Guinea Pig Care 101
Here are the most important things to think about before you add guinea pigs to your family!
Accommodation
Guinea Pigs need much more space than many people realise! Most cages sold in pet shops are far too small. We recommend a space at least 6 ft by 2 ft for a pair, for example a 5x2 c&c or a 6 ft hutch.
For larger groups you will need to add another 2x1c&c grid per piggy, or look at converting a shed or playhouse. Guinea Pigs are ground-dwelling animals, they often struggle with ramps. Any extra levels or lofts should be considered a bonus and they don’t count towards the space requirements. i.e. A double-level 3-foot hutch is not the same as a 6-foot single-level! Ramps should be shallow, around 30 degrees.
If you are using an outdoor hutch, you will need to ensure it is predator-proof. I recommend installing extra locks and regularly checking for damage.
Diet
80% of your Guinea Pigs diet should be hay. Opt for the best quality you can afford - it should be fresh smelling, green and long stemmed! They must have hay available 24/7 - an insufficient amount of hay can cause dental and digestive problems. Just 16 hours without food is fatal to a Guinea Pig.
Guinea Pigs need a cup full of fresh veggies per day - they cannot produce their own vitamin C so this is important to their health. Aim for a good variety and everything in moderation, there are a huge variety of things they can eat! Peppers are a great daily choice as they are low in sugar and high in vitamin C. Anything dark green will be high in calcium - ie. Kale, spinach etc and should be fed only a couple of times a week in order to reduce the risk of bladder stones.
Fruit can be given as an occasional treat. Here’s a great guide to feeding veggies
https://www.guineapiggles.co.uk/guinea-pig-food-daily-dietary-requirements/
You can also find a huge amount of free food for your Guinea Pigs growing in the wild or in your own garden. For example, dandelions, plantain, sow thistle, clover. Never pick anything if you aren’t completely sure. The smallest part of your Guinea Pigs diet is made up of pellets/nuggets/dry food. Make sure you choose a plain nugget, and not a colourful muesli as these are full of sugars and can cause selective feeding. We use Science Selective nuggets (the grain-free is excellent) and Burgess Excel. You don’t need an overflowing bowl! 2 tablespoons per piggy is a good guide.
Grooming
Long haired Guinea Pigs will need regular grooming to prevent matting. It’s advisable to keep long haired trimmed where it drags along the ground, or around the bottom. Even short haired guinea pigs will benefit from being brushed to remove loose hair and dry skin. They will also need their nails trimming. You can easily do this yourself with small pet clippers, or vets and groomers may be able to help you.
Bonding with your piggies
It’s important to remember that Guinea Pigs are prey animals and therefore they will startle easily and move away from you trying to grab them. It can be a long process to get your piggies to trust you and some just don’t particularly enjoy being picked up. I recommend leaving them alone for 24-48 hours when you get home, to allow them to settle in quietly.
Often, the quickest way to your Guinea Pigs heart is through their stomach. You can try bringing a small veggie snack to them each time you approach them, so they will quickly associate you with food. Sit by their cage while they eat and talk softly. After a while you can try and entice them to take food from your hand - be patient!
Catching them can be tricky and stressful for both you and the Guinea Pigs. You can try gently coaxing them into a hide or a corner of the cage to gently scoop up. Hold them firmly with two hands, close to your lap or chest. I recommend that children sit down when holding Guinea Pigs and leave the catching to the adults if they are small.
Healthcare
Guinea Pigs are classed as exotic animals, which unfortunately means that most vets don’t receive much training in how to treat them. You may need to look for a specialist exotic vet, but you may also get lucky and find a general vet with a special interest. Guinea Pigs are very good at hiding illnesses, so it’s vital that you get them to a vet quickly if they are showing signs of being unwell. It’s a great idea to weigh your guinea pigs weekly as weight loss is often the first sign that something is wrong.
