How can I get my guinea pig to lose weight?

Question

How can I get my guinea pig to lose weight?

Answer 1

hamster wheel,

and let it chase something so it could

you know, run around and lose weight

Answer 2

Build a maze and put some of their fave veggies at the end (i never got to do this because my guinea pig was ACCIDENTLY pregnant and too fat to do anything but run around for floor time), OR hold the food above their heads where they just can reach it with their nose, these are natural excersizes and they would do this in the wild!

DO NOT, DO NOT GET A HAMSTER WHEEL THEY HAVE BAD BACKS, ONLY TUNNELS WHICH THEY CANNOT GET STUCK IN DURING FLOOR TIME, AND DO NOT PUT THEM ON A DIET, guinea pigs are supposed to be a little chubby, so it's like starving them if u don't feed them till their skinny

Answer 3

Ditto, Susan.

I have nothing more to add - both the links she gave you are very helpful.

You may consider joining the Guinea Lynx forum for more knowledgable and helpful answers. Lots of nice people over there =)

Answer 4

Please don't listen to the above. Hamster wheels, balls and harnesses can kill a guinea pig.

Why do you think he needs to lose weight?

You should review their diet and their housing:

http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

There is no safe way to 'diet' or fast a guinea pig. They have a delicate digestive system.

But if you are feeding poor quality and too many pellets, and he has a too small cage, it contributes to obesity.  

Answer 5

DO NOT USE HAMSTER BALLS, HARNESSES OR HAMSTER WHEELS! Yes, they sell bigger versions for guinea pigs, but they are BAD. Their back can become severely damaged if you use any of these items!

Why do you want your guinea pig to lose weight? Did your vet recommend this? Chances are your guinea pig is the correct weight. Guinea pigs are meant to have a portly appearance.

Guinea pigs exercise by running laps and popcorning in their cage, during floortime, and in their run on the grass. If the cage is big enough then he can do this in his cage.  

Answer 6

Feed pellets & unlimited amounts of hay.  Cut down on the treats you feed such as Fruit & Vegetables, dont feed any types of nuts or seeds as they are high in protein.

Place a brick in the middle of your cage, put the food & water at opposite ends of the cage, the pig will have to climb over the brick giving it more exercise.

Answer 7

anyone who further reads this add me 2 ur contacts cuz i will have speacil storie each day or every other and please reply to them

it will be about Sandy Ailee and Tonyo

Answer 8

Get it a large hamster ball. They make them big enough for GP's. Then put her in it. She will love to roll through the house all day. (burning calories)

Answer 9

Well, the worst way to get your guinea pig at a more healthier weight and still want it to actually be healthy would be to give it a product (or food) that would be meant to get any animal 'smaller'. Now the best way to get your guinea pig at a more healthy weight is to let it run around at least once a day every day, but it has to be for more than like 10 minutes, it should be around maybe 35-50 minutes. After his play time you shouldn't go all crazy with food cause you think he might be SO hungry, it would actually be good to give him a bunch of like carrots, or something he/she has to munch on and then wait for about 1 hour and a half before you feed a real meal(but still try not to over indulge it with food).

Answer 10

A second piggy plus floor time equals lots of exercise.  DO NOT GET A WHEEL OR BALL OF ANY KIND!!!  They can cripple your piggy.

Answer 11

Hamster wheel, Tunnels, Run around in his ball, Walk around the room

Answer 12

if it's a baby or if  you can train it,, get it a leash and try to make it walk around your house or outside in the grass

or they do have hamster balls for Guinea pigs.

Answer 13

Susan and Kathryn are the only people who have responded who seem to know absolutely anything about guinea pigs. Harnesses, wheels, and exercise balls can seriously injure a guinea pigs back and even be fatal. Guinea pigs are supposed to eat constantly and are in turn usually only the larger side. Of course overfeeding of pellets and feeding of store bought treats can lead to a guinea pig actually becoming obese, which is not healthy. A guinea pig also need 7.5 square feet of living space so they can run around whenever they'd like to get proper exercise. Giving them a few hours of floortime a week will also ensure they get a good amount of exercise and stay at a healthy weight.