How to Take Care of a Guinea Pig
I have been in a pet store more than once and overheard people commenting to each other, as they look at the guinea pigs for sale, that taking care of a hamster is so much easier, and that they wouldn’t have a clue as to how to care for a guinea pig. I used to be one of those people, too, and I’m happy to say that taking care of a guinea pig isn’t not anywhere as difficult as some might think.
Guinea pigs have been misunderstood - not all of them are dirty and nervous. If they’re dirty, then that’s a sign that their cage hasn’t been cleaned properly, or that they’re lonely and need more interaction. If they’re nervous, that’s because they’re in a loud environment, or because they haven’t been socialized properly. Yes, owners will notice that they can’t hold a guinea pig for a long time without them pooping, and that they have a tendency to eat their droppings, but that’s because of the way that a guinea pig’s digestion system works - they don’t fully process their food the first time, so they will usually ingest their droppings a second time so that they can get the full nutritional benefit of it.
Of course, a spacious cage is also very important, because guinea pigs do get energetic at times, and might like to run laps around their cage. Then, there is the water bottle, food dish, and a little house for them to take shelter in. It is very important to keep the cage in the same location, since guinea pigs can get sick from changes in temperature.
Supply Suggestions:
- Super Pet My First Home Complete Kit for Guinea Pigs
- Super Pet Igloo
- CAREFRESH Pet Bedding and Litter
When it comes to food, there are three main things that guinea pigs should have: Pellets, alfalfa (for their teeth) and lettuce or carrots, with carrots being preferential. A suggestion is to feed a guinea pig three baby carrots (that are about the size of a human thumb - not the really little ones) and a good handful of alfalfa daily, with a full bowl of pellets every other day. Keep the brand of pellets consistent, because the digestive system of a guinea pig is sensitive to food changes.
Food Suggestions:
It is important to clean a guinea pig once a week. Place the guinea pig in a safe place, take out all the accessories, and then empty the shavings/leftover food into a plastic trash bag. Clean the bottom of the cage with a wet paper towel, or a safe disinfecting wipe. Next, replace the shavings so that the floor of the cage is covered and the guinea pig’s feet are comfortably cushioned.
Wash out all acge accessories in hot water, preferably in the bathroom sink. Be sure to thoroughly clean around the inner and outer base of the nozzle to the water bottle, since that’s where water and food residue tend to collect. Be sure to also use a bottle brush (you can generally get them in the cleaning section of the grocery store) to clean the water bottle. Use bottled water instead of tap water if possible, since the tap water will need to be changed more often (every two days or so) than the weekly changes with bottled water. Once all of the cleaning has been completed, and everything has been refilled, it’s time to return the guinea pig to its clean cage. You might want to spray the sink that you used to clean everything out in with disinfectant for additional cleanliness.
When it comes to maintaining a guinea pig’s appearance, the ones with long hair should be brushed daily, while shorter haired guinea pigs can be brushed whenever convenient. Their nails will need to be trimmed every so often, which can be done with small nail clippers. It is important to start clipping their nails as early in their life as possible so that they get used to it. You’ll be able to tell when the nails need to be clipped, because they will start to curl under. Just clip right above the part that’s curling under, because you don’t want to get the nail’s quick. Sometimes the nails and the genitals will accumulate dirt, in which case just take some warm water on a paper towel to gently cleanse those areas. However, guinea pigs usually take care of that by grooming themselves.
As for human interaction, be sure to hold your guinea pig daily. Some guinea pigs like to sit on shoulders and nuzzle the neck of their owners, while others like to sit in laps. Regardless, have a towel for your guinea pig to sit on while you’re holding it. With the proper nutrition and love, your guinea pig can live 5 to 7 years.
I’m not an affiliate for any of the sites or products in this post that I link to or mention in any way.
