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Updated: May 30, 2024
Your guinea pig is a central member of your family, and we know you want to provide your piggy with everything they need to be happy and healthy. That’s why we’ve put together this collection of essential guinea pig care tips to help you learn how to take care of a guinea pig.
In this article, we’ll cover the following important topics:
It’s important for your guinea pig to have unlimited access to a variety of quality grass hays. Hay helps prevent obesity, boredom, and serious health issues related to dental and gastrointestinal disease. Replacing the hay in your guinea pig’s habitat can encourage picky eating, so we recommend changing it only when soiled. Offer a variety of types of grass hay to further discourage unhealthy picky eating habits.
Young (less than 6 months old), pregnant, nursing or ill animals can benefit from eating alfalfa hay in addition to grass hay because of the higher nutritional content (including higher levels of protein and calcium). Otherwise, alfalfa should only be given to your guinea pig occasionally as a treat.
Keep in mind that grass hay should make up the majority of your pet’s daily diet. Offer a variety of types of grass hay to your guinea pig to promote optimum health. Use the Taste & Texture Guide located on every Oxbow hay package to determine your pet’s unique taste and texture preferences.
Providing a daily recommended amount of high-fiber, age-appropriate fortified food will help ensure that your pet receives essential nutrients not found in hay.
Always choose an age-appropriate, uniformly nutritious food formulated specifically for guinea pigs. Oxbow offers a number of quality food lines to meet the unique preferences of all piggies.
Unsure which to choose? Don’t worry! We’ve created a side-by-side look at the unique characteristics of each of our food lines to make the decision easier!
It’s important to remember that not all pets foods are created equal. Some options, like seed blends, promote unhealthy selective feeding behaviors that can lead to serious health conditions. Learn more about the differences between uniform and mix-based foods and what this means for your guinea pig’s health.
Fresh greens are an important part of your guinea pig’s daily diet. Greens help keep your piggy hydrated and offer important vitamins and minerals, as well as offer nutritional enrichment. Romaine, bib, and red leaf lettuce are good greens to offer, but avoid foods in the onion family such as leeks, chives, and onions. Learn more about the best leafy greens for guinea pigs.
Treats (including fruits and veggies) are great for encouraging interaction between you and your pet, but they should never take the place of essential daily foods. Offering too many treats can lead your guinea pig to refuse their healthy, essential foods. Not all treats are created equal, either! All Oxbow Simple Rewards treat varieties are designed to be as wholesome as they are delicious.
Caring for guinea pigs doesn’t end with nutrition; it also involves learning about their unique behaviors.
Guinea pigs are most active at dawn and twilight, taking naps throughout the day.
Some guinea pig behaviors can seem strange at first. For example, you may see your guinea pig eat its own poop. This is normal, healthy behavior that provides essential vitamins and nutrients.
All guinea pigs are wired to engage in a set of healthy instinctual behaviors each day. These behaviors include chewing, playing, hiding, and exploring. Intentionally encouraging these behaviors in healthy ways is called enrichment. Support all four behaviors in a variety of ways each day to support your guinea pig’s mental and physical health.
Chewing is an instinctual behavior of guinea pigs and provides important health benefits. Guinea pigs have open-rooted teeth that never stop growing. Chewing supports dental health by keeping your guinea pig’s teeth worn down in a healthy manner. To support your guinea pig’s chewing needs, provide a variety of safe, healthy chew toys each day.
Guinea pigs are prey animals that possess the instinct to run and hide to escape predators in the wild. Even in the safe, domesticated confines of your home, your guinea pig’s prey instincts will remain intact. To support this instinct, it’s important to provide multiple hiding spaces for your guinea pig to retreat to in order to cope with stress throughout the day.
Guinea pigs love to explore their surroundings when they feel safe. In their native habitat, guinea pigs constantly explore their surroundings as they forage for food. You can encourage your guinea pig to explore their habitat by offering enrichment accessories designed to engage your pets mentally and physically.
Guinea pigs are playful creatures by nature. A playful guinea pig is an active guinea pig; daily playtime for guinea pigs supports their mental and physical health. Offer your guinea pigs a variety of play toys to keep them active and engaged each day.
It’s easy to make guinea pigs feel at home inside your house. As prey animals by nature, all guinea pigs (even those who free roam in the house) need a safe place where they can spend time and escape potential environmental stressors. Choose a spacious, quality habitat with a solid floor and set it up near household activities, but away from drafts. Your guinea pig’s habitat should be outfitted with environmental essentials such as a hay habitat (Timothy CLUB Bungalow or Tunnel), a litter box lined with litter and bedding, multiple chews, grass hay, a food bowl, and two sources of fresh, clean water.
Every guinea pig should have daily access to basic supplies for health and happiness. Make sure you’re stocked up on the following:
Many guinea pig health problems are a result of nutrition, diet, digestive and dental issues. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Still have questions about how to care for a guinea pig? Our experts are here for you! Please contact us by phone or email and we’ll be happy to assist you in giving your little one a healthy life.
