Are Guinea Pigs High Maintenance?

If you want to get a guinea pig, one of your first questions will probably be “are guinea pigs high maintenance?” In today’s article, I will focus on everything you need to do when you have a guinea pig, and focus on how much time and effort it will require.

Are guinea pigs high maintenance?

No, guinea pigs are not high maintenance, especially when you compare them to other common household pets such as cats and dogs.

While guinea pigs do usually require daily care, it is pretty simple and routine. While you should never make a habit out of it, your guinea pig can easily go a day without care if an emergency comes up. Below are some of the main tasks that you will have as a Guinea pig owner.

Feeding

Feeding is probably going to require the most amount of time and effort. I recommend that you feed your guinea pig twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. You will also need to remove uneaten food to avoid obesity and bacteria. You should remove any food that has not been eaten within 24 hours. It is important that you feed your guinea pig enough vitamin C.

Water

Similar to food, you will also need to always ensure that your guinea pig has access to fresh clean water. While it depends on the size of the bottle, you will probably have to fill up the bottle with water at least once every couple of days.

Chewable objects

It is also important that you have chewable objects in your cage at all times. There are plenty of chew sticks you can choose from on amazon. Chew sticks are important because it helps ware down your guinea pig’s teeth. If you don’t put chew stick in your cage regularly, your guinea pig’s tooth might grow to an unhealthy size and cause dental problems.

How often to clean guinea pig cage?

You will also have to clean your guinea pig’s cage at least once a week. To do this, you should remove your guinea pig, and wipe down their habitat with wipes and disinfectant. You will also have to replace their bedding at least once a week. This is very important because your guinea pig can develop diseases if you don’t regularly change the bedding. Your cage should have around 1 to 2 inches of bedding at the bottom at all times. There are various types of material you can use for bedding, such as wood shavings and paper chips.

Maintaining a clean environment is essential for your guinea pig’s health. If your guinea pig does not have a clean place to live, they will likely develop some form of illness or even parasites.

Hygiene

While guinea pigs don’t need to be regularly bathed, it is important to keep an eye on their fur. If you notice it starts to get smelly or becomes tangled, it is probably a good idea to give them a bath. You should also comb your guinea pig’s hair every now and then.

How often should you play with your guinea pig?

Last but not least, you are probably wondering how often you need to play with your pet guinea pig. While there is no concrete answer to this question, I generally recommend that you play with your guinea pig for at least 30 minutes to an hour every day. Younger guinea pigs usually require more play time than older guinea pigs. Of course, it is okay if you miss one day because you are busy. However, if your guinea pig goes multiple days without playing with you, they will become at risk for obesity.

Your guinea pig might be scared of you for the first couple days as they adjust to their new environment. After a week or so they should start to feel more comfortable and will look forward to playing with you.

If you already know that you have a busy schedule, you should consider getting two guinea pigs. This way they can play with each other, and you will not have to take them out of their cage every single day.