Absorbent Layer Under Fleece?

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mkoudsi

mkoudsi

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So I have been using towels under my fleece for about 7 months now, and the smell has really been getting to me. At first, I was able to go 7 days until it got really smelly. But now, in just three days, the smell is already pretty bad. I'm going to be moving in with someone who is really concerned about the guinea pigs smelling, so I'm trying to find an absorbent layer that will last around 7 days. I've been looking into the u haul pads and the washable incontinence sheets, but I'm not sure which work better. Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm also going to be getting an air purifier, so that should help.
Thank you!
 
You mean they will be okay if you do not wash the towels and fleece every three days? I am afraid that is not the case. In three days towels are saturated with urine. They are at risk of developing fungal and URIs.
 
This is from gorgeous guineas website.
Fabric bedding is becoming more and more popular, but problems are starting to emerge because the bedding is not being used / cared for appropriately. I'm aware of several instances where Humans changed over from using traditional bedding to fleece and after a while, their guineas (that had previously been fit and healthy) started getting sick. Recurring urinary / respiratory tract invections and fungal skin problems were the most common health issues. When you dig deeper and question how they are caring for the fabric, the problems become obvious:

  1. it isn't being changed often enough
  2. it isn't washed at a high enough temperature
  3. the wrong type of washing powder gel is being used:(
 
We use vet bed underneath and paper under the vet bed. We change fleeces every couple of days purely because our gang trashes them that much.
 
Have to agree with Piggyfan. Fleece needs washing every 3 days in my experience even with one piggie on it. It gets far too damp and can harbour germs, fungal etc... Let alone smell as we used to find. be lovely to find a magic fabric that didn't but I doubt we ever will...
 
I use incontinence pads then fleece.Where they wee I have towel and fleece and this gets changed when wet (sometimes every day) The main fleece gets changed once a week as they are more or less litter trained.Washed at 60 degrees with vinegar.
 
Thought i would just add to this as it's something that does bother me!

If i left a dog at work on a wet vet bed after they had urinated on it it would be classed as unhygienic! People would complain and it would be considered cruel!
And yet people are happy to leave pigs on urine saturated fleece for a week! I use fleece but no more than 4 days at a time. Sitting in urine is pad for your guinea pigs, in the wild pigs would have much more space to get away from their urine but in cages there just ins't this option! It can lead to urine scalding and many other health conditions, prevention is better than cure! Please please please don't leave fleece for too long it is very unfair on your animals. Also please be more respectful when people do give you advice! Just saying.
 
My pigs use their trays the majority of the time but I still use fresh fleece and towels every week at a push but I check for wet patches everyday. It is a lot of work but not any worse than washing my own stuff every few days.

Forgot to add that my fleece is usually washed at 60 but sometimes 95 depending on mess. I haven't had any problems with it shrinking.
 
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When i tried fleece and towels for a couple of months i changed the cage every 3 days and washed it on the hottest setting our machine has (i also used a scoop of vanish extra hygiene with it all too) but i just can't keep up with the washing and poop scooping with work, so i switched back to Fitch bedding.

Personally i wouldn't have left my piggies on the fleece for a week it would be far too damp and smelly.

I hope you find something that works for you! :)
 
I am able to go 7 days without changing my fleece but I put pee pads throughout there cage so if they do go somewhere on the fleece I just change out the pad. In the pads I use uhaul pads and the work a lot better than the towels. They seem to be more absorbent and dry faster. When I do change my fleece usually the layers underneath are completely dry because I have all those pee pads everywhere. Also i made them a loft where i put nothing but bedding and hay and thankfully that seems to be there designated spot. Fleece is a lot of work you definitely have to stay on top of it otherwise it could be very gross. I have a air purifier and it definitely does help as well.
 
There's a website called cavycouture.co.uk they do fleeces with an absorbent layer in. They are 8poind each. They also do some other great products. Worth taking a look :) x
 
We use disposable puppy pads underneath our fleece, you can buy massive boxes so it's quite cost-effective. The problem I have atm though is my current ones are scented and so my pigs keep trying to burrow and eat them because they smell nice! I can't find any non-scented ones in pet shops either, does anyone know where I can get non-scented ones?
 
Hi, I am new to this website so do excuse me, I was wondering, does anyone know where to get CHEAP absorbent and waterproof layers from?I have looked on so many websites and it is becoming extremely hard to find what I will need for fleece. Many thanks.
Zoey, Pickle and Peanut x
 
i use incontinence pads then main fleece. Have litter trays but where they pee now and then have smaller pieces of towel and fleece that get changed when wet. I only end up changing a few pads once a week as the towels and litter trays get most of the wee.Hope this helps. You can buy washable pads as well.
 
You may be able to get away with putting potty pads underneath all of the hidey houses in your cage. You will need to replace each pad with a clean pad every day.

You can see the types of pads I'm talking about here: http://piggybedspreads.com/PiggyPottyPad.htm

Also, use a litter tray and put their hay inside the tray, or use a hay rack above the tray. Clean the tray and replace with fresh bedding every day as they will use it every time they go to eat hay.

Most of the smell comes from urine, but make sure you're still spot cleaning the poops out of your cage twice a day. Unfortunately fleece and towels are just high maintenance, so you will still need to do a full cage clean every 4-6 days. But make the two changes above will help minimize the smell for longer.
 
Maddyk post: 1525188 said:
We use disposable puppy pads underneath our fleece, you can buy massive boxes so it's quite cost-effective. The problem I have atm though is my current ones are scented and so my pigs keep trying to burrow and eat them because they smell nice! I can't find any non-scented ones in pet shops either, does anyone know where I can get non-scented ones?
Click to expand...
The ones from homebargains are unscented
 
Briony_S said:
The ones from homebargains are unscented
Click to expand...

Thanks Briony, unfortunately they don't have HomeBargains where I live! But they do where my parents live so will try and stock up from there as I'm going back there on Friday for a few weeks. :)
 
My indoor guinea has a layer of newspapers then his layer of matting - from Dunhelm Mill - I tend to do a total clean out every 2 or 3 days, 3 maximum because he is an elderly boy and doesn't move much so sits in the same area and runs the risk of getting wet.

I do use puppy pads when we go away for convenience but don't use them at home as I know they can't be recycled but might try the amazon ones as washable.
 
I use a cotton mattress protector, £5 for a double bed size which does two absorbent layers. I change my fleece every two or three days. First day brush off poos and un eaten lettuce and turn it over and the next day do the same. My absorbent layer can last 4 or 5 days as my boys mostly wee in their hay loft and my house is warm so the wee drys. Leaving it any longer would smell and would be too sodden to dry.
 
i only change my main fleece once a week but mine do most wees in their litter trays.I have smaller pieces of towel and fleece where thay have the odd wee (their houses and next to the lotter trays and under the fleece forest) These get changed when wet.Have puppy pads under the main fleece but only the wet ones get changed when i change the main fleece
 
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