Lops and Pigs

How to care for Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs are very sociable animals and like nothing better than a little chatter. They will at first be nervous and jumpy around you but will soon get used you and your voice. Guinea Pigs need the same as any other animal, which you need to consider.

• Time
• Can you afford them

• Can you provide them with attention

They are fantastic for children as a first pet but if you are considering buying one for your children then please note that once the novelty has worn off you will have to provide their care for the rest off there lives.

Guinea pigs are greedy animals and can get overweight very quickly they will eat and eat. When you let them in a run on the garden they will tend to graze on the grass rather than run around. You can buy food for guinea pigs from most food stores and all pet shops. They need fresh foods; guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C so you need to provide this in their diet. You can buy a supplement but fresh foods such as carrot, kale, cucumber, and broccoli can provide it. They do like apples but it can give some pigs mouth ulcers.

Guinea Pigs live in groups as they need to have company. Females can live together in groups no matter what age and will get on. Males are more tricky, they can live with females if they are neutered or they can live with a brother or another male as long as they are introduced very young. Some people may say that males cannot live together at all but I’ve always had males that have lived together with no problems. Again you can get them castrated. I would not recommend having more that two males together. Here at lops and pigs I will not sell a guinea pig alone unless it is going to a home with another young pig.

Guinea pigs can also live inside but cannot live with rabbits as rabbits are a lot stronger and may kick or hurt the guinea pigs. They also have very different diets.