Guinea pigs are cute and this is the reason why many pet lovers have them in their homes. Due to their small size, the care they need is not the same as that of bigger pets like dogs or cats. One issue that is sometimes asked is, is it possible for one to put a harness on a guinea pig- maybe if it is time for playing outside or allowing them to venture out under supervision.
Inasmuch as it may be practical or amusing to assume guinea pigs will go on walks attached to a leash, like every other initiative concerning pet care, safety should come first. Therefore in this blog post, we will focus on guinea pigs and harnesses. We will try to answer the question whether it is safe or not, how guinea pigs will behave, and whether there are enough other means for them to have safe and fun activities. By the end, you will have greater insight into whether or not harnesses are appropriate devices for your wee little furry companion.
Knowing More about the Physiology and Behavior of Guinea Pigs
Turning to the question of whether a guinea pig harness is safe or not, we first try to look at what a guinea pig is and how they are designed. Looking at the guinea pigs, they are different in form compare to cats and dogs as they are quite small and fragile with certain features. The humans have round shaped body, little legs and instincts of a prey animal that influences their understanding of things especially when they are to sit still or in one position.
Guinea Pig Anatomy
Most depigmented guinea pig body is small, it has delicate spine, short sensorial limbs and timid breast-girdles. As against dogs that manzamine people walk around with or head shoulders on a rope, cord, leash leave with, guinea pigs have a different skeletal structure which is most likely not designed and built for extreme pulling or jerking motions.
One of the main areas of concern with harnesses is that they run across the girth and frontal chest which could easily be prone to injury to their spine. Even a slight tug could cause. This is discriminatory in that if there are shortcomings in the fit of the harness or the guinea pig panics and tries to run away. Sudden injury can lead to severe consequences such as being incapacitated owing to partial or complete fracture of the bones.
Natural Behavior.
Since guinea pigs have their own predatory and prey instincts, it is understandable that they tend to be uneasy, anxious, and scared of new surroundings. This is particularly important especially when it comes to the consideration of when there is a harness. The first thing that a guinea pig would instinctively do when it feels restricted or confined in any way is to try and break free or avoid movement.
Guinea pigs are prey species which means they have to run or hide to prevent being attacked by other animals. Even guinea pigs that are raised in a domestic environment have this inherent nature and that is why strapping them up in a harness will make them feel uncomfortable Since, unlike dogs that have been trained to heel, when a six-week old guinea pig is taken out for a walk by a loose leash mode on a harness, he will most probably sit down on his bottom or attempt to escape from the harness to the full extent increasing chances for an injury.
Is the harness for guinea pigs safe?
In considering their physiology and behavior, the question of whether it is sad to tether guinea pigs gets a little murky. Indeed, being harnessed is not uncommon for other small animals, such as rabbit or ferret’s, which is indeed not the case for the guinea pig who has its features and physical constraints.
Potential Risks
The most notable benefit of adverse weather is the use of harness on a guinea pig is the risk of injury. There generalised problems with the harness. If it’s too tight, it may interfere with the guinea pig’s breathing or burse their ribs. If it’s too loose then guinea pig may be able to squirm out and hurt them in the process.
Thin harnesses that tend to be more appropriate can prove detrimental as well especially in events of guinea pigs being agitated or stressed. In an event there is a tug on the harness more so forcefully, the guinea pig can be thrown off balance which may lead to potential injury of the spinal cord and muscle strains. More so compared to other animals such as dogs, guinea pigs’ bodies are not designed for sudden pull of jerking movements which are common when on leash.
Stress and Anxiety As much as there are risks physically, there is also need to consider the mental health fairs of the guinea pig. Just like other pets, guinea pigs are prone to stress and being held onto a harness can be too much for them.
Teeth chattering, rapid breathers, stiffening of any body part or trying to flee the area are some of the behaviors guinea pigs will display when they are stressed. For the case of a guinea pig, the wearing of a harness may prove such an activity as such a shocking one that they suffer from mental distress over time. Because of prolonged tension, guinea pigs tend to become weak owing to compromised immunity making them prone to various diseases.
Health Issues
Guinea pigs also come with certain health risks related to the use of harnesses. For example, such two-piece harnesses that wrap around the chest and abdomen may apply pressure on their delicate lungs and this could lead to some breathing problems.
Can Guinea Pigs Be Trained to Wear a Harness?
Other pet owners may ask themselves if it possible to teach a guinea pig to wear a harness and accept it. Though most guinea pigs are bright and can be taught some tricks, wearing a harness brings several issues.
Training Limitations
Pets such as dogs, or even cats, have an inherent tendency to follow their owners. This however, is not the case with guinea pigs or walking them on a leash. This is because their movement patterns are quite different; they prefer short sprints or fast sequences of hunting a spot then stopping as they explore. Even if you were to be able to strap a harness on a guinea pig you should not expect them to walk straight or to obey commands on how to turn.
This simply means that teaching consta a guinea pig to adopt and put on a harness will take considerable time and one’s endurance. However, even when well trained it is hard to guarantee that such a guinea pig can ever embrace such an artifact. The discomfort which is created by the harness may be too much than the advantages it brings.
Distress Signals
It may be recalled that when training a guinea pig to be harnessed, particular attention henceforth needs to be placed on their body language while harness training. Some of the signs that indicate that your guinea pig is in distress are; Overheating or rapid breathing, Little movement or freezing, Teeth chattering and attempts to get out of the harness.
If the guinea pig manifested any of these signs, the training should be discontinued immediately. Making a guinea pig wear a harness, when the animal clearly demonstrates resistance, can lead to behavioral problems that can be lasting and detrimental to the health of the guinea pig.
Harness Alternatives
Although the concept of taking a guinea pig for a walk on a leash may sound interesting – probably because they have gained a lot of popularity – there are safer and better ways to give your guinea pig the chance to move around and see the sights.
Closed-Circuit Play Stations
The best thing that you can do for your guinea pig instead of putting a harness would be to give the guinea pig a safe confined area for play. Portable exercise pens or play pens for small animals are wonderful places for this. Such cages allow for most of the activities associated with guinea pigs’ rods without the restraints that come from having a harness.
It is possible to erect outside pens in a backyard or a garden provided that they are protected from predators and the place is safe. Always monitor your guinea pig closely, although these cages provide a much better way for guinea pigs to go out without being restrained as much as indoors.
Socializing for Short
There’s another good option which is supervised indoor playtime or in a guinea pig repurposed room. Keeping your guinea pig in a safely bounded space inside the house or in a harness gives an opportunity to exercise within limits. You may be able to arrange tents, amusement, and let their biological curiosity take over exploring.
This type of playing also offers a simpler, better and more comfortable experience for the guinea pig as there are no limitations inhibiting their movements.
Let’s summarize
All in all even though theoretically a guinea pig can be harnessed, when it comes to practical application it is best avoided. Considering the numerous dangers that come with harnessing and the mental pressure it may also cause in some small pets, wearing of these harnesses is a negative experience for these fragile pets. As a last resort, it is best to use safe measures like easily movable play pens or restricted space indoors where the pet can run loose without any dangers to it.
In the long run, guinea pig care is about having a healthy environment that makes your pet feel loved, secured and stressed free. As long as you deal with these basic requirements as they concern the behavior of the pet, you can be able to give a safe, uplifting, healthy and fun environment for your little friend.
