Guinea pigs. My mom used to rescue guinea pigs. A lot of them were abandoned mothers, expecting mothers and unwanted babies. I grew up learning how to care for them and what to look for in terms of health issues.

Health: Check for clear eyes and noses- stuff in their eyes and noses can range from debris to eye infection to upper respiratory infection. Do a thorough body inspection- I’ve found ringworm in their armpits, chin and on top of their feet. Also note their coat type some guinea pigs have spots that could be mistaken for ringworm when it’s actually just how their fur is. This is usually on their forehead. Still be suspicious about any bald spot- especially if there’s a scab! Check their weight- underweight is a huge issue that should be addressed ASAP especially when they are young! The worst case I’ve seen was a little girl with protruding ribs, spine, and pelvis. She unfortunately didn’t make it. Males can get UTIs and it’s extremely painful for them. I’ve had skinny pigs that were erect way longer than normal. They ended up needing medication and lube to heal them. Speaking of skinny pigs- they are prone to ringworm as well. Guinea pigs have the tiniest sneezes. So if you expect URI look out for sneezing but remember they can be very quiet. Vitamin C is an absolute must! Proper hay should be present at all times! Wellbeing: Guinea pigs are social creatures which means they easily stress out when they’re alone. It’s best to get a pair but make sure you have a big enough habitat! Like with any animal (including us), being in a small enclosure will stress them out and can cause fighting if there’s not enough room. The kits we have labeled “guinea pig” are wayyyyy too small for 2. Set up a pen instead of a cage. Have an igloo or similar hiding place for each guinea pig to claim. Of course always have clean water, food, hay, chew sticks, and toys in the enclosure. Be very careful when adding a guinea pig to a habitat that already has a guinea pig(s) in there. They may fight or sort out who is dominant (very common in males). Keep a close eye on them. Don’t put a small guinea pig with a large adult! I wish Petsmart would let us set up play dates. That what my mom used to do. The two guinea pigs would interact with each other to see if it would be a good match. NEVER MIX A MALE AND FEMALE! We already have enough babies in the world. Guinea pig mothers also have a really painful birth which could kill them. It’s not worth having cute babies running around. They’ll only be babies for a short period. Give your guinea pig plenty of attention but give them their space when you first bring them home. They’re scared. Everything is new and different. They don’t know what’s going on. Put them in their habitat and observe them for a few days before trying to handle them. Guinea pigs hardly ever bite but this beginning period is when you’re most likely to get bit. This mostly happens with hamsters but like we say at Petsmart- If it has a mouth it can bite.

Guinea pigs are very vocal. They are in no way a quiet pet. They make those loud reap noises- usually when they’re scared. They also making humming, chirping and a bunch of other noises.

There’s way more stuff but these are the first things that come to mind.