If you have ever thought about adding a guinea pig to your family you have probably had some questions about how to take care of them.
What do they eat? Can you hold them? Can they swim? We are going to answer one of those questions for you here today.
Whenever you adopt a new pet, it’s best to do all of your research rather than assuming you know the answer off the bat.
Are Guinea Pigs Afraid of Water?
For the most part, guinea pigs do not like water. They may not be actively scared of it if they have never had a bad experience with it, but they usually will not seek it out.
Guinea pigs will usually be okay in a shallow amount of water, as long as they are not fully submerged.
Before guinea pigs were domesticated, they lived in the wild. When they were surrounded by nature they would interact with water strictly for drinking purposes.
They didn’t have any reason to learn how to swim or interact with water.
Sometimes they don’t even need to drink water as much as other animals because they get the water they need from their meals. The main foods that contain the most liquid in a guinea pig’s diet are vegetables.
Guinea pigs are usually somewhat skittish when they are first introduced to a new home.
Because of this, it’s important to not try to force a stressful environment (such as putting them in water) right away. This can lead to damaging the bond between you and your guinea pig.
Is it Good for Guinea Pigs to Swim?
No, it is not considered good practice for guinea pigs to swim. Guinea pigs are not natural swimmers and will likely get extremely anxious.
As a pet parent, you do not want to cause extra anxiety for your pet for any reason.
If you force your guinea pig to swim (by putting them in a bathtub or pool), there are a few outcomes that can happen.
All of which will be tough on your furry friend, which is why we advise against swimming lessons for your guinea pig.
First of all, as we mentioned above, swimming will cause your guinea pig to be anxious and stressed.
Of course, this is not what you want for your furry friend. You want them to feel comfortable with their surroundings especially when they are in your care.
Second, guinea pigs have a unique way of regulating their body temperatures because they do not sweat.
Submerging your pet into the water makes regulating their body temperature more difficult. If they get too wet they can even become sick or get pneumonia.
In addition to these outcomes, your guinea pig can just get tired. If you remember back to when you first learned how to swim, you’ll recall that it takes a lot of your energy.
Between the stress and the physical exertion, this activity will leave your guinea pig feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
Avoid