Q&A for How to Tame Your Guinea Pig

Pet a guinea pig by stroking gently along their back or flanks. They dislike anything over their head, as this casts a shadow much like a predator that's about to pounce.

Lice are so tiny they are hard to see with the naked eye, but if you have good eyesight you'll just about manage it. They are white/ grey and the same shape as a teeny tiny grain of rice. They tend to line up along the hair shafts or sit on the surface of the skin. To check for lice part the fur and then look very carefully for what might look like white dust sticking to the hairs.

A guinea pig that had contact with people from a young age is easy to train. One that is unfamiliar with people will be anxious and shy, and it will take lots of time and patience to win their confidence.

Try to avoid stressing an anxious guinea pig unless it's essential (such as a vet trip). Wrapping them in a towel, with head and eyes covered, helps to calm them as it makes for a dark hiding place where they feel less exposed.

Lettuce is considered nutritionally neutral because it's mainly made up of water. The problem is that the guinea pig may fill his stomach with lettuce, which gives him no nutrition, and he feels too full to eat foods that are good for him. In addition, some types of lettuce such as iceberg, contain high levels of nitrite which can cause diarrhea if eaten in excess

There's no quick answer about how to befriend a guinea pig; this takes heaps of time and patience. Simply spend time sitting next to the run, talking to the guinea pig so they get used to your voice. Offer treats, talking as you do so, but wait for the guinea pig to come to you.