New Owners
If you are a new guinea pig owner or planning to own a guinea pig in the future, this is the page for you. We'll be talking about whether a guinea pig is right for you or not, where to get you guinea pig, the supplies you'll need to prepare for a guinea pig, and what to do the day you get your pet.
Is a Guinea Pig Right for You?
Guinea pigs are great pets, and they are fairly easy to take care of. However, there are some things you need to consider before you decide on guinea pigs.
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Consider yourself and your family. Assess whether a guinea pig would fit into your lifesyle or not based on your schedule. Your pet should make you happy, not more stressed.
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Consider the fact that guinea pigs are a long term commitment. Guinea pigs can live up to 10 years, maybe even 12. This means a very long term commitment. If you travel or have unstable health, you probably shouldn't own a guinea pig.
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Consider the costs. You'll need to pay for all of the necessities, vet bills, and toys, as well as the guinea pig itself and all the starter supplies.
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Consider that guinea pigs need to be housed in pairs or more in order to be happy. If caring for two guinea pigs is too much, don't get guinea pigs.
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Consider that guinea pigs may not get along with other household pets. You need to protect your guinea pigs from pets like dogs, cats, ferrets, and snakes, since all of these animals can injure or possibly even kill your guinea pigs.
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But not all of it is negativity. Here are some benefits of owning guinea pigs.
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You get furry companions to play with and love. Guinea pigs are interactive pets, so they are lots of fun to own and keep.
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Studies show that guinea pigs are actually calming. Cuddling up with your guinea pig can relieve stress.
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They're great pets for children. Kids tend to enjoy guinea pigs the most, and since there isn't much maintainance involved, if you child is 8+ years old and has proven responsible, they can take care of the guinea pigs independently.
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Guinea pigs don't smell nearly as much as rabbits, dogs, or cats. If you're a good owner and keep their cage clean, they won't stink at all.
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You feel wanted, needed, and loved by your pet. Once tame, your pets will squeak for attention whenever you enter their room, and even possibly fall asleep on your lap when you're taking them out of their cage for some cuddle time.
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Another major thing to look out for before you get guinea pigs is if anybody in your family is allergic to the guinea pig or any of the supplies they use. Hay allergies are not uncommon, and neither are allergies to the pets themselves. You don't want your guinea pig to make you feel sniffly instead of happy.
Where should you get your guinea pig?
Guinea pigs are available in many different places. But where should you get your guinea pigs? We'll discuss four places you can get your guinea pigs at: Pet Stores, Breeders, Foster Homes, and Rescues.
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Pet stores normally stock guinea pigs. Most likely, your local Petco and PetSmart probably stock guinea pigs. However, large chain pet stores normally have to take in so many animals that they don't have time to give each of them the care they need. Most large pet stores get their animals from mills that raise the animals in horrible conditions. If your go to your local pet store and see animals living in small cages with just a handful of bedding, one hidey house only, and a lot of guinea pigs, that's a sign that means they don't treat their animals well.
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Breeders are a great place to get your guinea pigs. They may have high prices, but it's usually worth it because you're getting a purebred, well cared-for guinea pig in most cases. However, there are other breeders, called backyard breeders, who are not good breeders. Thay do not take breeding seriously and do it just for the money or the fun. They also don't breed their guinea pigs in proper conditions. These are some signs of a good breeder:
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The breeder invites you into their center cheerfully.
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They talk to you a little bit about guinea pigs before they let you see the pets.
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They show you every option you have, and tell you a little bit about each guinea pig.
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They are enthusiastic in general and you can tell that they love what they do.
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They let you hold the guinea pig and let you inspect them for signs of illness.
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Before they sell you the guinea pig, they ask you about your cage size and layout to make sure your guinea pig is going to a good home.
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Foster homes are another place to get your guinea pigs. Foster guinea pig owners usually work for rescues and take care of guinea pigs until they find a home for them. Most probably, there are many great foster owners around you. You just have to know where to look. Try craigslist, forums, or other sites.
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Guinea pig rescues are probably the best place to get your guinea pigs. Petfinder.com shows guinea pigs that are available for adoption in rescues near you. Guinea Pig Zone is another site where you can find guinea pigs in rescues. You can also search Google for 'guinea pigs near me'.
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What do I do the first day I get my pet?
On the day you're going to get your guinea pig, make sure you have everything ready. The cage should be all set up with lots of places to hide because your pet is going to be very nervous. Set up a dog or cat carrier with bedding, a place to hide, some hay, and some vegetables. This is what you should bring your guinea pig home in.
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Take your guinea pig straight home. Do not stop somewhere and leave your pet in the car. Your guinea pig may overheat and die before it gets home. The only case in which you should stop is at the vet if you're taking your guinea pig for a checkup.
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At last, the moment you've been waiting for. You step into the house holding the carrier. You should take your guinea pig into the room it is going to live in. Don't open the carrier yet. Let the guinea pig have some time to calm down and get used to all of the new scents. After about 2-3 minutes, open the carrier. Let your pet adjust to the lighting and some of the things in the room that it can see. After about 2 minutes, gently lift your pet out of the carrier, supporting it's rear and back, and place it in the cage. If you have an exceptionally bold guinea pig, your pet will start to run around, exploring it's new cage. In most cases, however, your pet will immediately run and hide. This is perfectly normal. This is also why you need to have multiple places to hide.
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While your guinea pig is doing this, sit by the cage and watch your guinea pig. Let them get accustomed to your scent and presence. After about half an hour, you can give your pet some banana or strawberry or even lettuce. These are favorite foods of guinea pigs. Feed them from your hand. This way, they will know that you are friendly. The way to a guinea pig's heart is through it's stomach.
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After a couple of hours, you'll see your guinea pig starting to come out of it's shell. They may walk around the cage, sniffing the environment and trying to find out where eveything is.
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If your guinea pig seems to be extremely nervous and hiding all of the time, cover the cage with a blanket or bedsheet. This will block out a lot of the strange sights and sounds, but your pet will still be able to smell things.
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