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Guinea Pig CareGuinea pigs are one of the most beloved and widely owned pets in the United States, due in large part to their distinctive personalities, relatively long life-span, and ease of care. Usually living between 5 and 7 years, guineas are ideal pets for small spaces as well as for children as they enjoy daily attention and activity. Once you’ve made the decision to become a guinea pig owner, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps each day to keep your new pet happy and healthy.
Before You Buy
How many guineas are you interested in raising? Many people think that having only one pig will be easiest; however, these animals are prone to loneliness if they don’t receive enough interaction. Two things to consider:
Compatibility
While it’s best to pair two babies or an adult and baby guinea together, it is possible for two adults to integrate successfully. The compatibility of your guineas largely depends on their personalities, though you should keep a careful eye on your new pets for the first few hours after pairing to watch for fighting or clashes.
Quarantine
If you’re introducing a new guinea to an existing pet, be sure to quarantine the new animal for 2-3 weeks before the pairing to prevent the spread of diseases as infection can easily be passed from one guinea to another.
When You Get Home
When you first arrive home, your new guinea will want to be left alone for a couple of days to adjust to unfamiliar surroundings. Use care when handling your guinea as most are frightened by sudden movements, and some do not enjoy being picked up at all. Always supervise children as they handle their new, fragile pets.
Cage Size and Housing
The size of the guinea pig cage you choose is crucial to the happiness of your guinea. Always choose the largest cage you can accommodate, as more room allows your piglet ample space to root and play. For one guinea, a 30” x 36” cage is recommended while for two animals, a 30” x 50” should be sufficient.
If possible, avoid manufactured wire cages as the metal can hurt the sensitive feet of your pet. Cages made of wire cubes or lined with Coroplast sheets are superior as they allow for an even resting and walking surface. Leaving your guinea in an open topped container is preferable. Aquariums are not recommended for housing as they offer poor ventilation and can cause distress in your guinea by making him feel isolated from his surroundings. It is never recommended that you house your guinea pig outdoors as inclement weather and predatory animals pose major threats to their continuous wellbeing.
The Health of Your Pet
One of the best things you can do for your guinea is to find a reputable veterinarian to care for him. Take your new pet to the vet as soon as possible after getting him home so the doctor can familiarize himself with the animal and check for any early signs of illness. The veterinarian will be able to give you specific tips on care and maintenance of your guinea pig. Weighing your guinea weekly on a small kitchen scale is the best way to monitor his health – often the first sign of illness is weight loss. Keep a chart of his weight and be sure to speak to your vet if you notice any changes.
Guineas are particularly susceptible to heat stroke, so try to maintain the temperature of their room between 60 and 80 degrees. Another thing you can do to help keep your pig healthy is to line their cage with sawdust shavings and give it a thorough cleaning each and every week. They easily contract common viruses due to their small size, so be on the watch for symptoms like sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, and lethargy. While guineas are generally very healthy animals, they tend to need medical attention rather quickly once they become ill.
Grooming Your Guinea
Long haired guineas will require more grooming than short haired and should be groomed once a week. If necessary, feel free to bath your guinea in a bath of warm water using specially formulated kitten baby or guinea pig shampoo so as not to irritate their sensitive skin. Guinea pigs are more likely than some animals to have dry skin, so you may notice some normal flaking and shedding occasionally. In addition to regular baths, you may want to comb your guinea. This not only helps prevent excess shedding but provides you a great opportunity to bond with your pet.
In addition to grooming, a guinea pigs nails need to be clipped periodically. Just like with a dog or a cat, you want to avoid cutting down to the “quick” of the skin, which could cause painful blisters or infections. Instead, use a light source underneath your guinea’s nails to identify where the skin begins, and then cut the excess nail with common fingernail clippers or a small animal nail clipper.
What to Feed Your Guinea Pig
You should aim to supply your guinea with an endless supply of high quality grass hay, such as timothy hay. Many people think that Alfalfa is appropriate for all guineas but can actually cause health issues due to its high calcium content, so should therefore be reserved for pregnant guineas or as an occasional treat. In addition to the hay you feed your pet, you should also strive to give him about a cup of fresh vegetables, such as leaf lettuce or carrots, each day. This will provide additional nutrients as well as help keep your animal’s teeth sharpened for eating. Be sure to also include a drip bottle of fresh, cool water in your guinea’s cage, and never add supplements or drops to the water itself.
Some people find the task of providing unlimited grass hay daunting, so you may consider hay available in tablet form. This is an easy way to ensure your guinea gets the nutrition it needs. Another supplement you should consider feeding your guinea include Vitamin C, which is available in pill or drop form, and also occurs naturally in unsweetened cranberry juice. Like humans, guinea pigs cannot produce their own Vitamin C and need it in their diet to be healthy. Be sure to remember that guinea pigs are allergic to or poisoned by the consumption of a number of plants, including rhubarb, wild celery, and any plant that grows from a bulb, such as tulips. It is not recommended that you feed your pig anything containing nuts, dairy products, or meat products. Also discouraged are rabbit pellets, cruciferous vegetables, or iceberg lettuce.
Exercise
All guinea pigs need daily exercise to thrive. One way to achieve this is to take your pig out of his cage for play with other guineas or yourself for at least 30 minutes per day. Be sure the guinea pigs play pen is free of harmful objects such as metal or small balls and includes a padded surface to run on such as carpet or grass. Playful by nature, your guinea will appreciate the addition of guinea pig toys to his cage, such as a cardboard tube to chew and run through, an obstacle course, and even toys with bells! Be sure and allow your guinea plenty of time to run around and explore as it prevents weight gain and loneliness. Make sure to train any children in the home to use care when handling guineas as they are easily injured by forceful hands and quick to bite if they feel threatened.
Behavior
Did you know you can train a guinea pig? It takes time and patience, but guineas can not only be trained to use a litter box, they can also learn complex paths to food and water! Guinea pigs can jump twelve inches in the air, and often make quick, darting motions during play. When in groups of two or more, they have been known to “stampede” and also socially groom each other. More than one guinea, particularly males, are prone to fighting if in the same vicinity, so use caution when allowing two or more guinea pigs to play in the same area.
Do not be alarmed at the noises coming from your new pet: they are normal! Some of the noises known to be made by guineas include wheeks (a loud whistle-like noise), purring (made when the guinea is enjoying himself, much like a cat), and chirping (which is often related to stress or hunger in younger guineas). Guinea pigs have highly developed senses of hearing, smell and touch, and also have a wider range of vision than their human counterparts.
Breeding
Able to breed all year round, a female guinea pig can produce up to five litters a year! Litters generally consist of anywhere from 1 to 6 pups, though the most common number of offspring is 3. Females may become eggplant shaped when pregnant and often face significant difficulties during labor. It is advisable not to cage male and female guineas together to avoid excessive breeding, though it is often difficult to tell them apart. Ask your veterinarian about the sex of your guinea, and any special steps that should be taken to avoid reproduction if you wish.
With careful care and attention, your new guinea pig can live a long and healthy life. Though they are relatively low-maintenance pets, guineas desire high levels of love and attention, both of which should be easy for a doting pet owner to dole out! You’ve made an excellent choice in becoming a guinea pig owner and are sure to enjoy many years of happiness with your new pet!
Interesting Facts About Guinea Pigs
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