Guinea Pig Care

Guinea pigs are wonderful pets who start out shy but form a close bond with the humans who look after them once trust is built. They live for 4 - 7 years and love being picked up and stroked.

Some interesting facts

• They are most active at dawn and dusk.
• A guinea pig’s teeth never stop growing.
• They need lots of fresh hay every day because chewing it wears the teeth down. Keeping a wood block or fruit branch in their enclosure also helps.
• Like humans, they can’t store vitamin C so they need a daily dose from fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Guinea pigs love to burrow and hide in their sleeping area.
• They make lots of weird sounds to communicate. Figuring out what they all mean is a lot of fun.
• When guinea pigs are super happy or excited they jump around their enclosure. This is called ‘popcorning’.
   

What equipment do you need?

• Hutch and exercise run – roomy and weather-proof with an enclosed part for sleeping and hiding. 120cm x 60cm x 45cm will house two guinea pigs
• Water bottle
• Bedding straw
• Grass hay: timothy or lucerne hay
• Pellets
• Heavy ceramic food bowl
• Treats

Looking after your guinea pig

• Place hutch away from rain, wind and direct sunlight
• Layer bedding hay over an absorbent base like shredded ink-free paper, cat litter or wood shavings
• Feed two large handfuls of timothy or lucerne hay, 1/4 cup of green leafy vegetables, 1/4 cup of guinea pig pellets
• Occasional guinea pig treats are ok
• Change water daily to keep fresh
• Remove droppings, wet spots and uneaten vegetables daily
• Replace bedding hay weekly
• Allow free-range exercise but supervise carefully
• Handle gently and regularly. Use two hands to pick up

Other factors to look out for

• Clip their claws every few weeks
• Provide a gnawing block if needed for overgrown teeth.
• Wood shavings from cedar or other fragrant woods can be poisonous
• No more than two guinea pigs per hutch. Fights will break out
• Handling too often or too roughly causes stress
• Don't give access to things that shouldn’t be chewed, like electrical cables.