The Complete Small Mammal Care Guide

A complete, plain-English guide to caring for hamsters, guinea pigs and other small pets in the UK — housing, feeding, enrichment, health and knowing when to see a vet.

Small pets are small, but their needs are particular — and the common mistakes are easy to make. This guide puts the essentials in one place, so you can give your hamster or guinea pig a genuinely good life

• Choosing the right pet — facts about hamsters and guinea pigs, which suits your home, and the single most important thing to kno

• Know your pet's normal — the daily health check, watching for changes rather than "symptoms"

• Housing, space & bedding — space as the golden rule, a setup that thinks like the animal, keeping them indoors, the right bedding, keeping it clean

• Feeding per species — hamster feeding done right, guinea pig feeding (and the non-negotiable vitamin C habit), the never-safe food table, and why appetite and weight are health signals

• Enrichment, handling & company — mealtimes as games, hiding/digging/burrowing, the joy of chewing, wheels and deep bedding, and gentle handling

• Health & red flags — guinea pig and hamster health concerns, the shared red flags, one crucial warning about medicines, and why early matters most for guinea pigs

• When to see a vet — plus an emergency quick-reference, symptom-to-action table, care checklist and fill-in emergency card

Plain English and grounded in veterinary-charity guidance (PDSA, RSPCA, Blue Cross). Does not replace professional veterinary