Guinea pigs are gentle animals with sensitive inner organs. Like all companion pets, they require special attention and care. Once your guinea pig knows you, they enjoy being petted and hand-fed, so how often you should hold them is up to you.
However, there are a few situations in which you shouldn’t handle your guinea pig. For instance, when they have just been born, just given birth, just come back from the vets. They have fragile bones and internal organs, so care must be taken. How often and when you should hold your guinea pig is up to you.
Should I Hold My Guinea Pig Every Day?
No. The belief people have is that handling their guinea pig will allow them to be calm. Though, if you choose to practice that, you will have to wait for months when your guinea pig has grown up. When your guinea pig has grown up, they become calmer and can be carried around many times.
Do Guinea Pigs Like To Be Handled?
Yes. Guinea pigs loved to be handled with care. They can get stressed when handled too much or held for long periods. If you are holding your guinea pig, it must be raised, moved around, and taken care of. To handle your guinea pigs, start from small periods of relatively intense handling by staying close to the pig, after which they should be held & patted.
How To Hold A Guinea Pig?
The way you hold your guinea pig requires tremendous care because the animal has fragile bones. When they fall, especially from a high place, it can result in injuries such as internal damage, bruising or fractured bones. Therefore, you must hold your pet very well.
RELATED: Guinea Pig vs. Cat: Which Is the Best Pet for Me?
You should approach your guinea pig with two hands when picking them up. Use one hand to stop the pet from running forwards and the other hand to prevent them from backing up. Place one hand under the guinea pig’s abdomen and chest, and the other hand to supports its weight and hindquarters. Young guinea pigs should not be picked up and carried. They might accidentally drop with upsetting consequences. When placing your pet back in its cage or on the ground, make sure you hold them well close to the floor securely and firmly before letting them go.
Can You Hold A Guinea Pig Too Much?
Guinea pigs do not like to be held too much because they prefer hiding in their pen to rejuvenate and rest. It’s only advisable you hold them too much when they’re being treated, fed, taken to the veterinarian or, want to play. Ensure to do this with care and avoid stressing them.
How Do You Pick Up A Skittish Guinea Pig?
Your guinea pig might be a bit shy and nervous when you first purchase them. Trust is crucial if you want to raise a skittish guinea pig. It would be best if you make the animal happy by playing with them daily. To get your guinea pig comfortable when playing with the pet, they need to get used to your presence. Here are the steps involved in picking up your process are steps involved in the pickup process:
- Use threats
First, you need to develop trust with your guinea pig. Start by giving them treats from your hand, which will take not less than 1 to 2 weeks. Don’t be bothered if it lasts a bit longer, as each guinea pig is a single animal and adapts at its own pace. When the guinea pig starts to eat from your hand, you can now move to the next step.
- Initiate Contact
It’s time to initiate contact when the guinea pig is feeding. This can be done through any part of the animal’s body, but the majority prefers a minor scratch at the side or touching the upper part of their head.
Be careful when you begin. If the guinea pig runs or stays in an angle the first few sessions, it is pretty normal. Leave them to adapt to the touch at their own pace.
- Give more treats and touch
Immediately the guinea pig gets used to touching, continue feeding them as you move your hand underneath their stomach. Get them familiar with being held across the hump, beneath the arms, and across the stomach. When it gets comfortable with this touch, you can now move on to carry the guinea pig.
Make sure you are sitting next to the cage when picking up a guinea pig. Keep in mind that this pet has tiny bones. So, when picking the guinea, scoop them in a fluid motion. Place one hand beneath the stomach and the other beneath the rump. Place the guinea pig on your lap and cradle it to your chest.
- Finally
A guinea pig will never allow you to pick him under any circumstances. So it best to give your guinea pig time to settle in. New guinea pigs, especially newborns, will likely run when you try to pick them. If you give them time to think again using a treat, they’ll begin to associate the scent with a delicious snack. There are a few guinea pigs that don’t like to be cuddled. You can bond with your pet by leaving their favorite treat hidden in a willow ball.
How To Bond With Your Guinea Pig?
Guinea pigs are born to be so skittish and usually hide as they are haunted animals. They feel like they are prey to bigger animals in their vicinity. If you’ve just taken in a new guinea pig but can’t figure out how to make the animal trust you, the tips below will help you create a better relationship with them.
- Give your guinea pig time to adjust to your surroundings after they’ve arrived at your new home.
- Approach the guinea pig from the side and not from above. Gradually get closer to the guinea pig after a few seconds by placing your hands a few inches from their faces. Repeat this process for weeks, progressively spending more time with them.
- Talk to your guinea pig. The more you talk to these small animals, the more they get used to your voice. This will calm them down and lower their defenses around you.
- Frequent pick your guinea pig up, especially when they feel neglected.
- Schedule floor sessions after scheduling frequent pickups. This will help forge your bond with your guinea pigs further.
Finally
Owning a guinea pig should be fun. If your guinea pig is healthy and old enough, you should be able to hold them as long as you want. Ultimately, show this pet that time with you is excellent and fun by giving them some tasty treats.
Related Questions:
How often should you let your guinea pig out of its cage?
Letting your guinea pig come out of its cage for playtime is essential to having happy and healthy little piggies. Guinea pigs love exploring, and giving them an extra space to run can help prevent obesity and keep them healthy. You can let your guinea pig out of its cage 2 or 3 times a week for a few hours if you have a whole room to spare.
How long should I wait to hold my new guinea pig?
If you just brought a new guinea pig, then it’s recommended that you don’t handle them for a week so that your pet can settle into their new home. This may be hard to resist, but it’s the best for your guinea pig.
Can I hold my guinea pig on the first day?
Baby guinea pigs should not be held for at least one week after birth and must always be handled carefully. Picking up a newborn guinea pig too early may stress the pet, so you need to follow your vet’s advice.
How to hold a guinea pig to clip nails?
Gently hold of your guinea pig’s front leg if you want to clip his nails. Don’t be upset if your guinea pig wriggles it free. It takes patience and practice to get adapt to cutting your guinea pig’s nails. If your guinea pig becomes distressed, release the leg and reassure him. You can start this process again when your guinea pig feels comfortable.
Steady the nail between your thumb and index finger once you’ve to hold onto your guinea pig’s leg to ensures you have a good grip. Do not try not to squeeze or hold tightly, as this can harm your guinea pig.