'Walking' a cavy

[MinnieMay9]

My cavy loves to run all over my yard. Since I don't seem to have as much energy as she does I was thinking of buying a harness for her, she she can run and I can sit sometimes. I have a few I've been looking at and I was wondering if any were worth buying.

These were the ones I've been looking at so far:
(the top 2 are my top choices)
Comfort Harness from Super Pet
Marshall Harness and Lead Combo Sets
Four Paws Safety Ferret Leash & Harness at PETCO
Small Animal Kingdom Ferret Harness & Lead at PETCO
I was thinking I could put some of the ones without the mesh on up-side down maybe so it won't try and bend her spine. I heard somewhere that the ones with two loops sometimes tries to make their spine bend backwards.

Thanks for any help anyone might be able to give me!

(also posted on Guinea Pig Home)

[caribear]

I saw those harnesses & was wondering if people actually use those to walk the guinea pigs. I can't imagine walking mine like a walk the dog.

[VoodooJoint]

Never use a harness. No matter what the design they are unsafe. They could potentially cause grave injury to a GP's back as their spines are rigid (like a horses) and are not meant to be forced to bend backwards. A GP would also wiggle free of the harness and get away or even break their leg or spine while struggling.

[MinnieMay9]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

Never use a harness. No matter what the design they are unsafe. They could potentially cause grave injury to a GP's back as their spines are rigid (like a horses) and are not meant to be forced to bend backwards. A GP would also wiggle free of the harness and get away or even break their leg or spine while struggling in it.

Aww, oh well. I might take apart an old cage and put it out or something. I need to figure out how to make her stop giving my mini-heart attacks.

[pignewton]

Building a run is a much better idea. You can use all kinds of things for barriers - extra grids and coroplast, boards, cardboard, etc. Just make sure to never leave her alone out there and if you have birds of prey around you should probably make a cover too.

[MinnieMay9]

I never leave her alone just because of all the trouble she can get into without having to worry about anything else. I also worry the sun will shift and she will become a cavy-bake... It's sometimes good to be really paranoid.

[katiecavyNC]

If you have extra grids and cable ties that makes a great run that's pretty secure.

[MinnieMay9]

I don't have any extra grids right now, I keep expanding the girls' cage. But I could put more grids on my b-day wish list.

[caribear]

I am glad you posted about not using a harness. I thought it seemed weird but a lady in a pet store tried to con me into buying one before for our guinea pig. I walked out w/ nothing, my son just likes to look. Thank goodness I thought it sounded odd back then.

[saturn_power]

My friend used a harness on her guinea pig and it got a very serious injury to it's back as it was scared by a dog whilst she was walking it on the main street, it had to be put down. I was hoping she would of learnt but no, she got two new guineas and another harness so she will be able to murder them aswell.

[Jenni_Feathers]

DONOT USE A HARNESS!!! use extra grids to make a pen or buy one!!!MY FRIENDS PIGGIE KILLED IT SELF IN A HARNESS AND I WOULDNT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO UR PIGS