Caring for Guinea Pigs

Caring for guinea pigs is much easier than caring for some larger pets. Guinea pigs don't need shots or a ton of toys or room to run around. They do, however, need more than just a bowl of food and a cage to live in. Here are some of the finer points of guinea pig care to consider.

Choosing a Guinea Pig Cage
Even though a guinea pig is small, it will need a large cage. The larger the cage, the more active and healthy the guinea pig will be. A cage for one guinea pig should be no smaller than 18 inches wide by 14 inches high and 25 inches deep. A guinea pig should not be housed in an aquarium, as the ventilation is insufficient. Guinea pigs have small feet, so you should avoid cages with wire grids at the bottom.

Clean the guinea pig cage at least every other day. While guinea pigs are clean, they are not particular about where they go to the bathroom, so you'll need to clean the cage frequently. Always add fresh bedding. Do not use the old bedding you removed, even if it looks clean. 

Proper Feeding
Guinea pigs need hay and other material in their cages, such as ink-free shredded paper. This provides bedding and some chewing material. A guinea pig's teeth grow constantly, so it needs lots of things to chew on.

Feed a guinea pig timothy hay and pellets formulated specifically for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs also need fresh vegetables. When you put vegetables in the cage, be sure to remove them after a few hours, so that they do not rot in the cage. Always have food available. Guinea pigs can get sick if they don't eat every 12 hours.

Choose greens that are high in Vitamin C, such as kale, romaine lettuce and collard greens. Guinea pigs can't produce Vitamin C on their own; they must get it from foods or from a supplement. Guinea pigs love fruit, but be sure to remove the seeds before you offer it. The seeds from some fruits are poisonous to guinea pigs.

Use a drip bottle to provide water. Make sure that the water is changed daily. Clean the bottle, the tube and the tube ball each time you change the water.

One Pig or Two?
In the wild, guinea pigs are highly social animals that travel in herds. While they can live alone with lots of love and playtime from you, they're often happier when they have other guinea pigs around. You don't need a herd, but a second guinea pig is a very welcome companion.

Whether your pig has a companion or not, interaction with your pet is a must. Some breeds need daily brushing, which is a great time for bonding. All guinea pigs like to get out of their cages and run around and play with you. To keep your pet happy and healthy, be sure to spend time every day interacting with it outside of its cage.