Bedding advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter rolacolacube
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rolacolacube

Hi all

Before I bought my guinea pigs, I hadn't got anything for them so went to the pet shop and asked for everything I would need. I was given woodshavings and thought this was ok as the pet shop used it.

After reading a guinea pig book and talking to a vet, they have suggested using hay as bedding as woodshavings can cause respiratory problems and/or infections. I have started using hay but wondered if I could use newspaper or anything else under the hay which will absorb liquid.

Would appreciate any advice given.

Many thanks.
 
Yes, you can use newspaper under the hay :(|)

I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I though Wood shavings are OK, and that it is the finer SAWDUST that causes the problems?

I've heard people on here use a product called Megazorb as a substitute for sawdust but I have never used it myself so don't know what it is like.
 
Mine's lived on woodshavings quite happily, although i always buy them from the pet shop and it says dust extracted on the packet, i think its sawdust that they have problems with.

Although i have just invested in some Vetbed which people say is good, so i'll be swiching them to that and see what they think.
 
A lot of people do not recommend shavings or sawdust, they can both cause respiratory problems and they can make piggies feet very dry and sore.
 
When I got my second ever piggie it was from a home rescue place and the lady there told me it was not recomended, I was probably about 10 at the time so I'm not sure exactly what she said but I remember her pointing out that my piggie's eye who I had brought along was kind of a droopy, not much as I didn't realise it wasn't normal and it didn't affect her but apparently this was caused by woodshavings. From then on we switched to newspaper with hay on top as this was what she was using and I have never noticed it in any other pig
 
Woodshavings can soak up the oils from a piggies coat, leading to skin problems. They can also irritate a piggie's respiratory tract. Sawdust is the same, just a degree worse as it is more fine and dusty.
 
Thank you so much for all the help and advice.

I assumed woodshaving's were fine as the pet shop used them but after reading a book and speaking to a vet this week after my other gorgeous little girl passed away last week, he said Maisy was sneezing which may have been caused by the woodshavings. He said he would never recommend them.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice. It's all really appreciated x
 
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