Where should I buy my Guinea Pig?
  
Your local pet shop will no doubt have a regular supply of guinea pigs (and other pets) for sale. Although there are of course many shops which take good care of their animals, our experience is that good shops are rare - staff are often not experts in guinea pig care, rabbits and pigs are too often housed together. Before considering a petshop ask around amongst your friends and neighbours... a store with a reputation for good care will have worked hard to gain it, and word of mouth recommendations count for much more than any amount of advertising.

Finding a reputable breeder may be a better choice and you are more likely to receive good care advice from someone with knowledge and experience of cavies. It is likely that stock will be of better quality... and cheaper than petshops too! Again of course, it can be argued that a breeders interest may be purely for financial gain, and again we must be honest and say that we have visited some breeders who have kept their pigs in quite awful, overcrowded and dirty conditions. This however is a rarity in our experience. The vast majority of breeders - especially those who show their pets - have an interest in keeping their stock healthy and in clean surroundings.

If you live in Britain, a visit to the UK Cavy Breeder website may prove helpful - especially if you are looking for a particular type of guinea pig. Your local vet may also be able to put you in touch with a good breeder... it's a good sign if a breeder is known to the vet and seeks veterinary help for their sick animals as they are likely to be someone who cares about the animals enough to meet the expense of keeping them healthy!

Rescues and pet sanctuaries are often searching for people willing to re-home unwanted guinea pigs, and these are run by people who care a great deal about the welfare of animals. Our Links page lists a number of websites which may be of use to you if you are looking for a pet. Your local animal protection agency (such as the RSPCA or ASPCA) will no doubt also be able to help.

But simply finding a friend whose guinea pigs has had babies that are unwanted may be the best place to find your new pet and offer it a good home!
Child and cavyChoosing and Getting Your First Guinea Pig
In taking in a guinea pig (or any other animal) as a pet you are taking on a responsibility for the life of that animal. He/she will be totally dependent on you for food, protection and for healthcare. Owning a pet requires a big commitment and unless you are sure that you are willing and able to take on such a responsibility you should not accept the role of owner.

Here are just a few points that you should give serious consideration to before taking in a guinea pig:

  • Guinea pigs can live for up to 8 years... sometimes longer. Are you sure you'll be able to commit for that length of time?
  • Because of their placid nature, many people regard guinea pigs as ideal pets for children - but are you as a parent willing to take over the responsibility for it's care if your child loses interest?
  • They are not just cute and cuddly... there are a number of regular chores that you'll need to take on (grooming, hutch cleaning etc).
  • Who's going to look after them whilst you go off on your holiday?
  • Being social creatures, they need company - which means you'll need to obtain at least two! Preferably these will be of the same sex (unless you want to finish up with many more!). Males will usually only share peacefully if they have been together since birth and have never met a female.

With all this in mind, its worth remembering at this point that in Britain, our obligations as pet owners are backed up by law. The Animal Welfare Act 2007 makes owners and keepers of all animals responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met and is based around "Five Freedoms".

Still want one? Then read on...

Learn As Much As You Can
Before choosing to keep a guinea pig as a pet we recommend you prepare and find out as much as you can about them. The internet is a great place to start looking for information... but a good book is better as it will be accessible all the time!

You'll find a number of useful books available if you visit our Bookshop. We recommend that new guinea pig owners should purchase at least one of the following three books...

 
Is My New Guinea Pig Healthy?
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is "What are the signs to look for to ensure that the pet I am buying is in good health?"

Author Katrin Behrend provides a simple quick-check guide...
Click Here

 
 
Finding a Vet
  
One important and common sense piece of advice that should be noted as soon as you obtain your first pet is not to wait until your guinea pig is sick before you choose a vet.

Try to find a vet who has some knowledge or expertise in treating rodents. It stands to reason that most town vets are more comfortable and experienced in treating the more common pets such as cats and dogs... while rural vets will be happier in working with farm animals.

When seeking a vet, find out who in your locality has an interest or specialty in treating guinea pigs and other small animals.

The following Links may prove useful:

  • Find-A-Vet
    Search the database of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to find a vet local to you. You can search not only for location, but by types of animal treated and any specialist treatments on offer such as homeopathy. There is also plenty of advice on choosing a vet and what to do if you're not happy with the one you have.
  • British Small Animal Vetinary Association
    The BSAVA exists to promote high scientific and educational standards of small animal medicine and surgery in practice, teaching and research
© 2008 Mike Parfitt