Guinea pigs are highly social prey animals whose welfare needs are frequently misunderstood, resulting in loneliness, inadequate housing and inappropriate diets in captivity.
Guinea pigs are among the most commonly misunderstood small pets. Marketed as easy starter pets for children, they actually have complex social, spatial and nutritional needs that are regularly unmet. Solitary housing causes chronic stress and depression-like states in these highly social animals. Inadequate enclosures prevent natural behaviors like running, foraging and exploration. Vitamin C deficiency, common in poorly managed diets, causes painful scurvy. As prey animals, guinea pigs mask illness so effectively that owners often miss serious health conditions until they are advanced. Education and regulation improvements are critical to improving welfare outcomes for millions of pet guinea pigs worldwide.