Guinea Pig Basics

Guinea pigs are absolutely lovely, interesting, smart little animals. They are a delight to care for and bond with. They are social animals and should always live with at least one other guinea pig. Females get along well with other females when introduced properly. You can have males living with other males after doing piggy dating to see who gets along the best. With males it’s best to have two of everything in their living quarters. If you want to do a male female pair the male must be neutered for two weeks before placing with the female. Pregnancy after a certain age can be difficult for guinea pigs. Plus there are so many homeless piggies, there is no need to breed. A child can not properly care for a guinea pig. The adults in the household should be just as interested in guinea pigs as the child is. The adult will be the primary caregiver. Do not get a guinea pig just because you or a child want one. First come to our adoption centers, learn all about guinea pigs and their care and then decide if you are the right home for a piggy.

With the proper care, guinea pigs can live up to eight years or so. In order to adopt guinea pigs you must be able to commit to caring for them for the rest of their life.

Living Quarters We always say the bigger the better. Most piggies spend quite a bit of time in their living quarters. The smallest set-up a guinea pig can live in is 2ftx4ft. You will need a larger area for exercise. See the bunnybunchboutque.com flyer or website for lots of creative piggy housing.

Within their living quarters, they will need one or more hidey houses, a hay area, fleece sleeping bags and cuddle cups, ceramic food and veggie bowls and a water bottle. Plus toys and chews to keep them entertained.

On the bottom of the living quarters you will need soft bedding to soak up the urine, such as carefresh, or you can use fleece pads. Make sure you keep their living quarters clean. A dirty living area will get smelly and cause the guinea pigs to get dirty. No Cedar bedding should be used as it has oils that could be harmful to guinea pigs.

Diet A guinea pig’s diet should be made up of unlimited grass hay (timothy, orchard, or blend), fresh veggies, and limited pellets. Choose a healthy pellet, meaning one that is high in fiber and only contains pellets. Healthy treats can be given a couple of times a day. Avoid store bought treats as most have too much sugar. See our diet handout for more detailed information.

Hay Because guinea pigs need a high fiber diet they should have fresh grass hay at ALL TIMES. Grass hay includes timothy, orchard, oat, or blended hay. 80% of their diet is hay. Hay is the main source of fiber and ensures healthy digestion. Chewing hay also keeps the teeth trimmed. Only buy hay from reputable source, there is a lot of old bad hay that is sold in the stores and the piggies just don’t like it and won’t eat it. Hay cubes should NEVER be given in place of loose hay, but they can be given as a treat.

Adults guinea pigs should have a big pile of fresh loose hay at all times. Hay feeders can be used as well as loose hay but not instead of, as the piggies don’t eat as much hay from them. Guinea pigs under 6 months should be given unlimited alfalfa hay for the added calcium. Fresh Veggies Guinea pigs should have a big handful of fresh veggies every day. This can be given once a day or split up twice a day. A mix of three different veggies is a good idea. Veggies can include: green or red leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, green peppers, cilantro, carrot tops, and parsley to name a few. Guinea pigs should NOT be given gas inducing veggies like broccoli, cabbage, or bok choy as they may cause gas. Carrots are high in sugar so just a small piece should be given as a treat.

Pellets Adult guinea pigs should be given a limited amount of timothy hay based pellets daily. An 1/8 of cup of pellets for each piggy is all that is needed daily. Unlimited pellets lead to unhealthy weight gain. Do not feed “Gourmet” pellets with seeds, nuts, grain, corn, fruit, and cereal as they can be harmful to piggies. Baby guinea pigs can be given an alfalfa based pellet until 6 months old. The Bunny Bunch recommends Oxbow or KMS Guinea Pig pellets.

Vitamin C Guinea pigs need supplemental vitamin C. This can be achieved through proper feeding of fresh veggies high in vitamin C such as green peppers, parsley, and kale. They can also be given a vitamin C supplement such as Oxbow vitamin C hay tablets, or you can give liquid vitamin C. Vitamin C drops should NOT be put in the water.

Treats Never feed treats such as yogurt drops, crackers, nuts, seeds, cereal, or other snack food to your guinea pig. Natural treats such as small bits of fresh fruit, herbs, or safe flowers are the only treats your guinea pig needs.

Grooming Guinea pigs need their nails trimmed regularly. At least once a month is recommended to keep their nails/feet healthy. Bunny Bunch provides free nail trims at both of our adoption centers. Guinea pigs don’t need regular baths unless they become unusually dirty or have longer hair and need a bottom bath. Only a few inches of warm water is necessary with a guinea pig safe soap or shampoo. You should never get water in a guinea pig’s ears. Guinea pigs with long hair need to be brushed regularly, and or the hair needs to be trimmed to prevent knots. Male guinea pigs should have their anal sac cleaned out periodically.

Guinea Pig Health Guinea pigs need a vet that specializes in exotic pets including guinea pigs to ensure they understand how to treat any emergencies or health issues. Finding a vet right way ensures that when you need a vet, you will know where to go right away.-Guinea pigs tend to hide illness so it’s important to weigh your guinea pig monthly to ensure there is no weight loss or unusual weight gain. Spending time daily with your guinea pig will ensure that you notice any changes in its health such as wet nose, crusty eyes, or skin changes. At the first sign of illness you should take your guinea pig to your vet immediately. Go to BunnyBunch.org for a list of vets.

Visit the Guinea Gang at the Bunny Bunch Adoption Centers. We have lots of guinea pigs for adoption, do free piggy nail trims on Sat & Sun, and can offer help and advice. Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday noon to 6 pm. Saturday noon to 5pm, Sunday noon to 4pm.

10534 Bechler River Ave. Fountain Valley, CA 92708 4601-1 Brooks St. Montclair, CA 91763 GuineaGang.org BunnyBunch.org BunnyBunchBoutique.com

Guinea Gang is a program of the Bunny Bunch. A non profit, no kill, volunteer organization