Care for your guinea pig

Guinea pigs are intelligent and inquisitive. These curious critters are interactive and fun to watch and make wonderful companions, especially as a child’s first pet.

If their trust is gained through gentle handling, they form a unique bond with their owner. They don’t mind being held by children provided they feel secure and that their body is supported, but you should supervise young children to avoid any distress to the animal.

You can teach your guinea pig to come when called, especially if you use treats as an enticement. Groom it daily to strengthen bonding and prevent matting and hairballs, and check for mites or a dirty bottom.

Guinea pigs are happiest when kept in groups and housed in a combination of indoor and large outdoor enclosures. They should have access to outdoors where they can graze and spend time in the sun.

Provide them with sheltered areas that are dry and draught-free, so that they can be safe from predators such as cats and dogs. Shelters are important for shade in summer and for warmth in winter. Guinea pigs can suffer heatstroke if it gets hotter than 27°C. They are most comfortable when it is between 12°C and 20°C.

If you decide to keep your guinea pig inside, ensure it gets plenty of out-of-cage time to exercise. Taking your pet out of its cage also gives you a chance to interact with it. Expose it to about 20 minutes of sunlight at least a few times every week.

Guinea pig hutches with wire bottoms allow them to graze while getting some sun. Avoid hutches made from treated pine and keep in mind that your pet will gnaw.

A healthy diet consists of 80 per cent good-quality hay and grass, providing the fibre important for a guinea pig’s health.

Give your guinea pig access to fresh green pasture and oaten, meadow or another suitable hay. Only feed babies lucerne hay, which is higher in protein and calcium, and lower in fibre. Feed them about the size of the guinea pig.

Fibre keeps the digestive system healthy. Eating hay wears down teeth and prevents them from becoming overgrown. Allowing your guinea pig to graze on grass encourages exercise, which helps prevent obesity.

The remaining 20 per cent of your guinea pig’s diet should consist of up to one-eighth of a cup of guinea pig pellets. If these don’t contain stabilised vitamin C, you can give them a small amount of citrus fruit, kiwifruit or tomato. Also provide daily one cup of vegetables, such as spinach, celery and Asian greens.

Don’t feed your guinea pig toxic plants, including oleander, lily of the valley or rhubarb leaves.

A balanced diet can prevent common causes of diseases. As guinea pig teeth continue to grow, a poor diet can result in overgrown teeth, root impaction and abscesses. A poor diet comprised of grains, pelleted mixes and carrots is high in energy but low in fibre and can increase the incidence of gastrointestinal disease and urinary stones. Urine and faecal soiling may indicate a problem and guinea pigs can become fly blown, so frequently check your pet’s bottom.

Provide soft bedding and towels on hard floors to help prevent foot problems, which can be common in pregnant and obese guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs are prolific breeders, so desexing those in mixed-sex households can stop unwanted pregnancies and help inter-group relations. Five to six weeks old is a great time to get this done.

We recommend a yearly health check with the UQ VETS avian and exotic pets service to catch any potential problems early. Older animals or those with dental problems may require more frequent visits.