The First Look
Before you ask anything, watch the animal for a minute. A healthy guinea pig or rabbit is alert, moves about easily, eats, and breathes quietly. Be careful with one that sits hunched and still, hides in a corner, breathes noisily or will not eat. The RSPCA warns that rabbits and guinea pigs hide pain, so by the time it shows, an animal may have been unwell for a while.
What a Healthy Rabbit Looks Like
The RSPCA lists these signs of a healthy rabbit:
- clear, bright eyes, with no discharge around the eyes or nose
- clean ears with no crusting, and a slightly moist nose
- front teeth of the right length and a creamy off-white colour, lining up top and bottom, with pink gums
- soft, shiny fur and healthy skin with no sores or dry patches
- a clean, dry bottom and tail
- steady, quiet breathing and a healthy appetite
- round, hard, dry droppings
- moves around and grooms itself comfortably
What a Healthy Guinea Pig Looks Like
The RSPCA says guinea pigs should eat every day and pass plenty of dry droppings, and that a guinea pig that is quieter than normal, hiding more than usual or not eating may be unwell. From our own care guide, here is what to look for in the shop:
- bright eyes and a clean nose, with no crusting, runny nose or sneezing
- a coat that is clean, with no bald or scabby patches
- a clean bottom. In warm weather the RSPCA says to check the fur and skin around the rear end twice a day, because dirty fur attracts flies, which can cause flystrike
- front teeth that line up, and no wet chin or dropped food, which can be a sign of a teeth problem
- a round, solid body, not a thin one
Our guinea pig care guide lists the signs that mean a vet visit.
What to Ask the Seller
- How old is it? Ask for the age, not a guess.
- Is it a boy or a girl, and how sure are you? See below.
- What has it been eating? The RSPCA says to find out an animal’s current diet and keep it the same at first, then change it slowly.
- Has it had health problems? The RSPCA says to ask about any known health or behaviour problems before you take an animal on.
- What happens after the sale? A seller who answers your questions next week matters more than the price.
Boy or Girl?
Getting this wrong starts litters nobody planned. The RSPCA says that inaccurate sexing and keeping unneutered males and females together has led to a rabbit crisis in the UK, and that a male guinea pig should always be neutered before being paired with a female, because of the risks of pregnancy and birth. Ask the seller to show you how they know. We give you the gender with every pet.
At Our Farm and at Your Door
You can visit the farm and watch the animal before you decide, or ask us on WhatsApp for a short video. Every pet is health-checked before dispatch and again at handover, and our vet checks every pet before it leaves. Every pet goes home with a care sheet and a pet card. When we deliver, check your pet at the door, then pay. If it seems unwell in its first week, tell us on WhatsApp and we will look at it with you and help you find a vet. We cannot take a pet back because plans changed: the details are on Our Promise and Returns.
Ready? See the guinea pigs and rabbits at the farm, or compare them with a hamster in which small pet suits your home.
The First Week
Keep the same food as before, then change it slowly. Weigh your pet on a kitchen scale each week, because weight changes are often the first sign of illness, as the RSPCA says for rabbits. Book a vet who treats small pets before you need one: the RSPCA recommends a check-up at least once a year.
Healthy Pet Questions
How do I know if a guinea pig is healthy?
It is alert, eating and moving about, with bright eyes, a clean nose and bottom, a clean coat and teeth that line up. The RSPCA says a guinea pig that is quiet, hiding or not eating may be unwell.
How do I know if a rabbit is healthy?
Look for clear bright eyes, clean ears, no discharge from the eyes or nose, even teeth, soft shiny fur, a clean dry bottom, quiet breathing and a good appetite, as the RSPCA lists.
Should I buy one guinea pig or a pair?
A pair. The RSPCA says to keep a guinea pig with at least one other friendly guinea pig. Two girls are the easiest pair.
Can I trust the seller’s word that a pair are both girls?
Ask how they know, and ask them to show you. Wrong sexing is how unplanned litters start, and the RSPCA says a male should always be neutered before he lives with a female.
Can I return a pet if it is ill?
Check your pet at the door before you pay. If it seems unwell in its first week, tell us on WhatsApp and we will look at it with you and help you find a vet. We cannot take a pet back because plans changed. The details are on Our Promise and Returns.
Do I need a vet check after buying?
It is a good idea to find a vet in the first week and to plan for a check-up at least once a year, as the RSPCA recommends. Every pet we sell has already had a vet check before it leaves.
Sources
- RSPCA, rabbit health: signs of a healthy rabbit, asking about a rabbit’s history, wrong sexing, and weight as the first sign of illness.
- RSPCA, guinea pig health: what to ask before buying, flystrike checks, signs of illness, and a yearly check-up.
- RSPCA, keeping guinea pigs together: pairs, and neutering males paired with females.