Guinea Pigs as your first pet

With their furry features and funny personalities, it makes sense that many people see guinea pigs as a perfect solution to the question: “What will our kid’s first pet be?”

Whether you’re for the first time taking a guinea pig home for your kids or for yourself, the act of bringing one into your life requires the same due diligence that taking any other pet home would, which is why it’s a good idea to do some research in advance of your new arrival. From the different breeds of guinea pig to consider to their proper care and maintenance, there’s a lot to know before adding one to your family.

To help you get started, here are some of the basics any First-time guinea pig owner should consider.

Your guinea pig’s home

What you’ll need:

• Solid-bottom cage (minimum 24 x 12 x 12 inches)
• Water bottle
• Food bowl
• Hay rack
• A hide house (store-bought, or use a small flower pot)
• Chew toys
• Aspen, pine, or recycled paper bedding (but NOT cedar – it’s toxic for your pet!)
• Timothy hay, orchard grass, or oat grass

Before you bring your new guinea pig home, make sure the habitat is stocked with toys and treats. Your new guinea pig will be delighted if the habitat is in a calm, secluded spot away from larger pets. Keep their home far from drafty windows too; it will help keep their body temperature regulated.
Guinea pigs love a good cuddle but not on the first day home, but make sure to give your guinea pig time to settle in. Speak with your new furry friend in soft, soothing tones. They also like it when you gently stroke their head. Still a little shy? Don’t worry. Give your guinea pig 15 minutes and then try again.

home made guinea pig cage

Feeding your guinea pig

You’re going to want hay - lots of hay! It’s your new guinea pig’s favorite food, and they thrive on a variety of it. Serve hay out of a hay rack. (The hay that guinea pigs snack on looks a bit like their bedding, and you don’t want your new guinea pig dining on its mattress!)
Every day, fill your guinea pigs’ food bowl with fresh hay. Every other day, add some salad to their meal with kale, collard greens, zucchini, or shredded carrots pigs. Once a week, treat them to a fruity snack (papaya, banana, or mango). Twice a week, let them nibble on raisins and alfalfa. A healthy guinea pig diet is about 20% vegetables and 5% fruit. Guinea pigs cannot store or manufacture their own vitamin C. Help them out with a daily supplement.
Your guinea pig will love all the food you offer, but if sits in their bowl for more than four hours, it’s time to take it away. Also, clean food and water containers daily and change their bedding once a month.

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Recommended guinea pig videos 

   

Playing & grooming

Guinea pigs love to forage. Toys that hide treats (and can stand up to a good gnaw) are perfect. So is a wire playpen that will protect your furry friends and allow them to safely scurry across large spaces in your house. Always keep a watchful eye on guinea pigs playing outside their enclosure (you don’t want them chewing on anything dangerous, like electrical wires). Always clean the enclosure to keep it nice and fresh for your furry friend.

Keeping your guinea pig healthy

Little critters need check-ups just like any other family pets. Take your guinea pig to a vet a few days after coming home, then schedule check-ups once a year. Take your guinea pig for a check-up if it displays any of these symptoms,

• Lethargy
• Lack of interest in food
• Change in bowel movements

Before you place your order checkout the Guinea pig pros and cons

 

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A fun-sized pet for the classroom or kids’ room!

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are tail-less rodents that are native to the west coast of South America and since the mid-1800’s, laboratories have used them for research. The correct name for guinea pigs is Cavy, pronounced “kay-vee”.

Guinea pigs usually weigh around 3 ounces at birth, around 1-2 pounds full grown, and live for 5-6 years. An adult will measure 8-10 inches from the tip of its nose to the end of its rump. Their hair comes in a wide range of colors and the hair may be long, short or short and curly. Cavies have a very good sense of smell and sensitive hearing. They love to vocalize with squeals, chirps, squeaks, and whistles. Although not known for their intelligence, they do recognize their owners and will seek them out and return affection.

Guinea Pigs as Pets

Guinea pigs are cuddly, comical, and clever. They make wonderful pets for children/adults and can be very social animals. The animals do better in pairs, as they prefer company, so unless you have a lot of time to devote to your pet getting at least two is often a good idea.

Guinea pigs come in all shapes and sizes—13 different breeds to be exact—with a range of coat colors and textures. Among the popular breeds:

Common Guinea Pig Breeds

Did you know there are different types of guinea pig breeds, each with its own set of characteristics? Some of the more popular types include:

1. American Guinea Pig: with its short, smooth coat that can come in a variety of colors, the American guinea pig is one of the most popular breeds of pet, generally due to their temperament and ease of care. Shorter hair means minimal maintenance, and they get along well with other guinea pigs, too. It doesn't hurt that they also have a reputation for having a good attitude towards people
2. Peruvian Guinea Pig: although their long coat means you’ll need to consider more maintenance, the Peruvian guinea pig also tends to be social and friendly, making it a solid choice for families. Curious, fun loving and alert are some of the words best used to describe this furry little fellow.
3. Silkie Guinea Pig: also nicknamed “The Sheltie,” the Silkie is known for its long coat that requires frequent brushing, which means you may way want to think twice before taking home a Silkie to a young child — unless you’re okay with being on brushing duty yourself.
4. Teddy Guinea Pig: although the Teddy may appear to have a short, easy-to-maintain coat, their fur is actually quite dense and wiry, and while it can be either rough or smooth, regular brushing is important to remove any debris that can become trapped and irritate the skin. Despite their need for some grooming, this breed makes a great option for kids, as their demeanour includes all those traits you’d look for in a family-friendly pet, like their fun-loving nature and curious personalities.
5. Abyssinian Guinea Pig: the Abyssinian is a longer-haired guinea pig that tends to be a little feisty and is known as a ‘troublemaker. One thing to note about this breed is that, although the patterning of their coats may lead people to believe they need frequent maintenance, the Abyssinian is actually quite adept at keeping itself clean, so they require minimal coat care. Their mischievous personality is coupled with friendliness and charm, though, so this breed could make a great pet for older children ready to put in a little time and effort with their pet.
6. Skinny Guinea Pig: the hairless Skinny guinea pig may be easy to maintain and they’re generally very social, but their look and feel may be a deterrent for families in the market for a more “traditional” guinea pig option. 

For beginner guinea pig owners, I recommend purchasing a young, two-to-four month-old guinea pig from a breeder. Though they can be shy in the first few weeks, they tend to bond to those that handle, care and feed them. 

Before you place your order checkout the Guinea pig pros and cons

Guinea Pig General Care

Guinea pig diet

Guinea pigs mostly eat hay, supplemented by pellets, vegetables and fruit.

Guinea pig behavior, sounds and personality

Like any pet, you’ll notice that guinea pigs have adorable quirks and can be very energetic, though a little less than mice or hamsters. They’re chatty too and express themselves via their own special language:

• 'Motorboat': when content, exploring, or out of their cage, guinea pigs can make a happy noise that sounds a little like a boat engine.
• 'Purr': a happy reaction to being petted.
• 'Scream': a frightened sound.
• 'Squeal': a noise to attract attention or a reaction to pain or distress.
• 'Rumblestrut': guinea pigs can use a sway, accompanied by a rumble or purr, to intimidate a rival or to attract a mate.
• 'Popcorn': this animated combination of shaking, leaping and skipping signifies guinea-pig happiness.

Handling and playing with your guinea pig

Always wash your hands before (and after) picking up or petting guinea pigs.

Pick up guinea pigs with both hands, placing one hand under their hind legs and using the other to support their torso. Hold guinea pigs close to your body so they feel secure and keep a firm grip, so they don’t squirm and fall. Try not to squeeze too hard and always supervise children when they hold your pet.

Guinea pig safety tips

Never let guinea pigs roam out of their cages unsupervised.

Guinea pigs like to chew, so be sure to keep them far away from electrical cords and other potential dangers.

Exercise wheels and balls are not recommended for guinea pigs, which are larger than other pet rodents and may injure themselves in these contraptions.

Guinea Pig General Care

Just because your guinea pig comes in a small package doesn't mean she or he won’t require quite a bit of care. For starters, pigs can be housed as singles or pairs fairly easily, although it’s normal for group-housed pigs to be a little less social towards humans, since they are exposed to other guinea pigs.
Here are some other factors to keep in mind:
Cages: since guinea pigs spend a lot of time in their cages, there are quite a few habitat details a potential guinea pig owner should know before taking one home. For starters, cages should be larger than you might think. The ideal set up is 7.5 square feet for one guinea pig and 10.5 square feet for a pair.
Guinea pig cages come in plastic, metal or wire varieties, and should have appropriate flooring for your guinea pig’s feet. Soft guinea pig bedding is important, as guinea pigs are susceptible to developing sores on their feet. And solid cage flooring is preferable to wire mesh, with shredded paper product or fleece blankets making for good bedding options. 

Guinea Pig Food: you should feed your guinea pig a commercial diet specifically formulated for the species. Formulated guinea pig pellets are necessary to supply essential vitamin C, along with abundant grassy hay for proper wear of the teeth. Your guinea pig should also be offered supplemental fresh vegetables every day, with an emphasis on leafy greens like cabbage, green leaf and red leaf lettuces. 
Starting a guinea pig on a good diet early in life may be the most important thing one can do to keep them healthy long-term, as guinea pigs develop dietary preferences early in life and do not readily adapt to change later on. Ensuring their diet contains plenty of vitamin C, grass hay and low-calcium-containing leafy greens may help stave away some of the most common problems seem in guinea pigs, like dental disease, bladder stones and vitamin C-deficiency.
Keep in mind also that most guinea pigs do not need to be spayed or neutered, unless you insist they have no offspring and that both male and female remain together, or a health problem like cystic ovaries develops.

Grooming: the amount of grooming your pet will need depends on the breed you own, with long-coated breeds, such as the Silkie and Peruvian, requiring regular brushing and grooming to keep them clean. Your guinea pig may also require an occasional bath, especially if he or she has diarrhea or is not grooming itself properly.

Playtime: you’ll find that most breeds of guinea pig are gentle, lively and especially enjoy playtime with their people, so be sure to give them plenty of exercise, time to run around on the floor, and stimulation outside of their cages.
Guinea pigs are very social animals and are at their happiest living with other guinea pigs. Keep a same-sex pair to ensure you don't have any unwanted litters. Females can be kept together, as can males without any issues. Be aware that sometimes personality differences in the animals will mean certain guinea pigs won't get along. Introducing them as babies is the best way to get a pair to bond, though even adults can usually be introduced with care.

Once you've done your research and decided which breed of guinea pig will be best for your family, and you've gathered all the necessary products to properly care for your new little furry family member, all that’s left to do is to bring him or her home and enjoy!