10 Things to Know BEFORE You Get a Guinea Pig (Or Start Here if You Already Have a Guinea Pig and Need Help)

Thinking about getting a guinea pig? Read our guide first and find out what it’s really like to own a guinea pig!

Walking through the pet store, you stop at the end of the aisle and peer down at a ball of furry guinea pigs snuggled together in a cage. Aww … They are so darn cuddly and lovable! It can be tempting to swoop in and impulse buy one of the little fuzzy wuzzies on the spot. After all, you tell yourself, how hard can it be to take care of something so cute?

Well, having owned guinea pigs ourselves for more than 10 years now, we are here to tell you that looks can definitely be deceiving when it comes to these little critters. No doubt, they are cute and adorable, and they make great pets. BUT, it’s our firm belief that every pet deserves an owner who goes into pet parenting with their eyes wide open. Well-informed pet parents provide the best chance for fairy tale endings on both sides.

Ok, so here are 10 Things to Know BEFORE You Get a Guinea Pig (or if you already have a guinea pig and need help, start here):

1.      The lifespan of a guinea pig is 5-8 years. Yes, you read that right! This comes as a surprise to many people, and also why so many guinea pigs end up in rescue. Make sure you commit to the full lifespan of your pet. Guinea pigs are not a “starter pet” for little children, and in fact, probably require more active care than some larger pets, such as dogs and cats. So it is important to do your research. Start here: Guinea Lynx. The Guinea Lynx website has been around a long time and provides a great overview of guinea pig care requirements. Spend a couple of hours going through it BEFORE you bring home a guinea pig.

2.      Don’t EVER surprise anyone with a guinea pig – or any pet! This is a recipe for disaster and is unfair to the animal. It’s also another reason why so many pets end up dumped at a shelter or a rescue. If you have a child who desperately wants a guinea pig, take time to help them do the research and commit to what their role will be in taking care of the pet. With that said, understand that kids are fickle and that ultimately YOU will be the one in charge of pet care. If you are not comfortable with that, don’t get the pet. Instead, there are many guinea pig cafes and rescue organizations around that could use your help and support.

3.      “Adopt, don’t shop!” Adopting a guinea pig from a rescue is usually a much better option than buying from a pet store. The rescues are usually much more knowledgeable about guinea pigs and can answer any questions you might have, and help you find a good match. Most take this job very seriously and want to check references, so don’t be in a hurry to rush the adoption. Pet stores often can’t tell a male from a female and commonly misgender guinea pigs. This can lead to unwanted multiples after you bring your piggy home from the store. Rescues are usually better trained at identifying males from females. One more reason to adopt, don’t shop! Do a Google search for “guinea pig rescues near me” and arrange a phone call or a visit. It will be well worth your time.

4.      Guinea pigs are social animals and typically do better in same-sex pairs. This is the ideal. But with that said, some guinea pigs are not super social with other piggies, or are aggressive, and do better alone. So it really depends. If you can find a pair with a strong bond, that is always the best option. But don’t stress out if you don’t have the time or space for two piggies. There are many single piggies who make great family pets. And sometimes, without any competition for food or real estate, single piggies make less of a mess.

5.      Make sure you get a cage with room to roam. Pet store cages are usually way too small. One guinea pig requires a cage of about 7 square feet, and two guinea pigs require a cage of about 9-11 square feet. The best answer is to build your own using C and C grids with a coroplast tray, or buy a kit from a website, such as PiggyBedspreads, that sell pre-cut kits. These larger cages are much better for guinea pigs, but will require a fair amount of space in your home. So make sure you have a dedicated area for your piggies. Also be sure to provide several hiding places for your piggies. They are prey animals and tend to feel more secure when they are under cover.

6.      Guinea pigs are cute, but they are also a mess! They poop everywhere and resist potty training. As a result, their cage needs to be swept daily, and cleaned out weekly. Some people use Carefresh paper bedding or aspen wood shavings throughout the cage. Others use fleece liners exclusively. We prefer a hybrid model, where we use a fleece liner and trays (low-sided plastic containers, or cardboard produce boxes) filled with aspen wood shavings that we can change out as needed. We have found these trays help to extend the time between full cage cleanings. Covering the trays with a cloth draped over one end of the cage sides will create a “kitchen and bath” area and give your piggies a safe place to eat, hang out, and potty. To eliminate cage mess from getting into the washing machine, we use the Wheeky® Pets Laundry Helper and Clean Sweep Brush , which keep hair out of the laundry and also helps to reduce plumbing clogs. Be sure to regularly clean the water bottle, too, to prevent mold. We use a small pet water bottle brush and it does a great job.

7.      Guinea pigs need fresh hay, water, vegetables, kibble and a vitamin C tablet every day. Guinea pigs are vegans and do not eat meat or dairy. Every day they require unlimited hay and water, a cup of fresh vegetables (ours love Romaine lettuce, cucumber, green peppers and carrots) and 2 Tbl of high-quality kibble per piggy (no colored bits). Be careful not to overfeed. Guinea pigs are playful, and some like to tip over their food bowls. To prevent this, try one of our popular STAYbowl® Tip-Proof Bowls. They are ergonomically designed for guinea pigs and prevent spills while also providing portion control. Too much kibble can lead to kidney stones and other health problems, so a little goes a long way. Also be sure to give your guinea pig a vitamin C tablet every day.

8.      Handle your guinea pig every day and hand feed them kibble, veggies and treats. When you first bring your guinea pig home, they will be scared and want to run away from you and hide. Don’t take this personally! Give them time to adjust. You can start to tame your guinea pig by hand feeding them kibble, veggies and fruit. Carrots are always a favorite treat with our piggies. They may not take anything from you right away, but keep trying. Even though they may not like to be picked up at first, it’s best if you can pet them and pick them up for lap time a little bit each day. Over time, they will learn to love it!

9.      Floortime and regular exercise helps guinea pigs stay healthy. You will want to provide a safe space for your guinea pigs to run around and get some exercise outside of the cage, but make sure to block off areas where they could disappear or get into trouble. Fencing them into the kitchen or a tiled room for floortime is best. Having an activity toy, like our Wheeky® Treat Ball, that you can fill with treats is a great way to get your piggies moving.

10.  Plan for regular grooming, nail trims and vet checks. Guinea pigs need their nails trimmed about once a month. We use a small pair of small pet nail scissors and try not to take off too much of the nail at once. We bribe them with carrots or other favorite treat. They don’t love it, but they tolerate it. Long-haired breeds, like our Nutmeg, need regular brushing and hair trims. Guinea pigs typically do a good job of cleaning themselves and only need a bath on occasion. We recommend vet checks once a year, or sooner if there is any change in behavior, such as not eating or drinking.

So there you have it! Hopefully, now you will begin to understand what it is like to own a guinea pig. Our best advice is to do your homework, find a rescue or someone else who is knowledgeable about guinea pigs and can answer your questions. Everyone will be happier if you go into pet ownership with your eyes wide open.

Good luck!