Guinea Pig Care 101: How to Care for Your Pet Guinea Pigs
With a unique personality and all of the furry features that they have, there is a reason why many parents decide that a guinea pig is going to be the first pet that they get for their kids. But no matter if you are getting one for yourself or your children, bringing home a guinea pig is going to require the same amount of work as bringing home any other type of pet would. Because of this, it is a great idea to do your homework on guinea pigs prior to going out and getting one. With all of the different breeds available to you, you are going to want to know exactly how to take care of and maintain them so they are able to be both happy, as well as healthy.
Here are some of the basic things that you should know before you decide to bring a guinea pig into your home.
Guinea Pig Breeds (Types)
It may come as a surprise to you, but there are actually several different breeds of guinea pigs that you can have as a pet. Now keep in mind that each of the different breeds is going to have its very own characteristics, so be sure that you research all of them so you are able to choose the one that is best suited for your lifestyle. Some of the more common breeds that make the best pets are:
American Guinea Pig
Having a smooth, short coat of fur that comes in several different colors, this particular breed is one of the most popular to have as a pet, as they have a very easy temperament and are also easy to care for. Their shorter hair means that maintenance is going to be minimal, and they do great with other guinea pigs as well. On top of that, they are also known for their reputation of having a great attitude towards humans.
Peruvian Guinea Pig
While their long fur coat does mean that you will have a considerable amount of more maintenance to do, this particular breed of guinea pig is also very friendly and social. This means if you have a family, they should definitely be one of the types of guinea pigs that you should consider. Besides being family friendly, they are also fun loving, curious, and very alert to what is happening around them.
Silkie Guinea Pig
Also referred to as ‘The Sheltie,’ this breed of guinea pig is known for their long fur that requires you to brush it on a frequent basis. This means if you are looking at one of these as a pet for your child, you may want to think twice about it as they are gong to require much more attention than some of the other breeds available to you. That is, unless you are happy doing the brushing yourself.
Teddy Guinea Pig
While at first glance you would assume that their coat is short and easy to maintain, you would be mistaken as their fur is going to be really wiry and dense. Their coat can either be smooth or rough, but they are going to require regular brushing to help remove anything that may become trapped within it, potentially leading to irritation of their skin. Other than the required brushings, these are one of the best breeds of guinea pigs for children. This is because they have the perfect demeanor that includes everything you want in regards to a family pet. They are curious and fun loving, making them another great choice for your family.
Abyssinian Guinea Pig
Being known as a troublemaker, this guinea pig has long hair and is usually considered to be a little bit feisty. Because of their longer coats, many people think that there is a lot of maintenance that is required for them. However, these guinea pigs are actually very adept at keeping themselves clean, and because of this they actually only require a minimal amount of care. Although they can be quite mischievous, they make up for it with their charm and friendliness. This breed is better suited for older kids who are going to be able to put in a little bit of time to take of their pet.
Skinny Guinea Pig
While they are extremely easy to maintain, as they do not have any hair, they are also very social. The one thing that they have going against them though, is that their appearance can almost be a deterrent for some families who are looking for a guinea pig that has the more ‘traditional’ look. For that reason, these guinea pigs are considered to be more exotic and appeal to those looking for such.
If you are new to owning a guinea pig, it is recommended that you first start out with one that is between two and four months old, and from a trusted guinea pig breeder, rescue, or pet store. While they will more than likely be shy for the first couple of weeks, they will quickly bond to you if you handle, feed and care for them. But if you are a more experienced guinea pig owner, you can either purchase a younger or older one.
What you’ll notice about your pet guinea pig is that they are probably going to be the gentlest pet that you will ever have. While they are their happiest in smaller groups, they are also very easy to care for.
Guinea pigs, which are also known as ‘cavies’, come from South America and are rotund rodents. They are both gentle and affectionate, and do extremely well in households with children of all ages. But so you know, guinea pigs are also herbivores that are naturally lower on the food chain, so if you have any other pets such as cats, dogs, rats, or ferrets, they should be kept apart at all times.
Another thing that guinea pigs are not able to do well is jump. In fact, guinea pigs are only able to jump a couple of inches high, meaning that they are going to be kept away from anything they could potentially fall off of, some of which can include beds, tables, stairs, or any other height hazard.
Essential Equipment For Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are unique in the sense that they are not going to require very much equipment at all. In fact, all that they do require is:
- A hutch or cage
- Food dish and water bowl
- Pet carrier
- Bedding
- Safe fruitwood for chewing
- A brush and nail trimmers
- A hut to hide in
Once you get all of these things (which can be done at your local pet store or online), you will have everything that your guinea pig requires.
Exercising Your Pet Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs should never use any type of exercise wheel. Never. If your guinea pig goes on an exercise wheel, they will be at risk for damaging their backs, injuring their feet, and just being generally unhealthy. For this reason, you are going to want to try and ignore that picture of the wheel that comes on many of the pet cages.
Rather than the wheel, you should have some floor area that has been cleared of anything so that your guinea pig is able to run around. Another great option if there isn’t a whole lot of space in their cage, is to use a dog playpen or even an empty plastic pool. Some guinea pig owners have even been able to train theirs to jump over little toy oxers, similar to that of a horse.
Feeding Your Guinea Pig
When guinea pigs eat, they are very messy. This means that you are going to need to be prepared for them to move around their water and food bowls. One thing you can do to help alleviate some of the mess is to have a water bottle hung on the outside of the cage as a backup plan for water.
Another thing that you will need to keep in mind is that they are going to require a consistent supply of fresh grass hay, as well as some high quality Timothy grass guinea pig pellets. These two food items are going to make up the majority of your guinea pig’s diet. And if you are wondering why it is recommended that you use Timothy guinea pig pellets, it’s because they are the best choice. You can use alfalfa, but those are extremely high in calcium and will end up causing health problems. However, you can substitute different vegetables such as broccoli leaves, radish greens, and carrots as well.
Many guinea pig owners also use a Vitamin C supplement as well, because while the pellets do have Vitamin C in them, they are quick to lose their potency. All you will have to do if you decide to go this route is to put the Vitamin C supplement on their pellets or vegetables at feeding time.
Grooming Your Guinea Pig
Your guinea pig’s nails are going to need to be trimmed on a regular basis, roughly about every month. While there are some people who prefer to do this using nail clippers designed for people, others prefer to take them to a nail trimming professional. If you are planning on trimming their nails yourself, it may be easier if you take them to the vet for the very first time. This will allow you to ask any questions and learn the proper way that their nails should be trimmed.
You are going to notice that your guinea pig does indeed have a fur coat. This coat is going to need to be brushed. Depending upon the type of guinea pig that you have will determine how often you are going to need to brush them, it will need to be done on a regular basis. If you have a longer haired guinea pig such as the Peruvian breed, you will need to brush them at least once or twice every day. If you have a shorter haired breed, you will be able to get away with brushing them less.
As for what you should use to brush them, a ‘Finishing’ brush that is normally intended for use on show cats is going to be the absolute best piece of equipment to get the task done. However, if your guinea pig does have a longer coat, they may also require a fine comb as well.
Training Your Guinea Pig
As the mini-jumping that guinea pigs can be trained to do was mentioned earlier in this article, there is actually not much more training that is required by them. Just be sure that you handle your guinea pig as gently and often as possible to help get them familiar and comfortable around people and there is not much more you can do. If you do handle them gently and often though, they will turn into one of the most gentle, cuddly companions that you could ever ask for.
When you get a guinea pig as a pet, they can very easily be the most delightful pets that you and your entire family will simply love. On top of that, they do very well with other guinea pigs, so many guinea pig owners who start out with just one; often times add more, as they are such great pets to keep.
If you have done your research and have decided that adding a guinea pig to the family is the right addition for you and your family, the next thing you will need to do is find a local veterinarian who is experienced with guinea pigs and rodents, to find a pet store that sells guinea pig food for you to stock up on, and to get your guinea pig’s new home all setup for them. Once you have done all of this, you are now ready to go out and get one of these adorable rodents. And if you are curious where to look for a guinea pig other than a pet store, there is always your local rescues and shelters as well.