Going Away / Holidays

Your nearest and dearest are often the first port of call when it comes to helping out with your animals. If your friends or family are not used to looking after guinea pigs, it’s a good idea for them to meet your piggies before you go away. Perhaps you could give tips on how to pick up your guinea pigs and hold them safely. You could also tell them about the different personalities of your VIPs (very important piggies!). It’s important that small furries are handled regularly so any illness or injury can be spotted. Changes in character can also be a sign that something is wrong, so knowing which piggies are naturally sociable and which are shy can be very useful information to share.

While pet sitters are becoming more widely available and popular, those who deal with ‘small animals’ are still hard to find!  If you find a good sitter, keep hold of them and book well in advance (even before you book your holiday!). Pet sitters can work in different ways, either staying in your home (useful if you have lots of animals), or making visits to your house. A plus of having someone come to your home, is that you don’t have to move your guinea pigs from their usual environment, so it is less stressful for them. You will have to decide how many visits you need the sitter to make (if they are not ‘living in’) to ensure your piggies are getting enough attention.

If you find a home boarder for your guinea pigs, then it’s a good idea to take some of their own cage accessories with them, so they have huts and hideys that look and smell familiar. A benefit of home boarding your piggies is that they should be kept under close watch, getting plenty of human interaction and a keen eye kept on their general well-being and health.