question about a playball (and harnesses)

[Love pigs]

That is a great idea!!!

[jib88]

is a harnesses a compleat no? my guinea pigs are stuck inside all the time, there to small for one right now but could i not put one on them and just give them all the leeway they would need for running about with out running away?

[VoodooJoint]

Harnesses, playballs and wheels are always and completely a NO with guinea pigs.

[MidnightStar]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

Those balls are not good for Guinea Pigs, Neither are wheels or harnesses. Guinea Pigs have rigid spines, like horses, and they cannot bend backwards well. Balls, wheels and harnesses force their spines into an unnatural position that can lead to serious injury.

Get rid of the ball and never use it again. Instead set up a large, safe play area for free roaming floortime. You can lie down a shower curtain or two and towels over it to protect your carpeting from urine.

We bought a ball for Tottie, and she pretty much just sits in it. Now I understand why at least! But it's handy to put her in a secure place while I'm cleaning out her cage. At least that way I can keep an eye on her. Although now we're looking into setting her up a little room of her own, so that will be much better. Of course, we have to find a way to keep the cats out, but still.

Originally Posted by Purdy Piggies

One day when it hit me...what a great safe place for my piggies to play! I just throw down some old towels to cover the bottom so they don't slip around (and to soak up their pee so that it doesn't get their undersides all wet), put in a few tubes, toys, and veggies and they have a blast!

That's a brilliant idea! Pity it wouldn't work in our apartment though.

Originally Posted by Henle15

The only decent thing that the petstores sell are Hay, and that is suspect, but useful in an emergency. Their food is crap, "treats" are full of sugar and useless stuff that piggies shouldn't be given, some of the hideys are ok...but you can make your own for nothing (boxes) and cozies are way better too. I would say 95% of their employees are also full of mis-information (no offense to petstore workers here, but most have no idea). So basically I would say that the hideys and hay are decent and the other stuff is bad. Oh yeah the cages they sell are horrible and way over priced. You would think that they would tap into the C&C cage market somehow... but then again I know how smart those people at the top in the pet store industry are! and if people keep buying those small cages they will keep selling them....just like the rest of the crap they sell as "guinea" friendly.

What's wrong with the pellets they sell? Isn't Hartz an exceptable brand that they sell?

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

Harnesses, playballs and wheels are always and completely a NO with guinea pigs.

Can you give a link to exactly why harnesses are so bad? I understand the ball and wheels, but not harness. Thanks.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by MidnightStar

What's wrong with the pellets they sell? Isn't Hartz an exceptable brand that they sell?

Hartz pellets are one of the worst foods (and product lines) for animals. The GP pellets are improperly balanced, full of fillers and also contain cancer causing ingredients. Most of the brands that petstores sell aren't much better.

Originally Posted by MidnightStar

Can you give a link to exactly why harnesses are so bad? I understand the ball and wheels, but not harness. Thanks.

Harnesses are bad for the exact same reasons balls and wheels are. They cause the spine to unnaturally bend backwards and can cause severe injury.

[MidnightStar]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

Hartz pellets are one of the worst foods (and product lines) for animals. The GP pellets are improperly balanced, full of fillers and also contain cancer causing ingredients. Most of the brands that petstores sell aren't much better.

So what *should* I be buying for my piggie? And where to get it?

Harnesses are bad for the exact same reasons balls and wheels are. They cause the spine to unnaturally bend backwards and can cause severe injury.

Ok, I'm confused. Although I have no reason to put Tottie in a harness, the ones I've seen made especially for pigs have been soft, and wrap around the body, nothing like the ones made for cats and dogs. That doesn't seem to me it would bend the spine at all.

[VoodooJoint]

The pressure is still placed in the same areas, neck and chest/belly. You pull on the leash and the spine is forced into an unnatural position. GPs also have a high likelihood of "freaking out" while on a leash thus increase their chances of injury.

The top 3 pellet choices are Oxbow Pet Products | Welcome Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home (Oxbow is available in some feed stores and vet offices as well as online and Kleenmamas is only available online). If neither of those can be found or you won't buy online then Mazuri 5664, only get the Mazuri with that specific number after it as it's the only decent feed they make for GPs.

[Henle15]

I also have to add that the guinea pig can easily slip out of the harnesses that I have seen and tried. I have never used a leash but the harness seems to be easy to slip out of when I have tried it on my pigs before.

[MishyIndiana]

UH OH!!!I've been going to a specififc store to buy Mazuri. It had the highest vitamin C613mgmg/lb. I've read the ingredients and have to admit some things are frightening. No sugar though...I read the Guinea pig book from Animal Planet as soon as I heard my classroom had been volunteered to receive one. (I took him home preschool is no place for a cavy.) It only mentioned the need for Vitamin C. It really disgusts me how food manufactures are such whores for money. We need some kind of regulation on pet food.

[skelly28]

Wow, I'm glad that I took the time to read this post. I almost went out and bought both a ball and a harness.