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Are you thinking about adopting your first guinea pigs? Are you unsure what exactly you need before bringing them home? Well we are here to help clear up any confusion and ensure your new family members have everything they need to live happy and healthy.  1. Cage / Enclosure Firstly, you need to provide them with an enclosure or cage to live in. We strongly recommend Ozzy cages for a number of reasons, as they provide a number of benefits over other types of housing, which you can read more here. The first part of our beginner series covers choosing the right size Ozzy cage for your family, which you can also find here.  Ideally you want to avoid any cages with wire flooring as it can cause injury and inflammation to the sensitive paw pads. One of the most common misconceptions is that guinea pigs are small animals and therefore require small cages, however guinea pigs are actually very active animals and require a reasonably large floor space to stay fit and healthy.  To make things easy Guinea Pigs Australia has a range of bundles and kits available for purchase that includes everything you need to set up and build your own Ozzy cage - including grid panels, connectors, ties, corflute bases and fasteners.  2. Corflute Base  Your Ozzy Cage kit will come fitted with a corflute base in the size of your choice. There is also heaps of colours to choose from including white, lime, purple, yellow, pink and blue to add a personal touch!  The corflute base not only acts as the bottom of the cage, it also helps to contain any mess, and is waterproof avoiding any leaks or stains onto the floor below.  3. Bedding  Having the correct bedding is one of the most important parts of guinea pig care, as hard, abrasive or uneven surfaces can cause injuries to the foot pads and cause conditions such as bumblefoot which can be very painful and even life threatening. Ozzy vet bed liners are Veterinary Approved bedding, and known for its soft, padded texture, moisture wicking and hypoallergenic properties, and not to mention a variety of fun colours and patterns. There are a number of different bedding options available and ultimately comes down to personal preference, however the most important aspects to consider when choosing a bedding type is to choose something soft, absorbent, and easy to clean.  4. Water  It's important to provide clean, fresh water daily to your guinea pigs and having at least 1 water sipper available is a must. We will cover more on diet in part 3 of this series.     5. Accessories Now comes the fun part - customising your cage and adding fun toys and accessories! We recommend at least 1 hidey space per guinea pig, however the rest is up to you! The HAYPIGS circus range is a definite favourite amongst the GPA team!  6. Adding your guinea pigs  Yay! It's finally time to add your guinea pigs to their new home.  Check out our Beginners Guide to Guinea pigs here:  Part 1: Choosing the right cage size  Part 2: Everything you need to get started Stay tuned for Part 3: What foods do guinea pigs need

Did you know urinary stones (otherwise known as uroliths) are a very common condition in guinea pigs, and can become life threatening?!  Read on to find out all you need to know about urinary stones in guinea pigs.  HOW ARE URINARY STONES FORMED?  Most urinary stones are formed from excess calcium in the body. Calcium excretion through the urine is a normal process for guinea pigs, however when there becomes too much calcium (usually from high levels of ingestion through the diet), the excess calcium begins to sediment in the kidneys and bladder, forming what we know as 'sludge'.  This 'sludge' has a very gritty sand-like texture, and can be dense, heavy, and difficult for the body to excrete. Sometimes this sludge will stick together forming small stones - known as uroliths. These uroliths can continue to get bigger and bigger, and in some cases can get very large!  WHAT HAPPENS WHEN URINARY STONES FORM? HOW DOES IT BECOME LIFE THREATENING?  Urinary stones can form anywhere along the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.    These stones can be very painful for the guinea pigs. They cause a lot of pain and localised inflammation as they travel down the narrow passage of the ureters and urethra, and can move around inside the bladder irritating the bladder wall. This can also cause bleeding, which people often notice in the urine.  Uroliths become life threatening when they either cause so much pain the guinea pig stops eating or behaving normally; resulting in gut stasis, dental disease, pododermatitis and other health conditions, or when the stones cause a urinary obstruction by blocking either the ureters or urethra and not allowing urine to pass through. If this occurs it becomes an emergency and veterinary care is required immediately.  WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF URINARY STONES?  The most common sign people tend to notice is RED URINE. If urinary stones are involved the red tinge is caused by blood in the urine. It is important to note however that guinea pigs can also get pigmenturia, which is a discolouration of urine caused by eating coloured vegetables such as beets, and is not always blood.  You might also notice VOCALISATION or DISCOMFORT when urinating, or when touching their abdomen, or ABNORMALITIES WITH URINATION such as small frequent amounts, straining to urinate or dripping urine.  Due to pain your guinea pig may also have a DECREASED APPETITE or appear LETHARGIC.  WHAT PREDISPOSES MY GUINEA PIG GETTING URINARY STONES?  High Calcium diets, such as lucerne and alfalfa hay. These types of hay should be reserved only for young guinea pigs who are growing, or pregnant guinea pigs who utilise the extra calcium through formation of foetal skeletons and producing milk during lactation. There are also some vegetables that are very high in calcium such as spinach, parsley and kale, and should be fed only a few times a week.  Not drinking enough water is another common cause. If your guinea pig is not drinking enough or does not have constant access to clean, fresh water, the filtration by the kidneys is reduced, and also results in less 'flushing' of the urinary tract to remove the excess calcium.  Urinary tract infections can increase the risk of urinary stone formation. Guinea pigs with UTI's will display similar signs to those with urinary stones and a vet visit is warranted.  Obesity, Inactivity and pain from other conditions  Kidney disease  HOW ARE URINARY STONES TREATED?  If you suspect your guinea pig has urinary stones, or you have noticed any changes with their behaviour or urination, a vet visit is always recommended. Pain relief is one of the most important modes of treatment, as pain in guinea pigs can lead to many other health conditions such as gut stasis, dental disease and bumblefoot. Your veterinarian will provide your guinea pig with adequate analgesia to make them comfortable.  Your veterinarian will most likely perform some tests on a urine sample, take blood to assess kidney function and other body organs, and perform imaging such as an xray or ultrasound to help diagnose the condition.  Image credit: Exotic Vet Clinic  If your guinea pigs have tiny stones or sludge, your vet may be able to flush the urinary tract with catheterisation under sedation or an anaesthetic. If larger stones are present your guinea pig may require surgery, where they undergo a full general anaesthetic and the stones are removed directly from the bladder through a procedure called a cystotomy.  Feeding a balanced diet is also an important part of treatment. Limiting the amount of HIGH calcium vegetables to only a few times a week can reduce the likelihood of urinary stone formation. It is NOT recommended to remove these foods completely as calcium along with other nutrients such as Vitamin C are an important part of a guinea pigs diet, and balance and variety is key. You can find many resources online outlining the calcium and vitamin C content of different fruits and vegetables. 

  For today’s blog Rachael from @GuineaPigGardens give’s her honest review of Bunny Nature Pellets after trying them with her piggies.  🐹What Chaff/Pellet’s to feed your Guinea Pig 🐹 *Disclaimer - This is my opinion - based off what I know guinea pigs diet should consist of. I am not telling you to only buy expensive food for your pets but just letting you know what the best options are for your guinea pigs health* 🐰 Bunny Nature 🐰 Today I will be talking about Bunny Nature - Nature Shuttle & Guinea Pig Dream Under 5 Months & Over 5 Months.This guinea pig pellet/mix is FREE from preservatives, flavour enhancer’s, added flavours, colours & sugar. This brand is German & aims to guinea pigs return to a naturally/species appropriate diet. You initially start your guinea pigs (if over 5Months of age) on Nature Shuttle - once they are eating all of it out of a bowl before topping it up you can transition them onto Guinea Pig Dream.If they are under 5 months of age you can start them on the Under 5 months Guinea Pig Dream. I’m incredibly impressed too by the ingredients list on this packaging. The ingredients are from natural plants & far exceed the ingredients on the other pellets i’ve reviewed. Timothy hay, meadow fescue & foxtail, german ryegrass, blue grass, dandelion leaves, meadow sweet, sweet pepper & maca root are just some. They also include a list of Analytical Constitutes which include crude protein, fats, oils, fibre ect. And also Nutritional Additives such as Vitamin C, Copper, Iron & Magnesium. They also state on the packaging that some plants from where guinea pigs originate from are included. All ingredients are correctly dosed. The pellets themselves are quite large, it looks like 3 pellets together. This is purposely designed for tooth abrasion. This brand of guinea pig food can be purchased on the Guinea Pigs Australia website. Nature Shuttle is usually $23 & Guinea Pig Dream (Pup & Adult) is $37. But they do come on sale from time to time which is when I bought mine. For what your getting though I think that’s a bargain, especially if your guinea pigs end up loving it! It is different to any other guinea pig chaff/pellet i’ve tried. Some of my guinea pigs really enjoy it & other’s not so much. I would highly recommend giving it a try for your piggy’s though, nutritionally I personally believe this is the best on the market i’ve found. You can go on the Guinea Pigs Australia website for a read & they also do treats for guinea pigs! I’ll make another post for that. Once again, this is my opinion & my experience with this brand of food. Please do your own research & see what you think. Kindest regards, Guinea Pig Gardens https://guineapigsaustralia.com.au/products/bunny-nature-guinea-pig-dream-young?_pos=8&_sid=08ae90292&_ss=r https://guineapigsaustralia.com.au/products/nature-shuttle-guinea-pig-introductory-feed-for-guinea-pigs?_pos=2&_sid=08ae90292&_ss=r

Guest Speaker Blog by Racheal @ Guinea Pigs Gardens This ‘wheek's' blog post is following on from our winter care guide and Racheal has written up her top tips for keeping your furtatoes toasty warm this winter: ☃️Guinea Pig Care During Winter⛄️ Guinea Pig’s generally live comfortably between 16 - 26 degrees. Now it’s getting cooler there are some things we can do to keep them warm & happy. We can move outdoor hutches to a part of the yard where it doesn’t get too much wind. You can buy water bottle covers or hutch covers to help insulate their space. In Summer we love to give our piggies cold veggies from the fridge. During Winter it might be nice to leave the veggies out of the fridge to remove the chill off them before feeding them to your guinea pigs. You can also bring your guinea pigs indoors to keep them warmer as well a purchase some fleece tunnels, sacks or upside down cups. Your piggies will love snuggling up in these 🐹 Click here to shop our Fleece Accessories! For more tips and advice check out Racheal's Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/Guineapigstsv  

Temperatures are dropping and Winter is fast approaching, but here at GPA we have you sorted with everything you and your guinea pigs need to stay warm and cozy.  WATCH our latest video below:  2 in 1 hut - why we love it!  - Australian handmade  - Cute guinea pig design  - Converts from a hut to a bed  - 2 layers of fleece with central foam  - Free potty pad included - Hand or machine washable  HAYPIGS RANGE -Why we love it!  -Fun circus theme  -Crash mat is a large size and pee resistant - perfect for lap cuddles! -Circus Hidey Hut comes with 2 interchangeable pee pads and is a warm, cozy and secure place to sleep and hide -Machine washable products  -https://guineapigsaustralia.com.au/collections/hidey-houses-guinea-pigs   VET BED - Why we love it!  - Super soft and comfy  - Heaps of fun patterns to choose from and made to fit any cage size  - Heat retention: This bedding is designed for temperature control and retention in mind. It allows the guinea pigs own body heat to create a comfortable place to sleep, rest and snuggle. In summer months the bedding also allows for a cool place to rest as the high density fibres allow adequate air flow throughout the mat.  - Keeps your pets dry with a unique drainage and moisture wicking system which is woven in the under layer -Machine washable  -https://guineapigsaustralia.com.au/collections/vet-bed FLEECE LINERS - Why we love them!  - Australian handmade - Lots of fun patterns to customise your guinea pigs home  - Super absorbent to wick away moisture keeping your guinea pigs warm and dry - Easy to clean and machine washable  HANDMADE FLEECE ACCESSORIES - Why we love them!  - Australian handmade  - VARIETY- Lap pads, tunnels, hides, beds, fleece forests and more!  - Super soft and snuggly with many different patterns and designs  HAY - Why we love it!  - Doubles as a bed and a food source  - Fun to hide and burrow in, providing great enrichment  - Nutritious and integral part of the diet  - Good quality, soft hay reduces the chance of injury  -https://guineapigsaustralia.com.au/collections/hay-products   SHOP TODAY for all your guinea pig and rabbit needs. Proudly Aussie owned and operated, supporting small business. 

Cage Safety At Guinea Pigs Australia we only use grids which are recommended as safe for adult guinea pigs at 3.8cm per square in each grid.  However if you have young or very small guinea pigs you need to baby proof your cage as young pups and young cavies can slip through these small squares. We recommend baby proofing until the guinea pigs are at least 6 months of age.  NEW! We now stock Baby proofed C&C cages as standard. These are called Baby C&C cages - back in stock in June 2023. Be notified once they are in stock HERE How to Baby Proof your C&C Cage:  Pictured above is a Baby Proofed  C&C cage - doubling over the 9x9 grids. You can purchase extra wall kits here to add to your cage kit to baby proof - Click Here As this is only a temporary cage solution until your guinea pigs are at least 6 months of age you have a few options available to you.  1. Increase the height of your Corflute: We recommend a height of at least 20cm (instead of the normal 15cm) to ensure the guinea pig cannot slip through the grids.  2. Use bulldog clips and clip polar fleece or fabric to the outside of the grid walls  3. Use extra grids and double them up on the outside of the cage to reduce the hole width Once your guinea pig is large enough you can remove any baby proofing materials and proceed with a normal C&C cage.   

Choose a C&C Cage for your guinea pigs - check our our Ozzy C&C Cages perfect for your guinea pigs indoor home.

🐹 Texel Guinea Pigs Today’s blog post is written by our wonderful guest speak - Racheal from Guinea Pigs Gardens - scroll on to read all about Texel Piggies! Texel guinea pigs are an increasingly popular breed that originated in England from crossing a Rex with a Sheltie guinea pig. This is how they obtained they’re long wavy hair. Although the hair on they’re body will constantly grow, the hair on they’re face will not. They come in many colours. Merino is a very similar breed only they have a crest on they’re forehead. It is believed this breed came about from crossing a Rex with a Coronet guinea pig. This breed requires the same attention as that of a Texel. Both of these are long haired breed’s so they DO require more time & maintenance. If you choose to grow your Merino/Texel’s hair you should be brushing it at least once a day & keeping the hair trimmed around the ears, eyes, along the stomach & genitals. This prevent’s poops, hay or urine from matting the hair. Ear wax will also build up a lot quicker so I would recommend keeping the ear hair trimmed & cleaning the ears with a cotton bud & coconut oil every 3 months. Trimming the hair around the eyes is also very important. These breed’s are very susceptible to heat stroke in hotter climates. I would highly recommend that these piggy’s are kept indoors for 80% of the year unless you live in a cold climate or are able to closely monitor them. I personally absolutely adore this breed, it is by far my favourite. I have found this breed is one of the most trusting, confident & affectionate. Don’t get me wrong, each guinea pig has it’s individual personality & genetics. So that will play a part in each of them, as well as how much time you spend with them. But overall these are fantastic breed’s & I would recommend them for anyone who has the time to put into taking care of them as you will be greatly rewarded with they’re love & trust. Here are some photos of my Texel & Merino piggy’s below as well as a few i’ve previously bred.

Guest Speaker Blog Today we have the amazing Racheal from @Guineapiggardens writing a blog all about those wonderful Sheltie Piggies. You can see more of Racheal’s posts here: https://www.facebook.com/Guineapigstsv 🐹Sheltie (Silkie) Guinea Pigs 🐹Sheltie or Silkie guinea pigs (as some call them) are a straight, long haired breed of guinea pig which developed back in the 1970’s. They come in a variety of colours, are are a more petite breed & can live between 5-7 years on average. They’re hair is extremely soft/silky & grows back along they’re bodies. It can grow up to 24inches long if cared for properly. This means they take more time to care for on a daily basis & are considered a ‘high maintenance’ breed. 💇‍♀️To keep this breed in good condition you will need to brush them daily, trim the hair regularly (if your not growing it out), clean the ear wax regularly that will develop due to the long hair in/around the ears & keep this breed housed indoors. If you do not provide regular grooming to your Sheltie/Silkie guinea pigs it’s hair will matte & you may need to cut clumps out. This breed is also more susceptible to heat stroke. In terms of personality, as with all guinea pigs the more time you put into them, the more you will get out. Generally people who own this breed describe them as shy & gentle. This breed can be very quick & slow to warm up to you but once familiar they will be wonderful. ☺️

Everything you need to know about Rex piggies!

Tomatoes are often a loved treat by most guinea pigs, and provides many health benefits when included into the diet - but did you know parts of the tomato plant is actually toxic to guinea pigs?

Everything you need to know about how to build and create your own C&C cage for your guinea pig or rabbit

Forages for guinea pigs and rabbits including which ones are safe to eat, what forages they can have and what type of plants from your garden small animals can safely consume.

1. This little pig who is VERY happy with his apple! Source: guineapiggies.tumblr.com   2. These two love birds sharing a kiss! Source: guineapiggies.tumblr.com 3. The original tea cup pigs! Source: babble.com 4. This little pig who found a new best friend Source: buzzfeed.com 5. Them Piggy Feet! Source: fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net   6. An adorable wave hello! Source: cutestpaw.com   7. This Daisy Princess Source: stellarebp.deviantart.com   8. This sleeping Beauty Source: fairymagic.me   9. A Chubby Piggy after Lunch Source:guineapigcages.com   10. This exuberant fellow! Source: piggypiggypiggypiggy.tumblr.com   11. Just Sharing the Love Source: leny97.deviantart.com   12. This lucky teddy bear Source: guineapiggies.tumblr.com   14. This Piggy Romeo Source: emshaw.tumblr.com   15. This Avid Food Lover Source: thedailyguineapig.com   16. This Strawberry Sweetheart Source: buzzfeed.com   17. This Pink Nosed Piggy Source: statigr.am   18. This Handsome Face Source: guineapigsaustralia   19. This Hay Happy Guinea Source: smallpetselect.com 20. These two gorgeous Friends Source: woophy.com

This breed I’ve personally found to be one of the most ’cheeky’. However that aside, they can be very affectionate & have outgoing little personalities.

This innovative bedding idea was originally designed for use in veterinary clinics primarily targeting pets who required extra warmth after surgical procedures or has issues with arthritis. Since then vet bed has been made available to pet owners across the world and is now one of the most sought after bedding options for guinea pig care. What is Vet Bed? Vet Bed is made from high quality and double woven strength polyester. It has a high density pile that is woven into the carpet on non slip matting which creates a luxurious woolen feel. Perfect for guinea pigs or rabbits that love extra comfort. Benefits: Heat Retention: This bedding is designed for temperature control and retention in mind. It allows the guinea pig or rabbits own body heat to create a comfortable place to sleep, rest and snuggle. In summer months the bedding also allows for a cool place to rest as the high density fibres allow adequate air flow throughout the mat. Keeps Dry: Ever have soaked wood shavings, wet bedding or areas that seem to accumulate urine or water? Vet bed stops this cycle by providing a unique drainage system which is woven in the under layer. The fabric is designed to ensure that it will wick away moisture keeping the top clean and dry for your pets. Hypoallergenic: Some pets and many people suffer from allergies. Unlike wooden shavings vetbed’s design promotes a healthier bedding option with the fabric being designed with allergies in mind. Hygienic: The interwoven fibre technique promotes a bedding where dirt and debris does not become trapped in the material. This ensures that after every wash your pet will have a clean, bacteria free bedding which promotes a healthier environment. Durable: Vet Bed is also very hardy with high quality manufacturing it is able to withstand long use which is more cost effective in the long term. How to Use Vet Bed with your Cage Guinea Pigs Australia has designed and provided Vet Bed sizes to complement our Indoor C&C cages. Indoor housing protects your pet from predators, weather extremes, pests, illness is promptly detected and your pets are part of the house hold. Our smallest vet bed size will fix a 1x1 grid space or 35x35cm. We also have vet bed to suit our Indoor cages and lofts cut to be the exact size you require. See our Vet Bed here What if I don’t have a C&C cage or my cage is bigger/smaller? If you have a larger cage or smaller cage or just need a different size why not mix and match? Our smallest vet bed comes in a perfect 35x35cm square and our largest size is 70cm x 140cm. This makes it easy to purchase individual squares or a larger piece with smaller options to create the mat that you need. How to set up vet bed Vet Bed can be used alone or in conjunction with other bedding. We recommend placing an under layer or newspaper, towels and then vet bed to promote the correct set up in your cage. You can also use Vet Bed with a simple under layer of newspaper or puppy pads. The under layer is simply an added layer of protection. The moisture will collect in the bottom layer of the Vet Bed hence if no other under layer is used as it can withstand urine and moisture alone. How to wash Vet Bed Vet Bed can be machine washed in cold water. As hay can be present it is always best to remove any hay by hanging on the line and shaking the vet bed until this becomes dislodged. You can also vacuum daily with a small dust buster. Vet Bed can also be hand washed or hosed. It is best that vet bed is allowed to air dry but do not leave out in direct sunlight as the non clip mat can degrade faster over time with this method. It can also be left to dry indoors on a clothes horse. Vet Bed can be cleaned weekly. Unlike other bedding it does not require frequent cleaning however we recommend spot cleaning daily. Image source: HamsPigsBuns

What to include in your guinea pigs enclosure? It can be confusing with so many toys, accessories and information to decide on what your guinea pigs really need in their enclosure and what are optional items. Firstly the basics that every enclosure requires should meet the daily need of the guinea pig: Water: Guinea pigs require a clean, fresh and accessible source of water daily. Water bottles that can be easily attached to a cage such as the Critter Carafe are ideal. Water bottles should not leak, be easily attached the to cage, and be positioned so the guinea pig has easy access to them. If your guinea pig does not know how to drink from a water bottle, aim for a heavy ceramic bowl such as the Pipkins Bowl. Bowls do need to be cleaned more than water bottles as guinea pigs can defecate in them, hay and debris can enter the water source throughout the day. Hay Rack: Hay Racks are ideal to include in your guinea pigs cage. The Hay Pigs Wheek Wagon is an awesome addition to your cage, it has a safe lid to prevent any guinea pigs trying to enter and wheels for easy movement around the cage. Any hay rack needs to be secure. Have a lockable or secure lid and be able to hold a fair to moderate amount of hay. Remember hay needs to be replenished when it gets ow and must be available in unlimited amounts daily. If you wanted to opt for a non-lidded hay option invest in a hay pouch. Hay pouches are made from durable and soft material, they can clip onto the cage easily using cable ties or carabiner clips. They hold a large amount of hay, and contain an easy cotton flap to prevent guinea pigs accessing the top of the pouch. They are made from a safe cotton material only, no wood, metal or lids. Pellet Bowl: A pellet bowl should always be untippable and contain the correct number of pellets per guinea pig. If you are unsure of how much pellets you should be feeding a day invest in a StayBowl. Staybowl is a non-tippable, easy to use bowl with a ¼ cup area for feeding. Simply add pellets to the bowl and this is the amount your adult guinea pig should be eating per day. Pellets should be plain, contain Vitamin C and we recommend option for one with a pro-biotic for gastrointestinal health. Burgess Excel pellets meet all these recommendations in addition to being Veterinarian approved. Bedding: Guinea pigs LOVE soft beds. Just like us they love to lounge and relax. Invest in a soft bed for your guinea pig. Donut beds work great such as the Hay Pigs Crash Mat, or you can also opt for a hidey house and bed all in one. This provides a safe space for your guinea pig to hide in, as well as offering a soft place to relax. Hiding space: Guinea pigs are prey animals and need a safe space to hide. If your guinea pig likes to chew opt for a Log House. Other hidey housed include castles, pouches and tunnels. Now simply organise your bottom layer of bedding and your guinea pigs!