Guinea Pigs

Basic Care Plan for Guinea Pigs

 

You should allow 7.5 square feet of cage space as a minimum for one guinea pig (even that is rather small), or 10.5 for two. However, the bigger the cage the better. A hutch outside is NOT recommended as guinea pigs have a very limited temperature tolerance. Other animals could break into the cage and harm them, as well. Your guinea pig(s) will be better off if they are housed inside, where they will be safe and warm,and where they can smell you, and also so that you can interact with them more.

 

Good location for the cage. A place where the family frequents several times a day for decent periods of time is the best location. A living room, bedroom, or hallway is the best choice because there is frequent traffic. Your guinea pig will feel more included in your life and you'll be able to easily interact with your guinea pig whenever you pass by the cage. Just don't put the cage outside where there are lots of predators out there or in the garage car because the fumes can harm or even kill them and it can get very hot in the summer.

Guinea pigs will also need some floor time each day — let them loose in an enclosed space. You can do so by setting up a pen in a room (an area with easily-cleaned floors) or outside if it isn't too hot or cold . Make sure to have plenty of space in their exercise area so that they can run and play. This exercise time is crucial to a guinea pig's happiness. Make sure to put a few toys and tunnels in the play area.

 

Make sure that fresh water is available to guinea pigs at all times.

 

• Change your guinea pigs' water bottle, clean and change it daily. Get a guinea pig/rabbit bottle with the little ball in the spout and keep it full.

   

• Be sure to clean the nozzle frequently to keep it free of hay and pellet gunk which can breed harmful bacteria and clog the water flow.

   

• Avoid adding anything to the water such as vitamin tablets as they become ineffective very quickly and as they do not have a good taste, guinea pigs are unlikely to drink the water anyway.

 

Make grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass hay available to your pigs 24/7. Guinea pigs are grazing animals so they need something to graze on or their digestive tracts can shut down. 

 

• Alfalfa hay should only be fed to babies 6 months old and younger, and pregnant or nursing sows, because they have a lot of extra nutrients that healthy adult guinea pigs do not require.

   

• Timothy, orchard grass, or bluegrass hay should be fed for guinea pigs older than 6 months. It should be fed 'free choice,' which means they have some in the cage all the time.

   

• Lack of hay can lead to malocclusion, a misalignment of the teeth that may require surgical correction, and GI Stasis, shutting down of the digestive tract often leading to death.

 

Green leafy vegetables should make up about 20% of your guinea pigs' diet. Be careful about leafy vegetables as too many of these can cause stomach upsets and diarrhea.

 

• Veggies good for guinea pigs include celery, carrots, off-the-vine tomatoes, cucumber, corn, small amounts of spinach and pod-peas. If a guinea pig seems unwilling to eat any vegetables, try cutting them up into slices or small chunks. Some fruits are ok for guinea pig treats such as strawberries and apple pieces but these can only be given occasionally as some of the acids can be harmful to guinea pigs.

   

• Vegetables to avoid include any vegetable in the cabbage family, iceberg lettuce, rocket salads, red leaves, broccoli, cauliflower, beet greens, potatoes, and radishes.

   

• Each guinea pig will require about one serving of one cup per day. Dividing the veggie meal into two servings is a good idea since guinea pigs are grazing animals who prefer to eat throughout the day instead of one big meal.

 

• Do not feed rabbit or other small animal pellets - the vitamin content is not the same, and can be harmful to your guinea pig!