Toys for Guinea Pig ?

rei

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello, I’m really new to this forum and owning a guinea pig. No one in my family has had one before so yeah aha. Anyways not so sure this is the right category but it’s kind of health , because I don’t want a toy to be dangerous for my guinea pig . I found a toy that is soft and there is no button eyes , just fabric . See image* and I was wondering if it’s okay for her . 😇 That is all, thank you if you’ve read this! F0FFC35C-EE56-420F-B931-1732187B50FF.webp
 
Do you only have one guinea pig? Guinea pigs need one companion or more, this allows them to have interaction with the same species and allows them to thrive. Solo guinea pigs can get depressed, and no amount of human interaction can make up for 24/7 same species buddy! So, if you only have one guinea pig please adopt another! Before and when you do, here is a thread to check out: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Regarding the stuffed animal, I would assume it's safe, though I would wait for some elses opinion if you want real confirmation!
:wel: to the forum! Would love some pigtures!
 
:agr:i would say too that it's safe and pretty beautiful. Welcome to the forum😁
 
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Thanks for the reply’s ! Her name is Yulia if anyone is wondering 💖
Do you only have one guinea pig? Guinea pigs need one companion or more, this allows them to have interaction with the same species and allows them to thrive. Solo guinea pigs can get depressed, and no amount of human interaction can make up for 24/7 same species buddy! So, if you only have one guinea pig please adopt another! Before and when you do, here is a thread to check out: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Regarding the stuffed animal, I would assume it's safe, though I would wait for some elses opinion if you want real confirmation!
:wel: to the forum! Would love some pigtures!
Do you only have one guinea pig? Guinea pigs need one companion or more, this allows them to have interaction with the same species and allows them to thrive. Solo guinea pigs can get depressed, and no amount of human interaction can make up for 24/7 same species buddy! So, if you only have one guinea pig please adopt another! Before and when you do, here is a thread to check out: Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

Regarding the stuffed animal, I would assume it's safe, though I would wait for some elses opinion if you want real confirmation!
:wel: to the forum! Would love some pigtures!
I only have one , ive been trying to talk to my mom about getting another but idk if she’ll allow another one. I literally just adopted her the other day, I hope my mom comes around to getting another ... but thank you for the tips
 
Do speak to your mum about how important it is that your guinea pig does not live alone. They are highly social creatures and are not wired to be by themselves, and can suffer from loneliness. They do so much better when they are with a friend and no teddy bear or toys will ever replace her having another guinea pig to live with.
 
Thanks for the reply’s ! Her name is Yulia if anyone is wondering 💖


I only have one , ive been trying to talk to my mom about getting another but idk if she’ll allow another one. I literally just adopted her the other day, I hope my mom comes around to getting another ... but thank you for the tips
Its not really a tip, it's a must do thing, anyway... Merry christmas 👍🎅
 
Its not really a tip, it's a must do thing, anyway... Merry christmas 👍🎅
Okay well I’m sorry but the lady at the pet store said that they were fine to just be by themselves .... I don’t know if she just lied so that my mom and I would buy her. If I knew that I needed another I would have asked my mom and I’m not so sure she would have bought her but like I said I will try . But merry Christmas to you as well :-)
 
Okay well I’m sorry but the lady at the pet store said that they were fine to just be by themselves .... I don’t know if she just lied so that my mom and I would buy her. If I knew that I needed another I would have asked my mom and I’m not so sure she would have bought her but like I said I will try . But merry Christmas to you as well :-)
Unfortunately, pet shop workers are almost always either uneducated when it comes to animal welfare, ignorant because they want sales, or are lying. You are not the first and will definitely not be the last to get into this situation. I did the same as you until I joined dhere
 
Unfortunately, pet shop workers are almost always either uneducated when it comes to animal welfare, ignorant because they want sales, or are lying. You are not the first and will definitely not be the last to get into this situation. I did the same as you until I joined dhere
It really sucks... I felt so bad after reading how they get lonely ... but my mom said she’s going to try and get one soon she also is mad the lady lied to us. It’s weird because she spoke like she was really educated on them but I guess she was just trying to guarantee that we’d buy one. 🥺
 
It really sucks... I felt so bad after reading how they get lonely ... but my mom said she’s going to try and get one soon she also is mad the lady lied to us. It’s weird because she spoke like she was really educated on them but I guess she was just trying to guarantee that we’d buy one. 🥺

That's great that your mom changed her mind!:D Yeah, I went to a pestore to buy my two piggies(there are no rescues nearby), and the lady there said they needed a bath every ten days, didn't need fleece, or a buddy! Everything she told me was, well, wrong! It was kinda bizarre how she didn't really know much about guinea pigs at all, and I am hoping that any other guinea pig owner that buys from her do their research after! Petstore owners being misinformed about the animals which they are selling is very common, and sometimes they don't even know how uneducated they are! I wouldn't feel bad, you're trying your best to give Yulia a good life, and she'll be super happy with a new friend! Anywho, sorry for the long reply, any pictures of Yulia? I love little piggies!
Keep us updated on getting a new guinea pig!
 
Okay well I’m sorry but the lady at the pet store said that they were fine to just be by themselves .... I don’t know if she just lied so that my mom and I would buy her. If I knew that I needed another I would have asked my mom and I’m not so sure she would have bought her but like I said I will try . But merry Christmas to you as well :-)
When you get her a friend be sure to follow the guides on guinea pig bonding and don't just plonk the new friend into Yulia's cage. Sorry can't link in on this device. I'm sure someone will be along soon who can link the guide in.
 
:agr:
Fantastic that you can get her a friend. The lady in the shop did not tell you the truth - she was most likely just wanting a sale.
Betsy is right though, you cannot just get another pig and put it into her cage. The key to having a successful bond is to ensure the piggy friend you get is character compatible and you need to follow the correct bonding procedure. I’ve linked the guides of how do it below.

The first, important thing to do is ensure that your piggy is definitely female, and then when you find a suitable companion, you need to ensure the sex of the new piggy is also the same before bringing it home. Mistakes happen when pet shops sex piggies and you can unknowingly end up with opposite sex piggies and then the potential for pregnancy Which is something that needs to be avoided.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
 
It is difficult the wrong information you get about guinea pigs from pet shops and even vets. Luckily you joined this site. My guinea pigs have teddies for newborns, no hard glass eyes etc, and not had a problem in 3 years. They like them. Yulia looks cute :nod:
 
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I should also have added to my previous post -

You need to ensure your cage is big enough for two piggies and that is a minimum of a cage size of 120cm x 60cm - there is the minimum UK and US size for welfare standards. However, any cage which you can provide which is bigger than that, then that is better for their long term health and happiness

Cage Size Guide
 
:agr:
Fantastic that you can get her a friend. The lady in the shop did not tell you the truth - she was most likely just wanting a sale.
Betsy is right though, you cannot just get another pig and put it into her cage. The key to having a successful bond is to ensure the piggy friend you get is character compatible and you need to follow the correct bonding procedure. I’ve linked the guides of how do it below.

The first, important thing to do is ensure that your piggy is definitely female, and then when you find a suitable companion, you need to ensure the sex of the new piggy is also the same before bringing it home. Mistakes happen when pet shops sex piggies and you can unknowingly end up with opposite sex piggies and then the potential for pregnancy Which is something that needs to be avoided.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Thank you for this ! I know for sure my piggy is a female the Petstore can only sell females (guinea pigs,hamsters,rabbits) because they don’t want babies. At least I hope that isn’t a lie .. but I’ll definitely read those ! 💖
 
That's great that your mom changed her mind!:D Yeah, I went to a pestore to buy my two piggies(there are no rescues nearby), and the lady there said they needed a bath every ten days, didn't need fleece, or a buddy! Everything she told me was, well, wrong! It was kinda bizarre how she didn't really know much about guinea pigs at all, and I am hoping that any other guinea pig owner that buys from her do their research after! Petstore owners being misinformed about the animals which they are selling is very common, and sometimes they don't even know how uneducated they are! I wouldn't feel bad, you're trying your best to give Yulia a good life, and she'll be super happy with a new friend! Anywho, sorry for the long reply, any pictures of Yulia? I love little piggies!
Keep us updated on getting a new guinea pig!
I will definitely update you guys on how everything turns out, I’m going to do more reading on getting another . I am so great full for this forum and glad I came here to ask for help instead of the Petstore! (Here are some pictures of Yulia 💖 )
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It really sucks... I felt so bad after reading how they get lonely ... but my mom said she’s going to try and get one soon she also is mad the lady lied to us. It’s weird because she spoke like she was really educated on them but I guess she was just trying to guarantee that we’d buy one. 🥺
It does really suck, and I hate keep having to tell people they need another guinea pig for the first one to be truly happy. It makes me feel like I am poking my nose into other people's business. Best wishes to you, hope you find a friend for your pig, just be careful not to just go and pick one and then hope they get along, you are best off finding a good guinea pig rescue and arranging a sort of date for yours to meet some others and see which one she gets on with
 
It does really suck, and I hate keep having to tell people they need another guinea pig for the first one to be truly happy. It makes me feel like I am poking my nose into other people's business. Best wishes to you, hope you find a friend for your pig, just be careful not to just go and pick one and then hope they get along, you are best off finding a good guinea pig rescue and arranging a sort of date for yours to meet some others and see which one she gets on with
I hope there are some rescues although i haven’t seen any ( only for cats and dogs) where I live. I’m glad you brought it up and informed me that I need two ! You really opened my eyes on how far Petstore owners will go to guarantee a sell/ uneducated on the animals they have.
 
I hope there are some rescues although i haven’t seen any ( only for cats and dogs) where I live. I’m glad you brought it up and informed me that I need two ! You really opened my eyes on how far Petstore owners will go to guarantee a sell/ uneducated on the animals they have.
At the end of the day, the pet industry is a huge business, that pets suffer from. The more pets they sell, the more products we but for them, its the accessories and false advertised junk food where pet stores make all the money, but they have to churn out the pets to get us to buy them, this is more the small furry industry. The more you look into it the darker it gets, and it will make you shed a tear I'm afraid. Just satay on here and learn real info and care... You'll be just fine
 
Hello, I’m really new to this forum and owning a guinea pig. No one in my family has had one before so yeah aha. Anyways not so sure this is the right category but it’s kind of health , because I don’t want a toy to be dangerous for my guinea pig . I found a toy that is soft and there is no button eyes , just fabric . See image* and I was wondering if it’s okay for her . 😇 That is all, thank you if you’ve read this! View attachment 129511
I don’t tend to use many toys for mine as a lot of pet shop ones can be quite unsafe. Things like hideys, tunnels, cardboard boxes are great! I use a lot of wooden hideys etc as they can chew them. Also, carrot cottages are amazing! Mine absolutely love them
 
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