Rabbits and guinea pigs: a daily care plan for the whole family
Small pets are often “the children’s pets”, which is exactly why their care gets lost between people. Their needs are simple but daily, and a missed day matters more than it looks: rabbits and guinea pigs hide illness well, and their digestion depends on constant food.
Hay is the diet, not a side dish
Unlimited grass hay should make up 85–90 % of the diet, at least the animal’s own body size every day, with fresh water refreshed daily (RSPCA, PDSA, VCA). Their teeth and gut both depend on constant chewing. A hay rack that is empty in the evening is a warning sign, not a detail.
Greens twice a day, and vitamin C
A handful of leafy greens in the morning and again in the evening. Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C and rely on it coming from fresh greens and vegetables, so these meals are not optional treats.
08:00 hay topped up, fresh water
08:00 morning greens
08:15 quick health check
18:00 evening greens
18:30 spot-clean the enclosure
The daily health check
Once a day, look properly: eating, droppings, eyes, nose, fur, and the bottom. In warm months a dirty bottom can attract flies (flystrike), which becomes dangerous within hours (RSPCA). An animal that stops eating or passing droppings needs a vet the same day.
Sharing it with children
Children can own greens and water, and an adult owns the health check. Making every task visible to the whole family is what keeps the “I thought you did it” gap closed. In DidWeFeed this plan is the rabbits & guinea pigs starter routine.
Daily routine · small pets
Printable checklist
08:00 Hay topped up + fresh water
08:00 Morning greens
08:15 Health check: eating, droppings, eyes, bottom
18:00 Evening greens
18:30 Spot-clean the enclosure
Common questions
How much hay does a rabbit or guinea pig need?+
Unlimited: at least their own body size every day, making up 85–90 % of the diet.
Do guinea pigs need extra vitamin C?+
They cannot make it themselves, so they need it from fresh greens and vegetables every day. Ask your vet whether a supplement makes sense.
When is it an emergency?+
If a rabbit or guinea pig stops eating or stops passing droppings, or you see flies or maggots on it: see a vet the same day.