Guinea Pig

PetSmart

Traits & behavior

Social
Guinea pigs are gentle, social and will enjoy the companionship of another guinea pig (if you have two, house only same gender pairs), as well as interaction with their Pet Parents.

Affectionate
Although shy at first, guinea pigs will develop intense affection for their Pet Parents and may whistle to signal their happiness.

Diurnal
This means that guinea pigs are most active during the day. They will sleep about 4-6 hours per night.
 

Things to remember

Lifting & handling
Handle your guinea pig gently. Place one hand under her shoulders with your thumb over and around the neck, use your other hand to support under her back end, and hold firmly but not tightly.

Vitamin C
Guinea pigs cannot store or manufacture vitamin C, so you'll need to add a supplement to her water daily.

Special needs
Your guinea pig's front teeth never stop growing -- so she needs lots of healthy things to chew on like treat sticks and chews.

Safety & cleanliness
Please remember that all pets may bite or scratch, and may transmit disease to humans. Keep your pet's home clean and wash your hands before and after handling your pet or cleaning his home. Infants, young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and the infirm or elderly are at greater risk of infections and should use caution when in contact with the pet or its habitat. Consult your doctor for more information.

Nutrition

Staple diet
Choose a fortified diet, made especially for guinea pigs. Fill the bowl approximately 3/4 full.

Hay
Offer a handful of Timothy hay every day to add needed fiber to your pet's diet.

Vegetables*
Treat your guinea pig to small amounts (approximately 1/8 cup) of carrots and dark green leafy vegetables like collard greens, kale or mustard greens daily. Take care not to overfeed these fresh foods. They contain a lot of moisture and too much can cause an upset stomach.

Fruits*
Vitamin C-rich fruits like sliced kiwi and oranges are tasty and nutritious treats. Give one or two tablespoons every other day.

Treat sticks & chews
These hard and crunchy treats keep your guinea pig's front teeth trimmed -- always keep one in the habitat.

Water
Change and fill your guinea pig's water bottle with clean water every day. Don't forget to add the vitamin C drops.

*Remember that fresh food items require their own dish and should be removed from the habitat after four hours to prevent spoilage. Treats should be less than 10% of total food intake.
 

Health

Signs of a healthy guinea pig:

• Clean, bright eyes
• Full, slightly-rounded body
• Soft fur with no bare patches (hairless area behind each ear is normal)
• Eats and drinks normally
• Well-formed droppings with no diarrhea

Things to watch for:

• Overgrown front teeth
• Bare patches in the fur
• Diarrhea or discolored droppings for longer than two days
• Lethargic behavior; seizures or tremors
• Weight loss; not eating or drinking normally
• Sneezing; discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth

If you notice any of the signs described above, please consult a Small Animal Veterinarian as soon as possible.
 

Habitat

Housing
Your guinea pig needs a well-ventilated home with a solid floor, large enough for a food dish, water bottle and a hiding area (if one isn't built in). There should be plenty of room for all cage accessories, and for her to move around freely. Minimum cage size is 24"L x 12"W x 12"H (61 cm x 31 cm x 31 cm).

Bedding
Line the home with 2"-3" (5-8 cm) of aspen or other appropriate bedding, and change it weekly or more often if needed.

Cage placement
Place the habitat in a cool, low humidity area, out of direct sunlight and away from drafts.
 

Comments

09 Oct 2010 8:54 pm

rfoster said:

i know someone that i got my guinea pig from she takes her guinea pigs to get groomed every two weeks

11 Sep 2010 7:07 pm

amandainglett said:

could add something about nail care. we have one with long nail, curled nails and just found out that is not normal for them and that they should be clipped, also that it is hard to spay a female, but a male can be nuddered if you have both sex and habitat the same domane.... (spelling may not be completely correct in all areas hehe)