Guinea Pigs are the perfect family pet. They are caring, fun, friendly and just all around incredible, but there are a few things you need to know before making that commitment.
Guinea Pigs unfortunately don’t live nearly as long as other household pets, but they affect us all the same and still need your love and attention all the time.
Guinea Pigs can live long, happy and healthy lives if looked after properly.
I have made a list of things you need to be aware of, being a first time owner.
The Basics
Everything you need:
- Cage
- Bedding
- Guinea Pig Food
- Water Bottle
- Hay
- Food Bowl
- Hideys/ Toys
- Carrier
- Grooming Tools
A Cage
Even though Guinea Pigs are small, they still need a decent size home to live in. The more Guinea Pigs you have, the bigger the cage should be.
Cages start from £50+, but the bigger you get, the more expensive it will be. If you’re looking for a decent home for your Guinea Pig, expect to pay £150+.
Unfortunately most Pet store cages aren’t the correct size for Guinea Pigs, but I do understand that most people don’t have the space for a giant space (like me). I believe that as long as they are getting the exercise they need, then that’s ok too.
Guinea Pigs can either live outside in a hutch, but the must be checked beforehand to be weather appropriate and out of direct sunlight (Guinea Pigs are sensitive to change in temperature) They can also live indoors with the same requirements
All cages or hutches should be kept in a well ventilated room, out of direct sunlight, away from any drafts, somewhere not too noisy and please make sure they are away from any fumes, as these are toxic and can kill Guinea Pigs.
We also use a run for the nicer days.
Just like us humans, Guinea Pigs need their own space away from the others, so having a bigger home, where they can go to take a time out or to just chill is beneficial. Its the same with us living in a house, when we’ve had enough we like to take ourselves to our room or kitchen, away from the others to have a minute, so why shouldn’t we let our Guinea Pigs have the same?
Bedding
Guinea Pigs can either have wood shavings for bedding or fleece. I have tried both and I personally prefer fleece as it’s easier to clean and my boys love to snuggle into fleece items.
The star fleece liner I purchased from MPsal on Etsy and was £18.99 (depending on size)
The bath mats were from b&m along with the towels. The microfibre mits were from Amazon
Wood shavings can be brought from your local pet shop for a reasonable price and is the most popular type of bedding. I used wood shavings for a while, because when I first got my boys, that is all I knew to be best for Guinea Pigs. It’s made to absorb a lot and helps maintain the odour.
These are the wood shavings I used for a while, before changing to fleece.
I changed to Fleece not long after I moved back in with my parents, this was because in my opinion, wood shavings do get everywhere and would just be too messy for me. I find fleece is a lot more kind for my boys skin, coat and health, just because I know they’re not breathing in any dust that may have been left, it’s not getting stuck in their anal sacks and it’s a lot more comfortable for them (my boys love to snuggle)
Fleece liners and accessories can be brought from any local small businesses either on Amazon or Etsy. I personally think Etsy are better, because you can guarantee you’re getting what you paid for. Fleece liners are more expensive but will save you money in the long run. They will also need regular washing and tend to need cleaning out more often.
Always be vigilant with fleece wear and tare, as this can get caught around your Guinea Pigs and hurt them.
Pee Pads – these are an essential, but you can get them to either protect other bedding from a leaky water bottle or if your pet likes to pee in one place.
I use these exact ones for my boys water bottles as they do leak quite a bit. I must say that they absorb a lot more than what I expected! It reminds me of a babies nappy! Super absorbent!
Guinea Pig Food
Guinea Pig food can be brought in pet shops and should always be checked to be Guinea Pig food, as they can’t eat Rabbit food.
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-guinea-pig-nuggets-10kg
Guinea Pigs need about 1/8 of a cup of pellets a day, which also works out as 2 table spoons.
Pregnant, nursing, or Guinea Pigs under 6 months old should have pellets available at all times even if this means feeding more than 1/8 cup per day.
I personally like this food as it’s got all the nutrients needed for Guinea Pig nuggets, it’a got a lovely minty scent to it and my boys just love them.
Water bottle
Water bottles are the best option for Guinea Pigs, because bowls can get very dirty quickly and can spill all over the cage, which means more cleaning out!
You can buy plastic bottles and glass bottles. I have read that glass bottle are better if you don’t want your bottles to leak, but I haven’t personally tried these.
Unlimited Hay
Guinea Pigs need unlimited amounts of hay all the time. Hay helps Guinea Pigs with keeping their teeth worn down, so must be available all the time. If the Guinea Pigs teeth get too long, this can cause serious health issues for them.
This is the hay I buy now. I use to purchase the ones from Pets At Home, but then I discovered Burgess sell ‘long stem hay’ which my boys adore! So now I’m all stocked up on it.
Food bowl
When it comes to food bowls, you need at least 2. One for Pellets and one for veggies. You can also use a plastic plate for Guinea Pigs veg, which is what I do. I find it’s less likely to be tipped upside down.
Bit of advice, buy bowls that won’t tip over, as Guinea Pigs like to lean on the side of the bowl when eating, so 9 times out of 10 they will tip and the contents will go EVERYWHERE.
Hideys and Toys
Guinea Pigs need a place where they can hide if they feel unsafe. A hidey is your best option. They come in all shapes snd sizes, so you can find one which will best suit you.
Make sure you have 1 hidey for each Guinea Pig, because they stubborn and like their own space!
Toys
Having toys for your Guinea Pig to play with will help with their mental stimulation. It also keeps them entertained and can cure boredom. You can get many different toys for Guinea Pigs, check out our ‘Toys For Guinea Pigs’ blog to find out more.
Carrier
I know this a lot of people forget about these, but you do need a carrier for your Guinea Pig. This is for road trips, like the vets and to safely transfer your Guinea pig to and from their cage (if needed)
Grooming Kit
You will need a grooming kit for your Guinea pig.
Long hair Guinea pigs will need a suitable brush to maintain their beautiful hair.
Short haired Guinea pigs don’t necessarily need a brush, but can use it to get rid of excess fur that is on them.
Guinea Pigs need their nails trimmed every 2-4 weeks, which can be difficult. If you can do it yourself (after researching everything) and feel confident then do it, if not, please find someone local who can do it for you. A vet can also do it, but I find they charge an absolute fortune.
Other Things You Need To Ask Yourself.
Are you allergic to Guinea Pigs.
You wouldn’t think it, but a lot of people are allergic to Guinea Pigs, so you need to make sure you are not.
Symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Rash
- Itching
People think that Guinea Pig hair can be the cause of the allergic reaction, but it’s not. The allergens (materials you could be allergic to) are Saliva, urine and gland secretions. So buying a hairless Guinea Pig won’t stop allergies.
Things to do to help:
- Keep your Guinea Pigs out of areas which you use on a regular basis, for example the bedroom.
- Use gloves or blankets when picking up your Guinea Pig. Try to avoid picking them up with bare hands.
- Wear gloves when cleaning Guinea Pigs out.
- Wash hands thoroughly after touching them.
Can you commit to daily care
Guinea pigs need a lot of care during the day. This can be cleaning their cage, feeding them, cuddling etc. So you must ask yourself if you have time to be able to offer these things to your Guinea Pig.
If you go on holiday
What will you do with your Guinea Pigs when you go on holiday? You will have to find them someone to care for them whilst you are away, so who? You should ask a friend or family member who ideally knows what to do with Guinea Pigs, or leave a detailed list (like I do) of what to do on a day to day basis.
They’re Noisy
Guinea Pigs can be noisy, so are you ready? They are more active during the night.
Ideally you don’t want Guinea Pigs in your bedroom, because they do make a lot of noise and will keep you up.
Lifespan
Guinea Pigs can live for 4-8 years, so can you make that commitment to them for that long?
Yes they don’t like nearly as long as a dog or cat, but they still need the same amount of love and care, so ask yourself, can you make that commitment for that long?
Other Pets
Guinea Pigs shouldn’t be kept with other Pets, especially if they’re in the same room where other pets can easily access Guinea pigs (like cats) we have 3 dogs, 1 cat and 3 Guinea Pigs, who all sleep in separate rooms at night for the safety of each of them.
Temperatures
Guinea Pigs do not like it too cold or too hot, just like us.
Guinea Pigs temperate should be kept between 16-24 degrees celsius. Anything below 10-15 degrees Celsius, they can become very chilled and anything above 25 puts them at risk of heat stroke.
Can you actually afford Guinea Pigs?
You may not think it, but they are expensive little things. On average a year I spend £1,500 a year for our pigs and that’s without vet bills! Vet bills can cost anything from £30-£1000 depending on what needs doing.
You can consider pet insurance, but I have never done with my boys.
Guinea Pig insurance costs around £15 a month for essential care and will cover up to £2000 worth of vet bills.
Gender
Make sure you know how to tell apart the genders! You don’t want baby Piggies, because that’s more money.
Remember not everything on this list is essential, but it is recommended to give your Guinea Pigs the best life!
Come back next Sunday for more interesting facts about Guinea Pigs!
Lokiandthor18 
YourbBlogs are really very helpful!
Thanks alot 💖
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