--- title: Guinea Pigs While You Travel | Happy Paws Kennels url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/guinea-pig-care-while-you-travel/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Guinea pigs while you travel # Guinea pigs while you travel Guinea pigs need unlimited grass hay, fresh vegetables and a steady source of vitamin C every day, because they cannot make their own. Happy Paws Kennels boards guinea pigs and may ask you to bring the cage; ask for the price. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) A guinea pig is a creature of routine. A stay away from home goes best when the food, the hay and the hideaway all stay exactly the same. ## The vitamin C rule The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C and must get it from their diet. Vitamin C in pellets fades over time, so use a fresh bag and not one that has sat for months, and do not swap in rabbit pellets. Pack the pellets your guinea pig already eats, plus the fresh vegetables he gets at home, in labeled bags. Write the daily amounts on a card instead of explaining them aloud. ## Hay and chewing Unlimited good-quality grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass is the main food, according to the Merck manual. It keeps teeth worn down and the gut moving. Send plenty, because a guinea pig that runs out of hay can slip into trouble quickly. Alfalfa hay is meant for young, pregnant or nursing animals; keep your usual hay. ## The setup The kennel may ask you to provide the cage for small pets. Bring it clean, with a hide house, a water bottle that works, a heavy food bowl and the bedding you normally use. Guinea pigs hate being alone in an exposed cage, so the hide house matters. Label every item with your name and phone. Keep the cage out of drafts and heat. Ask where small pets are kept and how that area stays comfortable in July, when the Central Valley often passes 100 degrees. Read the [guinea pig boarding page](https://happypawskennels.com/small-animal-boarding/guinea-pigs/) and the [small pet packing list](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/what-to-pack-for-small-pet-boarding/). ## Travel day and the return Carry your guinea pig in a small, ventilated carrier lined with bedding and hay, with the air conditioning on. Never leave a small animal in a parked car. When you pick him up, expect a bit of shyness. Watch appetite and droppings for a day; a guinea pig that stops eating, is hunched or has runny eyes should see an exotic-animal vet the same day. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [Merck Veterinary Manual, diet for a guinea pig](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/diet-for-a-guinea-pig) - [Happy Paws Kennels, things to know](https://happypawskennels.com/things-to-know/) - [California Penal Code 597.7 (animals in vehicles)](https://california.public.law/codes/penal_code_section_597.7) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Guinea pigs](https://happypawskennels.com/small-animal-boarding/guinea-pigs/) - [Small pet boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/small-animal-boarding/) - [What to pack for a small pet's stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/what-to-pack-for-small-pet-boarding/) - [Do I bring the cage for a small pet?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/do-i-bring-the-cage-for-a-small-pet/) - [Small pets](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/small-pets/) ## Read next - [What to pack for a small pet's stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/what-to-pack-for-small-pet-boarding/) - [Cage-free boarding and indoor/outdoor runs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cage-free-and-indoor-outdoor-runs/) - [Dog hotel, pet resort or kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-hotel-vs-kennel/) - [What to look for on a kennel tour](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/what-to-look-for-on-a-kennel-tour/) - [California dog vaccine law vs what a boarding kennel requires](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/california-dog-vaccine-laws-vs-kennel-requirements/) - [Can day care help a dog lose weight?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/can-day-care-help-a-dog-lose-weight/) - [Wildfire smoke and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/wildfire-smoke-and-dogs/) - [Boarding a dog with arthritis or stiff joints](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-arthritis/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Does Happy Paws board guinea pigs? Yes. Guinea pigs are on the list of small pets the kennel boards. Please ask for the price. ### Should I bring my own food? Yes. Familiar pellets, hay and vegetables avoid stomach upset and keep the vitamin C supply steady. ### Can two guinea pigs share a cage? If they live together at home, bring them in one cage and tell the staff. Call 707-678-6600 with details.