Guinea pigs are highly social animals so getting two of the same sex is recommended. Both genders make great pets and when brought up together you can keep two boys together or two girls together. See our website, Facebook and Instagram for more information about guinea pigs.
Handling: You will need to handle your guinea pigs regularly, but remember they are only babies now and will need plenty of time to eat and rest. Handling your guinea pigs gently and regularly will ensure it bonds to you quickly.
Worming: Your guinea pigs will need to be wormed at approx. 20 days after taking them home and every 3 months moving forward. It is important to do this regardless of whether they are housed inside or outside. The dosage depends on what brand you use so it is important to read the label.
Mite, Mange & Flea: Guinea Pigs are very susceptible to mites & mange. Spray your animal with preventative treatment every 6 weeks, as it can be easily transmitted, even if you do not have any other pets. Guinea Pigs can sometimes contract fleas, if this happens come see us for a shampoo specific for your guinea pig, as other shampoos can harm their sensitive skin.
Vaccination/de-sexing: Guinea pigs do not require vaccinations. De-sexing is something you may consider, especially if you have both genders. There are less complications de-sexing males over females, however please talk to your vet about de-sexing.
Teeth Health: Guinea Pigs teeth will constantly grow throughout their lives, so having hard wooden toys is very important to wear their teeth down. Overgrown teeth in guinea pigs are not only extremely painful for them, but extremely expensive for you if it is left too long. Guinea pigs need toys to chew and the proper high fiber diet and chew toys to stop their teeth from over growing in the first place.
Supplements: Salt licks, mineral licks and liquid supplements are great for guinea pigs, it keeps up their vitamin and mineral levels and is important for their health and wellbeing; your Piggy will need this depending on their diet. Salt and minerals are necessary for a Piggy’s diet, but it must be consumed in moderation which luckily your Piggy will instinctively know when its body needs additional salt. A salt lick is important as it will aid in digestion, muscles, nerves and fluid regulation. Guinea pigs need vitamin C in their diet, some guinea pig specific pellets will have added vitamin C, but if yours does not, you should add a vitamin supplement to their water.
Diet: Guinea Pigs need a well-balanced diet consisting of 80% hay, 15% pellet and 5% treat – including fruit and veg. Hay should be available for you Guinea Pig 24/7, a handful of high-quality pellets given every day, and fresh fruit/veggies or treats during or after some time together.
Substrate & Bedding: Straw is the most commonly used bedding for Guinea Pigs, however, it is important to not get straw confused with hay or to use hay as bedding as it can potentially lead to health problems. Bedding depth can be around 5 to 15 cm, depending on the type of substrate used and the length between enclosure cleans. Other substrate types include paper-based cat litter e.g. Breeders Choice, Hemp Bedding e.g. MiniHemp and high absorbency bedding e.g. Kaytee Clean&Cozy. Customers also mix substrate types within the enclosure or use different types of bedding in different sections of the enclosure.
Substrate Maintenance: Because Guinea pigs live in such close contact with their litter and bedding these must be kept clean and free from toxins. Cleaning your Piggy’s cage regularly, with the right cage clean is essential to avoiding unnecessary health problems. Ammonia in the fumes of urine causes irritation in the nasal passage which makes them more susceptible to infection.
Enrichment: It’s important that your piggy is left with toys while you are away and while they are in their enclosure. It also helps prevent behavioural issue down the track, such as chewing and boredom. It will help creates a tamer, friendlier and happier guinea pig. Toys can be rotated regularly so guinea pig doesn’t get bored and if the guinea pig destroys the toy, it means they like it and should be replaced Toys are essential, Guinea pigs love to play with and chew toys, hanging toys, ball toys. We have such a large part of our store designated for Guinea pigs for a reason, Guinea pigs just want to have fun. Toys also help to keep their teeth trim, which is very important, without toys it’s a matter of time before the teeth over grow and result in very expensive vet bills. Barbering is a problem associated with boredom in which a guinea pig chews its own hair or the hair of its cage mate, this happens when they are bored, and toys will re direct the guinea pig’s attention into the toys instead.
Grooming: Depending on your Guinea Pigs coat their grooming needs may be different, long-haired guinea pigs need their coats brushed or trimmed to stop their coats from getting tangled, whilst short-haired guinea pigs need a lot less grooming. Guinea pig nails also need attention, usually every 5 months – here at BIRDSVILLE we provide grooming services for your furry friends, no bookings required.
Please Note: Please be aware these animals are not DNA sexed. Whilst we may give an opinion and are skilled on sexing, this is not a guarantee, as young guinea pigs can be hard to sex. No refund, credit or exchanges will be given if an animal is not your desired sex.
Boarding is available at Petsville Hotel to book your stay. Come see us in-store if you have any concerns, or questions and feel free to bring your guinea pig for us to see!
Recommended Vets
| Southern Cross 02 9516 0234 St Peters | SASH 02 8913 400 Alexandria | SERV 02 9436 4884 Artarmon | The Wild Vet 1300 9453 838 Glebe | Carlingford Animal Hospital 02 9871 6036 Carlingford |
Fruits & Veggie Guide
Examples, not limited to:
| Do’s Fruits– pears, apples, citrus, watermelon, stone fruit, kiwi fruit, strawberries, rockmelon, banana, star fruit, pomegranate and grapes in moderation. Vegetables and greens– Silver beet, sweet potato, carrot, green beans, peas, corn, capsicum, endive, broccoli, spinach, pumpkin | Don’t’s Chocolate, Salt, Avocado, Onions, Garlic, Ginger, Iceberg Lettuce, Processed foods, Caffeine, Dairy products, tea, coffee, and alcohol. |
