Guinea Pig Care Guide

Basics:

Guinea pigs are popular pets known for their adorable personality and chatty nature.

They typically weigh 2 to 3 pounds, and come in a variety of different colors and coat types.

They thrive in large, clean enclosures with safe enrichment and other guinea pig friends to interact with.

Guinea pigs are known for their cute wheeking noises when they are excited and make for fun and rewarding pets.

Guinea pigs are cute, goofy, gentle natured, chatty, affectionate and inquisitive.

They are crepuscular, which means they’re most active at dawn and dusk. However , they often adjust to their owner’s schedules.

Guinea pigs are a 5-8 year commitment, depending on the age at adoption.

Before bringing guinea pigs home, be sure to:

  • Have a vet fund for emergencies and routine care.

  • Provide ample space for a properly sized enclosure .

  • Create a guinea pig proofed space for supervised time out of the enclosure.

  • Commit to regular cleaning to maintain proper hygiene and prevent illness.

  • Stay up to date on care standards.

  • Stock fresh produce and prepare a daily salad .

  • Provide a daily Vitamin C supplement.

Once you’ve done your research, decide what gender you would like to keep.

Males (Boars)

  • Tend to be slightly larger than females.

  • Can be more territorial and difficult to bond with new friends if un -neutered .

  • Often more outgoing and confident with humans

  • Typically louder and may have a stronger odor .

  • Males have grease glands that need regular checks and occasional cleaning.

Females (Sows)

  • Generally smaller and easier to bond with other guinea pigs .

  • Unspayed females have a high risk of reproductive cancers (mammary, ovarian, and uterine).

  • More active and independent than males .

  • Tidier and tend to have less odor.

    *These are just generalizations and all animals will be different regardless of gender when it comes to personality and behavior.

Males and females can live together peacefully if one or both genders are spayed / neutered.

Fixing your pigs reduces the risk of many health concerns and is something we highly recommend.

Fixing your pets reduces territorial behaviors, odor, and reproductive health risks, leading to a more positive experience for guardians and a happier, healthier life for your animals.

Guinea Pig Enclosures:

Guinea pigs require large spaces (we suggest a minimum of 10 horizontal sq feet for a pair with an additional 3 square feet per pig after that).

We do not promote keeping solitary pigs however the minimum for one would be 8 square feet.

We promote the highest standards for all species and suggest giving more room than recommended whenever possible .

You can purchase enclosures online from brands like Midwest and combine two for extra space or you can do a DIY cage using C&C grids (cubes and coroplast)

DIY enclosures allow for the most room and can be fun to create to your individual space.

Since Guinea pigs are prey animals, they thrive when they feel safe. A proper enclosure should allow space for :

Hiding spots (at least two entrances/exits per hide).

  • Running and exercise (they get the zoomies and need lots of room to frolic).

  • Toys and enrichment

  • A designated bathroom area

For bedding, we suggest:

  • Absorbent liners made specifically for Guinea pigs

  • Fleece bedding with an absorbent layer underneath.

Avoid straw, corncob and cedar

For Enrichment Include:

Multiple hide outs such as:

  • Large bendy bridges

  • Wooden, cardboard, plastic or ceramic hides. (The more hides the better).

  • Toys and chews. This keeps their brain stimulated and their teeth healthy.

  • Hanging toys.

  • A variety of safe textures and materials

  • Food based enrichment like foraging toys

Potty Training & Litter Boxes:

Guinea pigs can’t be fully litter trained, like rabbits, but they naturally pick a few spots to go.

Setting up a litter box in those areas can help keep their enclosure cleaner and make spot cleaning easier.

  • Place it in corners where they tend to go.

  • Add hay inside or near the box since they like to eat while they go.

  • Use safe, absorbent bedding , like an unscented paper based litter or line the litter box with news paper and paper towels.

  • Clean daily to prevent odor and build up.

  • Alternatively use absorbant bath mats for areas that are frequently used as a potty space.

What to Avoid

  • Clay /clumping cat litter (can be ingested)

  • Cedar, straw, corncob

  • Pellet bedding can be uncomfortable on their feet.

Even with the litter box, they will still poop throughout their enclosure so regular spot cleaning is important.

Diet (Adults)

A proper diet is crucial for Guinea pig health

  • Hay: Guinea pigs require unlimited access to Orchard and Timothy grass hay. Hay is the largest part their diet.

  • Pellets: provide 1/8 of a cup daily per pig, preferably in a forging toy or snuffle mat.

  • Recommended brands for pellets are Oxbow and Sherwood

  • Fresh salads daily: half a cup of greens per pound of body weight. Include safe, herbs, leafy greens and vegetables and occasional fruits. This is an excellent guide to feeding fresh.

  • Vitamin C supplement: guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C so a daily supplement is essential. We suggest 10-30 mg/kg daily to prevent scurvy. Giving a ¼ of a 100mg chewable or plain Vitamin C tablet, or provide a small amount of liquid vitamin C drop to each guinea pig. Do not put vitamins in the water! Do not put vitamins in their water!

  • Freshwater 24/7: use at least one water bottle per guinea pig. (glass bottles are more sanitary). Check for clogs regularly.

Babies up to 6 months old (Also sick, elderly and nursing pigs)

  • Unlimited pellets

  • Unlimited Alfalfa hay

  • Extra vitamin C

Grooming

  • Nail trimming: required regularly to prevent overgrowth ( typically every 3-4 weeks)

  • Brushing: long-haired guinea pigs, need daily brushing and occasional trims around the rear to keep it clean.

  • Short haired breeds should be brushed once a week

  • Grease gland cleaning (mostly males)

  • Ear cleaning as needed

  • Scent gland and perineal sac maintenance(mostly for older males)

Guinea pigs should not be bathed unless advised by a veterinarian. If there is a mess you need to clean on their body you can use a damp wash cloth.

Cleaning

To keep your guinea pigs healthy, clean their enclosure properly and regularly.

  • Spot clean daily ( remove waste and uneaten food)

  • Change bedding regularly ( varies by bedding type and number of guinea pigs).

  • Use white vinegar for cleaning surfaces

  • Only use unscented detergent for fabric liners. Guinea pigs are prone to respiratory infections.

Socializing

Every guinea pig will be comfortable with different levels of human interaction.

Most guinea pigs do not love to be picked up so it is best to interact with your guinea pig while they have all 4 feet on the floor until trust is built.

  • Interact with them at ground level until they are comfortable.

  • Scoop them up gently from underneath, supporting their entire body.

  • Use food for bonding hand feed their salads and occasional healthy treats. They are very food motivated and this will go a long way with building trust.

  • Be patient, go at their pace.

Health Concerns

Guinea pigs like all domesticated animals need access to veterinary care when sick.

It’s important to know the signs of illness so that you can get your guinea pig professional help as quickly as possible.

Some common illnesses to look out for are :

  • Respiratory infections: labored breathing, nasal discharge

  • Heat stroke: panting, collapsing. Temps above 80F

  • Vitamin C deficiencies: lethargy, weight loss, patchy, dull and rough feeling coat.

  • Bladder stones & UTI’s: signs can include blood in urine or painful squeaking while urinating. Frequent urination, hunched posture.

  • External parasites: Mites and lice can cause itching and hair loss

  • Dental issues : Drooling, difficulty eating, weight, loss, overgrown front teeth.

  • Impaction in older males: soft poop stuck in the perineal sack, difficulty defecating

  • Foot sores: also called Bumblefoot is a painful condition where guinea pigs develop sores, swelling, or infections on the bottom of their feet. Symptoms to watch for our redness, swelling, or irritation on the feet, difficulty walking or reluctance to move, severe cases, deep ulcers, bleeding, or puss.

  • GI stasis : A guinea pigs gut should always be moving, which is why you often see them poop while they are eating.

    If you notice your guinea pig is not pooping, eating or they’re bloated and look uncomfortable they could be in stasis. Infant gas drops and either

Sherwood recovery food or oxbow critical care are vital to have on hand.

You can ask your vet for gut motility meds such as metoclopramide and pain relief such as meloxicam to have on hand.

In cases that are not quickly alleviated, your guinea pig will need to see a vet ASAP. GI stasis can be fatal.