How to Take Proper Care of a Guinea Pig

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By sdmcclusky
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Take Proper Care of a Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs make great pets, but many people are not very well informed on how to care for one of these little creatures. Hopefully this article will be useful for current owners and potential adopters.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

a guinea pig!
treats
romaine lettuce
carrots
small cut fruits
aspen or pine bedding
timothy hay
a homemade cage
guinea pig food

Step 1

Cages. First things first- guinea pigs need a great deal of space, much more than a store bought cage offers. Visit www.cavycages.com for instructions on building your own cage for less than $30. A larger cage will help your guinea pig to stay happy and have plenty of room to stretch and exercise.
Step 2

Floor time. Have a safe space for your guinea pig to run around in at least once a day. It's a great idea to lie down newspapers that they can run underneath, hide a few treats- such as carrots- around the play area. Guinea pigs love to hunt for things! Make sure it's a baby-proofed area with no cords exposed to the pet.
Step 3

Feeding. Make sure your guinea pig has food in their food bowl at all times. When buying food, it's a good idea to purchase a guinea pig food with vitamin C added. They also need a handful of timothy hay once a day placed in their cages. This is very important, as guinea pigs commonly have urinary problems and timothy hay has been known to prevent them. They need fresh water in their water bottles daily. Make sure they always have access to water. They get very thirsty! Guinea pigs also love fresh Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, blueberries, strawberries, and cantaloupe. Be sure to check an online list of what is safe to feed your pet. Guinea pigs cannot have iceberg lettuce or many other things.
Step 4

Bedding. Aspen bedding is best, as it is made from a softer wood. It also has less of an odor, where pine is really strong. This will be more comfortable for your guinea pig. Pine bedding is cheaper, and commonly used. It's ok to use, your guinea pig would just probably tell you they'd rather the Aspen bedding if they could actually speak!
Step 5

Nails and Coat. Guinea pig nails grow quickly and should be trimmed every few weeks. Be very careful not to snip the quick. This usually takes 2 people- one to hold the guinea pig still and one to clip. I manage to clip my piggy's nails alone, but it's not easy at all! Guinea pigs also need to be brush often. They shed a lot and this will help to prevent the hair from getting everywhere in the house. It also helps with long-haired piggies.
Step 6

Love! Guinea pigs need lots of love. They are very loving creatures, but you have to treat them as you would a puppy or kitten. They need more attention than many people think. They are not a good choice for someone who is just looking for a low-maintenance pet. My piggy even does tricks for her treats! She jumps on top of her Piggy house in her cage when she wants a treat.