How to Take Care of a Guinea Pig

Guinea Pigs are good pets for children that can be responsible enough to care for them and handle them properly. Guinea Pigs are gentle, rarely biting, don't have a desire to escape and love attention. Taking care of these adorable little piggies isn't difficult, but it's important that you know how to take care of a guinea pig before you decide to run out and buy one or two or a whole herd.

Social Animals

Guinea pig are social animals, meaning they like to be with other guinea pigs. You really shouldn't have one guinea pig all by itself. They do better if you have two or more together. The best way to do this is to have two or more females together. You may also be able to have two or more males together if they were already living together before you got them or they are very young, otherwise they may fight and seriously injure each other. Guinea pigs will breed and quickly multiply and since there are already so many guinea pigs in need of good homes, I do not recommend having males and females together.

Commitment

Taking care of a pet is a commitment and guinea pigs can live up to nine years. If you are concerned that your child may lose interest in taking care of their piggies after a few weeks, consider being a foster home for a couple of guinea pigs from a local rescue shelter first. If your child proves that they will continue to provide care and not lose interest, then it's safe to move on to permanent pets. You will probably even be able to adopt the piggies you are fostering.

Big Enough Cage

Many people do not realize how much room guinea pigs really need. Unfortunately, the thought that guinea pigs are perfectly fine in little cages often comes from seeing them kept in cages that are way too small for them in pet stores. Pet stores do not consider the cage they are keeping the guinea pigs in as a permanent home, but as a place to display them for sale. Guinea pigs truly need more room and should have approximately four square feet of cage floor space per piggy. The cage needs to be well ventilated and have a solid bottom. You should also put a box or something in the cage for your piggies to go into because guinea pigs like to have a safe place to hide.

Cage Cleaning and Food

Any wet or soiled bedding should be cleaned out of the cage daily. All of the bedding should be removed weekly and the cage bottom should be washed thoroughly. Rinse and dry the cage bottom before adding fresh bedding. Provide your guinea pigs with fresh water and food daily. They should be given a variety to eat including guinea pig pellets, timothy hay, and fresh vegetables and fruits. Guinea pigs need vitamin C, so make sure they get small pieces of fruit like oranges or strawberries that are high in vitamin C or give them a supplement for guinea pigs. Make sure you remove leftover vegetables and fruits daily so your piggies don't eat any rotting food. Guinea pigs also need something to gnaw on because their teeth grow their entire lives. A piece of wood is fine as long as it hasn't been treated with any chemicals. You can also buy chew blocks at a pet store.

Handling Your Piggies

It is important that you are careful when handling your piggies. They cannot catch themselves if dropped and can easily be injured. Use both hands and be sure to support its bottom when picking one up. Once you pick the piggy up, hold it close to your body as you carry it. Also, do not hold a guinea pig on its back. Guinea pigs cannot breathe in this position and will suffocate.

Adopt a Guinea Pig

Before you go to the nearest pet shop or breeder to buy a guinea pig, check around for rescue shelters that have them. Unfortunately, many guinea pigs end up in shelters because they are given up by their owners or rescued from guinea pig mills. By getting a couple of guinea pigs from a shelter, you are giving them another chance at a better life with someone who will love them and give them a good home.

Sources:

ASPCA - Guinea Pigs

Humane Society - Guinea Pigs