Guinea Pig Care Guide

Get to Know Your Guinea Pig

Basic Information

Guinea Pigs are gentle, social rodents originally domesticated in South America over 3,000 years ago. They communicate through adorable squeaks and purrs, thrive in pairs, and make wonderful companions for families.

Common Name

Guinea Pig

Scientific Name

Cavia porcellus

Size

Varies by breed

Life Span

4-8 years

Sexual Maturity

Females: 3-4 months Males: 2 months

Gestation

59-72 days

Litter Size

3-4

Weaned

4-6 weeks old

Checklist for Your Guinea Pig

Essential Items

Prepare a safe, roomy enclosure with the right bedding and accessories. Small pets feel secure when they have space to move, hide and forage from day one.

Enclosure

Food

Hay

Hide Out

Plenty of toys

Chews

Treats

Grooming supplies

Bedding

Litter tray

Water bottle

(bowls can be very messy when guinea pig plays)

Ceramic or stainless-steel bowls

(remember they chew)

Everything your Guinea Pig needs, all in one place.

Shop Guinea Pig Supplies

Feeding Your Guinea Pig

Food & Nutrition

Small animals do not retain water as well as humans do. It is important to always provide fresh water. Daily diet should consist of:

70-75% dried hay
10-20% dried pellet specifically for guinea pigs
5-10% fresh veggies and fruits high in Vitamin C (kale, carrots, turnip, greens, collard greens, blueberries, oranges, grapes)

Guinea pigs have a higher Vitamin C requirement than other small animals. Guinea pigs do not manufacture their own Vitamin C so you must feed them a vitamin C enriched food like bell peppers, romaine lettuce, snap peas, cilantro, and parsley. Vitamin C drops and supplements will support the need, however make sure to change water bottles daily as the drops degrade after 24 hours.

Safe to Feed

Treat sticks

Prepackaged chew sticks

Avoid

Onions

Iceberg lettuce

Chocolate & other candy

Guinea Pig Habitat

Caging & Environment

Guinea pigs should be housed alone, unless spayed or neutered.
Caging should include a hide area, food bowl, water bottle, salt lick, and hay manger.
A hide area is extremely important to guinea pigs — they love to play hide and seek!
Bedding should be about 1” deep.
The cage should have a solid bottom (the same goes for exercise wheels).
The larger the cage, the better! Go for a cage that has a lot of surface area, rather than multiple levels

Handling Your Guinea Pig

Behavior & Handling

Weekly Brushing

Monthly Bathing

Guinea pigs teeth grow continuously throughout their life. Chewing wears down teeth to an appropriate level.
Essential to dental health, it is important to provide different types of chews to assist with trimming, chewing, and flossing their ever-growing teeth.
Guinea pigs rarely bite but can nip if they feel threatened. Try hand-feeding treats as a start.
Always pick up a guinea pig by supporting its entire body. Squirming is normal at first, but make sure the entire body is supported — dropping a guinea pig can cause severe injury.
Guinea pigs are super vocal! They will grunt, squeal, and whistle to show excitement.
Guinea pigs can be litter trained. They will often choose a corner of the cage to eliminate in. Once you see this behavior, place a corner litter box in that spot and put some of the soiled bedding in the litter box. The guinea pig will continue to use that corner and clean up becomes a breeze!

Common Health Problems

Guinea Pig Health and Well-being

If your guinea pig is not eating or pooping, take to a veterinarian immediately. Even smaller than normal amounts require attention.
Sneezing, discharge from the eyes, nose, or ears are also problems that need veterinary attention.