Is a Guinea pig the right pet for you?

Guinea pigs are cute and friendly and are easily tamed, but like all pets they do need commitment and regular attention.

Guinea Pigs love companionship and they particularly like to be with other guinea pigs.
Although a lot of people keep guinea pigs and rabbits together in the same rabbit hutch this practise is not always recommended by guinea pig breeders.

Guinea pigs need to be fed twice a day with a good quality Guinea Pig Food or a mixture of meadow hay, greens, pellets, washed fruit and vegetables. Remember that they will always need a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water in a drip feed bottle with a metal spout.

Guinea pigs require a large weatherproof guinea pig hutch or rabbit hutch, preferably kept off the ground and out of direct sunlight or strong winds. The guinea pig hutch should be moved to an either indoor area such as a garage or a porch in the winter months.

The guinea pig hutch should have a separate sleeping area for each animal and preferably an under-run as guinea pigs are playful little animals who love the space to run around and chase each other. Supply your guinea pig with a clean layer of wood chippings on the floor of their hutch and plenty of soft hay for bedding and burrowing.

Because guinea pigs love exercise and play, provide them with the facility to have daily exercise in a grassy area which is safe from predators. Guinea pigs need to graze, so a guinea pig run or rabbit run is ideal. If your guinea pig is indoors then provide him with an indoor run so that he can stretch his little legs in cold weather too.

It is important to remember that their hutch should be cleaned on a daily basis and their bedding changed weekly in order to keep their living conditions clean and hygienic and keep the odour to a minimum.

Provide your guinea pig with a gnawing block to chew on as this aids the guinea pig to wear down his long teeth. A long haired guinea pig or a guinea pig with a rough-haired coat should be brushed every day and their fur checked for mites and dirt. This procedure also helps to build a bond with the little animal and gets him used to being handled. If you guinea pig develops bald patches on his face of body this could be a result of a fungal infection and you should take him to your vet immediately for treatment.

Make an effort to spend some quiet time alone with your guinea pig every day, particularly if he does not have any other guinea pigs to play with or he will become bored and unhappy.

At holiday time make sure you have enlisted a responsible person to look after your guinea pig and his guinea pig hutch so that he remains happy and healthy until you return.

Guinea pigs can live for up to seven years old and so purchasing one of these little animals is a big commitment to make - remember that if you are purchasing one for your children that the responsibility will last this length of time and that they should not be purchased on a whim. Remember that children can soon tire of things and it would be very cruel to purchase a pet that will be left on its own for long periods of time because the children have got fed up of it.

In the wild, guinea pigs live in close family groups so it can be unkind to keep one guinea pig on its own. Companionship is essential to keep your guinea pig happy. However, two adult guinea pigs that don’t know each other may fight so it is advisable to choose two young littermates of the same sex - either a father and son or a mother and daughter - this way, they are used to each other and should get on.

When handling your guinea pig, always approach himfrom the front and on its level. Pick it up using both hands, with one around its hindquarters and the other around its shoulders (for a young guinea pig) or around its chest (for an adult). Guinea pigs may become upset by too much handling so if your guinea pig appears stressed put him back in his guinea pig hutch or run for a while to calm down.

The RSPCA strongly advises the public not to breed from your guinea pigs as it is very difficult to find good homes for the babies. The best way to ensure that guinea pigs do not breed is to keep males and females apart.

Did you know that a female guinea pig can produce up to five litters a year from a very young age? If groups of guinea pigs are left to their own devices, your would soon be over-run with babies !!

Make sure that you check your guinea pig regularly for overgrown claws and teeth. Both can be trimmed by a vet. If you find that your guinea pig is scratching a lot, this could be the result of mites or lice and can lead to severe skin problems if not treated. Your vet can provide you with a suitable treatment for these problems.

It is worth knowing that long-haired guinea pigs in particular may suffer from the potentially fatal disease flystrike. This is caused by flies laying eggs in soiled fur. This is why it is essential to clean your guinea pig hutch day and change the bedding regularly.

Guinea pigs can also suffer from vitamin C deficiency which causes weight loss, general weakness and swollen joints. It is worth asking your vet for advice on how to provide your guinea pigs with an adequate supply of vitamin C if this is not included in the food you are providing.

Guinea pigs can make lovely, loving little pets but as mentioned above, like all pets, they are a big commitment and should be given the care and attention that they deserve.