Guinea pig care card
Guinea pigs are gentle, chatty animals that need a friend, lots of hay, and a calm home.
- Home
- A big home with a solid floor, room to run and stand tall, and more hiding places than guinea pigs.
- Food
- Hay is most of the food, all the time. Add fresh grass, safe vegetables, and a fresh portion of pellets. A grown-up has the safe list.
- Water
- Fresh, clean water all the time. A grown-up checks it twice a day.
- Every day
- Check each guinea pig is eating and moving. Clean the messy spots. Give fresh vegetables.
- Every week
- Clean the whole home. A grown-up checks the front teeth and nails.
- Handling
- Come in low from the front. One hand under the bottom, one around the chest. Be quiet and gentle.
- Happy signs
- Eating well, busy and curious, tunneling in the hay, and playful hops called popcorning.
- Tell a grown-up if
- Not eating, quieter than usual, hiding more, or different droppings. A vet knows what to do.
My jobs, with a grown-up
- Look at the water with a grown-up, morning and night
- Help pile fresh hay (a grown-up checks the vegetables)
- Say hello quietly and watch for changes
- Help clean the messy spots
- Wash your hands after
Wash your hands Wash your hands with soap and water after touching a guinea pig, its food, or its home.
Ask a grown-up to look at Peabody Pets with you: pet.peabody.kids
From RSPCA, Merck Veterinary Manual, Woodgreen, NHS, checked 29 Oct 2026. A vet always knows best for your own pet.