When you became a guinea pig caretaker, you automatically took on the job
as your pet's entertainment director. That means you'll need to provide
safe, appropriate toys and arrange play sessions for your pig in and out of
the cage every day. Sound like fun? Well, it should be for the both of you!
Guinea Pig Toys Provide Fun & Exercise
The toys you select for your pet should encourage him to do the things that
come naturally. A guinea pig's body isn't well suited for running on an
exercise wheel, for example. These classic toys may be great for other
small mammals like hamsters and rats, but not for members your pet's
species. Their use, in fact, has been known to cause spinal and leg
injuries. Much more appropriate toys for your pig include PVC pipes for
tunneling, and bricks and rocks for climbing. (The latter also will help
wear down your pig's nails!) You can even make your own guinea pig maze
using tubes and interconnected cardboard boxes, with your pet's favorite
nibbles waiting at the end.
A toy needn't be expensive to be effective. Some of the best guinea pig
playthings can be found in your own home. Empty oatmeal containers and
shoeboxes make great places for your pet to run through and play in. And
you'll be surprised to learn how much fun can be had with a simple brown
paper bag, open on its side.
Stimulate Gnawing with Guinea Pig Play Toys
You must make sure there's always something in the cage for your guinea pig
to gnaw on. His teeth grow continuously, like that of all rodents, so he'll
need to chew--and chew!--to keep his choppers filed down and in tip-top
condition. Branches and twigs from untreated trees will do the trick--and
will also give him something fun to do! Do not give him wood from cedar,
apricot, cherry and peach trees, as they are toxic.
Once you've hand-tamed your guinea pig, you should let him exercise out of
his cage every day. An enclosed room like a bathroom or kitchen is good for
starters, until your pet gets used to these play sessions. Once he's
comfortable, you can gradually expand his territory. But you'll always have
to supervise, of course, and take care there's nothing in the area that's
potentially dangerous for your pig. That means removing electrical wires,
as well as anything that your pet could, but shouldn't, chew. And because
guinea pigs always need a place they can go to feel secure and safe, make
sure yours has an empty shoebox filled with soft bedding, a paper bag or
other secure hidebox for this purpose.
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