Guinea pigs are small but active animals and need plenty of space to exercise, play, and express their normal behavior. While they may not be as common as cats or dogs, they are still popular pets, and many owners may be unsure of the best way to care for them, especially in terms of exercise. In this article, we will discuss the exercise needs of guinea pigs, the benefits of exercise for their health and well-being, and how to ensure that your cavy gets all the exercise they need.
How Do Guinea Pigs Exercise?
Regular exercise is essential for the overall well-being of guinea pigs, as it helps them maintain their weight, stimulates them mentally, and promotes normal behavior. Guinea pigs should be able to express the following behaviors freely:
– Walking
– Running with friends
– Tunneling
– Stretching horizontally
– Playing
– Exploring
– Gnawing
– Jumping (popcorning)
– Chewing
– Foraging
– Hiding and retreating to a shelter
Regular exercise also prevents abnormal behaviors and ensures that guinea pigs have a safe space to exercise and play, enabling them to live their best life.
In-Cage/Hutch Exercise
In a suitably large cage or hutch, guinea pigs will have plenty of room to exercise. Providing areas to explore within the cage, such as tunnels and deep bedding, encourages more activity and satisfies their inquisitive nature.
Free Range Exercise
Guinea pigs benefit from time outside their cage. This allows them to explore new environments safely. However, outside exercise should be supervised in a safe, secure area free from hazards, such as electric cables and poisonous plants. Guinea pigs are naturally most active in the mornings and evenings, so these are often the best times for free range fun.
Tips for Helping Your Guinea Pig Exercise
If you’re a new guinea pig owner, you may struggle to find ways to help your pet exercise while ensuring safety. Here are a few tips to help your cavy exercise:
– Provide plenty of foraging opportunities with hidden treats to encourage your pet to play and explore their surroundings.
– Include hiding spots such as tunnels, pipes, or deep areas of hay where your guinea pig can retreat to.
– Make the exercise area interesting; set up different levels, use boxes, or create an exciting forest.
– Ensure that the exercise area is hazard-free and that there’s nothing that could hurt your guinea pig.
– Provide clean water nearby and prepare food to treat your cavy after their activity.
– Provide guinea pig-friendly toys, such as small balls, stuffed toys, or cardboard boxes.
– Change the environment of the exercise space every once in a while to make it more interesting and engaging.
– Supervise outside exercise to prevent your cavy from getting hurt by wildlife or other pets such as cats.
– Never allow your guinea pig to exercise in an area that has been treated with chemicals, such as pesticides or fungicides.
– Stay away from exercise wheels and balls, as they are not suitable for guinea pigs.
The Benefits of Exercise for Guinea Pigs and Their Health
Exercise positively affects guinea pigs’ bodies and brains, which is why they need daily activity to function properly and develop. While there are numerous benefits of exercise for guinea pigs and their health, the most important ones are:
– It keeps them in good shape — Without enough exercise, your guinea pig can easily become overweight and experience an array of health issues such as joint problems.
– It relieves boredom and promotes normal behaviors — Exercise works off excess energy and helps relieve stress. Cavies that get regular exercise engage in normal behaviors, such as exploring, foraging, and running with a friend, making them happier and healthier.
– It provides mental stimulation — In the wild, guinea pigs would be foraging and evading predators. Keeping them mentally stimulated with environmental enrichment and exercise is essential for our pet guinea pigs.
The 5 Ways to Exercise a Guinea Pig
1. Provide a Large Cage
Guinea pigs need a large cage where they can move and explore freely. A large free space encourages movement and helps your cavy stay in good shape without your help.
2. Provide Plenty of Free Run Time
Providing them with plenty of free run time is an excellent way to exercise your guinea pig. To do that, you’ll need to create a safe outdoor area where your guinea pig can roam and explore nature. The area should be big but not too large, as too much free space may disorient your cavy. If you allow your guinea pig to have free run time, you’ll always need to be around to prevent other wildlife from hurting your cavy.
3. Create a Play Tunnel
Most cavies find play tunnels exciting and love to explore them by going from one end of the tunnel to another. After your cavy is done playing, you can store the play tunnel and use it again for an exercise session in the future.
4. Build an Obstacle Course
Since guinea pigs are born explorers, you can help them exercise by creating an obstacle course in their cage or outside. You can use various household items, boxes, or anything else that you find suitable to DIY the obstacle course and create an interesting space for your cavy. You can also make a maze, add tunnels, and create hidden spots with food that your guinea pig needs to find. The opportunities for DIY guinea pig obstacles are endless, and all you need is spare time and a bit of creativity to help your cavy stay in good shape.
5. Get Another Guinea Pig to Join Your Family
Guinea pigs are social animals and are happier and more active when kept with other guinea pigs. Ideally, they should live in groups of at least two, making sure they are neutered or that both animals are the same sex to avoid any unintended litters.
Final Words
Guinea pigs make wonderful pets, but they do require plenty of space to exercise and time outside of their cage. By providing environmental enrichment and exercise opportunities, you can keep your cavy happy and healthy. Remember to always supervise free range time, ensure that the exercise area is hazard-free, and avoid chemicals, toxic plants, and unsuitable exercise equipment. With proper exercise and care, your guinea pig will enjoy a happy and healthy life by your side.
