Caring for Junior Guinea Pigs
Adding a new member to the family is an exciting time and for new pet parents, it can be a valuable learning experience. In general, guinea pigs require secure housing, exercise and enrichment, socialisation and a specific diet for good welfare.
Guinea pigs are small herbivores (plant-eaters) that have an average lifespan of 5-7 years. Guinea pigs are very active and social creatures that spend much of their day nibbling on food and socialising with their friends. Guinea pigs are born precocial (meaning they are more developed than other babies) and are weaned at about 3-4 weeks of age and find their forever homes around 8 weeks old… that’s you!
Breaking down Junior Cavy Care:
About Guinea Pigs – The Junior Life Stage
Junior guinea pigs have developmental milestones just like any other baby. Supporting this development is the key to their happy futures. When looking at junior guinea pig development, we are looking at four main aspects:
- Brain Development – As we know, the brain is the centre that oversees almost everything in the body. If our guinea pigs are not able to fully develop their brains this can lead to neurological deficits and lifelong conditions.
- Gut Development – Proper development of the gastrointestinal system is important as our guinea pigs need to be able to efficiently digest their food and transport nutrients to the rest of the body. The gut also plays a large role in immune health.
- Growth – Growing guinea pigs require plenty of nutrients to help them build strong bones and muscles and other healthy tissue throughout the body. By providing our guinea pigs with proper nutrition we can ensure they are growing at a healthy rate and prevent conditions like stunted growth or weak bones.
- Socialisation – Having our junior guinea pigs well socialised can help them be confident and feel secure within their environment and when dealing with stressful situations. Guinea pigs are naturally anxious animals so it’s important to provide them with stress-free interactions that build their trust and confidence.
Housing
Before you bring home a new addition (or additions) it’s important to have everything set up and ready for your guinea pig. Choosing an enclosure that works in your space is the first step.
If you are limited on horizontal space, consider a two (or more) story enclosure where your pig can still have plenty of space with ramps to get to different levels. Or, if you’re setting up outside make sure it is in a safe space where they are protected from the weather, direct sun and other animals that may not be so friendly.
When choosing an enclosure, keep in mind how easy it will be to clean!
Guinea pigs are best housed in pairs or trios. They are naturally social creatures, so we don’t want them to be lonely or develop anxiety from being alone. Just be cautious about getting males and females together as you will end up with lots of baby piggies – guinea pigs are sexually mature from 6 to 8 weeks old!
Providing plenty of hides and tunnels will help your guinea pig to feel protected while also giving them enrichment. Choose a good substrate/flooring to keep in your pig’s area, especially if they’re staying inside. Bedding is there to absorb moisture and prevent your pigs from getting soggy bottoms (it can also help to reduce smells!).
The most popular options for bedding are:
• Hay
• Shredded paper
• Paper pellets/paper kitty litter
• Wood shavings
• Fleece liners
Enrichment
Guinea pigs need gentle handling and lots of interaction to keep their brains stimulated.
There are many forms of enrichment; providing your junior guinea pig with different items, areas, tastes and smells all help keep them mentally stimulated. Letting your guinea pig roam around a room or temporary playpen (supervised!) is also a great way to let them run and stay active. It also allows them to explore, have fun and feel more confident in new areas.
Don’t forget the toys! Junior pigs can be very playful, so we want to provide plenty of toys to keep them active.
Some great toy choices include:
• Balls
• Chew toys
• Tunnels
• Hay stuffed containers
Enrichment can also be given in the form of treats, like our Herbivore Harvest Deli Stix or our functional Origins Chews! These can be a great bonding experience and add variety to their diet.
Nutrition For Junior Guinea Pigs
Junior guinea pigs are busy and full of energy, so providing them with targeted nutrition is necessary to ensure they continue to grow and develop into healthy adults without stunted growth or health conditions like scurvy or obesity.
Junior guinea pigs require a balanced diet to ensure their bodies have enough energy and nutrients to sustain their development into healthy adults. Trying to balance their diet at home is tricky and leaves many people uncertain as to whether their guinea pig is getting the proper amounts of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals they need. Our specifically formulated diet for junior pigs has taken away the guesswork.
Vetafarm’s Cavy Origins Junior Pellets are a great choice. Our team of veterinarians and animal nutritionists has put in the hard work to make sure your guinea pigs are getting perfectly balanced food, packed with all the vitamins, minerals and extras to help them grow and flourish.
Our pellets contain stabilised vitamin C, omega long-chain fatty acids, DHA+EPA, pre and postbiotics, and high amounts of protein, so it is the perfect blend to support young cavies through their developmental period. It’s also great for pregnant cavies and nursing pups (newborn cavies can start nibbling at food straight away!).
Vitamin C is a very important part of cavy diets. Guinea pigs are unable to produce their own vitamin C and must consume it. Without it, they can develop scurvy, a serious disease that can cause bleeding gums, loosened teeth, bleeding under the skin, exhaustion, limb pain and other symptoms.
Young developing brains and immune systems need all the support they can get. The fatty acids DHA + EPA help to support brain development and aid the development of immune and body systems.
Pre and post-biotics are used to help promote and build gut health and well-being in young animals. We include 9 strains as greater postbiotic diversity is more beneficial to gastrointestinal health.
Higher protein is important for junior cavies as it ensures your guinea pig can grow and develop properly. Without increased protein, your pig won’t have the energy to grow which puts stress on their body and can mean they are at risk of developing immune deficiencies and catching harmful pathogens.
Most of their diet should consist of hay (such as our Lucerne Mini Bales) and unlimited Cavy Origins Junior pellets. This ensures our pigs are getting a balanced diet with everything their growing bodies and developing minds need. Also, keep in mind that you should choose bowls that your guinea pig will be able to eat from and a suitable bowl for their water.
Common Health Issues
Vet checkups – These animals are relatively low maintenance; they don’t generally need vaccinations. Most vet visits are caused by malnutrition, scurvy or overgrown teeth.
Ever-Growing Teeth – Junior cavies teeth grow at a rate of 2 – 3mm per week and they don’t always want to eat what’s good for them. It’s important to ensure that they are chewing and grinding down their teeth with long strand hay to avoid the need for a vet trip!
Obesity – Keeping your junior pig active and providing the correct food is key to preventing obesity. Starting young and keeping a good eye on their diet and treats is a great way to keep your pigs in tip-top shape for their whole lives.
Unwanted pregnancies – Making sure you know the gender of your pigs is important, if our guinea pigs are young and not separated into their genders then unwanted pregnancies is a matter of when not if. Since our pigs are sexually mature from 8 weeks old, young pregnancies can lead to a range of issues and complications that are serious and potentially life-threatening.
Worming and Insect Control – Worming is not generally required for guinea pigs unless it is suspected that they have been infected. For insects and mites, regular prevention should be used, such as our Origins Insect and Mite Spray. This helps control insects on our guinea pigs and in their environment, keeping them protected for longer.
