Guinea Pig Husbandry & Diet

Guinea pigs are an herbivorous rodent native to the highlands of South America.  Curious and interactive, guinea pigs are great pets for children and adults alike. 

Most commonly known as the cavy, guinea pigs live on average 4-8 years with proper diet and husbandry. They are social creatures and thrive in environments with other guinea pigs and daily interaction with people.

Husbandry

Guinea pigs can be messy and cannot be litter trained. Guinea pigs should be given the largest cage available, preferably with a solid bottom as wire bottomed cages can cause foot and leg injuries as well as prevent the ingestion of night feces.  Due to our extreme summer heats, it is not recommend to house guinea pigs outside in Arizona. Recommended ambient temperature should be between 65-79°F.  Temperatures above 80°F can lead to heat stroke.

Recommended bedding is recycled newspaper products or shredded newspaper.  Wood shavings contain aromatic oils that can cause respiratory illnesses. Wool nesting bedding is not recommended because of ingestion by curious guinea pigs.

Enrichment is important to keeping your guinea pig happy and healthy.  Proving a safe area to explore and play in daily is important enrichment.  Make sure the area is free of wire, outlets, baseboards and carpeting to prevent chewing injuries.

Diet

One area where owners can make the biggest difference between a healthy guinea pig and one with chronic issues is diet.  As members of the rodent species, guinea pigs have “open rooted” teeth that constantly grow.  Grass hay (timothy, orchard grass, meadow or oat hays for adults, timothy/alfalfa blends for those under 6 months of age) must be the bulk of the diet to maintain healthy teeth and gastrointestinal tracts.  Less than 20% of the daily diet should be a commercially available guinea pig specific pellet.  Pellets are nutrient dense and do not provide the grinding chewing motion necessary for dental health. 

As guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C, guinea pig specific pellets contain added vitamin C.  These must be used within 90 of the mill date as after that the vitamin C level has degraded.  Vitamin C water additives are not recommended as the vitamin is inactivated almost immediately after being added to the water and end up providing nothing more than a breeding ground for bacteria.  The best way to supplement vitamin C into your guinea pig’s diet is to offer vegetables high in vitamin C.  Vegetables and fruit should be offered in small portions and removed after 2 hours or promptly if they become soiled. 

It is preferred that organic fruits and vegetables be offered and all fresh food items be washed before offering.  Commercially produced treats such as yogurt drops are not recommended as these are mostly sugar and provide little to no nutritional benefit.

Fruits & Vegetables (listed by vitamin C content, mg/100grams of food)

• Red Bell Pepper (190mg/g)

• Parsley (133mg/g)

• Kale (120mg/g)

• Kiwi (98mg/g)

• Broccoli (93.2mg/g)

• Brussel sprouts (85mg/g)

• Mustard greens (70mg/g)

• Turnip greens (60mg/g)

• Strawberry (56.7mg/g)

Guinea pigs develop dietary preferences early in life, so it is important to introduce new foods slowly to prevent GI upset, loss of appetite, and diarrhea.

Common Health Issues

Dental Disease

With their constantly growing teeth, dental abscesses, root impaction and tooth overgrowth are the most commonly seen issue.  These often present as a guinea pig who isn’t eating or only eating pellets or soft foods, is constantly drooling, has discharge from the nose, eyes or mouth or has a change in attitude or activity.  Annual examinations, which include an oral exam, address these issues before your guinea pig is in need of emergency care.

Urinary Stones

Commonly seen in guinea pigs who are fed a diet primarily of pellets, pellet mixes, carrots and grains.  The high mineral contents of these diets often lead to the formation of urinary stones as well as dental issues.  Common signed noted by owners are bloody urine, vocalizing when urinating, and straining while urinating.

Respiratory Infections

Multiple organisms can cause respiratory infections in guinea pigs.  Any instance of nasal discharge, cough, decrease in appetite, lethargy, difficulty breathing or change in attitude should be addressed by your veterinarian immediately.  Respiratory issues usually lead to secondary GI issues and death if not treated promptly.

Skin infections & parasites

Mites, lice, and fungal infestations are common skin issues in guinea pigs.  These are itchy and in the case of the most common fungal infection, potentially contagious to other guinea pigs and people. Hair loss, excessive scratching, flaking or visibly crawling insects should be seen by a veterinarian promptly to prevent secondary bacterial infections and spreading to other guinea pigs or humans.

Pododermatitis (infection of the foot) is commonly caused by housing on a wire bottomed cage. What can start as a mild swelling or abraded area can rapidly become deep ulcers with secondary infections. Keeping the guinea pig on a solid bottom cage and making sure to adequately supplement vitamin C will reduce the risk for foot infections.