How to Care for Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs make great pets for animal lovers of all ages. They're relatively inexpensive, take up little space, make a minimal amount of noise and still have a lot of personality and love to share with their owners. It's important to know the basic steps to care for guinea pigs to keep them happy and healthy.

Instructions

1. Give them adequate housing. Keep your guinea pig in a cage with a solid bottom, a lidless shallow aquarium or a plastic shelter built especially for hamsters and guinea pigs. Make sure your guinea pig's home lets in lots of sunlight and air and has plenty of room for their food, water and toys while still leaving a lot of open areas for them to run around and play.

2. Feed them well. Most guinea pigs can be fed guinea pig and hamster feed, which are small dry pellets that contain lots of fiber and nutrients to keep them healthy. Supplement your guinea pig's diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, to help balance their diet and to help keep their teeth filed down to a reasonable length.

3. Keep water fresh. Use a shallow water bowl in the bottom of the cage or a water bottle attached to the side of the cage. Give your guinea pig fresh water daily and wash out the bowl or water bottle at least once a week to get rid of germs, bacteria and any built up food or waste that may have accumulated.

4. Clean the cage often. Clean your guinea pig's cage at least weekly to dispose of waste in the bottom of the cage. Line the shelter with newspaper first, then top it with cedar or wood shavings. This will help absorb waste material and make cleaning the cage easier because you can just fold the newspaper up and throw it away.

5. Make play time healthy. A wheel inside their cage will give them plenty of exercise; a ball with a bell inside it that they can chase around the cage is another great way to get them running around. Wood toys and blocks are also great toys for guinea pigs. They love chewing on wood, which keeps their teeth healthy.

6. Keep them well groomed. Guinea pigs are generally low maintenance pets, but you might need to take care of their hair, teeth and nails. If your guinea pig is long-haired, brush out any mats or tangles in the fur. If your guinea pig's nails get exceedingly long, make an appointment with a groomer or veterinarian to have them clipped. Make sure your guinea pig's teeth stay at a reasonable length, too; teeth that grow too long could impair your pet's ability to eat and drink.