If you and your family are looking for a great pet that’s low-cost and requires minimal maintenance, then a guinea pig will be a wonderful addition to the family. Guinea pigs are super cute, affectionate, intelligent, and can be taught tricks. Common tricks include turning in circles, pushing a ball, shaking paws, or standing on its hind legs and begging. Guinea pigs are vocal, love attention, and become quite fond of their families. Let’s take a look at some essential tips for caring for your guinea pig.
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The History of Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are a species of rodent known as the domestic cavy, or cavy, pronounced “KAY-vee.” They are part of the Caviidae family and originated in the Andes area of South America. They are not related to pigs, nor are they native to Guinea, despite their name.
There are 13 different breeds that the American Cavy Breeders Association recognizes; however, there are a few other breeds that also exist. The most common guinea pigs include the following:
- Peruvian: Is one of the oldest breeds and is popular in guinea pig shows. They can easily be spotted because they have long hair that can grow up to a remarkable two feet.
- American: They have smooth, soft, short fur and come in a variety of colors.
- Abyssinian: They are gentle and very affectionate. Their coat is coarse, grows in rosettes, and is found in various colors.
Additionally, there is also a breed called the “skinny pig,” which is hairless. These piggies are hypoallergenic and may be a good option if you suffer from allergies. However, it is important to note that some people can still be allergic to the proteins in their urine and saliva.
Guinea pigs typically live for five to eight years; however, some have lived up to a decade. According to Four Paws, ‘Snowball’ is the oldest known guinea pig and lived for 14 years and 10 months. Furthermore, guinea pigs grow between eight and 16 inches and weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds.
Pros and Cons of Taking Care of Your Guinea Pig
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| A guinea pig's dietary needs are pretty straightforward. | Guinea pigs are small and easily harmed by falls or physical mistreatment. Thus, small children should be supervised when playing with guinea pigs and taught to handle them correctly. |
| They are ideal pets for the whole family. | Guinea pigs are often classified as “colorful” and unique. Vets may charge a nice fee for their care. |
| Guinea pigs aren't subject to significant diseases. | You may need to include a vitamin C supplement in your guinea pig diet to prevent vitamin C deficiency. It may also need nutrient-rich soil. |
| They're affectionate creatures, forming family relationships, and love exploring the house and yard when they get a chance. | A well-bred guinea pig won't be a problem, but they are susceptible to worms and parasites. Guinea pigs eat their own poop, including cats and dogs. So, it is important to clean up all the faeces and deworm your pets regularly. |
| The guinea pig is a fairly obedient animal, comfortable with schedules and being left alone. | To prevent unpleasant smells, make sure to keep their habitat clean. |
| As small animals, their cages are mobile. However, keep in mind that they do grow and will require more space. | They may be a little noisy at night. |
| They are an affordable option, not requiring a lot of food and accessories. | |
| Unlike gerbils, hamsters, mice, or rats, guinea pigs are not known for biting. |
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Guinea Pigs Personalities
Guinea pigs are generally friendly little creatures and do not bite unless handled roughly. They have a lot of energy, love attention, and enjoy being spoken to. As herd animals, guinea pigs enjoy being around companions; they also get along well with other animals. Our guinea pigs enjoyed roaming the yard with our two chihuahuas and two sausage dogs. However, make sure you supervise when allowing your dogs to engage with guinea pigs to avoid any accidental mishaps. Guinea pigs can become depressed when alone, so it is a good idea to keep them in pairs or more.
As mentioned earlier, they are intelligent little creatures that can be taught tricks like begging on their hind legs, shaking paws, and pushing small toys. Additionally, there has also been success in training guinea pigs to use a kitty litter.
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Caring for Your Guinea Pig
Here are the basic tools you need for caring for your guinea pig:
- Solid-bottom cage at least 24 x 12 x 12 inches
- Food bowl
- Hide house (small flower pot or store-bought)
- Water bottle
- Pine, aspen, or recycled bedding (cedar's toxic for cavies)
- Orchard grass, oat hay, wheat, barley hay, or timothy hay
- Chew toys
Before bringing your pet guinea pig home, you should set up its new habitat with all the necessities. Chew toys are essential because guinea pigs like chinchillas and rabbits have open-rooted teeth, which means their teeth continue to grow throughout their whole life.
Amazon has a great 20-piece set that is perfect for chewing, playing, and exploring. It consists of 1x apple wood molar string. 2x loofah toys, 1x Timothy cake string, 5x grass sticks, 3x Timothy grass ball with flowers, 2x woven carrots, 2x rabbit-shaped grass cakes, and 4x rattan balls. Another favorite is the foldable, edible animal hideaway hut, which can be attached to the cage with rope.
Grooming and Playtime
Guinea pigs love to roam; let them out of their cage so they can run around in a safe place. Keep an eye on them; they chew everything, including electrical wires. Guinea pigs don’t mind being bathed and brushed. Use a gentle shampoo and avoid contact with the eyes. If your guinea pig has long hair, you can also give it an occasional haircut. Grooming long hair will prevent it from overheating, absorbing moisture and waste from their cages, and getting a urinary tract infection.
Furthermore, their nails grow very fast and should be trimmed monthly, avoiding the quick to prevent bleeding. Check out our guide on how to trim your pet guinea pig's nails.
Diet
To ensure your guinea pig has a healthy digestive system, it is essential that you feed it a well-balanced diet. They should eat at least 20% of their body weight each day. Their diet should consist of fiber, which they will get from eating high-quality hay and pellets.
Green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and parsley are a must each day. To ensure your guinea pig has enough vitamin C, broccoli, green, and red peppers are great, plus they love the crunch. Tomato, sweet potato, and zucchini can be eaten once or twice per week. Additionally, potatoes should be avoided because they are high in starch and can disrupt their digestive system, causing bloating and gas. Potato skins can cause diarrhea because they contain alkaloids that can be toxic and cause other health problems. Guinea pigs can also eat fruits such as plums, blueberries, apples, and oranges. Avoid lemons and limes, as they can be too acidic.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Miroslav Hlavko/Shutterstock.com.