Guinea pigs are adorable little animals to keep as pets. Guinea pigs are also very social and active animals and need lots of interaction and stimulation in their environment to keep them happy. In fact, guinea pigs can be aloof and depressed, perhaps even hostile, if left alone for long periods of time. Keeping your guinea pig busy and having plenty of time to play with them will make them very happy.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Playing with Guinea Pigs in the House
Step 1. Schedule regular playtime indoors with your guinea pig
Consistent, day-to-day interactions with your guinea pig are essential to their general health. If you forget to play with him or can't play until late at night (perhaps you're working late), he'll be depressed or aloof because of the change in routine.
Step 2. Let your guinea pig play outside of its cage
Since guinea pigs are very active animals, keeping them in their cage all the time can be frustrating because of the energy that builds up. Letting your guinea pig outside of the cage can give it a chance to burn off excess energy. However, before letting your guinea pig out of the cage, you should make the room where you release your guinea pig safe for them. Guinea pigs like to nibble on things, so make sure you remove or hide anything they can bite, such as electrical wires, carpets, knick-knacks, and so on.
- It can be helpful to cover all areas of furniture that your guinea pig can access and bite, such as the corners of a sofa, table, or chair.
- Place different toys and objects (such as rolls of tissue) in the room to provide something your guinea pig can explore and play with when outside of the cage. You can even put a few treats on the floor for your guinea pig to eat while they're playing.
- If you have other pets, keep them in another room until you've put your guinea pig back in their cage.
- Watch your guinea pig carefully when outside of the cage to make sure it doesn't run away or start nibbling on something prohibited.
Step 3. Provide various toys for the guinea pig
Toys are an important aspect of keeping your guinea pig happy. There are many different types of toys you can give your guinea pig, including nibblers, biting toys, and toy balls. In addition, you can also make handmade toys from toilet paper rolls, used shoe boxes, and used milk cartons. While you won't be interacting directly with your guinea pig while playing with his toys, you can still spend time with him while he's playing.
- Nibblers and biting toys are usually made of hard natural materials, such as wood. This toy not only keeps your guinea pig busy, but also keeps its teeth trimmed. Your guinea pig's teeth can grow to a length that can be dangerous for the guinea pig, so providing a toy that your guinea pig can bite into will help keep their teeth clean.
- Toy balls are also usually made of natural materials that your guinea pig can easily push around the room.
- Climbs and ladders are fun toys if your guinea pig is in a terraced cage. Make sure the ramps and stairs are sturdy. Guinea pigs have very short legs and can get caught between ramps or wire steps, causing injury.
- Hamster balls and wheels are not suitable toys for guinea pigs. Their backs don't curve like other small rodents (rats, hamsters), so hamster balls and wheels can cause injury to your guinea pig's back.
- Clean the toys regularly. Plastic toys can be washed in the dishwasher. Wooden toys should be cleaned by hand with a towel and allowed to dry completely before placing them back in their cages.
- Place several toys in his cage at a time so he still has room to run around in his cage. Replace the toys when you clean the cage so your guinea pig has new toys to play with.
Method 2 of 2: Playing with Guinea Pigs Outdoors
Step 1. Provide a cage outside the house
Leaving your guinea pig outdoors is great for their health and well-being. Run (special guinea pig cages for outdoors) guinea pigs are popular cages for letting guinea pigs play safely outside. Runs are very easy to assemble and can be made of a variety of materials, such as wood, PVC, nylon, and wire. No matter what type of run you choose, there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, cover the top of the run to prevent predator attacks and provide sun and wind protection for the guinea pig.
- Place several items in the run that can be used as hiding and resting places, such as a guinea pig-sized igloo and a paper bag. A plastic hallway or toilet paper tube can also be a great place to rest.
- Make sure you put plenty of water and quality hay in the run.
- If the grass is still damp, place several large towels on top of the soil so your guinea pig has a dry place to settle in while outside. Alternatively, you can wait until the grass is completely dry before taking your guinea pig outside.
- Remove grass and small pebbles from the cage.
Step 2. Take your guinea pig outside while it's warm
Guinea pigs are very sensitive to hot weather (26 degrees Celsius or more), so it's important to take them out when it's not too hot. Temperatures won't be too high in spring (if you live in a country with four seasons), so spring is the perfect time to take your guinea pig outdoors.
Step 3. Keep an eye on your guinea pig
Since guinea pigs are very sensitive to temperature extremes, keep an eye on them when outside to make sure they're okay. If your guinea pig begins to suffer from overheating, it will show signs such as immobility, weakness, and panting. If you notice any of these signs, bring your guinea pig into the house immediately and call your vet.
- You can apply first aid to your guinea pig before taking him to the vet. Wet the ears, feet, and fur with cold water. Don't wet her with too much water as lowering her body temperature too quickly and/or too much can cause serious health problems.
- On your way to the vet, keep your guinea pig cool with a cold, wet towel. Turning on the air conditioner (not too cold) or opening the car window also helps keep the guinea pig without dropping their body temperature too drastically.
Tips
- When playing outdoors with your guinea pig, pay attention to the direction of the sun. You should move the towels periodically to ensure that your guinea pig always has an enclosed area in the cage.
- Guinea pigs are also very sensitive to very cold weather, so don't take your guinea pig outside in winter if you live in a country with four seasons.
- If you have children, watch them carefully when playing with your guinea pig so they don't play too rough and injure the guinea pig.
