Guinea Pig Care
Housing
7.5 square feet is the bare minimum for one guinea pig but the bigger, the better. They do NOT use wheels or balls geared towards hamsters so plenty of space is important for their own exercise. Guinea pigs rely on horizontal space rather than vertical space as their bodies don’t allow them to climb although a small ramp to another level may be beneficial. You can buy a cage like the Midwest Guinea pig cage or make your own out of C&C grids, there are a few options, just make sure the cage meets size requirements. They are usually metal wire cages with a solid bottom (do NOT use wire bottom cages as they can injure your pet).
MidWest Guinea Pig Cage
C&C Grid Cages
Amazon Basics Guinea Pig Cage
Midwest Deluxe Guinea Pig Cage (XL and XXL only)
When setting up your guinea pigs cage, use soft paper based bedding or fleece that can easily be taken out and washed. Shavings, especially cedar and pine, are not appropriate and can cause respiratory issues. You should also add a water bottle, which should be checked daily to make sure the ball does not get stuck and they can continue to get water out. A ceramic or metal bowl should be used for pellets so that they cannot chew it. There should be at least one hide per guinea pig so they can retreat and feel safe. Be sure to add wood chews and other interactive toys for enrichment.
Safe Toys
Guinea Pig safe chews include natural wood block chews, apple wood or willow sticks, hay based chews, cardboard toilet paper rolls, ect. Make sure you are using guinea pig safe wood.
Grass mats, snuffle mats and other puzzle toys are great for enrichment.
Unsafe Toys
Toys that are NOT safe include rubber, soft plastic, metal, and toys that have small pieces that are not digestible. Edible log toys are also not safe and can cause your guinea pig to become sick if ingested.
Diet
-80% Hay
Guinea pigs should have unlimited access to hay as it is an essential part of their diet. They are constantly grazing on hay to keep their digestive system moving and keep their teeth worn down. When choosing a good hay, it must be fresh, green, and fragrant. Timothy or Orchard grass hays are the best options as they are high in fiber which is good for digestion and keeping a healthy weight. Alfalfa hay should be avoided unless used for sick, pregnant, or pups. It is high in calories and protein which could cause issues in healthy guinea pigs like obesity and urinary issues like stones. Also stay away from hays with add treats in it as guinea pigs can become picky.
-10-15% Leafy Greens and Vegetables
Guinea pigs need at least one cup of fresh produce per day with a variety of about three different veggies each time- at least one being a leafy green that makes up most of the cup. It is also good to rotate veggies so they are not getting the same foods everyday. Good choices for leafy greens include romaine lettuce, red/green leaf lettuce, kale, cilantro, and parsley. Other good veggies to include are bell peppers, cucumber, parsnips, squash, broccoli, and cabbage. Limit the amount of foods with high levels of oxalic acid like spinach, parsley, and spinach as it can contribute to bladder stones. Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C so they need to be supplemented with veggies that contain vitamin C like parsley, kale, mustard greens, bell peppers and broccoli. You can also buy Vitamin C in treat form made by Oxbow. Vitamin C supplements for water are not recommended as they are diluted so your piggie would have to drink a lot to get the amount needed and it can also cause the water to get dirty faster. Guinea pigs cannot have iceberg lettuce, potatoes, onion, avocados, mushrooms, and nuts. Always check and make sure foods are safe before giving them to your pet. If you notice runny stools, cut back on fresh foods.
-5% Pellets
Guinea pigs can have about ⅛ cup of pellets per 2lbs of body weight per day. Overfeeding of pellets can cause obesity and other health issues. It should be timothy hay based pellet and should be plain and have no additives like seeds, nuts, fruits, ect.
-5% Fruits and Treats
Fruits make great treats for guinea pigs and include cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, blueberries, bananas, and apples. They should only get a small sliver of these one to two times per week as they are high in sugar. There are also good commercial treats like Oxbow that contain natural ingredients.
*When introducing new fresh foods, give a small amount at a time and watch for runny stools.
*Salt and mineral licks/chews are not necessary in a guinea pigs diet
*NO Chocolate, nuts, seeds, cookies, crackers, breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, yogurt drops or other “human treats.” There is research to suggest these items may contribute to fatal cases of enterotoxaemia, a toxic overgrowth of “bad” bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Tips
Guinea pigs live around 4-8 years so it’s important they live healthy lives to help live longer.
Look out for changes in behavior. If they stop eating, drinking, and/or using the bathroom and it persists for more than 8-12 hours, seek veterinary help immediately. GI stasis is a very common illness and can become deadly in a short amount of time.
Always have a package of Critical Care on hand for emergencies. (sold at your vet and on Amazon)
Guinea pigs do best in pairs as they are very social animals.
