Guinea Pig Pet Sitter Checklist: Keep Daily Care Consistent While Away

Arrange a person, not just extra supplies

Guinea pigs need fresh water, unlimited suitable hay, daily feeding and observation even when their owner is away. Extra bowls cannot check a blocked water bottle or notice a pig that has stopped eating. Arrange a reliable person who can visit consistently and respond when something looks wrong.

Before leaving, demonstrate care in person if possible. Show the sitter how each pig normally behaves and eats, where supplies are kept and how to check drinking equipment. Leave time for questions rather than sending a long message after your trip has begun.

Write a clear daily handover

Avoid vague instructions such as 'some vegetables' or 'give medicine if needed'. Prepare suitable portions where helpful and keep original medication labels available. A sitter should not improvise new foods, supplements or treatments during your absence.

• •Each pig's name, photograph, identifying features and any individual needs.
• •Usual feeding times, suitable foods and measured portions; hay stays available all the time.
• •How to refill water, confirm flow and clean drinking equipment.
• •Which bedding areas need daily spot cleaning and when a full change is due.
• •What normal eating, droppings and movement look like for each pig.
• •Medication instructions from the vet, if applicable, with a clear record of doses given.

Make emergency decisions possible

Leave your contact details, a backup decision maker, the guinea-pig-experienced clinic and its out-of-hours instructions. Confirm how the sitter can transport a pig and how veterinary payment or authorization will work. Keep a safe carrier ready.

Explicitly explain that not eating, markedly reduced droppings, labored breathing, collapse or sudden severe illness require prompt contact with an exotic vet. The sitter should not wait for you to return or for the next check. The clinic can advise on urgency and what to do while traveling.

Use a shared routine without assuming shared access

Piggy Planner can help you organize feeding, cleaning and daily tasks before a trip and keep relevant weight and vet notes together. Make sure the sitter actually has the instructions they need: do not assume an app automatically provides account sharing or that a completed task proves an animal was observed.

Provide a plain written backup and agree on brief updates after care. Ask the sitter to mention changes rather than only send a photograph. On return, review notes and resume the regular weighing and cleaning routine. Good preparation supports consistency, but cannot guarantee that illness will not occur while you are away.