Selecting a Guinea Pig 2 

So, what should you look for when you go to the guinea pig breeder?  When you first arrive at the shelter or the breeders, the first thing  you will want to note is how well the guinea pigs have been cared for. Are the facilities clean? Are the males kept separate from the females? 

What is their overall attitude and body language as you look at your potential new pet? Guinea pigs are social creatures, but typically they will be shy at first. Therefore, you can’t judge how well a guinea pig has been handled by handling it yourself. Instead, you need to see the person who the guinea pig is used to being handled by. Is it calm and happy with this person? Or does it squeal and flip its body to try to get away? 

Next, you want to inspect the guinea pig. Does his coat look healthy? Look past his fur, to his skin and make sure that there are no sores, flaky skin, or fleas present. His body should feel sturdy and rounded. If it doesn’t, this could be a sign of illness. At the same time, you want to be sure that a female isn’t pregnant. A good breeder or someone knowledgeable about guinea pigs will be able to quickly determine this and should not give you the guinea pig without letting you knot its exact condition.  

As with any other type of pet, the chances are good that you will be drawn to a particular guinea pig because of appearance rather than personality. You may be attracted by his coloring or the texture of his fur, but ideally, you will spend some time watching the guinea pigs, and choose one based on his behavior or attitude. In most cases, this is more important than his colorings, unless you plan to show the guinea pig. Also check, are his ears smooth, rounded and perky? Are his eyes shining and alert? 

As mentioned earlier, it is a good idea to get two guinea pigs of the same gender. Two females will get along famously, and be lifelong friends. Two males will also get along and be friends, but there tend to be more disagreements between males than there are between females, and you might have to keep separate cages close to one another to avoid aggression but still given them the companionship they crave. 

Another thing to consider is the age of the guinea pig.  Getting babies which have been properly weaned is a good idea, as the two will grow-up together as family members, whether they came from the same litter or not.  

If you do get young litter mates, be sure to take them out to play separately at times and not always together, at the same time. Doing so will insure that they assimilate with you and not just to each other. 

Also, your new, furry little friend will, like many animals, become “closer” to the person who handles and feeds him. So, when it’s time for  a trip to the vet’s office (annually is usually adequate) this “special person” should be the one to do the handling, as it will provide some comfort and less stress to him during the examination.  

Be sure too that you fully understand his nutritional needs, because a guinea pig fed only greens will  become seriously ill! Find out from the breeder or shelter what food the guinea pig has been eating, and ask if they sell it or you can take a sample away with you until you can go shopping for it once you get home.  Fresh water, changed daily, is also very important, as is appropriate bedding. Again, the shelter or breeder can give you some to take with you so that the guinea pigs do not need to be traumatized with too many changes all at once. 

Selecting a guinea pig can seem a complicated process, but following these simple steps should lead to you selecting the right guinea pig for you and your family. Just remember, once you get it or them home, make sure to give your new pet/s lots of love and attention!