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GUINEA PIG INFORMATION

Guinea Pigs are a non aggressive rodent that usually make good child’s pet.  They are cute, highly vocal and come in many hair and color types.  GP’s are highly social and usually prefer being housed in pairs or small groups of same sex or mixed sex (males desexed) animals. They should not be housed with other species such as rabbits (cross-infection between species).  Guinea Pigs can have many litters so be careful in sexing your GP’s.

Housing is important, the hutch with an enclosed area for nesting and an open area. The hutch can have an attached or separate area for exercise. They are nervous in open spaces, they therefore, need lots of shelter and hiding spaces (these can also be used for environmental enrichment). Watch for heat stroke, temperatures above 27C can be deadly, provide a cool area for your pig in summer. Keep their hutches cleaned regularly as Guinea Pigs are not very clean on their own.

Signs of ill health may be non specific in the Guinea Pigs from altered body posture (hunched up), to fur ruffled, to sunken eyes, to discharge from eyes or nose.  GP’s will be very nervous at the veterinarians, so handle them early and often (but allow them time for rest). At the vets your pig will be assess similarly to your cat or dog but it is often more difficult to diagnose diseases because of their size and our inability to collect as many samples or test for as many diseases.

The most common reason Guinea Pigs are seen at the vets are skin problems, diarrhea, and lumps. The most common skin complaints are itchy skin mostly caused by parasites (mites or lice) which are diagnosed through history, a skin scraping and microscopic examination; infections and abscesses in the feet or skin from wounds (fighting, injuries, or from pressure sores from cage wire); and hair loss due to hormones. Diarrhea in Guinea Pigs is often caused by bacterial or viral components, as well as dietary issues. Lumps and bumps, as your pig ages they are susceptible to tumors just are we are but it is important to note that not all lumps are tumors and not all tumors are untreatable.

Guinea Pigs Diet

A variable diet should be supplied with a complete pellet, fresh hay (at all times) and vegetables. Fibre content is important for dental wear. Clean water should be available in bowls or bottles at all times. Vitamin C supplementation is very important. It can be added to the water (although, it does not stay active in sunlight for very long so this should be changed daily) or in a chewable form (sugar free chewable vitamin C). The average Guinea Pigs needs 10-15 mg of vitamin C a day.

Guinea Pig Vaccines

There are no vaccines yet for preventative health in the Guinea Pigs but if you apply common sense, you are informed on diet and health, and you bring your Guinea Pigs in when it is necessary you should have a happy and health Guinea Pigs.