Do Guinea Pigs Need a Wheel? Be Aware!

Guinea pigs are often considered rodents, but they aren’t. So, the need for play toys or exercise of guinea pigs is different from rodents. While it may be fun to see a hamster or gerbil run on a wheel, it’s not the same for guinea pigs.

So, do guinea pigs need a wheel? Guinea pigs don’t need a running wheel to play. In fact, such a wheel is dangerous for guinea pigs. They have a different anatomy than common rodents, and arching their back into concave can be deadly for guinea pigs.

Let’s find out more about this and know what they can play with.

Do Guinea Pigs Need a Wheel?

Exercise wheels or running wheels are common pet toys for rodents like gerbils, mice, hamsters, or chinchillas. And when you have a pet guinea pig, you might be tempted to put a running wheel inside the cage of your guinea pig.

While guinea pigs need a lot of exercise, you should never put a wheel inside their cage. The back anatomy of guinea pigs is quite different from their rodent cousins.

When they run on a wheel, it arches their back into a concave shape. So doing this over and over again can be too dangerous for these little pets. Due to the bending of their skeleton, they can face serious injuries or even death.

Besides, the chance of injury increases when the wheel is small and the guinea pig is forced to bend its back beyond the safe limit.

So, it is never a good idea to put a wheel inside the cage of guinea pigs. And even if you put such a wheel inside the cage, your pet guinea pig might not be interested in using the wheel at all.

Why Can’t Guinea Pigs Use Wheels?

Guinea pigs don’t need a wheel inside their cage for the following reasons.

Spinal Injuries

As we have already stated, guinea pigs are prone to spinal injuries if they run on a wheel. Unlike other rodents, they have an inflexible spine. If your pet tries to run on the wheel, the immense pressure on the spine can cause back pains.

In the worst cases, the pet might catch spinal injuries that can lead to death. So, you should never put a wheel inside the cage of this furry pet.

Foot Injuries

The feet of guinea pigs are also different from rodents. Their forepaws are very small and have cartilage. As a result, they can experience foot injuries while running on wire mesh. Snagged feet can be another big issue when guinea pigs run on wheels.

Shortage of Space

A running wheel can take up a lot of space inside the cage. And guinea pigs won’t like that at all. They need to have enough space inside the cage so that they can run, burrow, nibble, or do whatever they feel like. Putting a wheel inside will cramp the cage, and it can leave your guinea pigs depressed.

Do Guinea Pigs Need a Lot of Exercises?

Yes, guinea pigs need to exercise regularly to be happy and healthy. You must let them exercise for three to four hours per day to keep them in good shape. Guinea pigs like to run, burrow, and do a lot of other physical activities throughout the day.

Even if they are inside the cage most of the time, the cage should be spacious enough to let them move around whenever they want. Hence, a cramped cage is the worst nightmare for guinea pigs. Sometimes, you can also let them roam around the room under supervision.

What Other Toys Do Guinea Pigs Need in Their Cage?

Guinea pigs don’t need wheels doesn’t mean they can’t have other toys inside the cage. In fact, they will enjoy a lot of different toys. And here is a quick overview of the toys you can give to your guinea pig.

• Paper Balls
• Cardboard Boxes
• Tunnels
• Chew Sticks or Balls
• Ramps or Obstacles

Paper Balls

Though it may sound pretty simple, guinea pigs will actually love paper balls very much. You can crumple some paper to form a ball and throw it inside the cavy’s cage. Your pet will start gnawing on the ball and pushing it forward.

Cardboard Boxes

Medium cardboard boxes can be a good hiding place for your pets. Guinea pigs love to have their little hiding place to get out of your sight. So, you can put a cardboard shoe box inside the cage, and your pet will love it. Guinea pigs can sometimes chew the box, but there is nothing dangerous about that.

Tunnels

This is a great toy for guinea pigs. They might use it to run through or hide inside. Guinea pigs can even take a nap inside tunnels. When you put some treats inside the tunnel, it becomes much more enjoyable for them.

Chew Sticks or Balls

Guinea pigs need to munch on things a lot to maintain their teeth. Their teeth grow constantly, and they need to wear the teeth down by masticating. It will be fun for them to chew on hay balls or wooden sticks. So, you can put some of those inside the cage and let them play around.

Ramps or Obstacles

If you have a multi-storied cage for your pet, never put a wire ladder to reach the floors. It can injure the pet. Put some ramps or solid stairs instead. And you can also put various obstacles inside the cage to provide them with the necessary stimulation.

FAQs

You might need to check the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding guinea pigs. Here you go.

Conclusion

It goes without saying that these little pets are very delicate. But a guinea pig has a more delicate back and belly than its rodent cousins. And making them bend their spine can cause severe damage and be fatal.

So, do guinea pigs need a wheel? You should already know that they don’t. They even don’t try to use that wheel. But if they do, it will injure your guinea pigs badly. You better look out for alternative toys that your guinea pigs love.