 Keeping
Guinea Pigs As Pets
Guinea Pigs: Guinea Pigs are inquisitive,
friendly animals that enjoy being handled and rarely
bite or scratch – making them ideal pets for young
children. They are active during the daytime, they
are fun to watch and play with, and they communicate
vocally, with different noises having different
meanings! They originate from South America and live
between 4 and 8 years. Males are known as boars;
females as sows. They like company and, as with all
pets, should be treated gently – they can be nervous
creatures.
Housing
Your Guinea Pig can be kept indoors or outdoors
all year round. They do not like sudden loud noises
so it’s best to position their hutch in a quiet
position. A wooden hutch is ideal although a wire
cage can also be used provided it is fitted with a
plastic floor to avoid injury. Your hutch must be
weatherproof with a separate nest area for each
Guinea Pig and plenty of dry bedding - shredded
paper or wheat straw are ideal but do not use fluffy
bedding. A louvered door can be fitted over a wire
door to offer protection in cold weather. Two Guinea
Pigs should ideally be housed in a hutch or cage
around 120 x 60 x 45cm. If using a smaller hutch,
consider adding a separate run in the garden or
allow your pets some daily supervised exercise
outside their cage. The hutch should allow shade
during the heat of the day and shelter from strong
winds. A grass run can be built into the hutch or
located elsewhere in your garden – again with a nest
area protected from the sun. Keeping Guinea Pigs
and Rabbits together in the same hutch is not
recommended. They have different requirements and
unless you have previous experience of keeping both
pets together, they should not be mixed. Feeding
Guinea Pigs are natural grazers so they should be
given plenty of fresh clean hay along with a quality
Guinea Pig mix or pellets twice a day (note, Rabbit
food is not suitable). Guinea Pigs lack the enzyme
that produces vitamin C so it’s important to
supplement their diet with small quantities of fresh
fruit and vegetables - melon, oranges, and dark
green leafy vegetables are all good sources but, as
with Rabbits, care should be taken not to overfeed.
You can also buy vitamin C to add to your Guinea
Pig’s water – this is recommended. Fresh drinking
water should always be available from a gravity
bottle, and food should be given in earthenware
bowls – Guinea Pigs will chew plastic! Looking
after your Guinea Pig
Exercise & Entertainment:
Give your Guinea Pig as much floor space as possible
– at least 900 sq cms – and provide them with an
outdoor run. Guinea Pigs are not usually interested
in toys, but may enjoy exploring cardboard boxes,
tubes, or pipes, helping them feel safe, secure, and
‘hidden’ which in turn helps reduce stress. Hiding
small amounts of food around the hutch is a fun way
to keep them alert and active. They can also be
allowed to run indoors under supervision but be sure
to keep cats and dogs out of the way.
Handling:
Young Guinea Pigs are nervous creatures and should
be allowed to gradually get used to their
surroundings – and to you. For the first few days,
talk gently to your Guinea Pig to build up trust,
then slowly introduce your hand into the hutch. Your
Guinea Pig will become inquisitive and more
confident around you. After a week or two, try
picking up your pet using both hands. Place your
thumb across its shoulders with your fingers wrapped
gently around the ribs; place your other hand
beneath the hindquarters for support. This is a good
time to start grooming your Guinea Pig – something
which should be done daily.
Breeding:
Guinea Pigs can actually breed from 30 days, but to
ensure healthy babies (and parents) it is
recommended that males are not mated until 6 months;
females 10 months. Pregnancy lasts 60-65 days,
producing a litter of 3-4 babies. Young Guinea Pigs
can be weaned at 3-4 weeks. Always seek expert
advice before considering keeping a breeding pair.
Tips for a happy healthy Guinea Pig
Community:
Guinea Pigs are sociable creatures so it’s best to
keep a compatible pair or group - two young from the
same litter (same sex) or a mother/daughter,
father/son combination. Neutering and spaying will
prevent unwanted litters and fighting. We do not
recommend keeping Rabbits and Guinea Pigs together
as their requirements are very different.
Health:
A healthy Guinea Pig will be alert, have bright eyes
and a shiny coat. Breathing should be quiet and
regular. If you are worried about any aspect of your
pet’s health, seek veterinary advice. For a healthy
life, your Guinea Pig needs the following:
- Your time and attention - they love company
- A good balanced diet with no sudden changes
- Clean dry bedding changed daily
- Clean dry housing, cleaned once a week with
a mild disinfectant
- No extreme or sudden changes in temperature
- Water bottle and feed bowls cleaned daily
- Gnawing blocks and chew toys to help wear
their continually growing teeth
- Daily grooming – especially for longhaired
breeds
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