Post by PigPog on Feb 6, 2008 0:33:50 GMT
Piggy Toys
Guinea pigs really love to play and you can help them by giving them a wide variety of toys to keep them amused. Toys play an important part in ensuring the good health of your pet both physically and mentally by keeping them active and interested. Plus it's fun for you to watch!
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Toys for small cost
Cardboard toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes
Remove all toilet paper and kitchen paper before giving them to your guinea pigs. Also, if you give these to young guinea pigs make sure you cut them in half first because youngsters have been known to get stuck in them!
Cardboard boxes
Remove all sticky tape, packing tape, labels, staples, etc first.
Brown paper bags
Scrunched up newspaper
Old socks and old plain t-shirts
Don't use t-shirts with detail, beading, etc as they are a choking hazard.
Sections of thick rope
Towels and flannels
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Toys for a bit more cost
Plastic jingle balls and soft toys
Soft toys for dogs make a great objects to snuggle up to.
Plastic jingle balls create hours of fun nosing them around the hutch.
Fiddle sticks
Bend these to create hidy holes, ramps and other fun things!
Plastic igloos (aka "pigloos"!)
Great to hide in and also to push around the hutch.
Dangly bells and mirrors
Dangly bird bells and mirrors are fun to push and make noise with!
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Dangerous toys that should never be used
Clothes
Never dress your guinea pig up in clothes. They may look cute, but guinea pigs do not enjoy being restricted by clothing. Guinea pigs are living creatures and the only clothing they need is their own fur. Dressing up a guinea pig is for the entertainment of the owner and has no benefits to the guinea pig. Don't do it.
Exercise balls
These will damage the spine and paws of your guinea pig and do not provide any level of fun for your pet. These balls are hot, stuffy and confine the animal. Guinea pigs are not physically built to use exercise balls and they will become injured through use.
Leads, leashes and harnesses
Guinea pigs do not enjoy being strapped into a lead, leash or harness and will become distressed, leading to injury or extreme fright. Pet shops sell them because they make money and they are purely for the entertainment of the owner. They have no benefit to the animal whatsoever. Please avoid these items and one day they may be taken off shelves for good. If you want to exercise your guinea pig, provide them with an appropriate exercise run or pen and never use these items.
Extract taken from my toy guide at:
www.rodentswithattitude.co.uk/health_toys.html
Guinea pigs really love to play and you can help them by giving them a wide variety of toys to keep them amused. Toys play an important part in ensuring the good health of your pet both physically and mentally by keeping them active and interested. Plus it's fun for you to watch!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toys for small cost
Cardboard toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes
Remove all toilet paper and kitchen paper before giving them to your guinea pigs. Also, if you give these to young guinea pigs make sure you cut them in half first because youngsters have been known to get stuck in them!
Cardboard boxes
Remove all sticky tape, packing tape, labels, staples, etc first.
Brown paper bags
Scrunched up newspaper
Old socks and old plain t-shirts
Don't use t-shirts with detail, beading, etc as they are a choking hazard.
Sections of thick rope
Towels and flannels
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toys for a bit more cost
Plastic jingle balls and soft toys
Soft toys for dogs make a great objects to snuggle up to.
Plastic jingle balls create hours of fun nosing them around the hutch.
Fiddle sticks
Bend these to create hidy holes, ramps and other fun things!
Plastic igloos (aka "pigloos"!)
Great to hide in and also to push around the hutch.
Dangly bells and mirrors
Dangly bird bells and mirrors are fun to push and make noise with!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dangerous toys that should never be used
Clothes
Never dress your guinea pig up in clothes. They may look cute, but guinea pigs do not enjoy being restricted by clothing. Guinea pigs are living creatures and the only clothing they need is their own fur. Dressing up a guinea pig is for the entertainment of the owner and has no benefits to the guinea pig. Don't do it.
Exercise balls
These will damage the spine and paws of your guinea pig and do not provide any level of fun for your pet. These balls are hot, stuffy and confine the animal. Guinea pigs are not physically built to use exercise balls and they will become injured through use.
Leads, leashes and harnesses
Guinea pigs do not enjoy being strapped into a lead, leash or harness and will become distressed, leading to injury or extreme fright. Pet shops sell them because they make money and they are purely for the entertainment of the owner. They have no benefit to the animal whatsoever. Please avoid these items and one day they may be taken off shelves for good. If you want to exercise your guinea pig, provide them with an appropriate exercise run or pen and never use these items.
Extract taken from my toy guide at:
www.rodentswithattitude.co.uk/health_toys.html
