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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Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-1:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonial

Read What Our Client Say

  • "Best Vet team ever!! Thank you Dr Setlock for always being there and taking such wonderful care of all my furry baby's!!"
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  • "Quality care from an amazing staff. The service we've received is second none. Despite this, it is still the most affordable vet I've found. Don't hesitate to bring your pets here, they are cared for by people who genuinely care about animals."
    Jeff Makoroff
  • "It can be difficult to find a veterinary clinic that has wonderful doctors and staff, but Wolf Animal Hospital has it all! I especially appreciate all of the hard work from Dr. Herron. She is patient and kind, and she is always willing to answer every question you might have. She helped me find techniques that allowed my 12 year-old dog to lose weight and helped us choose the best arthritis medication for him. I know my family and I appreciate everything she has done for our pets, and we'd recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and friendly veterinarian!"
    Andi Cluster
  • "Dr reisterer is very nice and knowledgeable. Very reasonable cost also. No BS fake tests done to increase your bill"
    William Bennett
  • "Dr Setlock is the absolute BEST! He and his team, many of whom have been with him for many years, are both talented and caring. He has wisdom of the years and is able to give a long view of certain problems and how to tackle them. I have been a loyal client since 2004, with multiple rescues, fosters, special needs dogs, and dogs who have developed various disorders through the course of their lives. I wouldn't trust my many fur babies to anyone else!"
    Lisa Dworkin