How to handle, bond with, and earn the trust of your new piggy — the right way, from day one. The golden rule for interacting with a new guinea pig is patience. Guinea pigs are prey animals, so they’re naturally cautious and need time to learn that you’re a friend, not a threat. Start by…
Understanding how your piggies talk, bond, squabble, and live together as a herd. Guinea pigs are herd animals — in the wild they live in social groups, and in our homes they’re at their happiest with the company of their own kind. Their social lives revolve around a few key things: a pecking order (established…
How to spot when your piggy isn’t their happy self — and what you can do to help Guinea pigs are sensitive, social little animals, and they absolutely can experience something a lot like depression — a low, withdrawn, “not themselves” state usually triggered by loneliness, boredom, stress, a change in their environment, grief after…
A safe, gradual approach to helping a chunky piggy slim down — without ever putting their health at risk Helping an overweight guinea pig get back to a healthy weight is mostly about fixing the diet’s balance, not cutting the amount of food. The single most important rule: never restrict hay or starve your pig…
Simple, practical ways to keep your piggy well-watered — and how to spot trouble early Water is one of the most overlooked parts of guinea pig care, yet it’s just as important as hay and fresh veg. A healthy guinea pig drinks roughly 50 to 150 ml of water a day, though this varies a…
The foods that keep your piggy thriving — and how much of each they actually need. A healthy guinea pig diet is built on a simple foundation: unlimited grass hay, a daily portion of fresh vegetables, a small amount of vitamin C–fortified pellets, and constant access to fresh water. Hay should make up the vast…
A practical guide for spotting trouble early and keeping your piggy healthy Guinea pigs are prey animals, which means they’re hardwired to hide illness for as long as possible. By the time a piggy looks sick, they’re often already quite unwell. The most common health problems you’ll run into are vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), respiratory…