Keeping Your Pet Guinea Pig Healthy and Happy: 7 Key Tips

Guinea pigs are one of the most popular pets in the world. They are very docile and friendly animals, which makes them a perfect pet for children.

But it’s not just about caring for your guinea pig. It’s also about understanding what they need. That’s why we’ve created this article – to help you learn more about these adorable little critters and who take care of them properly.

Food & Diet

Guinea pigs are social animals and do not thrive if they are on their own. They are also very curious animals and love to get up to mischief!

There is a common misconception that guinea pigs only eat vegetables and hay, but this is not true. Guinea pigs need a balanced diet of hay, vegetables, fruits and water to stay healthy. They should also have a small amount of pellets every day to provide some extra nutrients.

Grooming

Grooming a guinea pig is an important part of their care.

A guinea pig’s fur is prone to matting and tangles, so it needs to be groomed on a regular basis. Grooming also helps keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Guinea pigs need to be groomed with a brush or comb at least once a week, but more often if the animal has long hair or if they live in an area that is prone to shedding or frequent weather changes.

Grooming your guinea pig will help them stay healthy and happy!

Habitat Care & Safety

Habitat safety is of the utmost importance for guinea pigs. They are small animals and can easily get hurt if they are not protected. The setup of your habitat should be designed in such a way that it is easy to clean and maintain, while also ensuring that it is safe for your guinea pig.

Cleaning Out Your Guinea Pig’s Habitat

There are a few things you should do every day to ensure your guinea pigs health. This includes: The basics: cleaning out the litter, food and water dishes, as well as their living area. But there are other ways to keep your guinea pig healthy, which includes:

Exercise & Playtime

Exercise is a vital activity for guinea pigs. They need it to maintain their health and provide them with an outlet for their energy.

Exercise can be done in the form of playtime or free-roaming time.

Playtime is when the guinea pig is allowed to run around in a designated area while free-roaming time is when they are allowed to roam around in an unconfined area.

Guinea pigs should always have access to both types of exercise as they are both beneficial for their health.

Guinea Pig Health Checks for Signs of Illness or Injury

You should regularly check your guinea pig to ensure he/she is keeping well, urinating, defecating normal droppings and moving around easily.

A healthy guinea pig will have a shiny, healthy coat and clear eyes. Look out for any discharges coming from the nose and check nail lengths to make sure they’re not too long. Normal footpads are soft on the touch, but not too soft.

Signs of pain or illness in guinea pigs include:

• Reduced appetite or difficulty eating
• Weight loss
• Drooling
• Drinking more water than usual
• A change in the frequency and/or consistency of faecal pellets (e.g. diarrhoea or the absence of faecal pellets)
• Faeces accumulating around the guinea pig’s bottom
• Changes in urination (for example, a change in the frequency, pain or difficulty urinating)
• Changes in behaviour (such as weakness lethargy, or aggression in normally non-aggressive animals)
• Squealing or flinching when touched (if this is not normal for that individual, some are quite reactive to being handled)
• Abnormal breathing (e.g. rapid, shallow, raspy)
• Discharge from the nose and eyes and/or sneezing
• Bulging or sunken eyes
• Hair loss or change in hair coat
• Seizures
• Lameness or swelling of joints

Guinea pigs are good at hiding illness and pain. If they are behaving abnormally, chances are it may mean something is wrong.

If your guinea pig is displaying any of these signs please contact your veterinarian. Guinea pigs should also have regular veterinary check-ups to ensure you are on the look out for potential problems, such as overgrown teeth or parasites before they become too big an issue.

Pet sitter

Going away? Your pet guinea pigs need care and attention. A live-in house and pet sitter will ensure your pet gets all the love and care it needs whilst your away. Browse house & pet sitter profiles on Oz House Sitters and list your house sitting assignment and pet care needs for free.