Nursing care and hospital management

Rebecca de Gier; Meredith Gordon; Adrian Smith; Kirsty Steel

doi:10.22233/9781910443903.8

British Small Animal Veterinary Association , e12 (2026); https://doi.org/10.22233/9781910443903.8

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Nursing care and hospital management

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Authors: Rebecca de Gier, Meredith Gordon, Adrian Smith and Kirsty Steel
From: BSAVA Manual of Guinea Pigs
Item: Chapter 8, pp 73 - 87
DOI: 10.22233/9781910443903.8
Copyright: © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
Publication Date: January 2026

This chapter provides practical guidance on the care of guinea pig inpatients, with a focus on reducing stress and promoting welfare throughout. It covers patient admission and discharge, hospital ward management, daily patient assessments, handling and supportive nursing care. The chapter concludes with nursing considerations for specific conditions, including enclosure setups to provide safe recovery for guinea pigs with mobility issues.

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Figures

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8.1

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8.1 Hospital ward for guinea pigs situated in a quiet location away from predators. (Courtesy of Anton Vets Ltd, Andover)

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8.2

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8.2 Guinea pig enclosure containing an appropriately sized box as a hide, as well as food and water. (Courtesy of Anton Vets Ltd, Andover)

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8.3

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8.3 Absorbent bedding (e.g. VetBed®) of a suitable thickness can be used to line the floor of the enclosure.

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8.4

A hide should be provided within the guinea pig enclosure. (a) Single-use cardboard boxes, reusable plastic hides and (b) reusable soft hides are available. (a, Courtesy of Anton Vets Ltd, Andover) © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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8.4 A hide should be provided within the guinea pig enclosure. (a) Single-use cardboard boxes, reusable plastic hides and (b) reusable soft hides are available. (a, Courtesy of Anton Vets Ltd, Andover)

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8.5

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8.5 A dropper bottle can be placed within a cardboard tube and affixed to the side of the enclosure.

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8.6

(a, b) Guinea pigs are often kept in bonded pairs and separation during hospitalization can be stressful. Where possible, bonded companions should be co-admitted to the hospital with the patient. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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8.6 (a, b) Guinea pigs are often kept in bonded pairs and separation during hospitalization can be stressful. Where possible, bonded companions should be co-admitted to the hospital with the patient.

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8.10

Clinical examination form that can be used for daily patient assessment. A generic patient assessment form can be used for guinea pigs, but some fields may not be relevant (e.g. vaccination status). Abn = abnormal; BCS = body condition score; CRT = capillary refill time; HW = heartworm; MM = mucous membrane; NAD = no abnormality detected; Not ex = not examined. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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8.10 Clinical examination form that can be used for daily patient assessment. A generic patient assessment form can be used for guinea pigs, but some fields may not be relevant (e.g. vaccination status). Abn = abnormal; BCS = body condition score; CRT = capillary refill time; HW = heartworm; MM = mucous membrane; NAD = no abnormality detected; Not ex = not examined.

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8.11

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8.11 Scales with a precision of 1 gram allow for an accurate daily weight of hospitalized patients to be recorded.

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8.13

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8.13 A guinea pig being restrained in dorsal recumbency for ultrasonography. Note that the thorax is elevated to avoid compression of the lungs.

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8.14

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8.14 Guinea pigs can be restrained using blankets for (a) hand feeding and (b) oral examination.

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8.15

Syringe feeding. (a) Guinea pigs should be wrapped in a towel and placed on a table or lap prior to commencing syringe feeding. (b) The head of the guinea pig should be gently grasped and the syringe inserted into the mouth. (c) The syringe should be advanced into the diastema (shown here) and a small amount of food deposited. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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8.15 Syringe feeding. (a) Guinea pigs should be wrapped in a towel and placed on a table or lap prior to commencing syringe feeding. (b) The head of the guinea pig should be gently grasped and the syringe inserted into the mouth. (c) The syringe should be advanced into the diastema (shown here) and a small amount of food deposited.

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8.16

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8.16 Administration of subcutaneous fluids.

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8.17

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8.17 Hospitalized guinea pig with an intravenous catheter placed in the cephalic vein to allow administration of fluids via a syringe driver.

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8.18

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8.18 Guinea pig showing signs of pain. Note the glazed and half closed eyes and dropped ears.

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8.19

An enclosure set up for a guinea pig with vestibular disease that is having problems maintaining balance. The rolled up towels placed around the edges of the enclosure are to ensure that the guinea pig does not collide with the walls or door. The rolled up red blanket is used to maintain the guinea pig in ventral recumbency. (Courtesy of Anton Vets Ltd, Andover) © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

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8.19 An enclosure set up for a guinea pig with vestibular disease that is having problems maintaining balance. The rolled up towels placed around the edges of the enclosure are to ensure that the guinea pig does not collide with the walls or door. The rolled up red blanket is used to maintain the guinea pig in ventral recumbency. (Courtesy of Anton Vets Ltd, Andover)

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8.20

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8.20 An enclosure set up for a guinea pig with fibrous osteodystrophy. (Courtesy of Anton Vets Ltd, Andover)