Guinea Pig Awareness Week (GPAW) is a week of activities dedicated to improving the health and welfare of guinea pigs.

This year the theme is the three C’s, Comfort, Care and Companionship.

Comfort:

Whether your guinea pigs live indoors or outdoors, in terms of their living space, the RSPCA advises that your piggies need the following:

A secure space that’s large enough for them to exercise and high enough to stand up fully on their back legs – a minimum of 1.5m length x 1m width for a pair or trio.

A secure shelter where they can rest, feel safe and protected from predators and extremes of weather and temperature.

If you’re keeping your guinea pigs outside, their hutch should be sheltered from direct sun and wind. In temperatures below 15°C, you may need to bring them inside unless they have a weatherproof enclosure.

If you’re keeping your guinea pigs indoors, they’ll need accommodation that’s well-ventilated and away from direct heat sources (such as radiators or sunny windows) and draughts. Room temperatures of 15-20°C are ideal.

A great way to keep your guinea pigs feeling safe is to provide them with plenty of tunnels and hiding places in their housing

Guinea pigs like to play, so make sure there are plenty of toys in their housing. This is also good exercise and important for their physical health.

Care:

Ensure that your guinea pigs are protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

Check their teeth regularly to make sure they aren’t overgrown, as their teeth grow continuously. Feeding them a high fibre diet can prevent tooth overgrowth and subsequent complications.

Always make sure flooring is covered with soft, comfortable material, to prevent pododermatitis, which are pressure sores that can develop on the soles of their feet from walking on hard surfaces.

Guinea pigs are herbivores which means they are entirely vegetarian and need high levels of fibre in their diet.

Fibre keeps their digestive systems and their teeth healthy. Feeding lots of good quality feeding hay is the best way to ensure your guinea pigs are getting enough fibre in their diet.

Guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C, so they this supplemented in their diet. Guinea pigs need vitamin C for healthy skin, joints and blood vessels.

Move away from Muesli! If your guinea pigs are currently on a muesli style diet, it would be best to transition them over to a nugget diet.

Guinea pigs are also natural foragers, so a great way to keep them entertained is to hide food

Foods to avoid include Iceberg lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes, avocado, onions, garlic, muesli and nuts & seeds

Companionship:

Guinea pigs should not live alone as they love the company of other guinea pigs. Single sex groups or pairs are ideal, and littermates make the best companions. Male and female guinea pigs can live together but to avoid your guinea pigs mating, it is important to have the male neutered first

Guinea pigs might be small, but their personalities are not! They are gentle but are full of life and character! Understanding guinea pig behaviours will help you have a great relationship with them.

If you have any questions about looking after your guinea pigs or if you are thinking about getting guinea pigs as a pet and would like some advice, then we are here to help.

Contact us on 01606880890 or 01606717969 or visit https://guineapigalliance.com/guinea-pig-care-guide for more information.