Before the Cold Nights: Planning Your Guinea Pigs’ Move Indoors
A practical winter move plan for guinea-pig owners: assess the room, measure the full setup, prepare moving day and agree on a care routine before cold nights arrive.
Guinea Pigs
Expert guides and care tips for small pets including guinea pigs. Learn everything from feeding to habitat setup.
Guinea Pig Squeaking When Picked Up? Fear, Pain Or Habit?
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Guinea pig sounds are emotional for owners. A squeak during handling can be communication, fear or a sign something hurts. Guinea pigs are prey animals, so being lifted can be frightening even when the owner is kind. Some squeak because they dislike being picked up. Others … Read more
Why Is My Guinea Pig Drinking So Much Water?
Updated 24 September 2026: clarified when to contact a vet and removed waiting-period advice that could delay care. Practical checks or notes must not delay help for an unwell animal. See the supporting welfare guidance. From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 A water bottle that empties faster than usual can worry guinea … Read more
Guinea Pig Not Eating Hay? The Dental Warning Owners Miss
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 Guinea pigs and hay go together. When a guinea pig stops eating hay, owners should not treat it as simple pickiness. Hay is vital for guinea pigs because their teeth keep growing and their gut needs constant fibre. A guinea pig that stops eating hay may … Read more
Guinea Pig Heat Checks: The Rear-End Detail Owners Avoid
From the counter at Paradise Pets – August 2026 In hot weather, guinea pig care is not only about water and shade. Rear-end cleanliness can become a serious welfare issue. Nobody enjoys checking the messy end of a guinea pig. But in summer, avoiding that check can be dangerous. Flystrike risk rises when animals are … Read more
Guinea Pig Breeding Row: Why Families Must Understand Welfare Before Breeding
From the counter at Paradise Pets – July 2026 A BBC-reported guinea pig breeding row in Wales has put an unusual animal welfare story into the news. Neil explains the everyday lesson for pet families. Guinea pig breeding should never be treated as a harmless surprise or a fun family experiment. The Pembrokeshire story has … Read more
Sudden Firework Bangs: Why Rabbits, Guinea Pigs And Pet Birds Panic So Fast
From the counter at Paradise Pets – July 2026 With fireworks back in the news, Neil explains the small-animal behaviour behind sudden panic and why owners should prepare before the first loud evening. A rabbit thumping in the hutch, a guinea pig hiding without eating, or a budgie crashing around a cage can all be … Read more
Flystrike Season In July: The Twice-Daily Check Rabbit And Guinea Pig Owners Should Not Skip
From the counter at Paradise Pets – July 2026 Neil has helped rabbit and guinea pig owners in Swindon for over 35 years. In warm weather, one of the most serious small-pet risks is also one of the easiest for busy owners to miss: flystrike. Flystrike is one of those topics I would rather explain … Read more
RSPCA Guinea Pig Warning After 70% Rise: What Owners Should Check Before Buying
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has owned and run Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988. In more than 35 years of helping families choose small pets, he has seen the same guinea pig mistake many times: people buy one guinea pig, buy a small cage, underestimate the cost, and only learn later that guinea … Read more
The Real Reason Guinea Pigs Need Companions — UK Welfare 35-Year Truth
From the counter at Paradise Pets Neil has kept, bred, and sold guinea pigs at Paradise Pets Swindon since 1988 — over 35 years of first-hand experience with these animals. The need for companionship is one of the most consistently misunderstood parts of guinea pig welfare, and one I have to explain at this counter … Read more