Guinea Pig Care
Happy Guinea Pig Care
Piggie Love Company
The lone guinea pig is a lonely guinea pig. Guinea pigs are social creatures and they enjoy the company of others much as we do. Keep your guinea pigs in groups of two and higher. Before you combine guinea pig, keep in mind that in the wild, guinea pigs would live in a herd dominated by a single male who had exclusive breeding rights to all the females. For this reason, more than two males kept in the company of females can cause problems as each competes for the position of dominate male (and breeding rights.) You are likely to have the most success with single sex groups. If unsure, start with two females.
Choose the BEST Guinea Pig Cage
The first step in proper guinea pig care is to provide an ideal cage. The best choice is a cage made of sturdy wire with a removable bottom. The cage should be easy to disassemble as you will need to wash it every week. Size is important – make sure you choose the largest cage you can accomodate. You will want room for a shelter (somewhere for your guinea pig to hide), water bottle, food tray and toys – plus room for you guinea pig to run around. Chapter 4 goes into more exact detail.
Your guinea pig cage should not rest in direct sunlight. If your guinea pigs live outdoors in crates, think about bringing them inside for the day during the summer. Unlike people, guinea pigs do not have the ability to sweat or dissipate heat. Allowing your guinea pig to become overheated can become a life threatening situation. The best temperature range is 64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once per week you’ll want to take the cage apart, dispose of bedding, wash the cage with hot soapy water, and then reline with dry clean bedding.
Healthy Food!
Guinea pigs need fresh food twice per day. Give your guinea pig a combination of high quality guinea pig food and fresh fruits and vegetables. Choose dry food that contains a good quantity of fiber and vitamins (especially vitamin C as guinea pigs cannot produce their own.) Make sure you know exactly which foods your guinea pig can and cannot eat. Flowers, leaves, potatoes, and raw beans are poisonous. Good foods would include hay, grass, salad, carrots, parsley, celery, clover, dandelions, strawberries, apples, and pears. If there is any food leftover between meals, please remove or your guinea pig could become ill from eating old food.
Water
Stagnant water breeds bacteria which can make your guinea pig ill. Be sure to switch water out daily and clean both the water bottle and sipper each time. Keep an eye on your guinea pig and make sure that he or she is really drinking the water you place in the cage. Consider adding a bowl of water in addition to the bottle to further encourage drinking. If all else fails, do a lap feeding where you place the water in their moths directly using a syringe.
Exercise
Your guinea pig needs sufficient exercise for maximum health and longevity. Put toys in their cage that stimulate activity such as a bricks, blocks of wood, pvc tunnels, and/or ball with a bell.
Grooming
Unlike you, a guinea pig only needs a bath every 4-6 weeks. Skin problems can be prevented by the use of an anti-parasitic AND an anti-fungal shampoo. Carefully wash your guinea pigs ears as well as this area can harbor mites. Clean old toothbrushes can be especially useful for gently cleaning your guinea pig’s fur and underside. Make sure the water you are bathing your guinea pig in is no more than one inch deep as you do not want to risk drowning or water in the nose/eyes. Always supervise your guinea pig while in the bath – accidents do happen! Afterwards, towel dry very gently and keep wrapped up to avoid chills.
Teeth and toenails – Your guinea pig’s teeth and toenails will perpetually grow. While proper diet and veterinary care should keep your guinea pig’s teeth in check, regular toenail clipping is required – otherwise toenails can grow so long foot puncture and then infection is a risk. Toenails can be clipped using a regular or specialty nail clipper. Afterwards, reward your guinea pig with a treat!
For more in depth information on guinea pig care and how to avoid common health problems, please subscribe to my newsletter!
