Guinea pigs are highly social herbivores with specific dietary and behavioral needs that require informed husbandry to achieve good welfare.
Guinea pigs are often marketed as low-maintenance starter pets but their welfare needs are substantial and often unmet. The requirement for vitamin C supplementation, companionship, veterinary dental care, and spacious housing makes proper guinea pig keeping more demanding than commonly assumed. Pets sold in small cages with inadequate diet, without companions, are in welfare-compromised conditions that owners may not recognize. Education at point of sale is critically needed.