In the event you’re pondering of adopting guinea pigs, it’s essential to study their care and the price of that care first! Guinea pigs are sometimes seen as low cost “starter pets,” however nothing could possibly be farther from the reality.
It will probably price as much as $120 to undertake two guinea pigs. Since they’re social animals, that is the naked minimal. Begin-up prices can vary from $190-$400+, and month-to-month prices can vary from $75-$270+ relying in your price range and preferences.
On this article, we’ll speak about how costly guinea pigs might be and the way to save cash whereas caring to your cavies.
Pet Guinea Pig Prices Breakdown
| Begin-up prices | $ (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Adoption charges | $0-$60 per pig |
| Enclosure | $70+ |
| Cage equipment | $30-$70 |
| Reusable bedding (optionally available) | $15-$50+ |
| Grooming provides | $25 |
| First help equipment | $50-$125 |
| TOTAL START-UP COSTS (Approx.) | $190-$400+ |
| Recurring prices (month-to-month) | $ (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Meals (for 2 guinea pigs) | $60-$100 per thirty days |
| Disposable bedding (when you don’t go for reusable bedding) | $80-$100 per thirty days |
| Cleansing provides | $5-$10 per thirty days |
| Enrichment | $5-$50 per thirty days |
| Treats (optionally available) | $5-$10 per thirty days |
| TOTAL MONTHLY RECURRING COSTS (Approx.): | $75-$270+ |
| Different prices | $ (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Veterinary prices | $0-$500+ per yr |
| Pet insurance coverage | $0-$15 per thirty days |
How A lot Do Guinea Pigs Price to Undertake?
Adoption charges for guinea pigs can vary from free to $60. Take into account that guinea pigs should be saved in pairs or teams, so it’s best to price range to undertake not less than two.
How a lot you pay to your guinea pigs will rely on the place you undertake them from. It’s not unusual to search out guinea pigs being rehomed at no cost, though it’s really helpful to cost an adoption charge everytime you rehome a pet.
We suggest adopting your guinea pigs from a shelter, rescue, or rehoming scenario. A good breeder is an alternative choice, however please by no means undertake from a pet retailer! That is the equal of adopting a canine from a pet mill.
Begin-up Prices
Shopping for a Guinea Pig Cage
Most pet retailer cages are each costly and unsuitable for guinea pigs. Please remember that the naked minimal cage dimension for 2 guinea pigs is 7.5 sq. ft, whereas the really helpful dimension is 10.5 square feet or larger.
Many piggy guardians, together with myself, agree that even the really helpful cage dimension is simply too small for a lot of pairs. Males, particularly, profit from more room.
There are pre-built cages that meet the minimal, together with the Midwest guinea pig cage. Nonetheless, I like to recommend constructing your personal C&C (cubes and Coroplast) cage as an alternative because it’s cheaper and extra versatile.
A C&C cage might be constructed to any dimension or form and might be modified when you transfer home or need to improve your piggies’ enclosure.
The price of a C&C cage will range relying on the dimensions of the cage, however a set of cubes goes for round $40 and a big sheet of Coroplast prices round $30.
Cage Equipment
Cage equipment for guinea pigs might be very low cost and even free, however you too can spend a ton of cash on them! It relies on your price range, preferences, and the place you store.
Listed here are the prices of some fundamental equipment:
- Water bottle (one per pig): $7-$15 every
- Meals dish (optionally available): $5-$10
- Hay bag (optionally available): $8-$15
- Hides (not less than one per pig): $8-$20+ every
- Toys: $5-$10 every
Meals dishes and hay luggage are optionally available as a result of you possibly can choose to scatter feed veggies and pellets and preserve a hay pile to your piggies to eat from and burrow in. That is truly preferable, for my part, because it gives added enrichment.
Keep away from objects which can be unsafe for guinea pigs, together with treats that comprise yogurt or seeds, salt licks, and objects with holes your guinea pig can get their head caught inside.
Many hay racks are unsafe as they both have holes so small it’s tough to your piggies to eat hay, or giant sufficient for them to get their heads caught. Search for hay racks or luggage with holes that your guinea pig’s complete physique can match inside.
Preliminary Bedding Prices
Bedding is one other price that varies drastically in worth. Paper bedding prices round $20-$25 per bag, and can should be changed weekly.
Fleece liners price wherever from $24-$50+ relying on the place you purchase from, or when you make your personal. Customized liners from small companies price probably the most however could provide the very best quality when you don’t need to make them your self.
Maybe the most cost effective bedding possibility is chenille tub mats. They price as little as $7, however you’ll want a number of to line your cage. They can be utilized by themselves or along with fleece.
Grooming Provides for Guinea Pigs
You’ll want the next provides to groom your guinea pigs:
- Brush or comb, relying on fur size
- Nail clippers (human or cat clippers work nicely!)
- Scissors or clippers to trim longhaired piggies’ fur
- Cotton pads and coconut oil to maintain skinny pigs’ fur moisturized
- Guinea pig shampoo in case your piggies want a shower (this could occur very not often!)
A lot of this stuff might be bought on the greenback retailer when you’re brief on money, and can nonetheless doubtless final your piggies’ complete lives. The dearer objects can be guinea pig-safe shampoo and a pair of clippers if you wish to shave their fur.
In the event you forego the clippers, the above provides can price as little as $25.
Provides for Guinea Pig Well being Checks
Guinea pigs ought to have weekly well being checks at residence, which embody recording their weights, checking them for frequent indicators of sickness, grooming their coats, trimming their nails as wanted, and boar cleanings as wanted.
You’ll need the provides for this, in addition to some first-aid objects in case of emergency. Listed here are some belongings you’ll need to have available:
- A kitchen scale that measures in grams – $10-$40+
- Q-tips (helpful for boar cleanings and cleansing ears) – $4-$8
- Coconut oil (see above) – $1-$12
- 1 & 5 ml syringes and a tablet cutter (in case your guinea pig is prescribed drugs from the vet) – $11-25
- Critical Care or an analogous product (in case your guinea pig stops consuming) – $10
- Tweezers – $1-$5
- Gauze – $5-$15
- Plastic gloves – $5-$10
I additionally suggest retaining any additional prescription objects from the vet in your emergency equipment, as long as they aren’t expired. Don’t use them with out the recommendation of your veterinarian, however they will prevent cash when you’re prescribed that medicine once more.
For example, I preserve ache medicines and antibiotic ear ointment in my pets’ emergency equipment as this stuff are prescribed usually. I additionally usually type out any expired merchandise and preserve a be aware of what I’ve for reference throughout future vet visits.
How A lot Do Guinea Pigs Price Month-to-month?
Meals
Your guinea pig wants limitless hay, a cup of contemporary greens, and ⅛ cup of guinea pig pellets every day.
You may count on to pay not less than $30 for timothy hay (extra for orchard grass), and a small bag of pellets from Oxbow prices round $12.
The worth of greens will range relying in your location, with some individuals paying as little as $20 a month and others spending as a lot as $80. Sometimes, you possibly can count on to spend $40-$50.
The typical piggy proprietor will spend round $80-$100 complete on meals every month.
Bedding
In the event you use reusable bedding solely, you received’t have month-to-month bedding prices. However for disposable bedding, it’s possible you’ll pay as a lot as $20-$25 per week, or $80-$100 per thirty days.
Cleansing Provides
Cleansing provides it’s possible you’ll want to your guinea pigs embody:
- A selfmade vinegar and water resolution to wash the cage and objects: $3-$5 for a bulk container of vinegar (ought to last more than a month)
- Spray bottle: $1-$10
- Unscented laundry detergent: $5-$20 per container (ought to final two or extra months relying on dimension)
Please remember that guinea pigs have very delicate respiratory methods, and can’t tolerate harsh or scented cleaners. You must also preserve candles, air fresheners, and different scented merchandise outdoors of the room.
Enrichment
All of us love spoiling our pets, so enrichment prices can get out of hand rapidly! Nonetheless, a mean expense can be shopping for a couple of toys and cage equipment month-to-month.
You could select to purchase puzzle toys comparable to deal with balls or snuffle mats, chew toys comparable to willow balls, or new tunnels or hides to make the cage extra fascinating.
This will price wherever from $5-$10 for a few new toys, to $50+ if you are going to buy a big haul of things! Most individuals’s budgets will fluctuate from month to month.
Treats
Treats are one other space that ranges extensively, however be sure that to not overdo it! You need your piggies to have the ability to eat the entire treats you purchase, and also you don’t need to be feeding them an unhealthy eating regimen.
A bag of guinea pig-safe treats sometimes prices $5-$10, and is usually going to be a lot for the month!
Veterinary Prices for Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs shouldn’t see a daily small pet veterinarian, aka a canine and cat vet. These vets usually don’t see many guinea pigs and don’t have the training or expertise essential to deal with them.
As a substitute, convey your guinea pigs to an unique pet vet. These vets are typically extra pricey since they’ve the identical training as canine and cat vets, they usually underwent additional education to study exotics. It’s essential to be ready for that price.
Your guinea pig ought to see the vet:
- As quickly as potential after adoption
- Yearly throughout their younger maturity
- Each six months of their senior years
- Everytime you discover modifications in habits or indicators of sickness
The price of veterinary care will range relying in your space and your particular person vet. It can additionally rely on whether or not your guinea pig turns into ailing and even develops a persistent situation.
Some piggies by no means must see a vet outdoors of wellness visits, however most will get sick sooner or later of their lives. I like to recommend retaining an emergency fund to your piggies’ vet bills or buying pet insurance coverage.
Can You Get Pet Insurance coverage for Guinea Pigs?
In the USA, Nationwide is the one insurance coverage supplier that insures guinea pigs. They provide a wide range of plans with completely different protection and deductibles.
The extra you pay to your plan, the extra it’s going to cowl. I personally haven’t discovered wellness protection to be worthwhile, however when you don’t have a big emergency fund, then emergency protection is good.
Alternatively, you possibly can put aside the cash you’d pay to the insurance coverage firm and begin your financial savings fund that method. In the event you select to take action, I extremely suggest beginning this fund earlier than adopting your guinea pigs. You simply by no means know when one thing would possibly occur!
Ideas for Saving Cash on Your Guinea Pigs
- Purchase in bulk when potential. Hay, pellets, bedding, and extra might be bought in bulk, normally for cheaper costs. Simply be sure to don’t purchase greater than you need to use earlier than it expires, otherwise you would possibly find yourself losing cash as an alternative of saving.
- Reusable bedding is cheaper over time. In the event you can, I extremely suggest spending extra at first to keep away from lifelong disposable bedding prices, even when it means ready an additional month or two earlier than adopting your guinea pigs.
- Store round for hay. It will probably usually be purchased in bulk from farm shops and even straight from native farms for a small fraction of the value! You’ll have to strive a couple of sources with a purpose to discover high quality hay this fashion, however its price it for the cash you’ll save.
- Attempt making DIY toys and hides. Use delivery containers to make hides and stuff rest room paper rolls with hay–your piggies received’t know the distinction between these and dearer objects.
- Search second-hand objects. People who find themselves now not retaining guinea pigs could give away previous objects at no cost or low cost. Make sure to clear and sanitize this stuff completely, although, particularly when you don’t know whether or not the previous piggies had any contagious illnesses.
- Store gross sales. It might appear apparent, however profiting from gross sales can prevent some huge cash long-term! Personally, I wish to fill up on pet objects once I discover a good sale, as long as they aren’t the kind of factor to run out earlier than I can use them.
Are Guinea Pigs Costly Pets?
Many individuals declare that guinea pigs are costly when in comparison with different pets, comparable to canine and cats. Personally, I haven’t discovered this to be true. Their feeding and vet prices are much like cats in my expertise, and decrease than the prices to care for giant canine.
The prices of contemporary veggies may add up rapidly, as can high quality guinea pig pellets and hay. Your major expense for any animal can be veterinary prices, which may run into the 1000’s in case your piggy has a well being disaster.
Please do not forget that all pets can get sick, and veterinary prices can add up in a short time. That is very true for specialists, comparable to unique pet vets, and for emergency care.
Total, it’s essential to price range to your guinea pigs’ care. Some individuals solely contemplate start-up prices, however these are sometimes the most cost effective a part of proudly owning a guinea pig. You’ll additionally want a month-to-month price range, cash for routine vet care, and both pet insurance coverage or an emergency fund in case of harm or sickness.
