Types of Guinea Pig Toy
Chew
The only absolutely vital choice you should make when purchasing guinea pig toys is to make sure if they have a few items which give good gnawing opportunities. This is because guinea pigs teeth are forever growing and so chewable toys that can give them a bit of bite will help keep their teeth healthy and prevent dental issues and infection.
Tunnels
Offering areas to snuggle up or hide in, guinea pigs love running through tunnels and they’re often a great option for spicing up dull runs and hutches.
Balls
While your guinea is never going to be the next David Beckham, they often enjoy rolling around and interacting with balls that are of a suitably smaller size. They’re especially engaging if they feature treat-filled centres or are made of chewable material too!
Treat Finders/Activity Sets
If you want something a little more stimulating for your pet, many companies these days have created clever contraptions and training style game boards where you can hide treats. Your guinea pigs must then use their instincts and foraging skills to work out where the treats are.
Things To Consider
Size
Although guinea pigs are one of the largest animals in the rodent family, buying them absolutely huge toys they can’t possibly interact with isn’t a good idea. For example, things like footballs and giant cuddly toys are so big that your guinea pig is most likely to just ignore them and so you’re only going to be wasting your money. Opposingly, you also don’t want to give them anything too small that could be easily swallowed by them and risk injury or choking.
Material
One of the most important aspects to consider when purchasing a guinea pig toy is material, as guinea pigs like to chew just about everything in sight!
Stick to purpose-made toys when browsing for guinea pigs, as you always want to be sure the materials are not toxic and chew-safe.
Popular guinea pig toys tend to be made from wood or natural materials like seagrass and hay, as these are edible for guinea pigs and won’t make them ill!
With plastic and fabric items, a level of care and caution needs to be taken as they need to be labelled as chew-safe to ensure your guinea doesn’t risk swallowing sharp plastic or unsafe fabric after a cheeky nibble. Even if these items are listed as suitable for chewing, it’s best just to observe your rodent while they play with the toy just to be safe.
Safety
Avoid toys with sharp edges or materials that guinea pigs could get caught on and try and avoid buying them climbing apparatus or high platforms, as you don’t want them to risk injury.