Cleaning
It is very important to keep your cavies clean! They are prone to illness if damp/dirty and very rarely recover. They can get sick and pass away very quickly, and you may never even know they are sick. As prey animals, they hide all symptoms of illness so as not to be singled out by a predator until it’s usually too late to do anything for them.
Fresh food should be offered daily – clean out left over pellets and uneaten veggies/hay. Be sure the bedding doesn’t become damp and that there is no smell coming from the hutch. Cavies shouldn’t have a bad smell – if they do, they are likely sick. I strongly suggest weighing your cavies weekly on kitchen scales (mine are from K Mart - $8.) and recording their weight in a book. Weight loss is a great indicator of illness.
NOTE: If you can find one, be sure your cavy is seen by an exotics vet, as regular vets aren’t usually trained in cavy treatment. They are very different to cats and dogs, and the majority of vets will not be too experienced with them.
Move the interior of the hutch around occasionally to give the cavies something new to see/do. Try to keep the sleeping area away from the food/water. If using an outdoor hutch, move it so they have a new view every week or so. Food and water can be placed at opposite ends of the hutch to promote exercise/movement in a lazy or overweight cavy.
A cavy will rarely need a bath. The Rex breed, in fact, will likely never need washing. Baths can even damage their coat and make it less springy, so take care if you plan on exhibiting your Rex. Cavies are very clean animals, and if they are ever dirty it is likely because someone has forgotten to clean out their hutch! Elderly cavies (over 5) sometimes need their bottoms cleaned. If bathing a cavy, use safe pet shampoo only. Keep clear of the eyes and nose, and don't submerge your pet at any time. Water should be just up to their mouth when they stand comfortably.
Hair dryers can be loud - I bought a special quiet pet one from Retrovision for $50. Most cavies can be towel dried and put back into a clean hutch, but long or coarse coats usually need a little extra attention. Be sure any cavy is completely dry before you put them back in their hutch or they could catch a cold. Avoid bathing elderly or very young cavies. If you must, wipe them with a warm, damp towel and dry gently.
Fresh food should be offered daily – clean out left over pellets and uneaten veggies/hay. Be sure the bedding doesn’t become damp and that there is no smell coming from the hutch. Cavies shouldn’t have a bad smell – if they do, they are likely sick. I strongly suggest weighing your cavies weekly on kitchen scales (mine are from K Mart - $8.) and recording their weight in a book. Weight loss is a great indicator of illness.
NOTE: If you can find one, be sure your cavy is seen by an exotics vet, as regular vets aren’t usually trained in cavy treatment. They are very different to cats and dogs, and the majority of vets will not be too experienced with them.
Move the interior of the hutch around occasionally to give the cavies something new to see/do. Try to keep the sleeping area away from the food/water. If using an outdoor hutch, move it so they have a new view every week or so. Food and water can be placed at opposite ends of the hutch to promote exercise/movement in a lazy or overweight cavy.
A cavy will rarely need a bath. The Rex breed, in fact, will likely never need washing. Baths can even damage their coat and make it less springy, so take care if you plan on exhibiting your Rex. Cavies are very clean animals, and if they are ever dirty it is likely because someone has forgotten to clean out their hutch! Elderly cavies (over 5) sometimes need their bottoms cleaned. If bathing a cavy, use safe pet shampoo only. Keep clear of the eyes and nose, and don't submerge your pet at any time. Water should be just up to their mouth when they stand comfortably.
Hair dryers can be loud - I bought a special quiet pet one from Retrovision for $50. Most cavies can be towel dried and put back into a clean hutch, but long or coarse coats usually need a little extra attention. Be sure any cavy is completely dry before you put them back in their hutch or they could catch a cold. Avoid bathing elderly or very young cavies. If you must, wipe them with a warm, damp towel and dry gently.