Guinea Pig Daily Care Checklist: Feeding, Cleaning, and Health Checks

• Offer unlimited grass hay at all times. Timothy hay is the usual choice for healthy adults, while other grass hays can also work.
• Feed a small measured amount of plain, timothy-based guinea pig pellets. For many adults, that is about 1/8 cup per guinea pig per day, but your vet may adjust this for age, weight, or medical needs.
• Give fresh, well-washed vegetables daily, focusing on vitamin C-rich choices such as bell pepper and rotating leafy greens.
• Remove wilted produce after a few hours so it does not spoil in the enclosure.
• Avoid seed mixes, nuts, dried fruit blends, and rabbit pellets.

Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so daily intake matters. Fortified pellets help, but vitamin C breaks down over time with storage, heat, light, and moisture. That is one reason fresh vegetables and a feeding plan reviewed with your vet are so important.

• Refill with fresh, clean water every day.
• Rinse the bottle or bowl daily.
• Check the sipper tube for clogs and make sure water is flowing.
• Wash food dishes regularly, especially after fresh vegetables.

Many guinea pigs use bottles, but some also do well with heavy ceramic bowls. Either way, the goal is the same: clean water that is easy to access. If your guinea pig is suddenly drinking much less or much more than usual, mention it to your vet.

• Remove wet bedding, soiled litter, and obvious stool buildup every day.
• Take out leftover vegetables and hay that has been heavily soiled.
• Wipe dirty food or water areas.
• Check that bedding or fleece liners stay dry enough to protect the feet and skin.

Most guinea pig enclosures need daily spot cleaning and a thorough full cleaning at least weekly, though larger groups or smaller enclosures may need more frequent deep cleaning. A clean, dry setup helps reduce odor, skin irritation, and foot problems.

Spend one to two minutes watching each guinea pig every day. Look for:

• Normal interest in hay and vegetables
• Normal droppings and urine output
• Bright, open eyes and a clean nose
• Easy breathing without wheezing or effort
• Comfortable movement without limping or stiffness
• A dry chin and chest, not soaked from drooling
• A clean rear end without diarrhea or stool stuck in the fur

Guinea pigs often mask illness until they are quite sick. A guinea pig that is quieter than usual, eating less, losing weight, or sitting hunched may need prompt veterinary attention.

Not every task is daily. These jobs still belong on your regular checklist:

• Do a full enclosure clean and disinfect pet-safe surfaces on a routine schedule
• Weigh each guinea pig weekly on a kitchen scale and track changes
• Check nails every 2 to 4 weeks and trim as needed
• Brush long-haired guinea pigs more often to prevent mats and urine scald
• Replace old pellets before they become stale; vitamin C potency drops with time
• Schedule routine wellness visits with your vet, especially for seniors

A healthy guinea pig may look stable while slowly losing weight. Weekly weights are one of the best early warning tools pet parents can use at home.

For two guinea pigs in the United States, a realistic ongoing monthly care cost range is often $60 to $150+ for hay, pellets, fresh vegetables, bedding or laundry supplies, and basic cleaning items. Costs vary by region, cage size, and whether you use disposable bedding or washable fleece.

Routine veterinary wellness visits for guinea pigs commonly fall around $55 to $120 per exam at many US practices, while emergency visits can start around $100 to $250+ for the exam fee alone, before diagnostics or treatment. Because guinea pigs can decline quickly, it helps to keep an emergency fund and identify an exotics-friendly clinic before you need one.

See your vet immediately if your guinea pig stops eating, has very small or no droppings, struggles to breathe, has severe diarrhea, seems bloated, cries out in pain, cannot use a limb normally, or has blood in the urine. These are not wait-and-see problems.

You should also contact your vet promptly for rough hair coat, weight loss, drooling, trouble chewing, swollen joints, crusty eyes, nasal discharge, or reduced activity. Vitamin C deficiency, dental disease, gastrointestinal stasis, respiratory disease, and urinary problems can all start with subtle signs.