Looking after your guinea pig
Congratulations on acquiring your new guinea pig
Guinea pigs (cavies) originate from South America and make fascinating, intelligent and friendly pets. There are three major varieties: short-haired smooth coated, harsh-coated rosetted, long-haired silky coated. They communicate through a whole range of high-pitched squeaks, chatterings and grunts. On average, they live from four to eight years and are therefore a long-term commitment, often outliving a child’s interest.
Grouping
Guinea pigs are very sociable animals and live in extended family groups in the wild. They need company of their own kind and can be kept in small same sex groups or pairs. Groups of males or a pair of adults that don’t know each other may fight so it is best to choose young litter mates of the same sex (two brothers or two sisters), a father and son or a mother and daughter.
It is important to realise that guinea pigs are sexually mature at an early age (females at four to five weeks old and males at eight to nine weeks old) and need to be separated into same sex groups to prevent unwanted pregnancies. If males and females are to be kept together, then the male should be castrated.
It is important to realise that guinea pigs are sexually mature at an early age (females at four to five weeks old and males at eight to nine weeks old) and need to be separated into same sex groups to prevent unwanted pregnancies. If males and females are to be kept together, then the male should be castrated.
Rabbits
Guinea pigs should not be kept with rabbits as they can be bullied and injured by them. In addition, rabbits and guinea pigs have quite different feeding requirements.
Housing
Bedding
Feeding
Housing
Guinea pigs need a weatherproof, predator proof hutch raised off the ground and positioned out of direct sunlight and wind. Allow plenty of room i.e. at least 120cm long x 60cm wide x 60cm high for two guinea pigs.
In cold weather, the hutch should be moved into a shed or porch but do not place the hutch in a garage where exhaust fumes could be toxic to the guinea pigs. There should be two connecting compartments: one for the day and one for night retreat with a solid wall. Guinea pigs like their own separate sleeping compartments.
Ideally, the hutch should be within a secure wire enclosure where the guinea pigs can graze and exercise. Tubes, boxes, logs and flowerpots placed in the run provide interesting hiding places for guinea pigs.
Ideally, the hutch should be within a secure wire enclosure where the guinea pigs can graze and exercise. Tubes, boxes, logs and flowerpots placed in the run provide interesting hiding places for guinea pigs.
Bedding
Bedding should be soft and dust free e.g. shavings, straw, shredded paper. Soiled bedding should be removed daily and all bedding should be removed before cleaning the hutch once weekly.
Feeding
Guinea pigs are naturally grazing animals, so it is important that they have an unlimited access to grass and good quality, non-dusty hay. The fibre provided by grass and hay is essential to prevent dental disease and to keep the digestive system healthy.
Guinea pigs lack the enzyme required for the production of vitamin C, therefore it is essential that their diet contains enough vitamin C. Growing, pregnant or sick guinea pigs have increased vitamin C requirements. The best sources of vitamin C are fresh vegetables and fruit e.g. dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale, cabbage, herbs (e.g. parsley), dandelion leaves, red and green peppers, apples, carrots, tomatoes and even kiwi fruit.
A small amount of dry, concentrated guinea pig-specific food should be fed twice daily. Complete pelleted diets are preferred to coarse mixes to prevent selective feeding which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Specially formulated guinea pig diets contain additional vitamin C, but they cannot replace the vitamin C provided by fresh vegetables and fruit.
Don’t be surprised to see your guinea pig eating its own faecal pellets or caecotrophs. This is a normal process called coprophagy and optimises nutrient utilisation.
A small amount of dry, concentrated guinea pig-specific food should be fed twice daily. Complete pelleted diets are preferred to coarse mixes to prevent selective feeding which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Specially formulated guinea pig diets contain additional vitamin C, but they cannot replace the vitamin C provided by fresh vegetables and fruit.
Don’t be surprised to see your guinea pig eating its own faecal pellets or caecotrophs. This is a normal process called coprophagy and optimises nutrient utilisation.
Health matters
It is important to check your guinea pig daily for signs of good health. It should be alert, bright eyed, active and interested in food. The coat should be clean and glossy without hair loss or scratching and there should be no discharges from the eyes, nose and mouth. The guinea pig’s breathing should be quiet and regular.
Don’t forget to check that your guinea pigs bottom is clean, as fly strike can be a rapidly developing problem particularly in long-haired breeds. Grooming is important especially with long-haired breeds and nails and teeth should be checked regularly to ensure that they don’t become overgrown.
Don’t forget to check that your guinea pigs bottom is clean, as fly strike can be a rapidly developing problem particularly in long-haired breeds. Grooming is important especially with long-haired breeds and nails and teeth should be checked regularly to ensure that they don’t become overgrown.
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