I have an entire page on Care and Information on Guinea Pigs here on this site. I wanted this page for the purchase, transportation, and first few days of the GP in the new home.

As I have said on many of the pages on this website, I use the words, 'Guinea Pig', 'GP', 'Cavy' and 'Cavies' to describe the chunky little animals we all love that squeak in delight when we open the refrigerator, cut veggies, open their cages, or just say their names.

There are many Breeds, Looks, and indeed, if you look close, sizes of Guinea Pigs. Some have short hair, some have very long hair, some have curly hair, wiry hair, straight hair, very soft hair and some have very little or no hair at all. Some have nice rounded faces other have faces that look more like a rat. Ear sets can are just a bit different, if you really look.

Research the Breed or GP YOU would like to have, but research enough to know the care of that particular Breed and if you can even find that Breed in your area.

Keep in mind. Some of the Long Haired Breeds MUST BE BRUSHED OUT DAILY, and that the Hairless Cavies take a bit more care than they Cavy with hair.

When you decide what Breed of Guinea Pig you would like to have start looking for a HEALTHY HAPPY animal to bring into your life. Paying a Breeder more for a Guinea Pig that is Bred Well, has Been Fed Well, could save you a LOT of money in the future. Vet Bills are expensive. Also, a Breeder will be able to tell you about the 'lines' the available Guinea Pigs are 'out of', meaning, a Reputable Breeder will have not only the Breed of Guinea Pig you are looking for that was bred for more than jut coat or color, but also for correct conformation and health. Reputable Breeders will know the parents, grandparents, ext. They will know the age of the GP you are interested in, and be able to tell you what the GP has been eating. What the GP has been eating is VERY important. ALL GUINEA PIGS MUST HAVE VITAMIN C DAILY! If they do not, it can lead to a Boat Load of Health Problems.

I am Not saying buying from all Pet Stores is a bad idea. I am saying KNOW what to look for when buying your Guinea Pig. Buy a YOUNG Guinea Pig. And ASK what it has been eating, and particularly what fresh foods it is accustom to. THEN you can figure out if the GP has had a HEALTHY Diet or not. HEALTHY DIETS IS THE ROOT OF HEALTH AND GROWTH.

When you pick out the Guinea Pig you will be bringing home, ALWAYS LOOK IT OVER. The GP should be Plump, I am not saying fat, but I am saying NOT thin. Look and verify the sex of the animal. The genitals and anus should be clean, all the hair around the area should be clean. Check the teeth. Make sure the teeth meet with the top teeth over the bottom, and are not too long. Check toes, clean, straight, with four on each front foot, three on each back foot. Check the nose, make sure it is clean and all the hair around it is clean.

And of course, the eyes. Eyes should be clean and bright. Not all Guinea Pigs have Black Eyes. Many have Red, or what is called Ruby Eyes.

The cage that the Cavy is in should be clean, but. Keep in mind, it could have been cleaned from filth because they knew you were coming. And even the CLEANEST cages can harbor lice and or mites. Run the Guinea Pig's hair backwards slowly as you look for any signs of tiny bugs.

When transporting, especially bringing home a new GP that you do not know yet, HAVE A TRANSPORT CONTAINER OF SOME SORT! DO NOT DRIVE WITH A NEW GUINEA PIG ON YOUR LAP! There will be plenty of time to hold and get to know your new pet, Do Not drive dangerously transporting it home.

NAMES MATTER. The worse name for a Dog, Snow. Why? It sounds like NO. Animals learn our words, phrases, body language, food wrapper noises, and mostly, their own names. When you are naming an animal, especially one that will be trained for events, to do tricks, or you will interact with frequently, give them a good, strong, name. A name that will stand out, be different from other animals that might also be at the same event.

You want a name that is different from other words the animal will hear. One that does not rhyme with other words for training, such as No, or Good, or Come, or....you get the idea.

You want a Strong name, for example, Flower is a very cute name, but Rose is a stronger word, one syllable and easy for the animal to recognize.

Do Not name your animals something that sounds like a word you say often. The idea is, when you come home and greet your animals, they KNOW you are talking to them. When you are asking them to do something, like the Circle Trick, they know, when you say their name, to respond.

For people that are Serious about Breeding, names should be serious, nothing like, "Stupid" or "Shit Head", these are names that SHOULD be going on pedigrees. No one Serious in the Breed will take you Serious with disrespectful names like these. You do not need big frilly names, just names that are not of beat.

I know more people, good people, people that love their animals so much the animal care comes before anything else, get into health problems with their animals because they have skipped the Quarantine 30 Days.

THIRTY DAYS! It is not a long time if done right. It might take a few more minutes to care for your animals, wash your hands more often, but it can sure SAVE a lot of heart ache and or vet bills.

If you already have a Guinea Pig or Guinea Pigs, keep any new Guinea Pigs in another room, or at least 20 foot from the existing animals. Feed the new cages last. Wash hands between. If you handle the new animals, handle them last and or wash up and change your clothing.

This might seem extreme, but if you bring home a Cavy that is sick and it is not yet showing signs, every Guinea Pig you own could become infected. If the new Guinea Pig has lice, mites, fleas, worms or other parasite, these can spread like wild fire... and are not all easy to get rid of.

While the new animals are in Quarantine, keep a close eye on them. Make sure they are looking healthy, not coughing, scratching, wiping their noses often, and or their poop is correct. Should you have to take your new Cavy to the vet, these are the very questions the vet will ask you.

By keeping your new GP separate you can not only get to know it a little better, but you can see how much the GP is eating and drinking. You can also, although I do not recommend this for healthy animals, add supplements to their water bottles. IF YOU DO add supplements to their bottles, makes SURE to wash the bottles, tops, and tubes really well DAILY! And make sure that the supplements are being drank, not just offered.

Where you place your cage has many reasons. Some people want their GPs out and in the middle of everything and place them in the rooms that the people are in most. Other people want the GPs to have their privacy and or be out of the way when company comes.

Honestly. It does not matter WHERE the cages is, as long as it is kept clean, visited often, and where the GP can hear what is going on in the home, and you can hear them.

Make sure other animals in the home, dogs, cats, ferrets, can not get into or pull down the GPs cage. EVER!

I have a lot to say about how to feed your Guinea Pig for Health. Look on my "Guinea Pig Care and Information" page here on this website, please look.

When you first bring your Guinea Pig home, feed it as close to what has already been eating. Ask for a day or two scoop of the food, most people are HAPPY to give you a bit for the GP.

Ask if they feed Fruits and or Veggies, and what types. It matters.

Changing any animals diet upon moving to a new environment adds to the stress of their lives being changed. This can cause diarrhea, and diarrhea can dehydrate small animals, or even animals, or any type.

I want to say here too, again and again I say, Vitamin C is a must for Guinea Pigs. DAILY A MUST. Serving it to them Naturally is best. Not only is it more fun for the Guinea Pigs, they love the veggies and fruits, but Natural is the BEST way to feed it to them.

I love my GPs and I handle mine a LOT! But when they first come home to live with us, I do not handle them much at all in the first three days. Let them get used to the sounds and smells all around them before giving them the extra stress of being picked up by people they do not know yet.

After that first three days, I only handle mine for very short periods, talking to them softly, saying their names. As time goes on, I hold them for longer and longer times.

<sighs> THIS. I have heard, over the years and years of pet owning, about dogs, or cats, or ferrets, or even pet rats, that have surprised their owner by killing their Guinea Pigs.

PLEASE BE AWARE! Almost EVERYONE thinks that their other pets are so nice and sweet they would never hurt their GPs. Guess What? It happens all the time.

The contents of this page for Bringing Home A New Guinea Pig is still under construction. Please check back later!

-- The Guinea Pig Agility Team
Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:29:18 +0000