Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs need two square feet of space per adult. A wire cage will make a good home for your guinea pig provided it has a plastic bottom. Wire bottom cages are not recommended for guinea pigs. Their feet can get caught in the wire bottom cages resulting in hurt or broken legs. Use Carefresh or kiln dried pine shavings as a substrate. Avoid cedar at all costs as it can cause respiratory distress. Guinea pigs are rather skittish, so provide something like a small cardboard box for them to hide in. They will need a water bottle and a dish for their food.

Guinea pigs are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Temperatures below 65 F and above 75 Fahrenheit can be deadly. Guinea pig cages shouldn't be placed in direct sunlight or in a drafty area.

Guinea pigs require a special diet. Their bodies don’t produce vitamin C for them, so they need to get their vitamin C from the foods they eat. They will need to be fed guinea pig pellets (not rabbit pellets), fresh fruits, and vegetables high in Vitamin C. They should also get a daily supply of Timothy hay. It will help keep their teeth trimmed, provide fiber and is great for their digestive system. It’s possible to get vitamin C drops for their water bottle from your pet shop but the vitamin C will only last for a few hours. Other recommended foods are: Parsley, Kale, Romaine Lettuce (Not Iceburg), Cucumber, Broccoli, Carrots, Dandelion leaves, Oranges, Apples, Strawberries, Sweet peppers.

Guinea pigs need their nails trimmed on a regular basis. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this. Guinea pigs' teeth are constantly growing and they need things too gnaw on. The timothy hay is great food for them and also helps with their teeth. Some wood chews from your pet shop are also good. Even toilet paper rolls will keep them chewing. If you have a long hair guinea pig you will need to brush their fur often or it will get matted. For short hair guinea pigs not much grooming is needed. Petting them often is good enough for their fur. You don’t need to bathe your guinea pigs very often but sometimes they will get dirty. A warm rinse in the sink with baby shampoo will be good for them. Don't get their heads wet or water in their ears. Dry them off very well with a towel and you can even use a blow dryer on the lowest setting to dry them quickly.