I keep hearing that guinea pigs have delicate spines and so should always be carried with one hand supporting the rump. How exactly delicate are they? If they're picked up around their tummies with their legs hanging free, could that hurt them? My girlfriend likes to "Lion King" them sometimes. Should she stop? They seem fine, but I see that line about their spines everywhere and I'm anxious to care for them properly.
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Picking up piggies and spinal injury?
- Thread starter Mooeena
- Start date
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
My personal viewpoint is that if something is being done for the humans pleasure rather than the piggies enjoyment that it should stop. I highly doubt that your piggies enjoy the Lion King experience regardless of whether it could potentially damage their spines. I always try and support their rump when carrying, not just for the spine but otherwise you have one hand around the area where all the internal organs are and putting a lot of pressure on them, it's not going to be comfortable.
Yes it could hurt them, if they twist or wriggle to try to get away. They can easily wriggle free from that kind of hold and would fall, given the was no hand underneath to catch/support them. They need to always have their bottoms supported for their own safety and security.
PigglePuggle
Senior Guinea Pig
Yes I agree with the above, being picked up at all is quite stressful even for very tame piggies, and they naturally need to feel a solid surface underneath them to feel safe- picking up should always be kept brief and stress free with respect for piggy instincts.
Their spines are indeed extremely delicate, we hear of many spinal injuries and associated rear end paralysis from even quite minor squirms and falls and bad landings, their bottoms are too heavy to be supported in the air by their delicate spines, and their spine cannot bend like other rodents- they have evolved to be firmly ground dwelling creatures, paws on the floor and no gymnastics!
Their spines are indeed extremely delicate, we hear of many spinal injuries and associated rear end paralysis from even quite minor squirms and falls and bad landings, their bottoms are too heavy to be supported in the air by their delicate spines, and their spine cannot bend like other rodents- they have evolved to be firmly ground dwelling creatures, paws on the floor and no gymnastics!