Can Guinea Pigs Swim? Is swimming safe for your guinea pigs?

Guinea pigs are a clean and hygienic pet, and they enjoy keeping themselves clean. However, this does not imply that they enjoy going for swims and having a good time in the water.

Guinea pigs are not naturally good swimmers, contrary to popular belief. They enjoy grooming themselves and do so with the help of a white wax-like substance that they secrete from the corners of their eyes.

Do guinea pigs like to go in the water?

No, the majority of our guinea pigs are not fond of water. Although, in the past, when guinea pigs used to live in the wild, they were often found near river banks because there was a plentiful supply of food, there are currently no signs that they are doing so.

Despite this, there is a close relative of guinea pigs known as the Capybara, which enjoys swimming underwater in search of food as well as to hide from predators. In contrast, when it comes to guinea pigs, they prefer to avoid contact with water, let alone swimming in it.

Guinea pigs, on the whole, do not enjoy getting wet or muddy. Because guinea pigs are unable to regulate their body temperature, it is difficult for them to maintain their body heat once they are submerged in water, which can result in a variety of diseases in them.

If bathing our guinea pigs is not absolutely necessary, we should refrain from even considering it. Guinea pigs are extremely clean animals who can keep themselves clean with little effort.

Guinea pigs can usually be bathed once every 6 months or so, but bathing them more frequently is detrimental to their well-being and health.

Some guinea pigs are even averse to drinking large amounts of water.

It is more important for them to keep their bodies hydrated by eating more vegetables and other foods rather than by drinking water.

As a result, you can imagine how difficult it is for them to avoid water.

If your guinea pig is smelling, or if their cage is smelling, I have a complete guide on how to remedy the situation. Check out our article on why guinea pigs smell for more information and what you can do to fix it.

Is swimming safe for my guinea pig?

You can allow your guinea pig to swim around and around in the water, but this does not imply that you will force them to do so. When guinea pigs are submerged in water, they become extremely stressed. Swimming is not a safe activity for your guinea pigs and should be avoided at all costs.

Guinea pigs, for the most part, have no depth perception, so they have no way of knowing how deep the water is.

They find it extremely stressful to be placed in anything that contains water that is too deep for them to rest their feet on the bottom of the pool or spa. In areas where the water is only about mid-thigh deep, it is acceptable.

When people put their hands in the water, they often believe they are swimming, when in fact they are paddling to keep their heads above water and live to see another day. To be honest, they’re trying everything they can to get themselves out of the water.

Although I’ve had a few guinea pigs who enjoyed baths, the water was never higher than their necks, and they were able to keep their feet on the ground the entire time.

Forcing them to swim is not something I would recommend. A nice walk in some warm water, on the other hand, is the way to go if a bath is required!

Do Guinea pigs like to swim in shallow water?

In fact, some guinea pigs seem to enjoy taking a stroll around in lukewarm water. However, the water should not be higher than their thighs. Although the majority of guinea pigs will avoid even being in shallow water, some will tolerate it. While there are some notable exceptions, this is generally the case.

I would suggest paying attention to how your guinea pig behaves when you give him or her their first bath.

Make certain that the water temperature is not too cold, and that you have a towel ready to wipe away any excess water as soon as they emerge from the water.

If you discover that your guinea pig enjoys being in the water and walking around, you might consider allowing them to stay in the water for a while.

However, most of the time, they do not enjoy being in the water for an extended period of time. So what I do is give them a quick back wash in a shallow sink filled with water and wrap them in a towel to keep them warm.

Do not leave your guinea pig in water for an extended period of time, even if it is shallow. Also, make sure that you are present and paying close attention to them when they are in the water to avoid any accidents.

Can swimming be bad for guinea pig’s health?

Swimming is, without a doubt, detrimental to guinea pigs. For starters, guinea pigs do not enjoy being in water at all, and they become extremely stressed if they are left in the water to peddle for their lives for an extended period.

You definitely don’t want something like this to happen to you or anyone else. Let’s take a look at the negative consequences of forcing your guinea pig to swim.

Stress

This is the most obvious of the options. When guinea pigs are submerged in water, they become distressed.

As soon as you put them in the water, they try to get out of it as quickly as possible.

Moreover, if they are unable to put their legs in the bottom, the stress level will increase even further, putting additional strain on their heart and lungs.

This is potentially fatal for your guinea pig.

Ear infection

Ear infections in guinea pigs are extremely rare, but when they do occur, they can result in serious health problems for your guinea pigs and should be treated immediately.

Bacteria are usually responsible for the infection.

The water can enter your guinea pig’s ears if they are swimming and their head goes below the surface of the water because their legs are unable to find a surface to stand on or because the water is too deep for them. This can result in an ear infection.

If left untreated, an ear infection can be life-threatening and can cause permanent damage to the auditory canal.

If you notice any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian right away.

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Pneumonia

If you try to force your guinea pigs to swim, you run the risk of inflicting another disease on them: pneumonia.

Guinea pigs are unable to regulate their body temperature, making them vulnerable to a wide range of illnesses, including pneumonia, as a result.

You should not leave your guinea pig in water for an extended period of time, and you should dry them out immediately after removing them from the water.

Skin diseases

Guinea pigs are also susceptible to numerous health diseases if they are left in water for long or keeps in contact with water regularly.

Water usually washes off the natural oil in guinea pig’s skin. This can make their skin rough and cause various skin and fur related diseases in guinea pigs.

Depression

Yes, forcing your guinea pig to do something they don’t want to do will undoubtedly cause them a great deal of anxiety and distress.

Also, if you put them in deep water and they begin to peddle out of fear, it is likely that they will find the experience to be a frightening one.

Take into consideration how you would feel if you were pushed into water and had no way to get out because you had no prior swimming experience.

Wouldn’t it be a terrifying situation for you to be in? If you try to force guinea pigs to swim, they will experience the same level of anxiety.

Your guinea pig may experience depression as well as a change in behavior as a result of this.

Once your guinea pig has gone through this ordeal, he or she may remain in hiding for several hours afterward.

Conclusion

So, do guinea pigs have the ability to swim? No, they are not able to do so. If you prefer to refer to wading through water with their legs in order to save their lives as swimming, then it might be a different story.

Guinea pigs are extremely reluctant to get into water at all. Despite the fact that there may be a few exceptions to this rule.

In general, your guinea pig will not want to go into the water on his or her own accord. When you force your guinea pig to do something, it can be extremely stressful for them.

If you care about your pet even a little bit, it is best if you keep them out of the water. If they are forced to swim in the water, they may suffer from a variety of health problems.

Related question:

Can guinea pigs swim in a chlorine pool?

In no way, shape, or form should you subject your guinea pig to swimming in a pool. Pools are extremely deep, and the possibility of a guinea pig drowning is extremely high.

Additionally, chlorine in water is extremely harmful to their skin. It can cause a variety of skin diseases such as rashes, hair loss, and so on.

Making your guinea pig swim in a pool is definitely cruel behavior on your part. Guinea pigs are susceptible to a variety of health problems that may eventually lead to their death in some cases.

Can guinea pigs swim in a bathtub?

No, even in a bathtub, Guinea pigs should not be allowed to swim around freely. The bathtub may be fine for them as long as the water does not reach their thigh height and the water is not completely submerged, but a completely submerged bathtub is as dangerous for your guinea pig as an open swimming pool.

We, as pet owners, are solely responsible for the health and well-being of our animals. We must avoid doing anything that will put them under a great deal of stress.

Although they are not always successful in communicating their stress, this does not imply that they are enjoying themselves while doing so.

Some people think it’s quite amusing or cute to see them paddling in the water. But believe me when I say that this is not something you want to do with your guinea pig.

Sources: Guinea pigs, The guinea pig forced swim test as a new behavioral despair model to characterize potential antidepressants,