Getting Guinea Pigs

Preparing to bring Guinea pigs home

Before bringing your new pet Guinea pigs home, there are many things you can do to help them settle in.

There are also certain items you will need:

• Large enclosure with a sheltered bedding area
• Small carrier case
• Food and water bowls or drinking bottles
• Bedding area
• Hideaways and enrichment items like tunnels and toys
• Grooming tools (for long-haired Guinea pigs) and nail clippers

Create a welcoming environment

• Make sure you get everything they need ahead of their arrival and set up their living space.
• Whether your Guinea pigs will be living indoors or just spending some time indoors, it’s a good idea to Guinea pig-proof any areas they’ll be spending time.
• Remove anything that could cause injury including items they could chew such as electrical wires, books or house plants.

Travelling home

• Car journeys should be as short as possible so it’s best to get a rabbit from a rescue centre or breeder close to your home.
• Make sure your rabbits are secured safely in a carrier and ensure it is lined with something absorbent.
• Keep things nice and calm for the journey home. Avoid loud music or talking to your Guinea pig.
• Cover the front of the carrier with a blanket or towel, ensuring they are still getting plenty of air.
• The rescue centre or breeder may be able to give you something with their scent on it such as hay they have used or soiled bedding. This provides a sense of familiarity and helps your rabbits feel more at ease.

Settling your Guinea pig into their new home

A calm environment is essential when settling your Guinea pigs into their new home. Bringing items from their previous home that have their scent on them can provide a reassuring sense of familiarity.

Arriving home

• Gently place your Guinea pigs in their enclosure, ensuring it is secured so they will not escape. When they feel comfortable, they should start sniffing around, eating their food and exploring their living area.
• Once they seem settled, allow them to approach you on their own terms and reward interactions with treats to help build a strong bond. Any children living in or visiting the home should be introduced to your Guinea pigs gradually. Supervise any interactions to ensure children and animals are both safe and happy.

Behaviours to look out for

• Guinea pigs generally don’t like to be picked up or cuddled as they prefer to have all four feet on the ground. They will approach you if they are looking for affection. When Guinea pigs are feeling really relaxed, they may flop over onto their side. This can be a bit alarming but is usually nothing to worry about.

Popcorning

• When Guinea pigs are happy, they may jump in the air with all four feet off the floor. This movement is known as a ‘popcorn’.

Squeaking

• Guinea pigs communicate by squeaking. These noises can have a range of different meanings, from telling you they excited for their dinner to warning other Guinea pigs that they need their space. If you are concerned that your Guinea pig is squeaking more than usual, speak to your vet.

Signs of stress

• As a prey species, Guinea pigs can hide signs of pain or stress so it’s important to pay attention to your pet’s behaviour. Grinding their teeth, hiding more than usual and loss of appetite can all be signs that something is wrong. If you notice any changes in your Guinea pig’s behaviour, consult your vet.

Rumble Strutting

• Rumble strutting is when a Guinea pig makes a murmuring noise accompanied by a wiggling movement. This is usually a sign of dominance but can also be observed in Guinea pigs who want to mate. It can sometime indicate that your Guinea pig is hungry, excited or frightened.

Food and Drink

When bringing your Guinea pigs home, we highly recommend feeding them the same brand and type of food they’re used to eating as this will provide a sense of familiarity and help prevent tummy upsets.

The centre or breeder may have spare food to give you. Always ensure your Guinea pigs have access to plenty of fresh water.

Introductions

When adding Guinea pigs to an existing colony, introduce them to each other gradually and under supervision. Keep sows and boars separate to prevent unwanted pregnancies but a neutered male can be added to a female colony. Female Guinea pigs (sows) are generally easier to mix than males (boars).

Be prepared for the possibility that you may need to keep groups of Guinea pigs in separate living areas if they do not get on well.

Your Guinea pigs will need places where they can escape from their companions if they want to. Not having enough hiding places can result in stressful situations like bullying. Make sure to offer plenty of shelter, food, water and hidey-holes for the number of Guinea pigs you have.

Registering with a vet

We recommend registering your Guinea pigs with a vet as soon as possible after collecting them.

When choosing a vet, do your homework into local practices. There are many different services and plans on offer so it’s important to ensure they can meet the needs of small pets.

When rehoming from one of our centres, you will be provided with a record of your pet’s full veterinary history to take to your vet. If the animal has a pre-existing condition, our team will send the vet paperwork prior to visiting so you can discuss it with your own vet.

Breeders should be able to provide you with proof of any treatment your Guinea pigs have had to date.

Arranging insurance cover

We would highly recommend insuring your Guinea pigs to avoid unexpected costly vet bills. It can be more expensive or harder to find policies which will cover pets with pre-existing conditions, therefore it’s important to make sure your policy offers the right level of cover for you and your pet. Your insurer is likely to ask for vet details so you must register with a vet first.