To make sure your guinea pig is comfortable, please follow the guidelines on the Guinea Pig Care pages on this site. Then, start by hand feeding your guinea pig. If they don’t accept the food, place it in front of them and sit further away. Once they eat from your hand, gradually try petting them and then leading them into your lap with food. Have floor time as much as possible to interact with your guinea pigs. Most guinea pigs will never like being picked up. To minimize stress, try leading them into a sturdy upside-down hidey and transporting them that way.

If you are looking for baby guinea pigs, please visit the Adopt, Don't Shop page of the website for how to find guinea pigs. Baby guinea pigs are often available at animal shelters and rescues. Please refrain from guinea pig breeding. There is a 25% chance the female guinea pig will die when giving birth. In addition to this, the male baby guinea pigs mate with the mom, resulting in more babies.

While visiting a vet may be expensive, it is the most helpful thing to do for your cavy. If you absolutely cannot go to the vet, Guinea Lynx has a good medical guide with some information on what to do. The LA Guinea Pig Rescue youtube channel has some helpful instructions as well, and during live sessions they will usually answer any questions you might have.

I have allergies too! I put the hay in a plastic bin in the garage. It is sealed to prevent mites from entering, and my garage is dry enough to store hay. I recommend to put the hay in a place that is well ventilated, and/or a place you do not visit regularly. Air filters also help with allergies, so putting one next to the guinea pig cage may help. Wear a mask when you get your guinea pigs their hay, and remember to wash your hands afterwards.