Is a guinea pig right for you? Learn more here…

If you’re wondering whether a guinea pig is the right pet for your family, then this is the article for you! Our Head Nurse Sarah has pulled together the best advice from our team at Estcourt Vets to help you to decide on introducing a guinea pig to your family and the care tips you’ll need to know.

Ask our vet nurses for guinea pig advice

Guinea Pig Appreciation Day is officially on 16th July but we think it’s perfectly fine to celebrate guinea pigs every day! Help us shout about these wonderful animals by sharing this article with other pet owners on your socials.

What you need to know about Guinea Pigs

• Affectionate and easy to care for

As social animals, it is best to purchase guinea pigs in pairs or small groups. They thrive in company and love interacting with each other, making them a popular choice for first-time pet owners. They require minimal grooming (and possibly the odd ‘butt bath’ if they can’t clean themselves) – just ensure their cages are cleaned weekly and food/water replaced daily to keep them healthy and happy. Guinea pigs love to be petted and held and will often come to the front of their cage to greet their owners.

• Low maintenance and long lifespan

The average life span of a guinea pig is 4 – 8 years, meaning they can provide many years of joy to their family. There are a number of different breeds, each with different characteristics. Chat to Estcourt Vets’ vet nurses about what breed would be best for you and your family.

• Cute and quiet

Unlike many small pets, guinea pigs are not nocturnal. This means that they are most active during the day, making them perfect family pets, especially for those with younger children. Guinea pigs also do not make a lot of noise – they softly chirp when happy but are very unlikely to disturb you with loud or disruptive behaviour.

To sum it up in a few words, guinea pigs can make great family pets; if you are looking for a friendly and low-maintenance pet, a guinea pig might be the perfect choice for you!

To learn more about guinea pig care at home and what our practice provides, contact our clinic to chat to our friendly team of vet nurses at Estcourt Vets.

Ask our vet nurses for guinea pig advice