How to make emergency guinea pig food

My guinea pig has overgrown teeth and the bottom front tooth is chipped off. We went to the vet and he would charge me more than $350. It’s really pricey, so what should I do? Do you know any vets in Vancouver that charge less than $100, or any suggestions for what I should feed her to make her front tooth grow back on?

6 Answers

Please forgive these poor people for saying these horrible things to you as they do not know any better. They have fallen victim to the false web yak yak and believe it to be true. A huge amount of stuff you read on line about guinea pigs is not true and the fact that you caused your guinea pigs teeth of become over grown is one of them. It is a birth defect, something he was born with and will most likely regrow in time also. The sad fact is if you do not allow the vet to cut his teeth he will simply starve to death. You need to make a payment plan with them to have this done. If you do not feel you can continue to pay for this please take him to your local SPCA and give him to them so they can place him in a home that will love him and pay his necessary medical bills, trust me there are people out here what will be happy to have a loving guinea pig and have no trouble paying that kind of money on him.

$350.00 is an excellent price for clipping their teeth, that would only be 1/3rd of what my vet charges, I know as I had a guinea pig we thought had over grown teeth and I signed a waver as she went into surgery as to how much the vet would spend, and as I have stated it was much higher than $350.00 . The broken tooth will grow back in on its own in no time at all.

Talk to the vet about feeding him Critical Care which is a powdered formula for sick and underweight guinea pigs that is fed with a syringe both of which you get form your vet.

Are you sure the liquid food would nonetheless be any good? If it’s not simply grind up her pellets within the blinder and give those to her and that will have to preserve her until Monday. Then get her some vital Care, it is a powdered formulation for ill or beneath weight guinea pigs that is blended with heat water and fed with a syringe. I have been ready to preserve a guinea pig alive for 14 days that was once so ailing she would not devour, on the fifteenth day she began to devour, sure she acquired all the way down to epidermis and bones but she put her weight again on speedily as soon as she was eating. There was once nothing you would do to stop them kind over growing, because the one individual mentioned it’s genetics and if they are going to have the problem they are and there may be nothing that you can to stop it, so please don’t feel you have been a nasty guinea pig mother or father.

First off this is YOUR fault. If you gave your pig proper things in the cage for her teeth, they would not have over grown.

What you have to do is email all the vets in your city if you want to find the best one. You’ll want one with the most experience and specialty in small exotic pets. DON’T go based on price alone, go based on the vet. If you aren’t willing to give your pig proper vet care, then you shouldn’t have her.

The teeth will need to be trimmed, and if not soon, be will be very uncomfortable. I recently adopted a rat who had this problem and her tooth caused a large wound on her chin from the inside of her mouth. Even though her teeth were fixed before I got her, I still have to give her medication for it. Get your pigs teeth done fast before the same thing happens to her, or worse.

After her teeth are taken care of by the vet, you’ll need to start caring for them the way you should have been from the start. A guinea pigs teeth never stop growing, which means they need to be worn down to prevent the over growth. Things like cardboard boxes are great – she will probably love shredding it, which is good for her teeth, and she’ll likely want to use the pieces to add to her nest. My personal favorite treat for teeth care is Snak Shak. They have great treats and are good for your pet. My rats have all always loved them. You can get huts, logs, treat filled things, so much. They taste good and help keep the teeth at a good length.

Good luck, hope she’s ok!

Have you tried letting your Guinea Pig nibble on some cardboard or wood? That is what I do sometimes with my Guinea pig when his teeth are big because it files them and makes them a bit smaller.

If you have guinea pigs as pets, then you need to provide them with a comfortable living space in which they can move around freely. Through this article let us learn to build a pen for you pet guinea pig, using some available materials.

If you have guinea pigs as pets, then you need to provide them with a comfortable living space in which they can move around freely. Through this article let us learn to build a pen for you pet guinea pig, using some available materials…

It is a sure delight to keep guinea pigs as a pet. These small creatures are simply adorable and also quite gentle in their demeanor. When it comes to pets, guinea pigs are favorites among kids of every age group. The best thing about these animals is that they can be kept indoors and providing with a comfortable environment should be a priority. You can keep them in cages that are custom-made at home using some of the easily available materials. By making the cage, you can provide your pet with a guinea pig habitat or living space. Inside the cage or pen, as it is known, you should also provide bedding and feeding bowls for the guinea pig.

Instructions to Build a Guinea Pig Cage

In order to keep pet guinea pigs at home you need to build them a cage, so that they don’t loiter around and come in anyone’s path. Many pet accessories stores sell cages in varied sizes where guinea pigs can be kept, which can be quite expensive. However, you can also rear guinea pigs in cages built at home. Before making the pen, make sure that the cage has ample space for the guinea pig to move around. A cage which measures 30 by 36 inch or more is appropriate for an adult guinea pig.

• You can make a guinea pig cage out of easily available materials like wooden plywood. This raw material is easily available in hardware stores. Guinea pig cages can also be designed out of cubes and coroplast.

• Determine the place (or room) where you would like to keep your pet guinea pig. If you are planning to keep it in your kid’s bedroom, then allot a corner where you can place the cage. Once you have chalked out the plan for the placement of the cage, decide on the material for the cage.
• You can build a pen out of plywood. Take appropriate measurements of the plywood, according to your requirement. Secure the planks together using nails and shape it as pen. The floor can be covered with soft bedding and the pen must have a set of bowls, for water and food.

• Cages can also be built of cubes and coroplast. The cube grids need to be connected to form the floor, ceiling and side walls of the cage. Use zip ties to secure grids to each other so that they do not fall off. With the help of a wire cutter, trim the ends of the zip ties hanging loose.
• After measuring the floor of the cage, cut a sheet of coroplast to form a tray in the bottom of the cage. Using a drop of silicone on each of the corners, secure the sheet to maintain the shape of the tray. Allow the tray to stand for sometime till the silicone dries.

• Now lift the tray carefully and place it in the grid cage and using zip ties secure it into place. Fasten a few zip ties together to create a door for the cage and attach it. Place a wooden board to make sure the bedding is secure and won’t fall out from the cage.
• You can fix the cage door with the help of a bolt snap. Once you are done with the task, make sure there are no remnants of the zip tie or bolt snaps in the cage, lest they may hurt your pet. Also make sure that the grid does not have very tiny gaps where the nose or leg of the guinea pig may get stuck.

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Make sure that the guinea pig is comfortable in his new abode. So go ahead and decorate a beautiful piggy house for your pet.

DIET

Guinea pigs are herbivores. The most important part of their diet, like rabbits, is GRASS HAY. Grasses are particularly great for guinea pigs because they’re teeth grow continuously throughout their life and grass hays are abrasive to the teeth. Grasses also provide a number of nutrients for the guinea pig, as well as both indigestible and digestible fiber. Indigestible fiber keeps the intestinal tract moving at a normal speed and digestible fiber is used the GI bacteria to produce vitamin B and amino acids. Any grass hay is good to feed, such as timothy and orchard brome. You should avoid legume hays, like alfalfa, because they are too high in calories, calcium and protein for your guinea pig. Provide hay in a hay feeder or simply put it in the corner of the cage.

Guinea pigs are unable to produce their own vitamin C, much like humans, and therefore need an outside source to avoid developing a disease called scurvy. To prevent this from happening, you should feed your guinea pig FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES daily. Dark leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, mustard greens and dandelion greens are particularly good sources of vitamin C, but you can also try offering sweet peppers, apples, pears, berries, broccoli, cucumbers, parsley and basil. You should feed your pig around Вј to ВЅ packed cup of fresh foods daily.

Guinea pigs can also be given PELLETS in limited quantities but make sure they are guinea pig-specific and not rabbit pellets. Guinea pig pellets contain additional vitamin C while other pellets do not. You should also read the label and pick a grass hay based pellet instead of an alfalfa based one. Pellets have a tendency to cause guinea pigs to gain weight, so watch your pet’s weight carefully and adjust the amount you are feeding if they are getting overweight. Generally, an adult guinea pig should eat no more than ¼ cup of pellets a day, with unlimited grass hay and a small amount of fresh foods.

AVOID FEEDING foods high in starch, like peas, beans, corn, nuts, cakes, cookies, cereal, grains and bread. These can cause a serious, potentially fatal imbalance in the normal bacteria found in the guinea pig’s GI tract.

Of course, it is important for your guinea pig to always have fresh, clean WATER available to them at all times, either in a sipper bottle or a heavy bowl to prevent spilling.

The sight, smell, taste, texture of your guinea pig’s food can be mentally stimulating for them, as well as the sound of the food preparation, which can provide a joyful anticipation for what is to come. To increase mental stimulation, you can put hay or fresh foods in empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls, non-toxic baskets or in little pieces of crumpled paper. You can also put pellets in a small hollow plastic ball with holes in the side.

Guinea pigs can be housed in enclosures made of wire, stainless steel, durable plastic or glass. Wood should not be used because it is difficult to clean and easy for guinea pigs to chew on and destroy the enclosure. There should be one side of the enclosure open to promote air ventilation. It should obviously be escape proof and have no sharp edges or potential hazards for your guinea pig.

The FLOORING in the enclosure can be wire or solid. While wire flooring will help keep the area clean and is easier to maintain, it often causes injuries to the feet and hocks, most commonly broken legs when the guinea pig falls through the wire mesh and panics to escape. Solid flooring may require more effort to keep clean, but it is a lot safer for your pet.

BEDDING must be clean, non-toxic, absorbent and dust-free. Examples of acceptable bedding include wood shavings, shredded paper, processed ground corn cob, and commercial pellets. It is not recommended to use cedar shavings because they are associated with causing respiratory difficulty and liver disease in guinea pigs. Saw dust should also be avoided as it can cause an impaction in males.

The SIZE of your guinea pig enclosure should be approximately 100 square inches of floor area per adult guinea pig. The enclosure can be open on the top, but be sure that the sides are at least 10 inches high so that your pet can’t jump out of the cage and cause injury. It is also important to consider any other family pets that may be a threat if the enclosure is open.

The ENVIRONMENT in which you house your guinea pig should be in a quiet spot away from noise, excitement and stress. You should avoid direct sunlight, as well as cold damp areas. They are nocturnal, so they need quiet periods of light to rest. Guinea pigs do best in dry, cool environments with adequate ventilation.

Guinea pigs are SOCIAL animals, so more than one can safely be housed together, including males with females. New males may occasionally fight in the presence of a female, but they usually are fine to be together. Older, more dominant guinea pigs may also chew on the ears or hair of their cage mates, so take this into consideration.

HANDLING

Guinea pigs are fairly easy to handle. Placing a hand into the cage will often cause the guinea pig to approach. They can then be easily scooped up. One hand should cup the hind end while the other hand cradles the midsection. Two hands are always recommended when picking up and handling a guinea pig so that there is less risk of dropping them. They rarely turn aggressive, however they may jump or try to run if they aren’t used to being handled.

Providing your guinea pigs with an environment that keeps them active and mentally stimulated will help them stay healthy and happy. Although guinea pigs aren’t naturally playful, they do like to be kept busy with toys like rummage bags and grass tunnels. Piggies love activities that involve food!

Keep your guinea pigs happy and occupied

A suitable guinea pig companion is very important. A lone piggy or one with an unsuitable companion will often remain very nervous and reluctant to come out and explore.

Guinea pigs feel safe when they have plenty of areas to run into or hide. Provide your piggies with several shelters – like bendy sticks, card boxes, card or plastic tunnels and even plastic cat carriers lined with newspaper and hay. Some enjoy a cosy fleece cat bed to snuggle in

Food can be fun too

• Hay kebabs and forage trees. Simply take two cardboard toilet rolls and stuff one end with their favourite hay, add some dried or fresh forage into the centre and enclose with more hay. Take a willow stick and pass through the middle of the rolls. Place several of these into an empty cardboard box to make a forage tree
• Forage bags. Half fill a paper bag with hay or dried grass, mix in some dried or fresh forage and give the whole bag to your piggies – make sure you tear off the handle first. No guinea pig can resist a rustling paper bag
• Stick bundles. Take 10 – 12 willow or apple sticks and tie tightly around the middle. Hang them from the sides of the run for your piggies to reach up and enjoy
• Plant pots. Mix some hay and dried or fresh forage into a plant pot and turn it upside down. Watch as your guinea pigs have fun trying to get to the treats
• Herb planters. Grow herbs such as mint or lemon balm in a plant pot and attach an upturned hanging basket over the top. Your piggies will nibble the herbs while they are growing but not destroy the plant’s roots
• Mock hedges. These are garden hanging baskets or magazine racks completely stuffed with hay to avoid legs getting trapped. You can hang them up in the run to encourage your guinea pigs to reach up and browse
• Gnawing twigs. Guinea pigs need to be able to gnaw on items to keep their teeth in good shape. Often, piggies do not enjoy wooden chew toys as the tasty bark has been removed. Try offering apple tree or willow twigs as they love to chew all the bark off, plus it’s great for their digestive system

Choosing the right bedding for your guinea pigs

The wrong bedding for your piggies can have a negative effect on their health. Wood shavings, sawdust and straw can often contain fur mites, cause fungal and mange conditions, and can give you an allergic reaction too!

Instead, line your guinea pigs’ enclosure with a thick layer of newspaper and completely cover it with a good layer of fresh, sweet-smelling green hay.

It’s often more cost-effective to purchase hay from a local farm or equine shop by the bale. You can then pick a nice, green bale and reduce the risk of it being old stock and possibly contaminated or filled with sharp thistles. Using hay as bedding also means your rabbits are free to naturally graze on the most important part of their diet at all times.

You can also use fleece bedding for indoor guinea pigs, as long as they have piles of fluffy hay to graze from. However, be prepared to sweep and wash lots of blankets in your machine!

How to clean out your guinea pigs

You’ll need to pick up the poo from the dirty corners of your guinea pigs’ home daily – and replace with clean bedding.

Carry out a full clean at least once a week, although this may need to be done more often throughout the winter when their time in the run is reduced. Remove the guinea pigs, fully sweep out and wipe down their home with pet-friendly disinfectant.

Line hutches and shed floors with vinyl for an easy-to-clean and wipe surface under your piggies’ bedding.

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Guinea Pig Care

From the blog

Feeding Your Guinea Pig

Your guinea pig is a herbivore, which means he eats only plant material. Grass hay should be the high-fiber cornerstone of every guinea pig’s diet. The fiber in hay helps meet the important digestive health needs of herbivores such as guinea pigs. A daily recommended amount of a uniform, fortified food provides essential vitamins and minerals not found in hay. Fresh greens are also an important component of a guinea pig’s diet, and healthy treats can be beneficial when given in moderation.

Your guinea pig should have unlimited access to a variety of quality grass hays. Among many benefits, hay helps prevent obesity, dental disease, diarrhea, and boredom. Since replacing the hay in your guinea pig’s habitat can encourage picky eating, we recommend changing it only when soiled.

Young (less than six months), pregnant, nursing or ill animals can benefit from eating alfalfa hay in addition to grass hay because of the higher nutritional elements. Otherwise, alfalfa should only be given occasionally as a treat.

Hay Selection

Grass hay should make up the majority of your pet’s daily diet. Offer a variety of hay to your guinea pig to promote optimum health. Since hay is a natural product, each bag will look and feel different. Use our Taste & Texture Guide located on every hay package to determine your pet’s taste and texture preferences.

Oxbow Farm-Fresh Hays and Compressed Hays:

Western Timothy Hay

Orchard Grass Hay

Organic Meadow Hay

Harvest Stacks – Western Timothy

Harvest Stacks – Western Timothy with Chamomile

Harvest Stacks – Western Timothy with Carrots

Fortified Food

Providing a daily recommended amount of a high-fiber, age-appropriate fortified food with stabilized vitamin C will help ensure that your guinea pig receives essential vitamins and minerals not found in hay.

Pellet Selection

Always choose an age-appropriate pellet formulated specifically for guinea pigs. Oxbow’s Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food is ideal for guinea pigs under six months. For adult guinea pigs, choose from one of Oxbow’s three premium adult guinea pig formulas.

Avoid:

Mixes with nuts, corn, seeds, and fruit because guinea pigs have a tendency to select those tempting morsels over the healthy pellets.

Greens

Fresh greens are an important part of your pet’s daily diet. Greens contribute to hydration and provide important vitamins and minerals, as well as enrichment. Check with your qualified exotics veterinarian for a full list of appropriate guinea pig greens. A good starter list of varieties to offer and avoid includes:

Offer:

Romaine, bib, and red leaf lettuce

Avoid:

Leeks, chives, and onions

Treats

Treats (including fruits and veggies) are great for encouraging interaction between you and your pet, but they should only be given after basic daily foods have been eaten. Offering too many treats can cause your guinea pig to refuse his healthy, essential foods. It’s important to remember that not all treats are created equal! All Oxbow treat varieties are designed to be as wholesome as they are delicious.

Guinea pigs must be among the most adorable animals on Earth, and once you gaze into the eyes of a guinea pig you will likely lose your heart. Their big guinea pig nose, delightful wheeking call, and unique walk endear them to almost everyone. As someone lucky enough to care for a pair or group of these precious beings, you might be tempted to spoil them.

Fair warning: Spoiling your guinea pigs is fine, but only to a degree and only in some areas. An extra, large habitat; plenty of toys; and lots of attention from you are wonderful ways to show your love to your guinea pigs. So is a balanced diet and some sensible treats, in moderation. This can be the tricky part. Food is an area where guinea pig fans might go a bit overboard. A fat guinea pig is not necessarily a happy guinea pig — and a fat guinea pig is certainly not a healthy guinea pig. But with a body shape similar to a rounded brick, how can you tell if a guinea pig is fat, and how do you prevent or treat guinea pig obesity?

How To Tell If Your Guinea Pig Is Fat

Determining whether or not a guinea pig is fat is not as simple as you might think. The normal body shape of a guinea pig can make this difficult. Also, some guinea pigs are just bigger than others. Guinea pig weights can vary from 900 to 1,200 grams for males and 700 to 900 grams for females, according to the book “Ferrets, Rabbits And Rodents Clinical Medicine And Surgery.”

Your best tool to use in determining your guinea pig’s weight status is a gram scale. Weigh your guinea pigs weekly to track their normal weight. Regular weigh-ins will help you spot any trends in weight gain or loss. A gram scale tracks smaller increments, which is why it’s more helpful to use for weighing small animals like guinea pigs.

Besides weigh-ins, observe your guinea pig. Does your furry buddy walk any differently? Does he seem more lethargic? Look at him from above to see if his sides are bulging out. If you notice anything that seems to hint at excess weight, don’t ignore it. The Guinea Pig-Size-O-Meter from the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association in the United Kingdom offers more insight on what to look for to judge whether a guinea pig is overweight.

If you suspect your guinea pig is putting on weight, consult your veterinarian. A sudden gain or loss of weight could be a sign of a medical problem, including pregnancy or a tumor. Bloat involves distension of the abdomen that happens over hours; this is a medical emergency that needs immediate veterinary care. Once a medical concern is ruled out, get your veterinarian’s opinion about your guinea pig’s weight.

Preventing Guinea Pig Obesity

Hay And Guinea Pigs: Too much food and too little exercise are usually the cause of excess weight. One food that you can free-feed with confidence is hay. Guinea pigs rely on the high fiber of hay to wear down their constantly growing teeth and to keep their digestive tract moving. The nutrients in hay are important to guinea pig health. So don’t worry about feeding too much hay. As long as the hay is a grass hay and not alfalfa, give as much fresh hay daily as your little pals can eat. Alfalfa hay can only be fed to growing, sick or pregnant guinea pigs who need the extra nutrition and calories it contains.

Proper Guinea Pig Food: Besides hay, guinea pigs also need some other food. Some food, like vitamin C-fortified guinea pig pelleted food, are necessary for good health. Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, and over time get very sick without this vitamin. Other food, such as vegetables and some fruit, add variety and additional nutrients. Research the types of vegetables and fruit safe for guinea pigs to eat. For example, those that are high in calcium, oxalic acid, or sugar might need to be fed in limited quantities or not at all. And some foods that you consider healthy might actually be harmful to pets. Avocado and grapes are among these. The ASCPA’s Animal Poison Control Center maintains a list of people food to avoid feeding pets.

Guinea Pig Treats: Who doesn’t want to offer their furry buddy a treat now and then? And what guinea pig would ever refuse a treat? Treats are a wonderful bonding tool and also enrich your pal’s life, but be wise about the treats you offer. Offer treats in moderation, as guinea pigs who fill up on treats won’t eat their hay and regular diet. Vegetables and fruit in tiny portions can be used as treats, as can hay or pellets that are hand-fed. Anything hand-fed seems like a treat! Read the ingredients on any commercial treats and choose those that offer some nutrition and/or fiber, such as Lafeber’s Hey!Berries, which features hay as a main ingredient. Hey!Berries provide both nutrition and a bit of mental and physical exercise via foraging.

No-No Food For Guinea Pigs: Candy, cookies, ice cream, cake, potato chips, doughnuts, cheese curls — the list of junk food could go on and on. And junk food for you is definitely junk food for guinea pigs. Any food with high fat, high sugar or high salt is a no-no for guinea pigs. Processed foods usually include one or more of these. Stick to simple, unprocessed food for your guinea pigs to maintain healthy weight.

Beyond Food: What a guinea pig eats is only half the story of weight gain. The other half is the amount of energy expended daily. If your guinea pig is an ‘X-pen potato,” find ways to help increase his or her exercise. Hide treats at opposite ends of the habitat, increase supervised out-of-cage time and play with your pal. Be creative and have fun. The more fun, the more likely your guinea pig will want to continue.

How Guinea Pigs Can Shed Weight

Consult your veterinarian to determine the best weight loss program for your guinea pig. Age, health status, and other factors affect what works best for each individual.

Exercise will likely play a role in weight loss. More free-roam time daily in a guinea pig-safe room under your supervision can help. Playing games with your pal and rotating toys that your guinea pigs can play with together while in their habitat are other ways to promote exercise.

Changes to a guinea pig’s diet must be done gradually. Cutting down on fruits or treats are likely starting points. A change in pelleted food brands or cutting back on pelleted food must be discussed with your veterinarian. Changing brands suddenly could trigger gastrointestinal upset or cause your guinea pig to stop eating pellets. Guinea pigs imprint on food early in life, which is why changes in diet must be done gradually. Cutting back on pellets might affect basic nutrition too much, as this is likely where your guinea pig is getting vitamin C. Again, this is where your veterinarian can guide you.

I’ve just ran out of guinea pig food(pellets)!

What should I do!?

13 Answers

Go and get some from the pet store as soon as possible. Put some fruit and vegetables in there untill you get back and get some.

If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.

The pet stores sell them by the LB. if all you can find is a few cents that will hold a guinea pig several days. Dig in your pockets, your desk draw, the couch is always good for 50 cents, so you do not really have a problem here do you.

I think the most obvious answer would be to run down to the nearest pet shop that supplies guinea pigs as it will most likely have pellets

Or just go down to the vets and ask them if they have any guinea pig pellets

They’ll most likely give you food thats best for them

Get some more as quickly as you can – it might be a good idea to ring round pet shops, supermarkets or your local vet to check that they have any in stock so you don’t have a fruitless journey. In the meantime, make sure they have plenty of hay and water, and give them their usual veggies (don’t overdo the veggies to compensate or they might end up with diarrhoea – extra hay will be fine for their teeth and digestion). Depending where you are, you might be able to get some by ordering online (many supermarkets will offer this service).

I suggest you put a note in your diary/calendar/mobile to get fresh supplies when the existing pack is about half-way through, so you don’t run out again! Keep track of how long it takes him/her/them to get through a pack so you are prepared.

My guinea pig Rachel’s piggy pal died the other day and evr since she hasn’t been eating she’ll have a little water ever now and then but she just wont eat and is starting to lose energry I have tried apple and cabbage and normal guinea pig food what should I do.

She also an older guinea pig if that helps

7 Answers

I can’t rule out the fact that Rachel’s pal died of illness, most of piggies deaths are from illness but the owners never knew it. Guinea pigs are prey animals and hide the fact they are ill until they are in the acute stages, this is how whey survive in the wild but make it very difficult to get them medical care in a timely manner. Sadly by the time we can recognize they are ill we only have 2 day before they die. I fear your one that is left is suffering form what ever took its pal and needs to see a vet before it goes the same way. While at the vet ask for Critical care, it is a powdered food formula for guinea pigs to help them gain weight of stay alive when ill.It is fed by syringe, however, most guinea pigs like it so much they will eat it right off a spoon.

It is possible little Rachel is pining for her friend. Don’t just go and buy another, she’ll know it’s not the same one. I assume “normal guinea pig food” means her pellets, something like oxbow or burgess. I would recommend taking her to the vet for a check up, as there could be something wrong like a problem with her teeth, that is a very common reason for guinea pigs to stop eating. Vet sooner rather than later, as guinea pigs can go into liver failure after 16 hours without food. Until then, mash up some of her food pellets in a little warm water and either offer this to her on a spoon or syringe feed it to her.

You are feeding the incorrect food! You should be feeding high-quality pellets like Oxbow Cavy Cuisine for adult guinea pigs or Oxbow Cavy Performance for young pigs.

You should be feeding about a cup of mixed veggies from this chart:

You should not feed cabbage every day and apples should not be fed more than once or twice a week. Fruits are high in sugar and if fed in excess are unhealthy for guinea pigs.

In addition to veggies and pellets, you should be feeding Timothy hay, unlimited.

Is your guinea pig getting an hour or two of exercise in a guinea pig-proof room daily? This is crucial to a guinea pig’s well-being.

Try changing the diet, allowing for exercise time, and take her to a guinea pig experienced vet immediately.

Two Calgary women are facing charges after an alarming assault was caught on camera. The incident involved a veterinarian who works at the Calgary North Animal Hospital who was allegedly attacked over a sick guinea pig.

Dr. Michelle Dmytriw said she’s frustrated over escalating abuse by some clients.

“I’m astounded by it. I’ve never had that happen to me before,” Dmytriw said. “I’ve been hollered at and cussed at but never been assaulted.”

She said her profession is in a fragile place, and many colleagues are in crisis after being exposed to a mounting level of abuse. She said an altercation that turned physical on June 14 was the breaking point.

A mother and daughter arrived on the Sunday looking for emergency care for their pet guinea pig.

“These two people were belligerent, they sat in front of the door and were very demanding about coming in and getting their pet seen,” Dmytriw said.

She said the exotic pet specialist had already gone home for the day and there was little she could do. She assessed the animal and offered support, free of charge, but their emotions escalated.

“The mother called me an idiot and told me I was stupid and not compassionate and I didn’t know how to run a business and I said, ‘Go, that’s enough, there will be no charge. Leave the property and go.’

“They were swearing at us and calling us f-ing idiots and I had enough at this point and told her, ‘Screw off.’ Dr. Dmytriw said.

“The mother came right up to me and punched me in the stomach.”

The altercation didn’t end there.

“The daughter was going off about how her guinea pig was so sick and it was going to die because I was at fault and I said, ‘I offered you supportive care and you declined everything. This is your pet.’ She closed her fist and hit me on the left side if the cheek.”

Vets around the world are seeking mental health support after a growing number of them admit they’re on the verge of taking their own lives because of abuse. An online peer support group, Not One More Vet, offers help for vets around the world.

“Our industry has grown in North American as the number one profession for suicide because of this,” Dmytriw said.

“How many of us have to lose our lives, how many have to be on medication to survive day to day and cope with what we need.”

The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) gave Global News a statement that said they’re troubled to hear about this incident and physical and emotional attacks are disturbing, unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

The industry regulator said they offer ongoing wellness support to its members.

Calgary police have laid assault charges against the mother and daughter, Theresa and Blair Hyshka. Global News reached out to them for comment, but did not receive a reply before publication.

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Energy Feed Mix (for guinea pigs)

2017-07-11 Erin’s Ark

ENERGY FEED MIX Please note: This food is for guinea pigs with higher energy demand, for example, skinny pigs and those housed outdoors over winter.

No Bake Cake for Guinea Pigs! *2015*

Visit the Shop – Follow LBSZ on Facebook, Instagram and twitter for updates and photos! Links Below. Facebook .

Hot Dogs for Guinea Pigs | Veggie DIY

2017-02-04 Little Adventures

I made hot dogs for the guinea pigs! It’s a quick and easy food idea and the herd loved it .

Guinea Pig Food Routine

2016-06-18 Little Adventures

My guinea pig food routine 🙂 I can’t answer comments as I’m away for the weekend .

How to make edible guinea pig pizza (MUST WATCH)

in this video I show you how to make an edible, safe, and fun guinea pig pizza. I hope you enjoy the video.

Food you can and cannot feed your Guinea pig.

2012-11-21 Breann Brown

Here is a video on what you can and cannot feed your Guinea pig for any new guinea pig owners or anyone else just wondering about it. Thank you for watching .

Eating Guinea Pig in Peru (Cuy)

2016-11-13 Zak in a Hat

Join myself and Travis as we try eating Peru’s delicacy, Guinea Pig also known as Cuy. This video was shot in Ollantaytambo Peru. Also this day: .

Youtube- DIY homemade guinea pig treats

Welcome back. Todays video is how to make a homemade guinea pig treat!! I hope that all of your piggies enjoy eating them!! (Dude sure did) Ingredients: 1 c.

Pizza For Guinea Pigs | How To

2015-03-28 Little Adventures

We made pizza for the guinea pigs! We tried out a few vegetables and the piggies loved their pizza! They had a lot of eating, and playing, with a slice of it and it .

How to make guinea pig food

2017-07-03 Lilly Pierce

How to Feed a Guinea Pig (Petco)

Understanding proper nutrition for your guinea pig is important for their health and wellness. In this video, the experts at Petco give guidance on guinea pig food .

Homemade guinea pig treat

READ! This treat can be for rabbits also. This is a very natural treat for your small pet. Hope you enjoy this video! This is iiClairee’s idea. Link to her channel: .

DIY Forage! Guinea Pig & Rabbit Forage Tutorial | Frizzy Pig

2016-05-14 Frizzy Pig

After finding how expensive forage can be,In this video I show you a fool proof way to create your very own forage! If you enjoyed it, be sure to give a thumbs up .

DIY Guinea Pig Food: Herb/Hay Roll

2015-05-23 Little Adventures

This is my DIY guinea pig food video. I made a herb/hay roll for the piggies and they loved it! Because of the fruit sugar in the banana, this is a treat and should .

How To Make Guinea Pig Treats

This is how I make guinea pig treats. I hope you like!

Guinea pigs love to eat! One of the signs that they are healthy is that they have a great appetite and constantly nibble. Here are some tips and tricks about food that will help keep your piggie safe and well.

Guinea pigs need to eat regularly. It is important to have food available all the time. Their diet consists of 70% to 80% fibre which they obtain predominantly from a good source of hay. There are many different varieties available but please ensure it is always in the cage and always available.

Hay provides the necessary fibre to regulate their gut, but it also enables them to wear down not just their front teeth, but their rear teeth too.

When purchasing hay it is important to purchase hay that has long strands and is not cut into tiny sizes ( called Chaff). They need the long strands to work right through to their back teeth.

There are many different varieties of hay and their nutrient content does go up and down depending on wether it is a good season, with rain, little rain etc. However, It is important that any hay that you purchase does not have ‘black spots’ on it which means that it has been wet at some point. The black spots are fungal and it is not healthy for your piggie to eat this hay.

Timothy hay, Oaten hay, rye hay, barley hay, grassy hay are all excellent.

Lucerne hay ( Also known as Alfalfa hay) is part of the legume family and looks considerably different as it is green, is higher in calcium, fats and sugars. It is also very stalky and guinea pigs can ‘run’ into hay and get eye injuries called a hay poke. That aside, piggies do love lucerne hay ( as with all hays) but keep it as an occasional treat. It is recommended most for piggies that are under 6 months of age or for pregnant/lactating females.

Keeping your hay in an airtight container will keep it fresh and ensure that you don’t attract anything else to it.

Vitamin C

In addition to a good hay, they will need a fresh source of vitamin C daily. Guinea pigs, like us, don’t make vitamin C and need to get this from their food. If they do not sufficient vitamin C, they become vitamin C deficient. The first signs of this are their rear legs not being able to move well, and piggies slowly start to drag them.

Vitamin C deficiency will kill. So providing your piggies with a fresh source of vegetables/fruit/grass daily will ensure this does not happen.

Providing their daily dinner/grass time is also a social time for piggies as they just love to interact with you and nothing quite gets them as excited as knowing you are about to arrive with food!

How much fruit and veg do I feed my guinea pigs?

Fruit and vegetables are loved by all piggies and you will see them get very excited and often vocalise when you come with their dinner. As a rough guide 1 adult guinea pig will need 1 cup of fruit/veg per day. Variety is also the key! Don’t just feed a cup of one type of vegetable. Try and be creative in what you can offer. Your guinea pigs will thank you for it.

Piggies also have preferences and as you get to know them individually you will get to see what they like and enjoy most.

Pellets

Pellets are predominantly made from hay. They are a different food source and depending on what hay they are made from will determine nutrient/fat values.

Pellets are made to include vitamins and minerals that are not found in hay and that will allow your guinea pig to have a healthy full diet. These include Vitamins A, B-12, C, D and E as well as minerals such as Phosphorous, Niacin, Selenium and Biotin.

There is a strong argument that if your piggies have a good source of hay and fresh vegetable/fruit/grass combinations daily that they do not require pellets. However pellets provide variety and interest to your piggie as well as supplementing additional vitamins that may be missed.

Check what your pellets are made from. Lucerne based hay (otherwise known as Alfalfa) is higher in fat, sugar and calcium so this is best to give younger piggies that are growing and you can as a quide between 1/8 cup to 1/4 cup of pellets per day is sufficient for 1 guinea pig. This is roughly a heaped tablespoon per adult piggie.

If the pellets are made from Timothy hay then you do not need to be as restrictive on them.

Water

Guinea pigs always require a fresh clean source of water. You can have a water bottle on the side of their cage, or a bowl within the cage. Certainly bowls are faster and quicker to clean but they also become messier as piggies run through them and over them all the time. In summer, I always promote having 2 sources to ensure that they do not run out of water.

You will also notice in the cooler temperatures that they may not appear to be drinking. They are getting enough moisture from their wet vegetables in this case.

If you are using bowls making sure you have a heavy based ceramic bowl is best so they don’t knock it over.

Please consider if your piggie is outdoors, that they are exposed more to temperatures. High temperatures also affect the drinking water. Please watch this video at the bottom of the page.

What not to feed my guinea pigs?

I always advise the compost rule – “anything you don’t put in the compost – don’t feed your guinea pig”.

This includes any member of the onion family ( onions, shallots, chives, onion grass etc), citrus ( lemons, limes and oranges), no meat – dairy or bread. Of course guinea pigs do not eat treats like us – so no lollies or artificial foods.

Guinea pigs are herbivores and they only eat plants!

Variety is key! If you were to feed just one item then there is higher chance of bloat occurring which is both extremely painful and life threatening.

Please be aware of information on:

Bloat

Bloat is a severe distension within the gut through the process of fermentation. It is extremely painful and life threatening. Click here Bloat

Watch the video below to understand cages and heat.

How to make Critical care

Feeding Your Guinea Pig

You have a new guinea pig: congratulations! Guinea pigs are inquisitive and rewarding pets, but proper feeding is critical to their long-term health and well being!

The basics: what do I feed my guinea pig?

Your guinea pig is an herbivore, which means he eats only plant material like hay. Herbivores need to have food moving constantly through their digestive systems to avoid serious health problems.

Guinea Pig Food Pyramid:

(Recommended % of diet)

1) Hay: (70-75%)

Hay is absolutely vital to the digestive health of your guinea pig. It prevents obesity, dental disease, diarrhea and boredom.

Your guinea pig should have unlimited access to high quality grass hay.

• Your guinea pig should eat a pile of hay as big as his body every day.
• Offer a variety of grass hays for optimum health
• Avoid alfalfa hay unless directed by your veterinarian. Instead choose timothy, orchard grass or oat hay.
• Unless the hay in your pet’s habitat is soiled, do not replace it as this could encourage picky eating!

2) Pellets: (20-25%)

A fortified pellet helps you make sure your pet is getting all of the vitamins and minerals required for a healthy diet. 1/8 cup of pellets per day is suggested to prevent obesity.

• Choose a pellet designed especially for guinea pigs
• Timothy hay based pellets (no alfalfa) are recommended unless directed by your vet
• Avoid mixes with nuts, corn, seeds and fruit. Guinea pigs cannot digest these rich ingredients. Also providing these treats along with healthy foods can encourage picky eating.

3) Vegetables & Greens: (5-10%)

Guinea pigs love fresh vegetables, but consider them a treat. These should not be offered in larger amounts because they are too watery and lack the nutrient density of the pelleted diets. Furthermore, many guinea pigs develop a preference for veggies over pellets if they are offered in large quantity.

• Guinea pigs love variety, so mix and match vegetables over time. Just remember to introduce new vegetables slowly to avoid upsetting your pet’s stomach.
• Only feed appropriate vegetables (see list below)
• Carefully clean veggies before offering them to your guinea pig
• Organic products are preferred

Vegetable Shopping List: (Rabbits & Guinea Pigs)

• Arugula lettuce
• Beet greens
• Bell Pepper (no more than 1 tsp/day)
• Broccolini stems
• Carrot tops
• Cilantro
• Dandelion greens
• Kale
• Parsley
• Spinach
• Strawberry tops (NOT the berry!)
• Turnip greens
• Watercress

4) Vitamin C Supplement

Guinea pigs, unlike most other mammals, cannot make vitamin C and must get their daily requirement from their diet. Many guinea pig pellets contain vitamin C, but it is recommended to offer additional vegetable sources to ensure your guinea pig meets its daily requirement. Most veggies on the list above contain vitamin C.

Vitamin C deficiency:

Possible signs include decreased appetite, swollen joints, poor bone density and teeth deformity and reluctance to move about. If you note these symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

5) Treats (0-5%)

Treats are a great way to encourage interaction and bond with your guinea pig. Offering too many treats can encourage your pet to refuse basic foods and rob him of nutrition.

• Guinea pigs don’t need sweet treats such as yogurt drops, nuts, seeds, popcorn and crackers. It’s actually bad for them and can cause serious medical problems!
• Look for low sugar, high fiber treats (hay based) or very small amounts of dried fruits or vegetables once or twice a week.
• Offer treats only after your pet eats basic foods

6) Unlimited fresh, clean water

Fresh water should be available at all times from multiple sources, such as a hanging-drop style bottle and a heavy ceramic dish that cannot be easily overturned. The water container, regardless of the type used, should be cleaned and disinfected every 1-2 days.

Guinea Pig Health

Many guinea pig health problems are the result of nutrition and digestive issues, dental issues and/or obesity. Contact your veterinarian if you notice the following symptoms:

• Irregular eating and drinking
• NOTE: Not eating or pooping for more than 12-24 hours is a life-threatening EMERGENCY and your guinea pig should be presented to your veterinarian immediately.
• Overgrown front teeth or drooling
• Loose stool/pellets
• Blood in the urine
• Bald patches in the fur
• Sores on the feet
• Sitting still or hunched

Regular veterinarian visits are a crucial part of keeping your pet healthy and happy. At each visit, your pet will be weighed and examined. Be prepared to answer basic questions about the animal’s diet, behavior and health. If you have questions or concerns, make a list ahead of time so you’ll remember what to ask.

Could I put a guinea pig and hamster together they are both friendly oh what could I feed a guinea pig I only feed veggies at the moment what is happening when a guinea pis is biting a cage and can it listen to music is it true if you pat a guineapig too much or turn it upside down it will die oh coral if you read this add me as a friend and thanks for the wordily adwise my guinea has lightened up it runs around and everything=)

5 Answers

I think everyone else pretty much covered everything except for one point. Piggies will chew on their cages to help keep their teeth from getting too long. A piggies teeth keep growing their whole life. You might try getting them something to chew on to put in the cage.

I think the petting till it dies goes with the saying that if you hold a piggie up by its tail it will die. lol

piggies don’t have tails.

Hamsters are naturally very territorial. Just because your hamster is friendly with YOU doesn’t mean it won’t try and attack the guinea pig. You may laugh at the idea of that happening, but when your guinea pig defends itself, the hamster stands no chance. Even if you keep sociable dwarf hamsters, they will not enjoy the company of a guinea pig. The fact that it’s ‘cute’ to see them together is no excuse. It will cause more harm than good. They won’t see eachother in the wild, either, so they are not adapted to that.

What kind of veggies do you feed your guinea pig? It probaby isn’t enough, but saying what your piggie gets now will give people an idea of what else he or she needs.

What is the cage size? Does your guinea pig ever get allowed to run about? A small hutch or pen is not enough.

Guinea pigs can listen to music, and some music may even calm them down.

Guinea pigs turned upsidedown might start sleeping. Basically it goes into a kind of trance. Do NOT do this unless you know what you’re doing, though. It’s not exactly advised and doing it just for the fun of it is not recommended at all.

NO! They could hurt each other intentionally or accidentally and have very different needs.

Guinea Pigs should have pellets and hay as well. Here is a website with the food however if you have a look around it gives lots of other helpful information as well –

The guinea pig may be bored, agitated, or lonely. You should really get another guinea pig and make sure the cage is full of things to do.

Guinea pigs can listen to music but how happy they would be I don’t know. Maybe put some soothing music on and see what its reaction is?

I don’t think you can ever pat a guinea pig can ever be patted enough to die but they may become unhappy. I’m not sure about turning them upside them down and I’m not 100% sure about the patting either.

Hope I’ve helped 🙂

Egad! You have heard of punctuation, right?

First of all, don’t put your hamster and guinea pig together. They have different dietary requirements and they could seriously injure one another.

Second, if you feed too many vegies, particularly ones with high water content, they will get diarrhea. I am currently treating a guinea pig for food-related diarrhea. They need a good quality mix (I buy mind from my local guinea pig shelter – it’s a mixture of different types of chaff), hay (timothy, oaten, grassy) and a small amount of vegies everyday. I split a red capsicum (bell pepper) and carrot or two between my seven pigs every second day or so. Other good vegies include cos lettuce (romaine) and parsley.

Biting the cage can indicate a need for attention or wanting to get out. I have two boys and five girls in separate cages and the boys are always biting the bars because they want to get out and see they girls. Take your pig out more often for some good old fashioned TLC.

Turning a guinea pig upside down will not make it die. However, if you turn it upside down and throw it at the wall, it will be seriously injured.

I would highly recommend you visit these websites for some information:

My guinea pig just gave birth to either three or four babies. I didn’t even know she was pregnant. What do I do now. I don’t know what to feed them, or care for them, or anything. HELP ME.

Also, do they eat the babies like hamsters? I am so freaked out.

Actually, she might still be giving birth! How many can she have?

15 Answers

First off, Calm down.

Guinea pigs don’t eat their babies and nurse from the mom for the first three weeks and longer for the females.

I have owned guinea pigs for years and am on a couple of website forums. Here they are:

and guinealynx.com

a female will give birth to anywhere between 1 and 13 young, with four being the average litter size. A female can have a maximum number of five litters per year. Each young weighs around 100 g. Guinea pigs are well-developed at birth. They are born with hair and able to run and eat solid food all within the first day of their lives. Females have a single pair of inguinal mammae from which the young will suckle from for up to three weeks, although they can survive after only five days of nursing.

Heres the website for more info. Good Luck!!

Surprise. I love baby piggies. Luckily I had found out that my piggy was pregnant beforehand. She came home from the pet store that way. It’s important that the momma has her food and water. Timothy Hay and dried oats is a good supplement. Make sure the momma has her vitamin C. The babies nurse from their mother and when they are ready they will eat. Of course keep them all together in the same cage. The moms don’t eat their babies and you can handle the babies. The mom won’t reject them if you do. By three weeks you don’t want the males in the cage because they can get the mom pregnant. Good luck and don’t worry. Everything will be fine.

congratulations grandma. relax. the mommy wont eat the babies. just watch out that they mommy is nursing and that ALL the babies r eating, sometimes theres a runt in the litter. give the mommy extra water and food and hay soak some pellets in water and the babies might eat some of that 2 and give them extra veggies and at about 3 weeks find out if the babies r males or females and separate the boys or u’ll end up with more babies

if u have any more questions feel free 2 email me i have a baby guinea pig thats 5 months and i have had him ever since he was 1 day old so i know alot about this stuff good luck and congrats.

she can have 1 to 7 yong but 3 being avrage. The mom will feed them and care for them. She willdo everything important. make sure that you do not hold them until 3 weeks. they will eat solid food within 2 to 3 days if you touch them befor that the mom will most likley reject them. make sure you sit by there cage and give them lots of care and attention. you may put your hand in the cage once every other day so they can get used to human contact and get use to there owner. i sujest you read a lot of boookss and also you shouldf do a lot off raserch on this topics so you cabn know exact ly how to deal with these animals how to deal with these animalss good luck!

The mother will take care of everything. Calm yourself. Guinea pigs can have 1-5 babies. Just leave her alone and let her take care of the babies. Make sure the mother is fed plenty of fresh hay and leaf lettuce. She needs the extras right now.

I am assuming the mother will take care of her young, Just don’t touch the babies as they may get your scent on them and freak her out. Keep her warm, fed and mother nature should take care of things. Once the babies get bigger, decide if your are going to keep them or give them away. Good luck!

2 Answers

I can totally understand why you’d want to make homemade guinea pig food. It would probably save you lots of money if done right:)

Guinea pigs are strict herbivores. Fruit is a wonderful treat for them and can be fed sparingly a couple of times per week.

This includes strawberries (especially the tops!), cantaloupe, watermelon, orange slices, apple slices, cut up seedless grapes, etc. Remove all seeds prior to giving fruits to your piggie as some can be poisonous.

Keep it simple & they will be very happy!

Here is a list you can choose from.

Carrots ( in small amounts)

Cucumber (has little nutritional value but is a great summer treat)

Lettuce (avoid iceberg lettuce- it is high in nitrates with little nutritional value)

Tomatoes, seeds and all. Not too often as they can cause mouth sores.

Broccoli (small quantities only, as this can make them gassy)

Cauliflower and its leaves (small quantities only, as this can make them gassy)

Cabbage (small quantities only, as this can make them gassy)

Spinach (sparingly as the amount of calcium is too high)

Cilantro and Parsley

Green/Red/Yellow/Orange bell peppers (great amounts of Vitamin C [this is good] )

Different types of lettuce include red leaf, green leaf, and especially romaine. Feed up to three times weekly as too much of any type of lettuce has been known to cause liver damage in some rodents.

A variety of fruits including strawberries, oranges, seedless melon, apple, banana, peaches, etc. (feed citrus in low quantities, because the acid can lead to mouth sores)

Honestly, a homemade recipe I haven’t been able to find myself.

Perhaps one day I may be able to come up with some recipe. But putting them into pellets. is another challenge:P

My guinea pig’s eyes are red and sort of crusty/fimly..

I thought he just didn’t get enough sleep and it would go away..

I noticed this last week and they’re still like this..

I think I should take him back to the pet store =/

Details: It’s a brown guinea pig.

I had it for 2-3 years.

I sort of ignored it lately, I’m a bad owner =(

I think I should take it back to the pet store for his benefit.

7 Answers

Right now your guinea pig needs to go to an exotic vet asap as this is the first sign of an upper respiratory infection and with out vet intervention it will die. Upper respiratory infections are very hard on guinea pigs and it takes quite some time to heal them as guinea pigs are so sensitive to antibiotics it is hard to find one that will kill the bacteria and not the guinea pig. This is the reason for going to an exotic vet as they are on top of all these sensitivities, due to the extra schooling they have gone to to specialize in guinea pigs.

Why would take it back for his “benefit”? You really think the pet store is going to help him? No, they have sick guinea pigs and don’t bother getting medical care for them.

If you were a responsible owner, you wouldn’t take him back to the pet store just because you’re too lazy to bring him to the exotics vet! He could have cataracts or an upper respiratory infection, and the pet store is NOT going to help him.

He might have had an allergic reaction to a type of food you have given him. If you have been feeding him the same type of food then he might have gotten an infection. If you or any one else who was sick recently came close to your guinea pig he may have gotten sick that way. Try wiping dow his eyes softly with a damp towel, if it doesn’t clear in a couple more days, see you local vet.

Make sure you health check your rabbits weekly and look out for any changes in their behaviour every day – guinea pigs can be very good at hiding any health issues until they are really suffering.

Sometimes even the smallest thing, such as their poo looking a little smaller than normal or not rushing out to receive fresh food straight away, can be a clue to a poorly piggy. If you have any concerns, act quickly and contact your vet.

Your guinea pig’s life expectancy

Guinea pigs tend to live to between 4 and 8 years of age.

How to health check your guinea pig

Ideally bring your guinea pigs indoors and sit them on a towel so they are comfy.

• Use some small scales, like kitchen scales, to check their weight – usually adult males weigh between 800-1200g, females 800-1000g
• Check their nail length and clip, if needed
• Feel over their body for any lumps and bumps. These often appear under their chin, along their back or in their armpit area
• Check their skin and hair for any signs of fungal or parasitic problems
• Check their eyes for grass seeds or other abnormalities
• Check their nose for any discharge or sounds of noisy breathing
• Your guinea pigs should appear bright, alert and inquisitive with a healthy looking coat

Neutering: what you need to know

Neutering guinea pigs, especially females, can come with many complications. There are very few vets willing to do it unless it’s a treatment for another illness. Males can be castrated if they will not pair with a male and need to be paired with females.

Neutering a male guinea pig will not affect their behaviour like it can with some species, so it’s not a solution to a fighting pair of males. If you do have to neuter your guinea pigs, choose a vet who specialises in small mammals to maximise their chance of a smooth recovery.

How to clip your guinea pigs’ nails

Once your guinea pigs are around a year old, they will need their nails clipping every 4-6 weeks. Try to learn how to do this at home to avoid the unnecessary stress of going to the vet. If you’re relatively new to nail clipping, you’ll need one person to carefully hold your guinea pig and another to clip their nails. Ask us if you would like more support and a mini lesson.

Skin conditions

One of the biggest problems guinea pigs face is skin issues like fur mites, running lice, burrowing mites, fungal infections and ringworm.

Skin issues can be extremely uncomfortable for guinea pigs and can even go on to be life threatening – contact your vet if you spot any of these symptoms:

• Fur loss
• Red or flaky skin and dandruff
• Itching or suddenly biting you
• Unexplained open wounds
• Unable to gain weight
• Scabby patches around face and ears
• V-like shape of chewed fur down back
• Dull, dry-looking coat – your piggy may appear puffed up

Housing your guinea pigs in suitable accommodation that’s kept dry and clean with correct bedding will reduce their risk of skin conditions. Also bathe your guinea pigs twice a year in piggy safe products to protect their skin.

Pet shop treatments such as powders and drops rarely work. One product to keep in your piggy first aid box is Ivermectin 1% for small pets. This is for treating fur mites and lice.

Looking after boys’ bits

Most male piggy owners don’t realise they need a little extra care and observation. Males over a year old need to have their penis extracted by gently pushing down above the exposed skin and cleaned every few months, similar to a horse. This area is prone to a build-up of cheese-like discharge, which can eventually prevent your guinea pig from weeing normally. When cleaning the area, use damp cotton wool to wipe it away.

Large dominant males can also be prone to ‘impaction’ when they are around 3-4 years. This is a rather a smelly situation but can be fatal if not spotted and managed correctly. Impaction causes the anus to bulge, and a large ball of faeces will appear to be blocking him – despite a few normal poos in the cage. Speak to your guinea pig friendly vet if you spot this.

Urinary health

Both males and females are prone to cystitis and stones. Keep an eye out for your guinea pig regularly being wet and smelly around their back end, small amounts of blood in the urine or a single painful squeak when toileting. A piggy-friendly vet will happily give you advice and support with both issues.

Dental health

Some guinea pigs can be prone to dental problems, although it’s not as common as with rabbits. When giving your guinea pigs’ their weekly health check, look at the front teeth or incisors. You’ll see two teeth at the top and two at the bottom – they should be white and smooth and clearly wearing against each other.

If your piggy is missing a tooth, one or more are a lot longer or they’re wearing them down at an angle, contact your vet. Feeding your guinea pigs a healthy diet of good quality hay, fresh forage including apple and willow twigs, and opportunities to graze on grass will help keep their teeth in good shape.