Guinea Pig Factfile

Guinea pig factfile

Guinea pig factfile, G. pigs, or ‘cavies’, are social animals with a compact, rounded body shape, short legs and no tail.
They originate from the grasslands and lower slopes of the Andes Mountains in South America. Why not view our full Guinea pig factfile (PDF 44KB).

They are active

  • Guinea's are active up to 20 hours per day and sleep only for short periods.

Are highly social

  • Guinea pigs are social animals and in the wild, live in close family groups of 5 to 10 individuals.
  • Several groups may live in close proximity that form a colony.

High fibre diet

  • Guinea pigs in their diet needs plenty of vitamin C, as they lack the enzyme needed to synthesise vitamin C and can only store vitamin C for short periods.

Guinea Pig Factfile

Guinea Pigs Needs Unraveled

Understanding Guinea Pigs needs

There is no one “perfect” way to care for all guinea pigs because every pig and every situation is different. It is up to you how you look after your pig, but you must take reasonable steps to ensure that you meet all their needs.
Read our expert reviewed pet care information to find out more about the needs of guineas: Environment, Diet, Behaviour, Company and Health and welfare.
You can also download our booklet: How to take care of your guinea pigs (PDF 1.38MB)

Guinea pigs

Guinea Pig Duty To Care

Your guinea pig duty to care

Owning and caring for a guinea pig can be very rewarding, but you do have a guinea pig duty to care and it is a big responsibility and a long-term commitment in terms of care and finances.
If you own or are responsible for a guinea pig, even on a temporary basis, you are required under the Animal Welfare Act  below to care for them properly.

Animal Welfare Act

Guinea Pig Duty To Care, Prior to the Animal Welfare Act, animal welfare law was largely reactive and action could only be taken once an animal had suffered unnecessarily.
The 2006 Act has introduced an important and new concept for pet owners and those responsible for domestic animals, e.g. breeders, those who have working animals or farm animals in England and Wales.

Preventing animals suffering

This means enforcement agencies and our inspectors can now act by advising and educating owners before their pets suffer.

If this advice is not followed or the animal’s needs are not being met then action can be taken whether through a formal warning or in some cases a prosecution.

What does the law actually say?

Guinea Pig Duty To Care, Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act places a duty of care on people to ensure they take reasonable steps in all the circumstances to meet the welfare needs of their animals to the extent required by good practice.

What does this mean for those responsible for animals?

In short it means they must take positive steps to ensure they care for their animals properly and in particular must provide for the five welfare needs, which are:

  • need for a suitable environment
  • their need for a suitable diet
  • to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
  • be housed with, or apart, from other animals
  • need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Find out what your pet needs in advice and welfare pages.

Further information

Further information about what this means in practice can be found in specific Codes of Practice produced by Defra (for England) and by the Welsh Government.

Guinea Pig Duty To Care

Guinea Pig Fact

Need to know guinea pig fact

Guinea pig fact, they are small, sociable, ‘chatty’ rodents. There are different breeds and varieties, with a wide variety of colour and coat lengths.
They are traditionally thought of as good first pets for children, but it should always be an adult that takes responsibility to ensure they are properly handled and cared for.
Typically they live for 5-6 years, but some may live longer. Guinea pigs have specific dietary and housing needs. That was our guinea pig fact for today.

Guinea pig fact