Guinea Pig — life stage (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)
Source: first-hand Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner text, saved to source_file; every claim below is a C1 byte-substring of it.
Claims
How Do I Set Up a Cage for a Guinea Pig? Many commercial guinea pig cages are too small, especially for more than one animal.Recommended minimum cage space: For one guinea pig: at least 7 square feet (about 42 x 24 inches, or 106 x 61 cm) For each additional guinea pig: add 2–4 square feet Cage height: about 18 inches (46 cm) Cages may be hard plastic, metal, or wire.Place the cage where the temperature is 65–75°F, out of direct sunlight and drafts.Arrange the cage so the guinea pig moves between sleeping, eating, and drinking locations.Add a second level with a solid ramp or a small barrier to encourage movement.Is a Guinea Pig Safe Outside Its Cage? Because they are small, guinea pigs are easily injured outside their cages.Have the cage set up, and have food, bedding, chew toys, food dishes, a water bottle, and a brush ready.Put a small wood or cardboard box inside the cage as a hiding place for security and sleeping.Provide daily supervised out-of-cage time in a guinea pig–proofed area without cords or other chew hazards.Trim nails regularly to prevent overgrowth and injury to handlers.Start clipping nails when guinea pigs are young so they become used to it.Always supervise a guinea pig outside of its cage, and make sure the area is safe and free of hazards.
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Source: pdf-raw/owner-care/merck_guinea_pig.txt · https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets