape is on the outside... so piggy kenot chew...

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Added on January 2, 2009, 10:50 pmu go to the 1st post n listen the audio...

it sound like they talking to them self, and it's not very loud de...

if very loud then it's mean complaining, she wanan pee or something... like a min ago... she chuuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttt loudly... i wanan get her to the cage, she edi kenot tahan n pee on my hand liao.....



This post has been edited by sweetcat: Jan 2 2009, 10:50 PM

Stationary shop got sell ha ?
2molo go check at shop if got sell
but dunno shop will be open or not .
emm wats the size of the coroplast tht u buy ?
cn gv measurement in cm .?

erm, i tore out the label edi, but it's biggest piece u can get in stationary shop like popular, i m positve staionary got sell, but are thinner peice 2mm only...
unless u go to a shop which sell craft n art shop like one in Taman melawati or in petaling street... they do carry the thicker piece...

my sister studying architec, she do use the material to build model house n building...

the size roughly about 30" X 21"

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Added on January 2, 2009, 11:12 pmthinner also can use, but need a bit kong fu to "line" the colorplast by not cutting thru it..

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Added on January 3, 2009, 12:42 amwoah... my hang hang ate some celery edi

This post has been edited by sweetcat: Jan 3 2009, 12:42 AM

Long time didn't login, coz bz with my work for the year end closing. Welcome to all the new joined GP owner.

There is a lots knowledge that needs to learn to taking care of gp and it is not easy. Pls do all the research and make sure you have the time for them (taking care of them, playing with them, cleaning their cage and etc). Pls do make sure that you will spend on them as well as like taking them to vets when you bought/adopt them to make sure that they are deworm, they are free from lice and mike. Provide them enough of pallets (only pallets), hay (both alfalfa and timothy), vege & fruits, and make sure the water that you give them are boiled water. Pls do change the water every 2 days to make sure the water are fresh. Bedding, i will recommend Breeder Celect becoz it is not only safe to use for gp but it is also environment friendly. Of course compared with Pine woods bedding, Breeder Celect is more expensive but for the health of our lovely gp and our environment, i think gp lovers will not mind to paid more. I used to bought it from Fluffs pet store (@NZX) and for the medium size pack(15litre), it cost abt RM48 whereby the large pack (35litre) it cost abt RM100.

For Medium pack, i need abt 2 packs per mth whereby the large back i think it can be last for 1 mth. I used to picked up their pee and poo from the bedding everyday twice (no matter how late i wake up in the morning before i go to work and no matter how late i came back from work before i take my dinner). I will clean and change the bedding abt 4-5 days. Hay (Timothy and alfalfa), i get from Chinchillas each hay 2kg and feeding them 50%:50% as both of my gps are 3 mths & 6 mths old.

Pallets, i'm taking Hagen pallets for them and i do give some carrot+vege(small portion) during their dinner time. I will bring them to vets within 3 mths for treatment and checking and its cost abt rm50 included vitamins and also the treatment to make sure they are free from lice and mike. Dr.Jenny is experience on small animal and my Jingle was taking care by her when she was on her unstable condition during her baby's days as her mother was RIP after 10 days giving birth and she has lack of mother milk when she was still a baby. I was like her step mum at that time, feeding her human baby paste, pallets and hay(alfalfa) until she was abt 3 mths old. We (me and my hubby)had came across a hard time with Jingle and now days we are really appreciated and thanks to god on giving us Jingle and Jasper and both of them are staying health and happy wt us.

Both of us really treated them as our son and daughter but the different is we can't take them together when we hang out as they can't take long travel.

My Jingle don't take vege at all when she was young but when i got Jasper, he managed to influence Jingle to take vege and fruits now days.

Jingle was abt 6 mths old whereby Jasper was 3 mths old. Both of them are clever and stick to me and my husband. We can had our drama or our desert time with both of them on our lap of on our bed.....but sometimes they will pee and poo on our bed also hahahahahaha.....of course we will clean it and now reserved a big big pillow for them when they having their time on our bed.

Nail trimming/clipping, i do it once every 2 weeks myself. I was affraid to trim them and used to sent them to Dr.Jenny just for nail trimming last time. But after Sifu Jason adviced and doing some research on trimming/clipping GP's nail. I can do it now and hrm...so far so good lah....hehehehe... of course not as nice as Sifu Jason and Dr.Jenny as they can do it very fast but me taking longer time coz i scared i will hurt them.hehehehe

Talking abt their monthly expenses, i think we spend abt RM100 to RM150 per mth to buy their food, hay, veges& fruits and bedding. But i think i spend more of my time to them rather the money.

Noticed that most of the guide to taking care of gp are in english and i do found a chinese version at some others forum. I feel to share in here so that we can have multi language of information of taking guinea pig @ this forum.

I hope you guys don't mind.

P/S: I do have this complete information in words, if any gp lovers would like to have 1 copy, pls do PM me your email address so that i can forward to you.
P/S: Sweetcat, not sure whether you want a copy or not as in the complete words file version do have the guide on DIY guinea pig cages (guiding step by step by instruction) and some example of DIY cages for gp as well. Just let me know if you want a copy yeah.

After the long strory, i would like to wishing all gp forum member Happy New year & wishing all the gps staying health and happy always.

Guinea Pig - 天竺鼠

學術上分類
齧齒目(Rodentia)-天竺鼠亞目(Hystricomorpha)-天竺鼠科(Cavidae)-天竺鼠屬天竺鼠(Cavia Porcellus)原產地南美哥倫比亞至圭亞那一帶

成鼠身長
25～30公分

成鼠體重
公鼠約0.9～1.2公斤
母鼠約0.7～0.9公斤（公鼠體型較母鼠大）
註：寵物化後的天竺鼠，不同品種有不同的體型和體重。

每日食量
6g (100公克／天)

每日飲水量
10ml (100公克／天)

平均壽命
6～8年

性成熟期
公鼠60天
母鼠30天

發情期
公鼠幾乎隨時都在發情。
母鼠約15～20天發情一次，每次發情1～2天。

懷孕期
59~72天

平均產仔數
2~5隻

幼鼠離乳期
14~28天

心跳數
每分鐘230~380下
正常體溫
37.2~39.5℃

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Added on January 3, 2009, 2:56 am飼養前的考慮

一隻好？多隻好？
天竺鼠是群居性的動物，所以最好能一次養兩隻。這樣的話牠們不但可以彼此為伴、生活愉快，你也會經由日常的觀察發現養一隻所看不到的一面。

如果你只想養一隻，那就必須多花點時間陪牠玩。

公鼠好？母鼠好？
雄天竺鼠的體型比雌天竺鼠大，活動力較強，領域觀念強烈，體味也較重。
未結紮的公鼠會以自己的味道標示勢力範圍，母鼠及結紮過的公鼠則少有這種行為。

只養一隻的話，則公母皆可。

如果要養兩隻以上，則建議養兩隻母的，因為母鼠的個性較溫馴，兩隻母鼠之間偶有爭吵，但通常會相處良好。

兩隻公鼠在小時候或許會相安無事，一旦長大到了發情期時，不論有沒有母鼠在徬，都可能為了領域所有權和交配權而打的你死我活。

養一公一母是最好的選擇，因為公鼠不會攻擊母鼠，而母鼠也會順從領導者的公鼠，但必須要有增加鼠口的心理準備。

結紮過的公鼠可以和未結紮的公鼠或和母鼠和平相處，沒有爭奪地盤或繁殖下一代的顧慮。

天竺鼠的食物

天竺鼠無法自行合成維他命Ｃ，飼主必須每天提供新鮮的專用飼料、蔬果或是維他命Ｃ營養劑，來滿足牠們對維他命

維他命C對天竺鼠的重要性
維他命Ｃ保護細胞，增強白血球的活性。故缺乏維他命Ｃ時，身體的免疫力下降，就容易生病。適量的維他命Ｃ，可以讓天竺鼠的毛皮光量有彈性。若你的天竺鼠的毛質粗糙無光澤，就要注意維他命Ｃ的供給量及供給方式。

新鮮蔬果
一般來說，只要是人可以吃的蔬果，都可以餵給天竺鼠吃。但要注意有刺激性的如大蒜、辣椒、蔥（洋蔥、青蔥）、薑、韭菜等不能給牠吃。

餵食小黃瓜要特別注意。從營養學分析，黃瓜中含的“維生素C分解脢”會破壞其他蔬果中所含的維生素C。故餵食小黃瓜時，不要和其他的蔬果一起餵食。除黃瓜外，胡蘿蔔、南瓜也含有維生素分解脢。

專用飼料
天竺鼠的專用飼料不但能提供天竺鼠日常生活所需的營養：蛋白質、礦物質、纖維素及維生素等，也能讓天竺鼠適度的磨牙。

選擇飼料時，應避免參雜太多穀物、種子和乾燥蔬果的混合飼料。這些飼料的營養成份過高（尤其是脂肪含量），當主食的話會容易造成軟便（消化不良）、脹氣及導致天竺鼠過胖，進而影響健康。有些成份如葵瓜子等帶殼種子，殼的碎片可能會卡在牙間或哽住喉嚨，導致天竺鼠無法正常進食或窒息而亡，最好挑出來不要給牠吃，或是飼主幫忙剝殼。

每種動物所需的營養並不相同，所以不要拿別種動物的飼料給天竺鼠吃。有的兔子飼料會加註“天竺鼠亦可使用”的文字，但有的顆粒較大，維生素的含量也不足，並不適合。

牧草
乾燥牧草所含有的大量纖維不但可以讓天竺鼠保持牙齒的適當長度，更確保消化排泄系統的健康。另外，天竺鼠亦可藉由啃食乾草來減輕精神上的壓力，每天都應提供適量的乾草給天竺鼠。

水
就像人吃飯要喝湯一樣，吃飼料啃乾草的天竺鼠需要大量的水。

以新鮮蔬果為主食的天竺鼠雖然可以從食物中取得水份，但仍需另外提供飲水以備不時之需。

天竺鼠的飲水要用煮過的水或礦泉水淨水等，不要直接拿自來水給天竺鼠喝，而且每天或隔天都要幫牠換水。

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Added on January 3, 2009, 2:57 amVitamin C per 100 gm -- Vegetables

190.0 mg -- Peppers,Red
133.0 mg -- Parsley
130.0 mg -- Spinach, Mustard
120.0 mg -- Kale
93.2 mg -- Broccoli
89.3 mg -- Peppers,Green
85.0 mg -- Brussels Sprouts
85.0 mg -- Dill Weed
80.0 mg -- Lambs quarters
70.0 mg -- Mustard Greens
62.0 mg -- Kohlrabi
60.0 mg -- Turnip Greens
46.4 mg -- Cauliflower
45.0 mg -- Chinese Cabbage (pak-choi)
43.0 mg -- Watercress
35.3 mg -- Collards
35.0 mg -- Dandelion Greens
32.2 mg -- Cabbage
30.0 mg -- Chard, Swiss
30.0 mg -- Beet Greens
30.0 mg -- Swiss Chard
28.1 mg -- Spinach
27.0 mg -- Cilantro
25.0 mg -- Rutabaga
24.0 mg -- Lettuce, Romaine
24.0 mg -- Chicory Greens
22.7 mg -- Sweet Potato
21.1 mg -- Okra
21.0 mg -- Turnip
21.0 mg -- Purslane
19.1 mg -- Tomato
18.0 mg -- Lettuce, LooseLeaf
17.0 mg -- Parsnips
16.3 mg -- Green Beans
14.8 mg -- Squash (summer, all varieties)
13.2 mg -- Asparagus
12.3 mg -- Squash (winter, all varieties)
11.0 mg -- Sweet Potato Leaves
9.3 mg -- Carrots
9.0 mg -- Pumpkin
8.4 mg -- Carrots, Baby
8.2 mg -- Alfalfa Sprouts
8.0 mg -- Lettuce, Butterhead (Boston, Bibb)
7.0 mg -- Celery
6.8 mg -- Corn, White
6.5 mg -- Endive (Escarole)
5.3 mg -- Cucumber (with skin)
4.9 mg – Beets

Vitamin C per 100 gm -- Fruits

98.0 mg -- Kiwi
61.8 mg -- Papaya
56.7 mg -- Strawberries
53.2 mg -- Orange
53.0 mg -- Lemon (no peel)
42.2 mg -- Cantaloupe
38.1 mg -- Grapefruit, Pink and Red
33.3 mg -- Grapefruit, White
30.8 mg -- Tangerine
29.1 mg -- Lime
27.7 mg -- Mango
24.8 mg -- Honeydew Melon
21.0 mg -- Blackberries
16.0 mg -- Casaba Melon
15.4 mg -- Pineapple
13.5 mg -- Cranberries
13.0 mg -- Blueberries
10.8 mg -- Grapes
10.0 mg -- Apricots
9.6 mg -- Raspberries
9.6 mg -- Watermelon
9.5 mg -- Plum
9.1 mg -- Banana
7.5 mg -- Persimmon, Japanese
7.0 mg -- Cherries, Sweet
6.6 mg -- Peach
5.7 mg -- Apple (with Skin)
5.4 mg -- Nectarine
4.0 mg -- Pear

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Added on January 3, 2009, 2:58 am每天的功課

將吃剩的食物清除（避免天竺鼠因吃到不新鮮的食物而生病）。

清掃鼠窩髒污的部份，若使用墊料的話則將髒掉的部份丟掉，並補充新墊料，若使用報紙的話，可將上面一兩張抽掉即可（前提是要一次鋪很多張，否則仍需全部更換）。

供應新鮮的食物和水。

觀察一下天竺鼠的眼睛、鼻子、被毛、肛門等是否健康，活動狀況是否正常。

觀察一下天竺鼠的便便。天竺鼠的便便通常是有點濕硬呈長條形，但有時會有軟便。軟便多含未消化完全的營養素，天竺鼠為吸取這些養份，會吃自己或同伴的便便。尤其幼鼠會藉由吃母鼠或同伴的便便來吸收營養和補充體內不足的消化菌。

和天竺鼠玩一陣子，順便幫天竺鼠梳毛。


每週的功課

清掃鼠籠：將所有的墊料（報紙）丟掉，用小掃把和乾淨的抹布清掃內外部（用水清洗後放到太陽下曬乾或讓風吹乾更好），食盆和飲水器清洗後擦乾，放入新的墊材。

平常有讓天竺鼠出來活動的話，亦須同時清掃其活動場所。

進行健康檢查：

　★　 眼睛明亮有神，無眼屎
　★　 鼻頭乾燥，無鼻涕，沒有異常的呼吸聲
　★　 耳朵乾淨，無傷口
　★　 牙齒沒有斷掉或過長
　★　 指甲沒有斷裂或流血紅腫跡象，過長時要修剪
　★　 被毛完整有光澤，沒有整片掉毛的跡象
　★　 毛下的皮膚平滑，沒有蟲咬過的紅腫痕跡
　★　 肛門及生殖器官乾淨，排泄物成長條狀略硬，沒有腹瀉狀況
　★　 四肢行動正常，沒有跛腳或或任何奇怪的跡象

家裡若有刻度較小的重量計（動物用或烘焙用皆可），可定期幫天竺鼠量體重，記錄體重變化

每月的功課
剪指甲，清耳朵和洗澡(或每两三个月)

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Added on January 3, 2009, 2:59 am肢體語言

頭部抬高，高聲大叫
要求食物，呼喚同伴

頭部前傾，喉嚨發出快速低沉的震動聲
高興，興奮（公鼠母鼠都會）

動作輕快，有時會跳來跳去，吱吱輕叫
高興，玩耍

頭部放低前傾，全身緊繃縮在角落，喉嚨發出高亢的咕依咕依聲
不高興，害怕



頭部抬高，全身緊繃不動，鼻子抽動
警戒，觀察周遭環境

牙齒上下顫動
不高興，憤怒

頭部抬的很高，露前齒，全身緊繃，頸部的毛豎起，有時保持一腳（前腳）離地姿勢
威嚇，攻擊警告

頭部放低前傾，眼睛半閉，全身緊貼地面或縮在角落，叫聲的尾音拉長
求饒，哭泣

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Added on January 3, 2009, 3:03 am垫料 （Bedding）

有很多选择不过以木屑最为便宜
木屑也有几种选择如 aspen (hardwood), pine & cedar (softwood)
aspen 会比其他两种贵
pine & cedar 是 softwood 所以含有 aromatic oil, 会破坏呼吸系统
cedar 是完全不建议用
如果要用 pine 就要用 kiln-dried (烘干)的，把 aromatic oil 排出
市面上有些是 air-dried (风干)的，还含有 aromatic oil

其他垫料还有 carefresh (纸做的, 很贵)，wood pellet

牧草 (Hay)

市面上最常见的牧草有 alfafa/lucerne, timothy, meadow, bermuda
alfafa 适合幼鼠和孕鼠吃因为 calsium 高
如果喂成鼠吃 alfafa 会引起肾结石 （bladder stone）
timothy 是最好的，适合任何年龄吃
meadow 也能吃不过通常用来做 bedding

在外国饲主都是向牧场买
不过在大马就要在宠物店买

玩具 （Toy）

五项最重要的娱乐是
1．同伴 （最好养两只或以上）
2．大笼 （一只最好有 7.5 sf）
3. Floor time (让天竺鼠在地上自由活动)
4．Hidey house (可以躲藏的小屋)
5．新鲜牧草
有了以上五项，才考虑以下
1. Towel tent， tunnel
2. Paper bags
3. Boxes
4. Cozies or Cuddle Cups
5. Bounce back toys

天竺鼠笼

市面上的笼都太小，不适合养两只
理想的笼是：
1 只: 7.5 sf
2 只: min 7.5 sf
3 只: min 10.5 sf
4 只: min 13 sf

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Added on January 3, 2009, 3:05 am添加新成员

如过你已经有了一只公天竺鼠,你可以考滤添加
1) 一只公小天竺鼠
2) 一只母天竺鼠

如过你已经有了一只母天竺鼠,你可以考滤添加
1) 一只母天竺鼠
2) 一只去势(neutered)公天竺鼠
注:不建议繁殖

如过你已经有了一对母天竺鼠,你可以考滤添加
1) 一只母天竺鼠
2) 一只去势(neutered)公天竺鼠

如过你已经有了一对公天竺鼠,你可以考滤添加
1) 一只公小天竺鼠

如过你已经有了一只公和一只母天竺鼠,你可以考滤添加
1) 一只母天竺鼠

带新成员回家

需要经过两个步骤 - 检疫期间 (quarantine), 然后介绍 (introduction).

检疫期间 (Quarantine)

当带新成员回家时,需要把它先隔离2-3 星期.这是避免它带有病菌或跳蚤之类.

介绍 (Introduction)

专家建议的方法
1) 用一块大毛巾在地上
2) 把它们放在大毛巾范围
3) 一人看一只,让它们在大毛巾范围活动
4) 如过有打架或追咬对方就把它们分开
5) 每天用这方法让它们认识对方

我个人方法和经验
1) 把新成员放在同一个笼里不过要隔开
2) 或另一个笼放在旁边
3) 这是要让它们天天见面,而且可以嗅嗅对方,习惯对方
4) 过了 1-2 星期就可以尝试让它们在一起
5) 最好能把它们全部冲一次凉,然后清洗笼子,换新的垫料
6) 当大家都一样味道就不会有分地盆的问题

注:如过没经过 introduction 就放在一起,新成员可能会被欺负.因为旧成员会认为地盆被入侵.

如何帮天竺鼠冲凉

1)把天竺鼠放在洗手盆
2)用温水淋湿身体
3)用小动物或 baby shampoo
4)用温水冲掉泡泡
5)用布抹干
6)用吹风筒再吹干

* 刚带回来的天竺鼠和幼鼠最好先不要冲凉.因为有可能会吓到它们.最好能养了一个月或以三个月大才冲.

* 天竺鼠不需要每个星期冲.1-3个月冲一次就够了.冲多了反而毛发不漂亮.

如何宠爱天竺鼠

1.用手指从鼻梁顺着头摸上去
它们喜欢被这样摸.如果它们受惊吓,这样也能使它们安静下来,没那么怕.

2.摸它们的下巴(来回上下)
它们会自己把头抬起来,很享受的样子

3.轻轻按摩耳后的脖子
轻轻的 massage 它们也喜欢

如果常常这样做,能促进伺主和天竺鼠的关系.

天竺鼠可能發生的疾病

昏睡、抽筋、麻痺、呼吸短促
缺乏維他命A
提供富含維他命 A 的蔬果，如紅蘿蔔

脫毛、皮膚病、腹瀉、體重減輕、貧血、抽筋、麻痺
缺乏維他命B 群
提供富含維他命 B 群的食物，如穀物、麥胚、蔬果

皮毛粗糙、四肢僵硬、活動力變差、對傳染病的抵抗力降低、內出血、牙齦出血
缺乏維他命 C（壞血症）
一般而言，成鼠每日需要攝取 10 毫克的維他命 C；懷孕或哺育中的母鼠需求較高，每日須攝取 20 毫克的維他命 C。提供富含維他命 C 的蔬果，或在飲食中添加維他命 C

生長矮化、不孕、子宮發育不良、麻痺
缺乏維他命 E 。
提供富含維他命 E 的小麥胚牙。

軟便（糞便帶水、脹大）或腹瀉
1.攝食過多水份多的蔬果，如萵苣、黃瓜。乾草供應量不足
2.吃了腐敗或不潔的食物
3.在療程中，抗生素殺死天竺鼠腸胃中幫助消化的益菌
3.小腸受到細菌或寄生蟲的感染
4.環境過於寒冷或潮溼
停止供應生鮮的食物， 改餵食乾燥的牧草，可以緩和狀況；嚴重者送醫治療。

糞便中有寄生蟲、腹瀉、貧血、體重減輕
腸內寄生蟲
送醫治療

天竺鼠小便時叫痛、尿液帶血、呈現粉紅色
尿道感染、結石
送醫治療。平日可供應含鈣量較低的食物，及充足的飲水
餵食小紅莓的果汁可以幫助天竺鼠溶解已形成的結石

尿液呈現乳白色，尿液乾燥後有白色沈澱物
飲食中鈣質含量過高
一般而言，天竺鼠會藉著尿液將體內過多的鈣質排出，因此尿液偶爾呈現乳白色是正常現象； 但如果尿液的顏色總是乳白色的，可能是因為攝取過多的鈣質。天竺鼠攝取過多的鈣質，可能會導致膀胱結石
供應含鈣量較低的食物（尤其是成年的天竺鼠），及充足的飲水。

不吃不喝、飲食量減少
1.門牙過長或咬合不正。
2.環境過於寒冷或潮溼。
3.通風不良，過熱。
1.牙齒過長：可提供充足的硬料食物，如乾草、穀物、磨牙棒等，嚴重者送醫處理（專業的小動物獸醫會幫牠將牙齒剪短）。
2.牙齒破碎：平日餵食礦泉水（不可含碳酸鹽）或富含礦物質的飼料。注意病鼠進食的情況（若無法進食，須改餵食較柔軟的食物）和牙齒生長的狀況（上或下門牙可能因缺少磨合生長過快，影響進食）。
3.改善天竺鼠的居住環境。

流口水
門牙過長或咬合不正
見上

咳嗽、打噴嚏、流鼻水
1.墊料或乾草碎屑引起的噴嚏，屬於正常現象。
2.感冒；病毒或細菌感染。
改善居住環境

行動不便、腫痛
爪子過長，扭傷、骨折，外傷，Bumblefoot
定期修剪爪子可避免爪子過長；其他狀況，請儘速送醫治療

搔癢不停、皮毛中發現跳蚤、蝨子等
體外寄生蟲、居住環境不潔、沒有定時梳毛
1.體外寄生蟲可使用小動物專用的液態或粉狀除蟲劑，嚴重者送醫處理
2.勤換墊料、定期清理籠子
3.定期幫天竺鼠梳毛

禿毛、鱗屑、皮膚變黑
缺乏維他命C、皮癬菌感染
1.提供富含維他命 C 的食物
2.皮癬菌感染可使防治皮癬菌的天竺鼠專用洗髮精清洗患部，嚴重者送醫治療

不停眨眼、眼睛呈現乳白色
眼睛外傷，或異物（如乾草的碎屑）侵入眼睛
如果眼睛已經呈現乳白色，請送醫 治療，避免感染擴大

傷口（流血）
小傷口可利用沾優碘的棉花消毒傷口，通常很快就能癒合；嚴重者須送醫治療

懷孕與生產

懷孕初期因個體差異，有的天竺鼠在性格上會有所改變（大多數不會），其他並沒有明顯的懷孕表徵出現。

懷孕四週左右時，肚子開始明顯變大。此時要注意母鼠的飲食：給予較高的蛋白質鈣質等營養，但要注意不要給予過多糖分高的食物。攝取過多糖分會造成體內的鼠寶寶體型過大，在生產時容易造成難產。

懷孕後期母鼠會因為胎兒過大壓迫內臟，進而影響進食的習慣（少量多餐），同時體積變大不愛移動，常常躺著吃躺著尿，這段時間在墊料方面也要隨時更換，避免黴菌感染。

懷孕八週時要開始準備產房：首先將籠子搬到光線較暗且安靜的地方，增加墊料的量。若籠底是鐵絲網，就必須準備整塊的棉布，以防幼鼠卡入鐵絲隙縫間受傷。
天竺鼠雖然一胎平均只生2～4胎，但因為幼鼠的身體較大，所以懷孕後期要盡量避免抱上抱下，甚至是洗澡等較大的動作。

和所有動物一樣，待產的天竺鼠是很敏感的，除了換飼料和水以外儘量不要去打擾牠，更不要隨便抱來抱去。

母鼠通常在夜深人靜時生寶寶，和其它鼠類不同的是，天竺鼠寶寶出生時已經看的到聽的到，牙齒和身上的毛也長齊了，生後一兩個小時就可以四處走動，也可以吃柔軟的葉菜。牠們對母乳的需求性不像其它鼠類那麼高，也會藉著吃母親的糞便來補充營養和某些必須物質。

天竺鼠寶寶很黏母親，找不到母親時會以叫聲呼喚，藉以讓母鼠找到牠們，牠們也很依賴彼此，經常會擠在一起休息。

哺乳期間的母鼠要提供充足的營養：將成鼠飼料換成幼鼠飼料來補充鈣質與蛋白質，每天也要多給一些新鮮蔬菜補充維他命（新鮮的地瓜葉是很好的補品）。

不要隨意繁殖天竺鼠
除非有能力有環境飼養全部的小鼠，或者找到有心的領養者
也絕對不可以抱著好奇、尋找一夜情的心理讓母鼠懷孕

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Added on January 3, 2009, 3:06 am训练上厕所

通常天竺鼠都喜欢在角落头或比较暗的地方方便.所以厕所盆应该放在角落头.厕所盆里的bedding最好是和笼里的不同,这样它们比较容易分别.在厕所盆的bedding放些它们的粪便和有尿的bedding,用气味告诉它们那儿是厕所.如果看到它们在厕所盆方便,那就可以奖厉它们.如果在厕所盆外方便也不能打骂它们.

最后,不要对它们抱太大的希望,也不要期望100%成功.它们偶而也是会在厕所盆外方便的.

修甲

天竺鼠需要经常修剪指甲.如果指甲过长就会向内长,伤到脚.剪的时候最好能在亮的地方剪,那样才容易看到指甲里的血管.

This post has been edited by carolhyf: Jan 3 2009, 03:45 AM

thanks carolhyf for teh info, eventually, there are something i dont quite agree

1. toilet training, i totally agree with some1 in cutie cavies or cavie cage, it's all down to the piggy if they wanted to BE train or not.

2. bathing a new piggy, NOT after 1 monthor 3 months.. immediately after being bond to bath to aviod any germ dirty or anything.

3. for the food part, i perfer 60% hay | 30% vege + fruit | 10% pellet, if they eat the right vege n fruits, is better then depends on commercial pellet for the 2nd main portion of their food... we never know WHAT EXCATLY is in commercial food..

4. Bedding.. i think fleece bedding is the best, if you do the right combination and wash fleece before use.... and i know ikea do sell fleece blanket for 12.90 only, if it can fit in your cage nicely. is a good choice...

and carol, i have detail info on building cage, and dont worry, it's an easy job , well at least for me.. based on my Interior design dip and art based background and my family ( dad is a "PCK" )
and now also still helping my sister finish their architec model assignment...

yea, nail clipping wasnt that hard if you done for other animal before, i do trim my cat nail

so alfafa or bermuda or timothy grass?which is better?im buying 2 to mix them.