Guinea Pig Balls Are Harmful
A guinea pig ball is a popular choice of exercise toy for many owners. However, research has shown that they can cause permanent damage to your pet's spine, and should be avoided at all costs.
Exercise balls are a great choice for many rodent owners. Hamsters, gerbils, and mice all love to run around in them, and they provide a very convenient way to give your pet some exercise without having to worry about your pet escaping, or climbing into some hard-to-reach or dangerous place. You can simply put them in and let them loose!
Because of this, many guinea pig owners naturally assume that their pet would love a similar exercise ball to scamper around in. This is a perfectly natural assumption to make, but sadly it can also have serious implications for your pet's health.
Hamsters, gerbils, and mice all have very flexible, supple backs which means that they can run in a ball without any problems. However, guinea pigs are not nearly as flexible, and it can cause them pain and permanent damage if their spines are bent backwards. A guinea pig ball does exactly this, which is what makes it such a bad toy for these furry creatures.
Until recently, there was little research into the effects of exercise balls on the health of guinea pigs' spines, so many owners, breeders, vets, and pet shops were happy to use and recommend them. You can even buy specially made guinea pig balls in many pet shops, which are generally larger, but still very bad for your pet's back.
Thankfully, stores are becoming more aware of their dangers, and as a result they are removing them from their shelves. Their staff are also being educated so that they can advise customers against buying them.
Unfortunately this has meant that some owners will instead buy a hamster or mouse ball as a substitute. These are even worse for their animals, because they are much smaller, and curve their guinea pig's spine even more.
So if you can't let your pet loose in a guinea pig ball, what should you do? Well, the best alternative is also the simplest - just let your guinea pig run around in your house, or even in the garden if the weather is right.
It's best to set up an area where you can let your pet roam, well away from any dangerous items or areas where they might escape or get lost. Cover the floor with a sheet to protect it from droppings, and let your pigs run around.
If you don't want to have to sit there keeping an eye on your pets, of if you find they are just too fast to control, then you could consider using a guinea pig run, which will help to contain them, making your life easier.
For exercising your pet, this is a much better alternative to using a dangerous guinea pig ball - it will help keep your animals fit and healthy, and they will enjoy their exercise time all the more for it.