[Gpdd] [CARE] <RE: what do pigs need?>

[petunia_loo at yahoo.com]

Hi Chasity,
It looks like you are on your way to giving Eddy the
best of care. First, ditch the vitamin drops! Vitamin
drops contain fat-soluble vitamins that can build up
in a cavy's body and cause an overdose. Pigs should
recieve enough nutrition through their pellets and
daily veggies. You should supplement their diet with
25mg or so of vitamin C either through daily veggies
that have that much C or through a vitamin C
supplement. I would avoid the vit. C supplements that
go in the water - Vit C is unstable in chlorine, as
well as sunlight.
About their daily veggies - it's good to give them
about a cup a day of a variety of veggies. Look for
veggies high in vitamin C, low in calcium and oxalic
acid, and limit cruciform veggies (can cause gas) and
veggies/fruits high in sugar. 
I hope your vet is experienced in treating cavies.
Most cat and dog vets are not. Your vet may treat his
lice with a pyrethrins product. However, if he was
treated with Ivermectin, that would both treat for
cavy lice and also would treat mites in case he
acquired those in the pet store. You can also treat
lice with Advantage (not any other brand - only
Advantage.) The Guinea Lynx website has the dosage
information for both of these products.
Here are some good sites with care information that
you can check out:
www.cavymadness.com
http://www.aracnet.com/~seagull/Guineas/
http://web.onetel.net.uk/~petergurney/
www.guinealynx.info
www.cavycages.com
Finally, consider getting your boy (make sure your vet
confirms he is a boy) a roommate of the same gender.
Pigs are very social creatures and most enjoy
companionship.

Good luck at your vet appointment!

~Lauren, Piglet and Pooh Bear

=====
EACH YEAR in the United States, MILLIONS of healthy companion animals are euthanized simply because they can not find homes.
Adopt a homeless pet.
Become a foster home.
Have your cats and dogs spayed and neutered.


Join the Guinea Pig Rescue Transport Group!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gpig_transport

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