Can guinea pigs go in those hamster balls for exercise?
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  • No this will hurt the guinea pig....even if there is a big enough ball for it or a specially made one you guinea pig will get hurt or fracture its foot or leg.

  • Though technically their spine does not curve back like hamsters, you can buy a big enough ball so that it will not hurt the guinea pig's spine. They have actually created exercise balls for the guinea pig, they are much larger so the spine wont have to curve as much. But there is no reason why your guinea pig can't run around the house, just keep a close eye on it and buy a small litter box for it, that's what we did with mine and he LOVES it!

  • No, if your guinea pig is too big for the ball, it won't be able to move and may feel trapped and get stressed.

  • No. Guinea pig spines can't curve upwards, and their legs are short. They could get injured in a ball or wheel. It's much better to give your pigs floor time in a pig-proofed room.

  • My guinea pig loves her exercise ball!

  • I agree. That's totally not true. My guinea pig rolls around in it all day. I don't know where you got your information. I'm SURE it was a trustworthy place...

  • Actually I just read that their spines don't bend backwards like a hamster's or rat's spine. Playing in the ball CAN result in spinal injury...

  • I think just to be safe you shouldn't put them in an exercise ball, you should just let them have time out of their cage to run in a safe room.

  • It would be very unfortunate to watch a guinea pig get hurt over a careless error like putting it into a "HAMSTER roll about" so, to stick on the safe side I would have to say your best bet would be to keep the Guinea pig out of the hamsters ball.

  • Hamster balls are for hamsters not guinea pigs!! Guinea pigs are too big for them. You can get special guinea pig exercise equipment such as wheels, leads etc from pet shops which are specially designed for them. You are much better off letting your guinea pig run around in a supervised area where they cannot escape as they would probably enjoy this more anyway.

  • People please check your sources!!!! Just because you "heard it somewhere" or "my friend's does it" doesn't mean it is right. (Yes I AM a Mom.) A guinea pig's spine is NOT able to curve backwards like a hamster or ferret. Putting him in a ball, even if he likes it, will eventually cause permanent spinal injury, even if it's in a big ferret ball. The same goes with a wheel. Just because it's marked "for guinea pigs" doesn't mean it's healthy. You can walk them like a dog, or let them run around a secure room while you watch him and play with him for exercise. Do a little research and I'm sure you will come up with a few other misconceptions, like feeding them carrots and lettuce. Sure, they love them, but is the diarrhea and digestive pain they suffer really worth it? The pine and cedar chip bedding that is marked for them and is so cheap and easily accessible can give them upper respiratory infections, not to mention liver failure. Come on guys!!! Treat your beloved family pet like part of the family, not like an expendable stuffed toy.

  • I have learned that if you put a guinea pig in a ball the guinea pig's legs, that are not like a hamster's at all, cause them to have bad leg problems in the future. For exercise, guinea pig's run around their cages. Or you could go to the pet store and they have these leashes but be very careful because my guinea pig isn't too crazy about it.

  • No, never put your hamster in a guinea pig ball, it is way too small.

  • I agree with the others, they CAN be put in a ball (yeah, they fit in them), but it isn't good for them. The flexibility and curve of their back isn't good for this kind of exercise.

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First answer by ID406745015. Last edit by A.Keys. Contributor trust: 5 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 73 [recommend question]

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