This pet care venture is largely inspired by these two small critters, Autumn and Mabon, my two lovely male guinea pigs who are now nearly four years old. 
These boys joined the family on September 21st 2022, the autumn equinox (also known as Mabon) – hence their names!
Previously we had always kept rabbits, but after looking after others’ guinea pigs I became enchanted by their adorable and amusing vocalisations, and so decided to give guinea pig ownership a try. They are funny little characters, and from what I’ve seen, create a lot more mess than my bunnies ever did! But I get so much joy from watching them in their garden run, ambitiously nibbling away at the grass on a sunny afternoon.
Like rabbits, guinea pigs need to be eating nearly constantly, as gut stasis can be very dangerous for them. You will find that these small animals will only stop eating if they are in pain or something is wrong. Therefore it’s important that their food intake is monitored, and that any changes which might indicate an underlying issue are quickly picked up on. This is a good reason to make sure that there is someone available to check on your piggies while you are on holiday.
Rabbits and guinea pigs also have what is known as open-rooted teeth, which means their teeth never stop growing! Therefore providing the correct foods and enrichment is really important, to be sure that their teeth don’t get too long, otherwise it can lead to a variety of painful issues for the animal.
The best way to care for your pets gut and dental health is a high fibre diet. The PDSA recommends feeding unlimited hay & grass, plus a small daily amount of species specific pellets and fresh food – with constant access to plenty of fresh water.
Guinea pigs also have a special trait, in which they cannot produce their own vitamin C levels needed for healthy functioning. Vitamin C is provided in most good pellet foods, and also needs to be given by providing piggies with a variety of fresh vegetables – I wish I could be as joyous about a stick of celery as my boys are!
The PDSA provides a very useful list of which vegetables are safe to feed your guinea pigs, which I often refer to for peace of mind, and to be sure they are getting the correct nutrition: PDSA
I know from experience how important our animal family members become, and I’ve personally found that preparing for a holiday can be hard-work enough, without the added worry of leaving your pets. When I go away, I need to know that my boys will be somewhere familiar, comfortable, and safe, without having to uproot them – and I figured that, as a nation of animal lovers, others around me must feel the same!
This is one of the key factors that led me to start Walkham Valley Pet Care. I have plenty of experience in pet care, including a bachelors degree in Applied Animal Science, and a lifelong love for animals – I’d be honoured to be trusted with your pets while you go on holiday 
If you think I could help you, feel free to send an email kat@walkhamvalleypetcare.co.uk or text, call, or WhatsApp on 07359 782141, or check out the website for more information.
