How to Care for a Guinea Pig

The guinea pig can make a great pet for young children. They require little maintenance, are generally docile, rarely bite and they are very sociable. The guinea pig will enjoy lots of human interaction with you or your children.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Enclosure
• Bedding
• Hiding area
• Guinea pig food
• Timothy hay
• Sipper bottle
• Food dish
• Wooden chew toys

1. Purchase an appropriate enclosure for your guinea pig. The enclosure can vary but needs to have a solid floor (not wire) and a hiding area.
2. Choose a location in your home to keep the enclosure that is away from drafts, direct sunlight and other sudden temperature changes. Guinea pigs do not require any special heating or lighting.
3. Fill the enclosure with a bedding of your choice. Processed bedding works very well with guinea pigs. Change the substrate on a weekly basis.
4. Feed your guinea pig any of the commercially available guinea pig specific foods. Also provide your guinea pig with timothy hay at all times. Furthermore you can supplement its diet with fruits and vegetables occasionally.
5. Provide water for your guinea pig using a sipper bottle because water bowls tend to be knocked over.
6. Place a hiding area of some sort inside the cage. There are many commercially available hiding areas for small animal cages. Provide several wooden chew toys on a regular basis.

Tips & Warnings

• Guinea pigs will live 4 to 7 years if cared for properly so be sure to understand the commitment you are making in buying one.
• Guinea pigs are very social animals. You might consider buying two so that they can interact with one another. This will help them both live happier lives.
• Be sure the food you buy is high in Vitamin C which helps prevent scurvy, a common disease in guinea pigs.
• Avoid giving live pets to children under the age of 9.