How long can you leave a guinea pig alone for? Holiday tips and expert advice

Making holiday plans is lots of fun as you count down the days to an exciting trip. However, if you have small pets such as guinea pigs, you also need to make a vacation plan for them too. Whether you’re home or away, the health and wellbeing of your guinea pigs is your responsibility as a caring owner.

“Our gorgeous guinea pigs rely on us to meet all their needs. Providing they have plenty of nutritious feeding hay, their daily portion of guinea pig nuggets, some fresh greens and water – and they are in a safe, secure, spacious enclosure – they can be left for a day, up to 12 hours,” advises Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes. “If you’re going to be away longer than that, you’ll need to make arrangements for a guinea-pig-savvy friend or neighbour to take care of them, consider hiring a professional pet sitter or look at boarding options.”

Find out all the reasons why guinea pigs need their human to keep a close eye on them – and what holiday care options you can consider so you can relax when you’re away, knowing that your special small pets are being well looked after.

7 reasons why guinea pigs need constant care

1. Guinea pigs need to eat constantly and can’t go long without food. This is because their digestive systems need to keep busy with a mix of two kinds of fibre (digestible and indigestible fibre) moving through their gut at all times. If this doesn’t happen, it puts guinea pigs at risk of gut stasis, a potentially fatal condition where the contractions of the stomach and intestinal muscles come to a complete standstill, requiring immediate veterinary attention. Guinea pigs get the fibre they need mainly from high-quality feeding hay, so supplies must be regularly topped up. They also need guinea pig nuggets to ensure they get their daily dose of vitamin C (as, like us, they can’t make their own), along with some fresh veggies such as spinach, spring greens, kale and bell peppers every day, which provide essential vitamins and nutrients.

2. Guinea pigs need plenty of fresh water, and their water bottle needs to be rinsed clean and replenished with fresh water every day to keep things hygienic. Without water, guinea pigs will quickly become dehydrated, leading to further complications such as urinary tract problems and kidney stones.

3. Guinea pigs need company –these highly social animalscan only be truly happy if they have another piggie to chat to, as one of a pair or as part of a small group. They also get very attached to their human carers and enjoy daily interaction with them – particularly if there are some tasty treats involved! It’s another reason why they don’t like being left alone for long.

4. Guinea pigs need enrichment – these shy, gentle creatures are extremely curious and love having plenty of things to explore. Each day, they need their human to create an enriching environment for them to forage in by scattering a portion of guinea pig nuggets in different places around their accommodation, hiding some in cardboard egg cups, or mixing them in with feeding hay.

5. Guinea pigs need clean, dry accommodation – a regular routine of daily, weekly and monthly deep cleans is essential to protect them from parasites attracted by food leftovers and skin conditions that can be caused by damp bedding, which needs to be removed and replaced every day.

6. Guinea pigs need protection from temperature extremes – very cold or very hot temperatures are dangerous for them – above 26°C can cause heatstroke, and below 15°C can cause them to become chilled. That’s why they need their human to make regular checks to ensure they are safe, whatever the weather.

7. Guinea pigs can suddenly get ill – these small animals can suffer from sensitive skin, foot problems, digestive issues, overgrown teeth and flystrike, which can make them very ill indeed. This is why a close eye has to be kept on their health so that they can be taken immediately to a small pet specialist vet if problems arise.

What’s the secret to healthy, happy guinea pigs? In order to help them live their best guinea pig lives, it helps to see things from their perspective >>

Guinea pig holiday care options

• Friends and neighbours Ask a trusted, animal-loving family member, friend or neighbour if they’d be willing to visit every day to take care of your guinea pigs while you’re away – and arrange some meet and greets so they can get to know each other. Make sure you have plenty of feeding hay, guinea pig nuggets, fresh food, nutritious treats for enrichment, and bedding and take time to explain your usual routine – guinea pigs can find change stressful. Leave your vet’s number handy, just in case, and create a detailed checklist of what has to be done at what time of day, such as mealtimes, water checks, cleaning – and checking that each guinea pig is behaving normally and looking healthy and happy. Alternatively, you can use this handy guinea pig holiday checklist.
• Hire a pet sitter Paid pet sitters will pop in once or twice a day to check that everything is okay. Some sitters will even stay in your home while you're away to take care of your pets. It’s well worth asking around for recommendations.
• Book a boarding kennel Search for people in your area who provide holiday care for small pets, and ask your pet-loving friends for recommendations. If you’re taking your guinea pigs somewhere new, a cat carrier will provide suitable accommodation for a short journey, either placed in the footwell of your car or secured in the boot. Help your guinea pigs to feel safe inside by filling it with big piles of fresh hay for them to snuggle into – and a little of their old bedding so it smells familiar – and cover with a light blanket to help them feel sheltered and protected. Be aware that guinea pigs are very sensitive to noise, so keep the stereo turned right down, and drive carefully, avoiding sudden movements or sharp stops that will scare your timid pets!
• Ask your vet – If you’re struggling to find a suitable person or place to look after your guinea pigs, then it’s worth asking your local vet as they may have boarding facilities for small pets. This is likely to be the most expensive option, but you can relax, knowing your piggies are under the care of small pet professionals while you’re on your hols.

12 fun facts about gorgeous guinea pigs >> 

NEED SOME EXPERT GUINEA PIG FEEDING TIPS?

If you are at all unsure about the best way of feeding your guinea pigs or have any concerns about specific nutritional requirements, ask your local veterinary practice for advice. You can also call our expert team on 44 (0)0800 413 969 who’ll be happy to help. They’re available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can use our online form to get in touch.

Did you know that for small furries such as guinea pigs, hay should be the BIGGEST part of their daily diet? >>  

SERVE UP ONLY THE VERY BEST DINNER FOR YOUR SMALL PETS!

Our small pets deserve a high-quality diet that’s created just for them. At Burgess, all our food for guinea pigs is made at our factory in the heart of Yorkshire, using only ingredients that meet our stringent specifications.

With a long tradition of supporting British farmers, we actively source all our ingredients as close to our mill as possible and have launched many innovations. These include the world’s first indoor guinea pig nuggets which are made with a calm formula.

Check out our value-for-money mix and match hay bundles! >>

*It’s no surprise that 92% of UK vets recommend our Burgess Excel small pets range!*

CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for all your guinea pigs from Burgess, the pet experts. Health, housing, feeding, companionship and guinea pig behaviour. It’s all here >>

Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers, competitions and expert advice from our in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes.

12 facts you may not know about Burgess Pet Care! >> 

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EXPERT APPROVED: Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB, MRCVS