Guinea Pig Care Guide
Guinea pigs, also known as cavies, originally come from the Andean region of South America. They were domesticated for food and companionship due to their gentle nature. In the 16th century, they were brought to Europe by Spanish explorers and quickly won the hearts of European nobility with their charming looks and sweet dispositions. Over the years, guinea pigs evolved from curiosities to beloved household pets, cherished worldwide for their friendly and affectionate personalities.
When properly socialized, guinea pigs are playful, curious and outgoing pets, making them ideal companions for both adults and children older than 12 years old. Guinea pigs are expressive and can communicate their moods through various sounds like purring, chirping, and squeaking. They tend to form strong bonds with their carers and provide a rewarding and interactive pet experience.
We’ll talk about:
- lifestyle considerations for perspective guinea pig owners
- essential supplies to get before bringing a guinea pig home
- what to feed your guinea pig
- veterinary care needs and common health issues.
Whether you are a first-time guinea pig owner or are looking to deepen an existing bond, this guide is for you. We’ll share expert tips, helpful links and recommendations sourced from multiple small animal rescues and exotic veterinarians on feeding, housing, and handling guinea pigs.
I AM A
FOREVER
GUINEA PIG
NOT A
- until you have to move
- until you have a baby
- until your kids get bored
- until you have no time
- until I get too old
GUINEA PIG
How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live?
Guinea pigs typically live 5-7 years.
Before getting a guinea pig, ask yourself if you are prepared for a years long commitment. Consider how your family’s lifestyle may change over the next 5 years; such as college, moving, change in career or relationship status, or starting a family.
Can You Have Just One Guinea Pig?
NO.
Guinea pigs are extremely social creatures and being alone is confusing, lonely, and distressing for them. They thrive in pairs or small herds. With a friend of the same species, guinea pigs share grooming, play, and sleep side-by-side, creating a deep bond that fulfills their need for companionship. Neither the most loving and attentive pet owner nor a pet of other species can replace this.
Single guinea pigs often display signs of loneliness and stress, such as excessive squeaking, pacing, or hiding. Left alone too long, they may become withdrawn or even depressed, losing interest in food, play, or interaction. The effects of isolation on guinea pigs is similar to the adverse effects of isolation observed in other social animals like orcas in captivity or humans in solitary confinement
DID YOU KNOW? It is illegal to own just 1 guinea pig in Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and Austria.
How Much Do Guinea Pigs Cost To Own?
Monthly Costs $60-120 The ongoing monthly cost of bedding / litter, hay, food, treats, toys, and fresh produce, for two guinea pigs is approximately $60 to $120.
Annual Costs $1,500-2,000 Guinea pigs should have an annual wellness exam with an experienced exotic veterinarian every year, this costs around $100 to $150 per guinea pig. Therefore, the total annual cost for owning two guinea pigs is $1,500 and $2,000; this includes the monthly costs of food and other supplies as well as their annual check-up.
In the event of a medical emergency, which is unfortunately common as guinea pigs are extremely fragile, the cost of emergency veterinary care can be $500-700 or more.
Lifetime Cost $8,000-14,000
1 | Preparation
Daily & Weekly Guinea Pig Care Routine
DAILY ROUTINE
Feeding:
- Morning (around 8-9 AM): Add a large pile of fresh hay and 1 tbsp of guinea pig pellets per guinea pig.
- Evening (around 6-7 PM): Repeat the morning feeding routine and add 1/2 cup serving of fresh leafy greens and vegetables per guinea pig. Rinse and refill all water bottles.
PRO TIP: Use feeding times as an opportunity to bond. Hand feeding greens build trust and familiarity with your guinea pig. You can even train your guinea pigs to climb into your hand in exchange for a yummy leafy green or slice of bell pepper.
Habitat Maintenance:
- Morning and Evening (around feeding times): Remove uneaten hay and replace with fresh hay. Guinea pigs enjoy having a large pile of hay that they can burrow in.
- If you are using bedding in your guinea pigs enclosure, you will need to spot clean each day to remove waste and change out of all of the bedding every 3 or 4 days to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for you guinea pigs.
- If you use a guinea pig cage liner, fleece liner or bath mats, dedicate 15 minutes to tidying up your guinea pig’s enclosure each morning and evening. This includes sweeping or vacuuming loose hay and droppings to maintain a hygienic environment for your guinea pig. Liners will need to be changed out every 2 or 3 days so you will need at least 2 sets to use interchangeably.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Do you have access to a reliable washing machine and drier to wash soiled guinea pig liners in?
WEEKLY ROUTINE
Deep Cleaning:
- Once a week you’ll need to do a deep cleaning. This means, removing all liners or bedding to wipe down the bottom of the enclosure with diluted vinegar or a safe cage cleaner. You can also use diluted vinegar and paper towels to wipe their hideys and litterbox, if you use one. Plastic hideys can also be rinsed in the sink. Examine toys and accessories for wear and tear and replace, as needed.
- If your enclosure has a canvas bottom like the “MidWest Guinea Pig Habitat” you can wash it in the washing machine once a month. Wash any soft hideys, cuddle cups or beds in the washing machine at least once a week.
- Wash their water bottles with warm, soapy water or in the dishwasher to maintain cleanliness and prevent bacterial growth.
Health Check:
- Assess your guinea pig’s health by checking their eyes, ears, teeth, bottoms of their feet, nails, fur and general body condition. Keeping a close eye on their physical condition helps in catching signs of illness early, ensuring timely medical attention.
PRO TIP: Get a pet scale and weight your guinea pigs each week. Keep a detailed log and talk to your veterinarian about any weight gain or loss. Most healthy guinea pigs weigh 800-1000g.
2 | Housing & Supplies
How Much Space Do Guinea Pigs Need?
For one or a pair of guinea pigs a minimum 2ft x 4ft enclosure like the “MidWest Guinea Pig Habitat” is recommended, if possible a larger 2ft x 5ft enclosure is preferred. For each additional guinea pig, add 2 to 4 square feet to their living space to maintain a healthy and harmonious environment.
MINIMUM:
2ft x 4ft, 8sq ft for 1 or 2 guinea pigs
2ft x 5ft, 10sq ft for 2 or 3 guinea pigs
2ft x 6ft, 12sq ft for 3 or 4 guinea pigs
Not providing enough space can lead to frustration and stress which presents as pacing, excessive squeaking, loud cage chewing and bar rattling, and aggression towards cage mates due to resource guarding. Guinea pigs that are confined to small cages often become withdrawn or even depressed, losing interest in food, play, and interaction. Because they do not have enough room to exercise they are prone to obesity, heart disease, and infections. Guinea pigs kept in hutches also frequently develop bumble-foot.
Cages and hutches DO NOT provide enough room for guinea pigs.
You can get C&C grid cage in various sizes at:
“www.kavee.com“, “www.guineadad.com“, “www.guineapigcagesstore.com“, and “Guinea Pig Cage Company“.
For soft bedding, we recommend:
Small Pet Select Unbleached White Paper Bedding
AVOID: All soft wood shavings including pine, aspen and walnut. These can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
LITTERBOX or “Kitchen Area” to put their hay. You can use a “Mini Dustpan and Brush” to sweep up dropping and hay or a handheld vacuum.
WATER BOTTLE get at least 1 water bottle per guinea pig to prevent resource guiding. Guinea pigs may hoard a single water source and keep other guinea pigs from drinking.
HIDEY get at least 1 hidey house per guinea pig. Provide 2 identical hidey houses to prevent one guinea pig from being left out or fighting over a more desirable house. Any tunnels, cuddle cups, cuddle sacks and hanging corners should also be provided in twos.
Popular choices are: “Fleece Forest“, “Fleece Corner“, “Cuddle Sacks“, “Cuddle Cups“, “Guinea Pig Castle“, “Cardboard Hideaway“.
CHEW TOYS and lots of them! Check out “Oxbow“, “Binky Bunny” and “Etsy“.
NO: salt/mineral licks; lava stones can damage their teeth and are dangerous if pieces are ingested; check toys weekly for exposed nails, plastic and hot glue.
ENRICHMENT: Get a “Snuffle Mat“, “Puzzle Toy” and “Treat Ball” to promote foraging, stimulate their mind and encourage exercise.
CARRIER should be big enough for both guinea pigs, like this “Small Pet Carrier“.
NO: sharing a carrier between pets as in the event of an emergency or evacuation all animals need their own carrier.
3 | Grooming
Short-haired VS Long-haired
Short-haired breeds like the American and Abyssinian have a smooth, short coat. These breeds are popular due to their friendly nature and ease of care in terms of grooming.
Long-haired breeds, like the Peruvian and Silkie, require more dedicated grooming. Their long, flowing hair will need to be brushed out daily or they can develop painful mats. They will also need to get their hair trimmed every 3-4 months, either at home or with an experiences groomer.
There are also unique and hairless breeds like the Skinny, which requires special skin care similar to hairless cats and dogs, and the Texel, with its dense, fuzzy coat. Skinny pigs, which are mostly hairless except for some fur on their nose and feet, have difficulty regulating their body temperature. They should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from vents or fans, off of tile/marble/granite surfaces, and the temperature of their rooms closely monitored. Texels are bred for their natural long curly coats which are gorgeous but can be time consuming to maintain. They overheat easily and also need to be brushed daily and get their fur trimmed every 3-4 months.
BRUSHING
Short-haired guinea pigs need just occasional grooming with a soft brush once a week or so. Long-haired guinea pigs need daily brushing to prevent tangles, and keeps their coat healthy and free of debris.
We recommend: “Oxbow Enriched Life Wood Small Animal Brush & Comb” and “Small Pet Select Hair Buster Comb“.
NAIL TRIMS
Trim, or file, your guinea pigs nails once a month. You will need a pair of small animal nail clippers and styptic powder to stop any accidental bleeding. Make sure to identify the quick (the pink part inside the nail) and trim just the tip, avoiding the quick to prevent bleeding. If you accidentally cut the quick, apply styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
We recommend: “Pet Nail Clippers” and “Kwik Stop Styptic Powder“.
PRO TIP: offer treats during and after nail trims and grooming sessions.
BATHING
Guinea pigs generally do not require frequent baths as they are self-cleaning animals. Bathing your guinea pig too often can lead to skin irritation and dryness, stripping their skin of natural oils. Over-bathing can also stress your guinea pig, potentially leading to health issues. Only bathe them when necessary and always use gentle products designed for small animals.
There are times when a bath is necessary, such as when their fur becomes soiled, they develop an odor, there is an infection or severe infestations of mites or lice.
Consult with a veterinarian if you you are unsure if your guinea pig needs a bath.
3 | Recommended Diet
HAY
80-90% of a guinea pig’s should be hay. Provide UNLIMITED access to fresh high-quality hay 24/7. Soiled hay should be changed out daily.
- Juvenile guinea pig (up to 6 months): Alfalfa Hay
- Adult guinea pig (6 months +): Timothy Hay
PRO TIP: “Oxbow” and “Small Pet Select” offer a variety of high quality hays (oat, botanical, orchard) if you would like to offer diverse flavors and textures in addition to western timothy hay.
LEAFY GREENS & VEGETABLES
10% of a guinea pig’s diet should be green leafy vegetables. Organic vegetables (no pesticides) are recommended whenever possible. Always remove seeds as these are a choking risk.
- Juvenile guinea pigs: can start to have small amounts of vegetables introduced into their diet at 2 months old. Vegetables should be introduced gradually, one per week, so that you can monitor for sensitivity or stomach upset. If any vegetable seems to cause digestive problems do not feed it in the future.
- Adult guinea pigs: can have 1/2 cup (a small pinch) of leafy greens and 1 tablespoon of non-leafy green vegetables per day.
You can feed up to 1/2 cup of green leaf, red leaf and butter leaf lettuces daily. Other leafy greens like romaine, spinach, kale, turnip greens, dandelion greens, arugula, bok choy, and watercress and herbs like cilantro, basil, parsley, mint, and dill can be offered for variety 1-3 times per week.
You can also feed 1 tablespoon of the following non leafy vegetables: bell peppers, celery (remove veins or cut into small pieces), cucumber, green beans. Feed broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts and radishes only occasionally.
If your guinea pigs poops become small, dark, or smelly this amount should be reduced to every other day or 3 times per week. Read this: “Guide to Guinea Pig Poop“.
FORTIFIED PELLETS
5% of a guinea pig’s diet should be fortified food pellets.
- Juvenile guinea pigs: 1 tablespoon of pellets per day.
- Adult guinea pigs: 2 tablespoons of pellets per day.
FRUITS
Less than 5% of a guinea pigs diet can be fruits and treats. Guinea pigs shouldn’t get more than 1-2 teaspoon size servings of fruits per week. That’s about the size of 1 strawberry or 1 baby carrot PER WEEK.
Carrots, apple, berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), orange, banana, pear, grapes (cut), kiwi, mango, papaya, peach, pineapple, apricot, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe.
Always remove seeds and pits. Offer watery fruits like watermelon and cantaloupe sparingly as they can cause diarrhea.
WE RECOMMEND: “OXBOW“, “SMALL PET SELECT“, “SCIENCE SELECTIVE“, or “SHERWOOD“
Avoid: nuts, seeds, corn, grains, dairy, fillers, artificial colors and added sugars.
“Mix” pellets and treats with seed and corn can lead to chocking and malnutrition due to selective eating. The first ingredient listed for pellets should be timothy hay for adult guinea pigs or alfalfa hay for young guinea pigs.
What Happens if a Guinea Pig Doesn't Get Enough Vitamin C?
Scurvy is a painful and sometimes fatal disease that can occur to guinea pigs if they don’t get enough Vitamin C. Like humans, guinea pigs are unable to synthesize their own Vitamin C so it very important their caretakers provide it in their diet.
Symptoms: tiredness/lethargy (unwilling to move around as much as usual, disinterest in surroundings), problems with wounds / healing, bruising, small red dots on the gums and other areas of skin (petechiae), bleeding gums, decreased appetite / anorexia, difficulty eating, weight loss, diarrhea, swollen joints, rough fur, joint swelling, bumble foot, and increased susceptibility to infections. If untreated, can affect skeletal / tooth development, leading to brittle bones and dental problems.
Guinea pigs need about 10-20mg of Vitamin C daily to prevent scurvy, a disease caused by a deficiency of this essential nutrient. One of the easiest ways to ensure your guinea pigs get enough vitamin C is by feeding them one or two 1/2-inch slices of bell pepper each day. While all bell peppers are good sources of vitamin C, red peppers contain the highest amount. Always remove the seeds from the peppers to avoid choking hazards.
Other natural sources of vitamin C include tomatoes (ensure only the fruit is given, not the leaves or plant), kale, spinach, asparagus, mustard greens, turnip greens, red and green leaf lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, apples (with skin), oranges, and strawberries. Incorporating a variety of these foods into your guinea pigs’ diet can help meet their nutritional needs and promote overall health.
You can also offer “Oxbow Vitamin C Supplement” or “Sherwood Vitamin C Supplement“.
It is not recommended to supplement vitamin C through water. Vitamin C degrades very quickly when exposed to light and after 8hrs it is estimated that the amount of active vitmain C in the water is only 20% of the original amount added. So while the supplemented water bottle may have the correct dose in the morning, later in the day the vitamin C will have degraded. Some guinea pigs also don’t like the smell and taste of supplemented water so they may drink less and become dehydrated. This can cause further health problems like UTI’s.
4 | Veterinary Care
Guinea pigs are considered exotic animals and should only be seen and treated by an experienced exotic veterinarian. Although some veterinarians who treat cats and dogs ALSO treat guinea pigs and may advertise as treating “all animals” they:
— See exotics at a much smaller volume than exotic vets. An exotic hospital can see 20 to 50 exotic animals in a day, on average a regular veterinary practice may see as little as one to five exotic pets a week.
— May not be trained on proper handling techniques or have appropriately sized equipment. The instruments needed to look into a guinea pig’s ear, mouth or nose are much smaller than those for cats and dogs.
— May be able to perform a routine wellness exam and diagnose an illness but not be able to perform complex procedures. At which time they may recommend humane euthanasia or refer to an exotic specialist for further treatment. This delay in treatment can be deadly.
— Many do not attend annual exotic veterinary conferences. Staying up to date is important as treatment protocols change year to year. Veterinarians who do not specialize in exotics may recommend a treatment that is outdated and no longer considered effective or safe.
Guinea pigs should be taken to exotic veterinarians because these specialists are statistically able to catch things earlier and are significantly more likely to be able to diagnose AND treat a variety of illnesses successfully.
PRO TIP: Look for “Exotic” in the name of the clinic or hospital.