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For more information on guinea pigs
check out these websites:

• Animaland - guinea pig care

• ASPCA - guinea pigs

• RSPCA - guinea pig care

Guinea Pig Care

Life Span -- 5-7 years

Picking up a Guinea Pig

Always pick up your guinea pig with two hands, one hand under their bum and the other on their chest.  Don’t let your guinea pig wander on tabletops or anywhere he can fall off.  When holding your guinea pig be gentle, don’t squeeze him or grab him.  Guinea pigs can be scared of humans until they get used to being held.

Food

Guinea pigs do not eat meat.  They are herbivores, which means they eat grasses, vegetables and fruits.  Give them a small amount of a variety of fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C (peppers, parsley, spinach, kiwi and papaya) every day along with guinea pig pellets from the pet store (these must be specific to guinea pigs because they include some vitamin C which is important for guinea pig health).  Include timothy hay in their diet too.

Water

All animals need water to live.  Guinea pigs should always have water available to them through a sipper bottle.  Water must be changed every day and the bottle should be completely cleaned once a week.

Shelter

Guinea pigs need a living area that is at least 65 cm by 65 cm space with 30 cm high walls for one guinea pig.  Guinea pigs like company so 2 guinea pigs can live together as long as they are the same sex and have a large enough living space.  Never bring a new adult guinea pig into the cage unless they have grown up together.  Adult guinea pigs will fight.  It is best to introduce a 6-week-old guinea pig to adult guinea pigs.  The “cage” can be open on top and should be made out of wood, metal or plastic.  The floor bottom should be flat not mesh.  Cover the flooring of the “cage” with  shavings (cedar and pine are not recommended) .  Clean out the dirty shaving every day and clean the complete cage at least once a week to make sure their bedding is dry and clean.  Put in a box or another object so the guinea pig has a hiding/resting place.  Add other interesting paper tubes and boxes to liven up their space. Click here to learn how to build a guinea pig condo.

Exercise

Guinea pigs need exercise like all animals.  Allowing them out of their cage in a safe enclosed area to run around is good exercise.  Making a large enclosure for him will also give him room to romp and scurry.  Click here to see how to build a guinea pig habitat.

Grooming

Guinea pigs need to have their fur brushed and their nails trimmed.  Click here to see how to clip their nails.  You can give your guinea pig a bath if he is smelly or greasy.  Use shampoo from the vet and put your guinea pig in the sink.  Make sure you keep his face dry and rinse out all of the shampoo by pouring water from a cup all over his body until there is no soap left in his fur. Dry him off with a towel, do not use a blow dryer because the heat can burn their skin.

Health Care

Call your vet or take your guinea pig to the vet  if you notice him having diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, hair loss,  drinking lots of water, not moving around much, not eating or anything else you think is unusual. Injuries due to falls or other accidents should be treated by a veterinarian right away.

Friendship

When you first get your guinea pig give him a few weeks to get used to you before you start holding him and playing with him.  Guinea pigs can be very scared of humans.  They scurry and hide to avoid being caught.  Start by talking to them and then feeding them from your hand.  Brush them and let them explore their surroundings before you try to pick them up.  Once they get used to you spend time with them every day.