There are some simple ways you can keep your guinea pig happy and healthy.
Food!! Guinea pigs eat constantly. They enjoy a wide range of food. They must have an unlimited supply of fresh, dry hay (put it in a hay rack to keep it from being spoiled). They need a variety of vegetables and some fruit every day: like humans, they can't manufacture their own Vitamin C, so need a daily supply. They should also have a decent commercial dry food. One of the reasons they shouldn't be kept with rabbits is because they have very different dietary needs. We forage a lot of wild food for our pigs and make them some treats too, see the section on Forage and Recipes for ideas.
Fresh water must be constantly available, pigs become dehydrated quite quickly.
Fresh water must be constantly available, pigs become dehydrated quite quickly.
Enough space and an interesting environment. Many of the cages sold in pet shops are too small for guinea pigs. A pair will need at least 8 square feet of floor space. They should have hiding places (cardboard boxes will do) and enjoy platforms, ramps, tunnels, etc. Guinea pigs love snuggling up in something soft, like a fleece snuggle cup or cosy bed. Guinea pigs thrive at room temperature: they make great indoor pets, are clean and sociable and can be kept on fleece to avoid substrate being kicked all over the floor. Check out C & C cages as a creative housing option.
Company. Guinea pigs are sociable animals. Sows can be kept in large herds. Boars are better kept in smaller groups (a pair or trio can work well). Boars will fight over the girls, so should be kept away from any sows. Older boars will often accept a baby boar as a companion. It is more to do with personality than anything else. There are sows who squabble and boars who reject one companion but accept another. Even pigs who insist on being alone will benefit greatly from being within sight and sound of other pigs. A boar can be neutered to live with a herd of sows and this works really well. It doesn't change their behaviour in any way.
Grooming. Nail clipping and a good check over regularly is the bare minimum. Ears can get waxy, feet can get calloused. The longer the coat, the more grooming they need. Boars have a waxy patch on the top of their rumps, actually a scent gland. It should be cleaned regularly. Bathing and clipping will help keep your pigs clean and healthy. Try Gorgeous Guineas products, they're wonderful.
We also treat our pigs regularly for parasites with Ivermectin. Lice and mites can arrive on hay or bedding and fungal infections can lurk too.
We also treat our pigs regularly for parasites with Ivermectin. Lice and mites can arrive on hay or bedding and fungal infections can lurk too.
Attention. Guinea pigs are a prey animal and display flight mechanisms very often. They have to learn to feel safe with you and other pets. Some become extremely confident, others never lose that desire to get away and will avoid you until they are being held. Frequent, positive contact helps build trust, but don't be worried if you have a feisty pig who insists on giving you the run around! Lone pigs will not be more likely to bond with their owners; they are more likely to remain stressed and nervous as they don't have a partner to share 'watch duties'. Daily contact is a must.Observe your pigs so that you know what is normal behaviour and know what changes might indicate an illness. Don't have guinea pigs unless you want them to be a daily part of your life, more than just shoving food in to a dark hutch once a day.
Double checking: it can be difficult to sex baby guinea pigs and mistakes are often made, even in pet shops. Don't take their word for it, check your potential pigs and any that are housed with them or take someone along who has experience at sexing pigs. If you find yourself with a mis-sexed pig, complain to the breeder or pet shop. Guinea pigs are capable of reproduction at a few weeks old. Sows should not be bred from until they are at least 9 months old and a good size. It's a myth that their pelvic bones fuse if they have not had a litter by 12 months of age, possibly based on a condition displayed by a few sows, but sows older than 18 months shouldn't be bred from if they haven't littered before. Boar babies should be taken away from their mother and sisters at about 3 weeks old and housed with an older boar or their brothers. Sows can become pregnant straight after giving birth, so any adult males should be removed before labour begins. Early and frequent pregnancies and inbreeding are all bad news. If an unplanned pregnancy looks likely, don't panic. Sows usually cope extremely well. Provide lots of good food, a warm environment and get some advice! We are happy to help.