Guinea Pig Care Routine Checklist: Daily, Weekly & Monthly Husbandry

Guinea pigs thrive on routine and predictability. Breaking down care tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly habits ensures optimal welfare without overwhelming your busy schedule.

Here is the complete veterinary husbandry checklist organized by frequency and time required.

The Complete Cavy Care Routine Matrix

| Frequency | Routine Task | Time Required | Key Tool & Health Goal | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Daily (Morning) | Hay & Water Refresh | 3–5 minutes | Refill overflowing Timothy hay; rinse and fill water bottle. | | Daily (Morning) | Measured Pellets | 1 minute | Measure 1/8 cup plain Timothy pellets per adult pig. | | Daily (Evening) | Poop Spot-Clean | 5 minutes | Hand dustpan: sweep poops from hideouts and kitchen areas. | | Daily (Evening) | Fresh Veggie Serving | 5 minutes | 1 cup washed greens with bell pepper for Vitamin C. | | Weekly | Weight Logging | 5 minutes | Digital kitchen scale: log grams in your Popcavy tracker. | | Weekly | Full Cage Liner Change | 20–30 minutes | Wash fleece liners / replace paper; wipe Coroplast with vinegar. | | Monthly | Nail Trimming | 10–15 minutes | Small animal clippers: trim transparent tips avoiding quick. | | Monthly | Health Inspection | 5 minutes | Check incisor alignment, foot pad smoothness, and eyes/ears. |

Daily Routine Checklist (10–15 Minutes Total)

• [ ] Hay Top-Up (2x Daily): Ensure hay racks are completely full morning and evening.
• [ ] Water Bottle Refresh: Empty, rinse, and refill with fresh cold water.
• [ ] Spot Clean Poops: Sweep droppings and soiled hay from sleep hideouts.
• [ ] Fresh Veggies Feast: Serve 1 cup of Vitamin C fresh greens per cavy in the evening.
• [ ] 30-Second Visual Check: Confirm bright eyes, clean nose, and active appetite.

Weekly Routine Checklist (30 Minutes Total)

1. Full Cage Bedding Wash: Remove fleece liners and wash on hot cycle with unscented detergent and white vinegar (natural odor neutralizer). Wipe plastic base with 50/50 water-vinegar solution.
2. Weekly Weigh-In (In Grams): Weigh each cavy at the same time of day. A drop of 50g or more is a warning sign requiring daily observation.
3. Hideout Sanitization: Wash plastic igloos and wooden chew tunnels.

Monthly & Bi-Monthly Grooming Checklist

• Nail Trim (Every 3–4 Weeks): Clip non-quick nail tips using small animal clippers.
• Boar Grease Gland & Sac Cleaning (As Needed): Male cavies have an active grease gland above the tailbone. Wipe with organic coconut oil to dissolve wax buildup, then wash with warm water.
• Teeth Inspection: Gently part lips to check that upper and lower front incisors meet evenly and are not chipped or slanted.

Core Summary

Spot clean daily, log weight weekly, and trim nails monthly!