It’s pretty easy to tell if a guinea pig has been fully weaned from their mother. A nursing piggy will tend to stick quite close by to their mothers for safety, comfort and to feed whenever hungry. However, guinea pigs are born almost completely physically independent from their mother besides their need for milk, so once weaned, it’s pretty common to see young piggies venture away from their mothers and interact with them a lot less.

Thankfully, baby guinea pigs don’t have any specific needs or requirements that you must see to. They are almost fully independent from their first day in the big wide world! Their only requirement is that they must be kept close to their mother as they will need to nurse from her. Guinea pig milk is full of healthy fats, vitamins, and antibodies to help the babies grow big and strong.

We are rapidly approaching the end of the year, and as we creep closer to October, Halloween feels just around the corner. Halloween is a great time for people to dress up, decorate their house with some spooky decorations and take the little ones trick-o-treating. However, who’s to say Halloween is just for humans? Guinea pigs certainly are an animal that can enjoy the holiday too! There are many great ways to include your furry friends in the spooky spirit.

If you’re looking for a new animal, one of the main factors you should always consider is their ease of care. If you’re a busy individual who spends most of their days going out and about, getting an animal with high care needs certainly wouldn’t be the ideal option. Luckily for you, both hamsters and guinea pigs are fairly simplistic when it comes to their care.

Bladder stones are a common condition in guinea pigs and are found to be quite painful in most cases. Bladder stones are small masses of minerals that the body wasn’t unable to absorb which led them to crystallising in the urinary tract. They can be found in any part of the urinary tract, starting at the kidneys and all the way down to the urethra. 

For the most part, juice is not safe for guinea pigs. Most juices are very high in sugar, calcium and phosphorus which can lead to a variety of health issues such as diarrhoea, weight gain, kidney and bladder stones.

Fruits are a great treat for your guinea pig. They are packed full of nutrients and vitamins that are super beneficial for your guinea pig to maintain their ideal health. If you’re interested in giving your guinea pig fruits, it’s important to know which ones are safe and ones to avoid.

No guinea pig owner likes the idea of their precious guinea pigs falling ill, but sadly it is something that is bound to happen at some point in time. In the meantime, it’s always a great idea to learn about the common signs and symptoms of sickness, so you know exactly what to look for if you suspect your guinea pig is getting sick.

Feeding guinea pigs vegetables is incredibly important for their health. Veggies contain lots of healthy nutrients and vitamins that piggies require to grow, maintain health and carry out their day-to-day lives. There are lots of guinea pig veggies you can feed them, however, it’s essential to know what is safe, and how much of each one they should be given on a daily basis.

Bringing a new animal into your home is a big decision to make, and one that should be given great thought and care. While most people will opt for the typical dog or cat, buying a guinea pig is often not given a second thought. This, I say, is their loss! Guinea pigs can make the perfect pets for a multitude of reasons.

Guinea pigs are medium sized rodents originating from South America and are sometimes referred to as ‘piggies’ or ‘cavies’. They have been popular household pets for centuries, and rightfully so. Guinea pigs have larger than life personalities and light up any room they find themselves in.

There are a limitless list of reasons why guinea pigs make the best pets, and each one will have you frantically searching for ‘guinea pigs near me’, but we have compiled a list of our top 5 reasons to share the love for these animals and show you why they should be the main choice when you’re looking for a new furry friend.

We can’t do much about genetics, but as a guinea pig parent, you should be aware of everything you can do to keep your cavy healthy for as long as possible. For example, they need a very healthy diet, little to no sugar and the opportunity to exercise. Much like us, if these factors are combined, they have a great chance of living a full and long life.

Overall, milk from non-guinea pig animals is unsafe for your piggy. Cow’s milk in particular is the most unsafe. Guinea pigs are not able to process or digest lactose, and consuming lactose can make them feel very ill. Cow’s milk doesn’t contain any vitamin C, which is a crucial component in a guinea pig’s diet as they aren’t able to produce it themselves.

When we think about feeding guinea pigs, a bowl of healthy, colourful vegetables usually comes to mind. It can easy to decide that any vegetables will be fine to feed your cavy, they are all full of benefits, right?

Not quite. Although many leafy greens provide your guinea pig with multiple vitamins and antioxidants, with no sugar or fats – not all greens are 100% good for them. Some can cause bloating and diarrhoea if you’re not careful. Not to mention more severe health problems if you overfeed them.

Guinea pigs and rabbits aren’t natural buddies. They are both sociable, but each prefers living with their own kind. It was common for pet owners to keep guinea pigs and rabbits together due to the belief that neutering rabbits was an unsafe practice. However, this procedure is now extremely safe and routine. So there is no reason rabbits can’t be kept together, instead of with guinea pigs. It is also best to keep guinea pigs with same-sex cavy friends, as they will get along well and reduce stress.

There could be a range of reasons why your guinea pig is losing weight. If you notice a more sudden loss of weight, it would be best to see a vet as soon as possible. There are many health conditions that could cause your guinea pig to lose weight, such as kidney disease and overgrown teeth.