November 24, 2025
Congratulations! You’ve Adopted a Guinea Pig.
Discover essential care tips for your newly adopted guinea pig, including housing, nutrition, enrichment, and veterinary guidance for a happy, healthy pet.
What an exciting time! Adopting a new friend can be a big responsibility, and we want to make sure each animal is set up for success in their new home. We encourage you to keep the following tips in mind when you bring home your new guinea pig.
A check-in with your family veterinarian within the first week after adoption is critical to ensure continuity of care for your new friend, and to create a preventative health care plan tailored to their specific needs and to your lifestyle. The goal is to prevent future disease and illness, which will ideally also help reduce future costs of care.
Medical Considerations
Regular veterinary visits are recommended to prevent illness and to keep your new guinea pig as comfortable as possible. Because many veterinarians do not treat guinea pigs, it is highly recommended to find a suitable veterinarian before care is needed. The Ontario SPCA does not
spay or neuter guinea pigs. Surgery can successfully be performed, but it is best done through a veterinarian who has guinea pig surgical experience. Your guinea pig requires Vitamin C in their diet to prevent scurvy. As a rodent, your guinea pig’s teeth will grow continuously throughout their life. To help wear down their ever-growing front teeth, provide your guinea pigs with chewing items such as cardboard and wooden toys. Your guinea pig’s nails will also need to be trimmed regularly.
Housing
When selecting a cage for a guinea pig, bigger is always best. Your guinea pig friend is highly social and typically will enjoy human interaction. Because they are social, another guinea pig companion would be beneficial. Having another guinea pig of the same sex is strongly encouraged. In general, females tend to get along well. Enclosures should have solid bottoms and be covered with shredded newspaper, grass hay, aspen or hardwood shavings. Guinea pigs will usually choose one area as the toilet area. Once they have selected this area, don’t put food, water or toys in the space. As guinea pigs are startled easily, a hiding place must always be provided. Enclosures should remain off the floor to decrease stress.
Nutrition
The majority of a guinea pig’s diet is Timothy hay, which should always be available. Pelleted diets made specifically for guinea pigs, vegetables, and small amounts of fruit account for the rest of a guinea pig’s dietary needs. Guinea pigs are unable to create vitamin C on their own, so this needs to come from their diet.
Enrichment
Your guinea pig enjoys activities that allow them to express their natural behaviours, such as hiding, climbing, constructing and chewing. Enrichment is very important to help keep your guinea pig happy and healthy.