Can Guinea Pigs Swim?

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I actually saw some videos on you tube that piggies can swim but personally I think it also stresses them out so I usually just put enough water for my piggy to walk.
 
Like us they are all different, some may, some may not I wouldn't chance it. It's highly cruel and not something they enjoy.
 
my piggies love swimming around in my bath, esp my old boy who has a dodgy hip, it does help him alot
 
I do second Pigmad's suggestion. Hydrotherapy - controlled, supervised etc. - can be good on some medical grounds.

Charlie had major foot issues two years ago, where he was attacking his back foot. He ended up with no nails on that foot, the toes a bloody, swollen mess; every time they started healing he attacked it again...the problem was severe. The initial problem appeared to be paralysis, or some kind of loss of feeling and some movement, and the problems just escalated when he started attacking the foot. We spent 2-3 moths bandaging the foot daily, and also a couple of weeks halfway through giving him some "modified hydrotherapy" sessions; not full swimming, but holding his back legs unsupported (his rump supported obviously) in some deepish water, encouraging him to paddle his back feet. Within a few days he had got some movement back, some strength, and we finally started getting some separation between his swollen and rather mutilated toes.

Full hydrotherapy could work very well with some pigs, as long as it is done properly.
 
If a pig enjoys it and benefits then why not. But the reason I said it was cruel was because of the You Tube videos where pigs have bene thrown in 3 foot of water and made to swim for their lives. :(
 
Louise, I agree with you - I think they are only swimming because they have no choice and are swimming for their lives. They always look terrified. Mine hate baths, never mind swimming.
 
Mine aren't keen either. I put the plug in the bath and then fill the sink up and use a jug to pour the water over the piggys this way they get a little confidence but still they aren't over keen. Once a year I bath my short haired pigs every 3 months or as long as possible for longer haired pigs. All depends on if they make a mess of themselves! :)
 
Mine are short-haired and probably get bathed every 4 months - I don't like to leave it too long because they don't like it, so that they can try and get into the habit of it and learn that they're ok.

Mine go in a basin and they like to sit halfway up one of my hands whilst I try to bathe them with the other hand - it's such a pilava. :)
 
The majority of mine hate water, therefore I only bathe them in shallow water... that said, when my Charlie had temporary paralysis I did make him exercise in a shallow amount of water in the bath, as it made him weightless and helped him so much, but I held him all the time, so he was okay.:)
 
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