Keeping Pet Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Healthy

Rabbits and guinea pigs can make great family pets.  They are social creatures and have funny, unique personalities.  They can be great for someone who may be allergic to dogs or cats.  But rabbits and guinea pigs require some special care that many may not be aware of.
Both species should be housed in enclosures large enough to accommodate them to have an eating space, sleeping space and latrine.  Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box.  Guinea pigs should have at least one space in their cage with a solid bottom to help prevent foot injuries from wire flooring.  Both species are very susceptible to heat stroke and should be kept in temperatures ranging from 60 to 75 degrees.
Both should be fed primarily grass hay like Timothy hay or Orchard grass.  They should have hay as well as fresh water available to them at all times.  In addition to the grass hay, they may have a small amount of pelleted feed, ample fresh veggies and small numbers of fruits daily.  Dark leafy greens are good treats, but too many of these may cause urinary crystals and bladder stones.  Guinea pigs are unique in that they absolutely require vitamin C to be supplemented in their diet every day, just like humans!  Pelleted guinea pig feed does have some vitamin C in it already but this will degrade over time, so don’t depend on it as a sole source.  Good sources of vitamin C include: red and green bell peppers, dark leafy greens like kale, mustard greens and dandelion greens, oranges, and strawberries.
Both rabbits and guinea pigs should have food available to them at all times as they need to be eating throughout the day to keep their unique gastrointestinal systems healthy.  Any time a rabbit or guinea pig stops eating and passing feces, is considered an emergency and they should be seen by a veterinarian right away.
Both species have a tendency toward dental problems.  Again, feeding them primarily a grass hay diet will help them keep their molars worn correctly, but some rabbits and guinea pigs may still experience overgrowth of their teeth that require veterinarian intervention to correct.  Signs of dental problems may include drooling, dropping of food, or reluctance to eat certain food items.
Lastly, never house a rabbit and guinea pig together in the same cage.  Besides the fact that many will become aggressive with each other, rabbits can carry a respiratory bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica which, while not problematic for rabbits, can be deadly to guinea pigs.
Cinema Veterinary Centre is located at 23460 Cinema Drive, suite L in Valencia.  For more information, please call 661-253-9300.