Exercise – keeping your guinea pig fit

Well meaning, but poorly informed people, may believe that guinea pigs are cheap and easy to care for, but this is untrue. This idea has led to many guinea pigs being caged most of their lives or living in unsuitable housing, resulting in both physical and behavioral disorders.

Obesity is caused by the same factors in guinea pigs as it is in people. Too many calories for daily needs and a lack of exercise. If a guinea pig sits around all day and moves just enough to take care of minimal daily requirements such as eating, defecating and urinating, it isn’t going to burn many calories, nor is it going to build muscle tissue. Obesity puts undue stress on the cardiovascular system, can result in pododermatitis (inflammation of the foot) as well as making the guinea pig feel sluggish. Large folds of fat can develop around the abdominal and rectal area which interferes with normal grooming and prevent the guinea pig eating some of their own droppings, which is normal. The inability to groom properly can lead to skin disease. The way to prevent obesity is to ensure your guinea pigs are on a healthy diet of mostly grass and hay as well as fresh foods and avoid feeding too much commercial pellets and high starch or sugar snacks.

Pododermatitis (sore hocks) is a condition where the skin on the underside of the feet becomes inflamed resulting in ulcerations that can range from superficial to deep enough to involve bone. This condition can be caused by several factors, but the two most common are obesity and damp/dirty flooring. Wire cage floors can also make pododermatitis more likely, and therefore wire should never be placed on the bottom of a guinea pigs enclosure.

Obesity can contribute to foot disease because of the excessive weight being carried by the feet resulting in unusual pressure being placed on the footpads. If nails become too long, they will force the guinea pig to walk more on the back of the feet, potentially leading to pododermatitis.

A continually damp floor caused by urine or water in the cage/sleeping area is a contributing factor to the development of pododermatitis. If a guinea pig is confined to a small cage it often has no choice but to sit in a wet area. Urine, in particular, is very caustic and can result in serious burns and ulceration of the feet.

Hay is the best substrate to place on the floor of your guinea pig’s hutch. Allow your guinea pig free choice where to spend their time, by linking the hutch to a run with tubing, or place the hutch inside a secure run in the garden so they can graze freely on grass each day.

Poor bone density

Animals that do not get sufficient exercise can develop osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). It is well known that in humans the best natural method to prevent this is to take regular exercise, eat a balanced diet and maintain an optimum body weight. The same applies to guinea pigs. Osteoporosis results in a spine or long bones that can break easily when the guinea pig is handled, leaps off a high surface or runs or jumps rapidly. Dental problems are also likely to arise from poor bone density, as calcium will be removed from the ever-growing teeth, to supply the bones.

Daily exercise is vital to the production of healthy bones.

Poor muscle tone

Obviously if a guinea pig can’t exercise, its muscles will be underdeveloped and weak. This can lead to an inability to move properly. The most important muscle is the heart. If the heart muscle is weak, the guinea pig will be unable to tolerate stressful situations that may occur. Therefore, exercise will help your guinea pig develop a healthy cardiovascular system and be able to withstand inevitable stressful situations successfully.

Gastrointestinal and urinary function

A guinea pig that sits all day in the cage with little exercise can develop abnormal elimination habits. Guinea pigs that exercise routinely will urinate and defecate frequently which is good for the urinary and digestive systems. Holding urine or stool may contribute to a variety of conditions such as gut stasis and concentrated sludgy urine.

Behavioral problems

Behavioral problems in guinea pigs, as in other creatures, are complex. Stimulants such as toys and hiding areas also help. Continually caged guinea pigs can exhibit a wide range of abnormal behaviors including lethargy, aggression towards companions, continual chewing and biting of the cage bars (sometimes leading to incisor damage), chewing fur (obsessive grooming), and destruction of the entire contents of the cage. These signs are often due to stress and boredom and should be acted upon to improve the guinea pig’s welfare.

Do not place a harness and lead on your guinea pig, like you would a dog. This is extremely stressful and dangerous and may lead to injuries and potentially death of the guinea pig.

The best way to offer the guinea pig suitable exercise is to house them with a suitable companion, and in a large enough enclosure, with items they find stimulating. This includes areas to graze in, hide, tunnels to run though, puzzle games with food hidden, piles of hay to bury in, willow/apple items to chew on, etc. They should be in a secure and safe environment, which they cannot escape from and nothing else can enter and injure them.