Guinea Pigs

guinea pigs

Curious and inquisitive by nature, guinea pigs make great pets. These little bundles of fur are quite social and enjoy spending time with the people who handle, feed, and groom them. As a pet, guinea pigs are relatively low maintenance, rarely aggressive, and fun to own.

How to Care

Guinea pigs are playful, especially during the morning and late evening hours. These guys like to nap a lot during the day. You'll want to make sure your pet is getting plenty of exercise and interaction with your family to ensure good health.

Your guinea pig will spend most of its time in a plastic or wire cage. The cage needs to be bigger than you might think -- 7.5 square feet for one guinea pig and 10.5 square feet for two is ideal. A solid floor is better than a wire floor. Your veterinary team often sees guinea pigs with broken feet and legs caused by wire cage floors. Regardless of the floor, be sure to use soft bedding like fleece or flannel as guinea pigs can develop sores on their feet.

Some guinea pig breeds require more grooming than others. For example, a silkie has longer hair that needs to be brushed quite often. You may want to bathe your guinea pig occasionally, especially if he or she isn't doing the job adequately.

Training

Guinea pigs can be trained to follow simple commands, especially if you use food as a prompt. They can be taught to come to you or to sit up and beg. Some guinea pigs can be taught to use a litter box, but they're not always consistent so don't rely on this method. Guinea pigs drink from a water bottle attached to the side of his cage, but some can be trained to drink from a bowl.

Health

Your guinea pig will not need to be spayed or neutered unless you plan to house a male and a female together. If so, our team can advise you on this procedure.

Diet

Guinea pigs are herbivores who eat a plant-based diet. Feed a commercial pellet food to ensure your pet gets the vitamin C it needs. It is also recommended to supplement your guinea pig's diet with grass, hay, or leafy greens like green leaf lettuce. Avoid kale and spinach as dark greens have too much calcium for guinea pigs.

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Monday:

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5:00 pm

Tuesday:

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Wednesday:

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Thursday:

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Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • "Thank you all for your wonderful care of Mau. It means a lot to have a vet's office that I completely trust with my animals. Mau is doing great, but I think he misses all of you!"
    The Redmons / Bradenton, FL
  • "Words can't express how thankful I am for all your love, help and support with Sheba. You are truly special people and it meant a lot to myself and my son."
    Lori - Lakewood Ranch, FL
  • "Thank you so much for caring for Tyler while we were at a funeral... Thank you for a kind and caring heart and standing in the gap for us Bless you all!"
    The Bennett Family - Lakewood Ranch, FL
  • "We wish to thank you for your care & kindness during the loss of our beloved Molly. You provided her wonderful care for 16 yrs! Dr. Sookra saw her the second day I had her and was with her to the end. You all are such a kind, loving family and we are grateful for the care you extend. Thank you so much for all you do! We appreciate you all very much."
    The Stutts Family - Apollo Beach, FL
  • "hank you all for your wonderful care of Mau. It means a lot to have a vet's office that I completely trust with my animals. Mau is doing great, but I think he misses all of you!"
    The Redmons - Bradenton, FL