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can guinea pigs swim

Can Guinea Pigs Swim?

You may be in a situation where you have have access to water such as having a pond or a swimming pool.

What if your guinea pigs fall in or what you want to see if they will appreciate a swim on a cool day?

They question is ‘Can guinea pigs swim?’

can guinea pigs swimGuinea pigs are natural swimmers.

If you do put your guinea pigs in water, some may love it , some may hate it.

Just like humans really!

They can swim but do find it very distressing if they are forced to swim, just like us!.

They will swim if placed in water because they have to, but it is not something they would choose to do such as the case with dogs or animals like that.

image: wikipedia

They are related to good swimmers such as the the capybara, which love the water, that love to live on the riverbank, eats aquatic vegetation, and can stay submerged for five minutes.

However, domestic cavvies are not used to swimming and most will find it very distressing because they are just not used to having been breed in a domestic dry environment.

Just like other animals like cats. Just because they can do it, doesn’t mean they like it.

How to see if your guinea pig likes water

A good way to test out whether the like it or not is to put them in a few inches of water in the bath. This will serve as a good bathing time, but also as a useful session to see if they are the kind of guinea pig that likes to be in water.

Different owners tell of different experiences with guinea pigs and water.

Some tell of their guinea pigs loving being in water and being naturally drawn to it, some speak of their guinea pigs hating it and being very distressed when placed in any kind of water.

If you do decide to bathe your guinea pig or let it swim in water, start with just a small amount of water and take it from there.

See how it responds.

If it doesn’t like it, reassure it and be ready to take it out. Don’t leave it in the water feeling distressed as this really isn’t good for the guinea pig.

Can guinea pigs swim in a chlorine pool?

No even if they enjoy swimming, the chemicals are not good for them at all. Don’t try it!

Can guinea pigs swim in salt water?

yes they can. it is better than chlorine water, but still not great for it particularly if the swallow the water. Fresh water is much better if you must do it.

Don’t do this though!

Whatever you do don’t throw your guinea pig in a pool of deep water and see if it swims.

This really isn’t good for it.

It’s the same with humans, we don’t like it when we are forced into a situation, especially being thrown into a pool!