Guinea Pig Information

(Cavia porcellus)

Guinea pigs, also called cavies are one of the best pets to keep as they rarely bite, are wonderfully vocal (especially in response to the sound of a carrier bag or the fridge door!) and normally enjoy the company of their own kind. Relatively cheap to feed, especially if you have a garden or allotment. Guinea pigs are intelligent and social animals with a need for space company of their own kind as well as a healthy diet and proper housing.

One problem you may encounter, however, is an allergy to them. I'm allergic to them myself! It is very important if you are considering getting guinea pigs for the first time, that everyone in the household who will be handling the guinea pigs gets to handle an adult guinea pig so you can test for allergy before you decide.

They are not easy to house train but make indoor pets, especially if kept in open pens (provided there are no cats or dogs around), as they don't seem to be bothered by the TV or radio on in the background. In South America (where they are kept for food) they were traditionally given free range of the kitchen and fed vegetable scraps as the food of the day was prepared. Guinea pigs are a large part of South American culture where they are not only a source of protein for its poorest people but also used by the medicine men or shamans in their healing rituals.

Guinea pigs like company

I use the plural guinea pigs because they do like the company of their own kind. Rabbits are rarely overtly aggressive to guinea pigs but there have been many cases of accidental injury when a rabbit stamps in warning or is over-amorous with a piggy companion.

Feeding guinea pigs

Like humans, guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C and must have a fresh supply in their diet everyday. This can come from fresh vegetables, fresh grass, dried grass or guinea pig food with vitamin C added. They need a constant supply of good hay, fresh water and a safe hutch, cage or pen.

Don't buy guinea pigs from pet superstores.

If you are reading this because you are thinking of buying a guinea pig then congratulations on doing your homework! In my experience of keeping and breeding guinea pigs, it is impossible to breed healthy guinea pigs, keep them well and sell them to pet superstores at a price where they can make their margin. Something has to give, and sadly it isn't the profit. Guinea pigs weaned too soon, stressed by travel and the store environment, transferred onto a new diet too quickly and probably factory farmed with more concern for profit than health, can rapidly develop fatal diarrhoea and may have other short or long term health problems.

Forever homes for rescue guinea pigs

Please consider giving a forever home to guinea pigs from your local rescue. Many pedigree guinea pigs end up in rescues through no fault of their own. Sometimes they've been bought for children on impulse but the parents can't be bothered to look after them once the novelty for the children has worn off. Guinea pigs bought as "two girls" from a pet superstore might end up having a litter that the owners cannot find homes for. Rescues often get large numbers of guinea pigs in one go from bad breeders who have kept them in poor condition. Guinea Pig Rehome is a searchable directory of cavies looking for new loving homes and you will also find many rescues listed there.

Guinea pig clubs, shows and breeders

The best place to find guinea pig breeders is through guinea pig clubs and shows. The 'cavy fancy' as it is called, refers to guinea pigs as cavies so if you are doing an Internet search you should search for cavy clubs, cavy breeders and cavy shows as well as guinea pig clubs, breeders and shows.

One of the main reasons for setting up the Galen's Garden Directory and network of specialist sites was to give members of the public access to information about rescue/re-homing organisations, vets, clubs, shows and breeders. Both rescues and good breeders will give new guinea pig owners the appropriate advice, a stock of the original food to wean the guinea pig on to and ongoing support.