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Guinea Pig Care Guide

Caring for an animal is big commitment, but we are here to help guide you along the way.

Owning and caring for guinea pigs can be great fun and very rewarding, but it is a big responsibility and a long-term commitment.

Did you know that guinea pigs can live on average for 5 to 7 years?

Choose the interactive online version to work through at your own pace and watch our handy film guides, choose the printable version to download a paper copy, or carry on reading below.

Interactive care guide Printable version

Provide a suitable and stimulating living environment

Guinea pigs can be curious and comical animals, but it is important to remember that they are prey animals and can be easily startled, providing them with a secure and spacious enclosure away from other animals and young children is important to make them feel comfortable. Guinea pigs require plenty of unbroken floor space on one level to keep them active and healthy. The amount of space you need to provide will depend on how many guinea pigs are in the herd, please see the table for our minimum size requirements.

Guinea pigs are sensitive to temperature changes and drafts, they should ideally be kept at temperatures of around 15 °C which means that it is not suitable to keep them outdoors in the cold months (October - April). Guinea pigs benefit from being kept predominantly indoors with access to an outdoor enclosure or run on warm, dry days. Outdoor hutches can be used during the warmer months, providing they can be moved indoors to avoid cold, wet weather.

Provide a suitable and stimulating living environment

Guinea pigs can be curious and comical animals, but it is important to remember that they are prey animals and can be easily startled, providing them with a secure and spacious enclosure away from other animals and young children is important to make them feel comfortable. Guinea pigs require plenty of unbroken floor space on one level to keep them active and healthy. The amount of space you need to provide will depend on how many guinea pigs are in the herd, please see the table for our minimum size requirements.

Guinea pigs are sensitive to temperature changes and drafts, they should ideally be kept at temperatures of around 15 °C which means that it is not suitable to keep them outdoors in the cold months (October - April). Guinea pigs benefit from being kept predominantly indoors with access to an outdoor enclosure or run on warm, dry days. Outdoor hutches can be used during the warmer months, providing they can be moved indoors to avoid cold, wet weather.

Find the right enclosure

There are several popular indoor enclosures suitable for guinea pigs, such as C&C enclosures. These are popular due to their low cost, the benefit of being easily extendable and can be made into different shapes to fit into rooms. Many enclosures commonly available are not large enough for guinea pigs, please get in touch with the Small Animals Team for a list of suitable enclosures. For larger herds or where guinea pigs cannot be housed indoors over the winter months, converting a shed or playhouse can provide a safe area for your guinea pigs. The shed or playhouse should be secure, insulated with ventilation and natural light. Shed conversions can provide a dedicated space for guinea pigs whilst being easier to clean than hutches and allow you to spend more time with your guinea pigs, even in poor weather. Enclosures with steep ramps should be avoided as guinea pigs are not good climbers and can injure themselves from falls.

A secure run, measuring 6ft × 3ft, can be provided on dry, warm days to allow your guinea pigs additional exercise and grazing opportunities. Predator proof runs can be bought or constructed at home using good quality wood and 12-16-gauge welded mesh (not chicken wire) and should have a sturdy lid. We recommend only using runs when the guinea pigs are supervised to reduce the risks from predators.

Different forms of enrichment should be provided to keep your guinea pigs feeling safe and stimulated, these can include different hides, bridges, tunnels and feeding toys. Guinea pigs should not be provided with exercise wheels or put in exercise balls as these can damage their limbs and backs. Guinea pigs are not the tidiest of animals, they require daily spot cleaning and a weekly deep clean. Providing litter trays full of hay can help to contain some of the mess however most guinea pigs cannot be fully litter trained.

Guinea pigs are herbivores and can consume their body size in food a day.

Their diet consists of 85% hay, 5% good quality pellets and 10% fresh vegetables.
The diet should consist of.

Hay: the best diet consists almost entirely of good quality hay and dried grass forages; an unlimited amount of hay should be available. at all times. They love to graze and will chose the best strands of hay to consume, old hay should be removed daily and replaced with fresh.

Not all hays are created equal, there are different qualities and types of hay available including meadow, Timothy, oat, orchard, and alfalfa.

Guinea pigs are herbivores and can consume their body size in food a day.

Their diet consists of 85% hay, 5% good quality pellets and 10% fresh vegetables.
The diet should consist of.

Hay: the best diet consists almost entirely of good quality hay and dried grass forages; an unlimited amount of hay should be available. at all times. They love to graze and will chose the best strands of hay to consume, old hay should be removed daily and replaced with fresh.

Not all hays are created equal, there are different qualities and types of hay available including meadow, Timothy, oat, orchard, and alfalfa.

Meadow hay: ideal for bedding and litter trays as it is cheap and palatable, timothy hay is the best feeding hay as it is very tasty and more fibrous to help keep teeth trim. Oat and orchard hays can be provided alongside feeding hays as an additional treat. Alfalfa should only be provided to poorly, young, or pregnant lactating mothers due to the high calcium and protein content. Guinea pig's teeth grow continuously throughout their life and chewing hay or grass is the best way to keep their teeth short.

Pellets: good quality guinea pig pellets with grass or hay as the main ingredient can be provided daily, we recommend 2tbsp per guinea pig daily. Muesli mixes should be avoided as they often contain unsafe and unhealthy ingredients and promote selective feeding

Treats: Commercial treats can be high in sugar or contain unsafe or unhealthy ingredients, these should be avoided to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes in your guinea pigs. The best commercial treats should have hay, grasses, or weeds as their main ingredients. Any treats with seeds and honey should be avoided.

Fresh vegetables and fruits: a small handful per guinea pig of fresh leafy herbs and greens, celery and bell peppers is important to provide them with enough vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy. Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C which plays an important part in immune systems and maintaining bone condition, so they rely on the fresh part of their diet for this vitamin. Natural forage such as willow and hazel branches are great for guinea pig's teeth, and safe washed weeds such as dandelion, sow thistle and red clover can be a tasty alternative to fresh vegetables. Please be careful when picking weeds as some plants are toxic to guinea pigs. Many lettuces are safe for guinea pigs including romaine, butterhead and little gem, however, iceberg lettuce should be avoided. Safe fruits can be provided occasionally as treats but too many sugary fruit and vegetables can lead to obesity and kidney problems. If you would like a list of safe vegetables, fruits, and weeds, please contact the Small Animals Team,

Fresh water: should always be available and changed daily. Providing water in a heavy ceramic bowl is recommended rather than water bottles, as bowls are more hygienic, allow for more efficient drinking and are less likely to leak or maiminction

Learn how to conduct a simple guinea pig health check at home!

Watch the video to find out how to take preventative measures to protect the health of your guinea pigs.

Promote natural behaviour and provide appropriate companionship

Guinea pigs are social animals and would naturally live in large herds, so it is important that they have companionship from their own kind. If you are looking for a companion for your guinea pig. Raystede provides bonding guides and a bonding service please ask the Small Animals Tear for more information. The most stable bonds are between multiple sows, or one or more sows with one neutered boar. Bonded pairs of boars can work in many cases however we recommend pairing boars based on their personalities as some individuals are more tolerant of other boars. Trios or larger herds of boars should be avoided as they can become territorial and fight, which requires permanent separation. Guinea pigs are not suited to living with other small animals such as rabbits, chinchillas, or poultry due to the risks of zoonotic diseases and the risk of injuries. It is normal within herds to have dominant and subordinate individuals, normal interactions can consist of mounting. teeth chatting. rumble strutting, and grooming.

Promote natural behaviour and provide appropriate companionship

Guinea pigs are social animals and would naturally live in large herds, so it is important that they have companionship from their own kind. If you are looking for a companion for your guinea pig. Raystede provides bonding guides and a bonding service please ask the Small Animals Tear for more information. The most stable bonds are between multiple sows, or one or more sows with one neutered boar. Bonded pairs of boars can work in many cases however we recommend pairing boars based on their personalities as some individuals are more tolerant of other boars. Trios or larger herds of boars should be avoided as they can become territorial and fight, which requires permanent separation. Guinea pigs are not suited to living with other small animals such as rabbits, chinchillas, or poultry due to the risks of zoonotic diseases and the risk of injuries. It is normal within herds to have dominant and subordinate individuals, normal interactions can consist of mounting. teeth chatting. rumble strutting, and grooming.

As prey animals, guinea pigs are naturally fearful of potential predators, loud noises, and sudden movements To make them feel secure in their new home, they require enrichment such as multiple hides, wooden bridges, tunnels, and big piles of hay so they can hide if they become scared. For this reason, nervous guinea pigs may not be suited to live with younger families as they require a calmer environment to gain confidence and express their natural behaviours.

Enrich their life

Enrichment can be homemade from cardboard boxes, tubes or treats in paper bags. As guinea pigs are not good climbers, enrichment should be floor level and easily accessible. Safe wooden enrichment items are ideal as they can help keep teeth trim and edible toys made from willow, water hyacinth and grasses are readily accepted.

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But, with your help they will spend Christmas in the care of our amazing animal welfare team.

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