Guinea pigs are widely used in immunology, hearing, and safety testing research, and their specific social and behavioral needs require tailored welfare approaches distinct from mice and rats.
Guinea pig welfare in research settings requires specific attention to their social, nutritional, and acoustic needs that differ substantially from rodent species that have received more welfare research attention. Individual housing — common in some research settings — causes significant distress in animals evolved for continuous social contact. The development of validated welfare assessment tools including grimace scales specifically for guinea pigs is an important ongoing research priority. Social housing, vitamin C provision, reduced laboratory noise, and hiding places are foundational welfare improvements achievable at low cost.