A Beginner Guide to Guinea Pig Care

Guinea Pigs are adorable and known for their incredible vocal range. This popular species makes wonderful companions for the right owners.

However, taking on any animal requires consideration, so if you are planning on bringing Guinea Pigs into your home, here is what you need to know.

What are Guinea Pigs?

Guinea Pigs (known as Cavies or the less official potatoes on legs) are rodents that originate from South America.

These adorable creatures are herbivores and sadly, they are no longer found in the wild. When this species still roamed around, they would have lived in herds and moved around feeding off vegetation.

The average life expectancy for a Guinea Pig is between 4-7 years. However, they have been known to live much longer!

Male guinea pigs are refered to as ‘boars’, female pigs are called ‘sows’ and their babies are referred to as ‘pups’.

There are many different guinea pig breeds so the weight range for an adult Guinea pig is between 800g-1.8kg. Some pigs will grow up to 30cm in length!

Guinea Pigs can also have different fur types and lengths; you can find short-haired, rough-haired and long-haired pigs!

Are Guinea Pigs Social?

Yes extremely! Guinea Pigs are herd animals, and they thrive off the company of their kind. So, this species will need to be kept in same-sex pairs at a minimum.

This sweet social species will typically thrive being kept in herds, provided they have enough space.

It is a myth that male guinea pigs inherently don’t get along, it does depend on the space and individual personalities.

Guinea Pigs are known for having a long gestation period, around 59-72 days with litters of around 1-6. Their pups come out fully formed with fur and eyes opened, essentially miniature versions of their parents!

What Do Guinea Pigs Eat?

Guinea Pigs are natural grazing animals, so the most important part of their diet is hay. 80-90% of their diet should consist of high-quality dust-extracted hay.

Hay is packed with fibre and chewing on it encourages a grinding motion. Hay is essential for guinea pig digestive and dental health! Meadow hay is ideal for daily use, and they should have a constant supply of fresh hay. Timothy hay can be blended into the mix a couple of times a week for palatability and to encourage more foraging.

Alongside their hay, Guinea Pigs should be offered a high-quality pelleted diet that is enriched in Vitamin C, as Guinea Pigs are unable to produce their own.

Now, Guinea Pigs do tend to be greedy and will happily gobble up bowlfuls of dry food, but keep in mind… A pair of pigs will only need TWO TABLESPOONS of hard feed a day.

Fresh Vegetables and Fruit will also play an important role in their diet. Safe vegetables include:

• Bell Peppers
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Curly Kale
• Brussel Sprouts
• Celery

Never feed iceberg lettuce, avocado, mushrooms, potato, onions or garlic. These can be extremely harmful.

Where to House Guinea Pigs?

Guinea Pigs can typically live indoors or outdoors. However, if you take on Guinea Pigs between October- March that haven’t been exposed to the outside, they should be housed indoors or in a sheltered area like an empty shed or garage.

This is because they likely won’t yet have grown fur thick enough to contend with winter temperatures.

Read our Guide to Keeping Small Animals Safe in Cold Weather.

Guinea Pigs will need large and spacious enclosures. The bigger the better, but as a minimum a pair of pigs should be offered the following hutch or cage size: L120cm x W45cm x H40cm.

Remember, any cage or hutch should be considered a bedroom. Somewhere to eat, sleep and relax, but ALL guinea pigs will require several hours of exercise every day in a larger space.

Some owners allow their guinea pigs to free roam most of the time in a secure garden or household. Otherwise, they should be given access to an exercise area, which should be at least: 200cm by 100cm.

Guinea pigs homes will need a soft absorbent substrate to soak up their mess, Natural Wood Shavings are ideal for keeping guinea pigs comfortable.

Alternatively, many owners now rely on fleece blankets, which provide a cosy soft surface. With this option is it important to wash blankets regularly with pet-safe detergent.

Guinea pigs can be quite messy, as they urinate and release droppings on the go. Keeping their hutch or cage clean is essential for their well-being. They will need twice weekly full cleaning, using pet-safe disinfectant and daily spot cleaning.

Will Guinea Pigs Play?

Yes, this sweet species will enjoy playing with toys and interacting with each other.

Wooden gnaws are important for enrichment and to provide Guinea Pigs the opportunity to exhibit natural chewing behaviours.

Jingle balls, wicker items and cardboard all make great options for keeping pigs entertained.

Remember Guinea Pigs’ instinct in new environments and when they are worried is to hide. So, ensure you have safe spaces for your pigs to retreat to when things get too much.

Do Guinea Pigs Need Grooming?

Regular grooming will keep your Guinea Pig’s fur and skin healthy, reduce knots and give you a chance to bond with your furry friend. As a rough guide, Guinea Pigs with short hair can be groomed at least once a week and those with longer hair will likely need grooming more often.

Brushes and combs are ideal for grooming smaller animals.

Nail clipping is another important part of Guinea Pig ownership. Overgrown nails cause pain and discomfort, and eventually can lead to deformities and issues in the joint. Most Guinea Pigs will need their claws checked and trimmed every three or four weeks.

Common Guinea Pig Health Issues

It is important to be aware of some of the more common problems that Guinea Pigs encounter.

Overgrown Teeth

Guinea pigs have four long teeth at the front that might occasionally become broken or overgrown. This makes it hard to pick up and eat food. If your guinea pig rapidly loses weight and does not appear to be eating, see a vet immediately.

Mites and Lice

These parasites live in the fur, lice can be seen with the naked eye, however mites are microscopic.

Infestations with these parasites cause scratching, squeaking and bald patches to appear. If you are concerned schedule a vet visit and pick up some safe Small Animal Treatment.

Respiratory Infections

If a guinea pig is wheezing and/or has wet nostrils, there is a risk they have a respiratory infection. Please seek immediate vet advice.

With the right care and attention, Guinea Pigs can make wonderful pets. Their vocalisations and social interactions make them adorable and highly entertaining.