Keeping guinea pigs as pets

[Storyteller.]

Keeping guinea pigs as pets
By Hester (Peppermint Tea.♥)

So you’re thinking about getting a pet, but aren’t sure which animal to choose. Perhaps you’ve already decided against a cat or a dog because they're too large or too much work. Guinea pigs are small, can be kept in cages and are very cute and cuddly. Guinea pigs (also known as piggies) belong to the cavy family, and are originally from South America, where they were considered a delicacy! They are now considered very popular pets, due to their friendly nature.

Why choose a piggy?

There are a lot of reasons to choose a guinea pig as a pet over another small pet, like hamsters or lizards. One really important point about guinea pigs is that they are very gentle, sociable creatures. If they have been treated correctly, they are less likely to bite than some rodents, and will quite happily chatter away to their owner, making contented noises when they are stroked or fed. Because of this, they are suitable to be kept around children, which is great if you have younger siblings, kids or cousins around. They are quite robust little animals (with no tail to pull!), although young children should always be supervised around any type of pet. Guinea pigs can be kept both indoors and outdoors, although outdoor piggies need a suitable cage and possibly insulation around them in colder months. Another great thing about guinea pigs is that they are awake during the day, making them more fun to play and cuddle with than nocturnal rodents. If kept in your bedroom, they will be less likely to keep you awake at night.

Why a guinea pig might not be suitable

There are some important things to think about before deciding on a guinea pig.

Are you able to take responsibility for the animal?
All small animals need to have their living spaces cleaned out regularly (usually once or twice a week minimum), as well as being fed and watered daily. When deciding on a pet, you need to pick something that you are willing to care for. Part of growing up is about taking responsibility for things that are dependent on you. A parent can’t be expected to do the job for you.

Do you have the space for a guinea pig?
You will either need a space outside in a yard or garden big enough for an outdoor hutch, or a space inside big enough for an indoor cage. Indoor cages are usually smaller than outdoor hutches. Guinea pigs can also be kept in sheds or garages, but they cannot be kept in the same space as a car, because the fumes are dangerous.

Can you afford to keep a pet?
The animals themselves are usually around £10 to £20 each, but you also need to factor in the cost of a cage (anything from £30 to £80 depending on how fancy it is), a water bottle and feeding bowl (about £2 or £3 per item), supplies like hay, sawdust and dry food (these have to be bought regularly, but if you buy multipacks they are cheaper and last longer), and medical bills. Aside from the occasional mite treatment, medical bills should be minimal. However, you have to take into account that sometimes animals get ill, and bills can run quite high. Make sure that you know when your local vets is open, and where you can go if there is an emergency out of surgery hours. It is also a good idea to ask your vets about routine check ups, and what the cost is to make sure your piggy is healthy, because prices may differ.

Do you have any other pets, or small children?
Guinea pigs are usually happy to live with rabbits if they are introduced at a young age. However, rabbits, being much bigger than guinea pigs, can sometimes injure them. It isn't advised to keep rabbits and guinea pigs in a shared living space, but they can be allowed to play with each other if supervised. Cats and dogs need to be kept under supervision when near a guinea pig because they may see the piggy as food. Bolts, like the ones found on bathroom doors, should be added to cages if a cat is present or if the guinea pig lives outside because cats and foxes are clever creatures and can learn to open cages. If you don't have the space or equipment to keep your guinea pig safe from your other pets, don't get one. Small children are another thing to be wary about. Although a well reared guinea pig doesn't usually bite, if it has a bad temperament or has been tormented by a child, they can give a nasty bite, even drawing blood. Also, a guinea pig usually lives between four and six years, so make sure that you have the time to care for it, and won’t need to leave home and leave it behind.

Caring for your piggy – the basics

Guinea pigs are fairly easy animals to care for. First, make sure that it has somewhere safe to live. As previously mentioned, this should be an outdoor hutch or an indoor cage away from anything dangerous. Guinea pigs like company, so if you keep them outside make sure that you go out to visit them and talk to them regularly. There are different ways to set up a guinea pig's home. Depending on how often they go to the bathroom, or how often you clean their cage out, they need different levels of absorbent bedding. This is used to soak up their urine and help to keep their cage clean in between cleanings. Newspaper and sawdust can both be used for this. Hay is a good bedding material, which would go on top. What you use depends on your piggy and your circumstances, so use what suits you best. Make sure that they have somewhere to hide. Outdoor hutches usually have a bedroom compartment where the animal can hide if it is feeling frightened, overwhelmed or tired. Some indoor cages don’t have this, so a hut or pod would have to be bought. Guinea pigs need a plastic water bottle attached to the side of their cage. This is because if you give them a bowl of water they either knock it over or do their business in it. A water bottle is cleaner, although it will need to be cleaned regularly. An old toothbrush or paintbrush is ideal for this job. The food bowl should be ceramic so that the piggy can’t knock it over, and two handfuls of food in the morning should be sufficient for the day, although if the guinea pig is without food later on it should be topped up. The food and water should be changed daily and the hutch should be cleaned out weekly at the bare minimum. Guinea pigs also enjoy playing outside, so if you have a garden with some grass, a run can be bought. Fresh food like grass, cucumber, carrots, and apples can also be given to the guinea pigs in their cage.

Playing with your guinea pig

Although guinea pigs can't be played with in the same sense as you would play with a dog or a cat, they can still be playful creatures if approached the right way. Introduce play time when the guinea pig is young, because old guinea pigs find it hard to learn new tricks and the best time to acclimatise your guinea pig to a new activity is when it is a baby. Some ideas for playing with guinea pigs are:
A maze or obstacle course made out of cardboard boxes or toilet tubes is a cheap way of making a piggy play park, and to encourage your guinea pig to play in it you can fill it with tasty snacks and treats.
Guinea pigs like hiding in dark places, and when they are small they can usually fit in the pockets of hooded jumpers.
Paddling pool. Some guinea pigs enjoy swimming. It depends on the guinea pig, but on warm days they can be allowed to swim in shallow water. Just don't leave them on their own!

Going on holiday

If you are going on holiday, you need to make sure that your guinea pig is taken care of for the duration you're gone. They also appreciate the company. There are several options on what to do when you go on holiday, which are outlined in this article. The best option for guinea pigs is usually a petsitter, who can either visit the pets at your home, or you can bring the hutch/cage over to their home.

If you do decide on getting a guinea pig, it is a good idea to get yourself some books about them. These will go more in depth on how to care for a guinea pig, and may also help you to decide on which type of piggy you want. You don’t have to spend money, though. Check out your local library first, or utilise resources on the web. A local pet shop may be able to give you information about caring for a guinea pig, and a vet is definitely a good place to find out important information about keeping your pet healthy and happy.