Boys, Fleeces and UTI's... oh my!

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Tbag

Tbag

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I'm hoping for some very specific help/advice as changing to fleece is something I've been toying with for a while. I know the guys will enjoy it, as I've put a little fleece cushion on top of their house and they're always squabbling over who gets to sit up there now which has to be a good sign!

My concern is how absorbent it really is - does it get very damp underneath, how often does it need changing/washing to keep it clean enough?

I'm also worried as Mr T is very prone to picking up and hanging onto UTI's for some reason and we've (fingers crossed) finally got him in the clear now so I don't want to risk him getting bad again. Has anyone had any experience with fleece and UTIs in boars specifically (I'm just thinking that since they feel the need to rub their privates along the ground all the time they'd be more prone to picking something up off it).

If people could let me know answers to the following I'd be incredibly grateful!
1) where they got their fleece/cage liner from
2) how absorbent it is/how often it needs changing and any cleaning tips
3) if they have to use anything under it, towels/papers etc
4) any uti problems experienced (good or bad!)
?/

Sorry to be so specific and picky but I really want to make sure I'd be changing for the better!

super thanks in advance!
 
I'm afraid I don't have any experience with UTI's but I do have my three on fleece.

I got my current fleece made from an eBay seller, but I know Cosy Cavies do it and some members on here.

Mine is changed every 3 days, I have three piggies and their cage is 5.5ft by 3.5ft (it makes a massive difference how big the cage is!)

One of my liners is 2 layers of fleece, wadding then mattress protector. The other is 2 layers of fleece then cotton, and then I put a mattress protector underneath. I always put a newspaper at the bottom in the areas which get the most wet too (the corners)

I really would recommend it, I dread to think how much megazorb I would have got through had I kept using it, my cage would probably take a bag a week! It's so little effort bunging the liner in the washing machine, and as I have two I can change it straightaway without having to wait for it to dry. It really reduces the waste down too - all I would advise is having a toilet tray - mine aren't fully toilet trained but I change the tray everyday and the newspaper is sodden with wee (sorry to be gross), so I dread to think what state the cage liner would be in after 3 days if I didn't have the tray :x
 
Have you thought of using vet bed ?
I swear by it, it wicks wee away so the surface stays dry - perfect for a susceptible piggy :))
I use this supplier, it's 10ft long so super cost effective and can be left in a pen for 5-7 days. I wash and air dry the large pieces but tumble dry the small bits:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VET-BED-B...7?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&hash=item27c55f4c5f

You can get lovely colours and designs too - all of our girls have pinks/lilacs etc. and the boys have darker 'boarish' colours ;)
 
I'm not a huge fan of fleece, as it isnt as absorbant as vetbed. Granted vetbed is much more expensive but comparing the price of vet bed to buying a bag of woodshavings a month works out very cost effective! (my vetbeds gone two years strong :))
 
Thank you for all the replies so far - looks like I'll be looking into vetbed...

Price isn't a problem at the moment as I'm getting a bonus next month (hurrah!) so I'm thinking if theres any time for a change now would be a good one! One of the less important reasons I thought of changing would be to offset the cost of buying in shavings all the time!

Do you need to use any papers/liners underneath it?
Does it get smelly?
 
I usually pop a fleece blanket underneath as I have some of the rubber backed vetbed and it is not as good - the green backed is much better so don't use anything under that (although be prepared to wrestle it into your washer if it is a largish piece rolleyes)
Like all bedding, it can get whiffy especially with this hot spell atm but I can leave my pairs of piggies on their vetbed for around 5-7 days, the herd and trios I change after 4 days (the girls pee wherever whereas the boys are really clean and use trays) :))
 
Strange.....I tried vetbed and found it was smelly, looked horrible, really difficult to poop pick and the top was wet from wee after 5 minutes....:)>>>

I have a square that I sometimes put in, and the piggies just use it as a toilet so it doesn't go near their cage anymore! I'll probably donate it to the bunnies come winter :))

Guess everyone is different!
 
catherine said:
I'm afraid I don't have any experience with UTI's but I do have my three on fleece.

I got my current fleece made from an eBay seller, but I know Cosy Cavies do it and some members on here.

Mine is changed every 3 days, I have three piggies and their cage is 5.5ft by 3.5ft (it makes a massive difference how big the cage is!)

One of my liners is 2 layers of fleece, wadding then mattress protector. The other is 2 layers of fleece then cotton, and then I put a mattress protector underneath. I always put a newspaper at the bottom in the areas which get the most wet too (the corners)

I really would recommend it, I dread to think how much megazorb I would have got through had I kept using it, my cage would probably take a bag a week! It's so little effort bunging the liner in the washing machine, and as I have two I can change it straightaway without having to wait for it to dry. It really reduces the waste down too - all I would advise is having a toilet tray - mine aren't fully toilet trained but I change the tray everyday and the newspaper is sodden with wee (sorry to be gross), so I dread to think what state the cage liner would be in after 3 days if I didn't have the tray :x
Click to expand...


What was the name of the seller you bought your cage liners off please? x. I am after some x *****.
 
Well...the second liner I've got I wouldn't recommend the seller as she made it much too small and then got stressy with me when I told her...

The first lady was a different seller, I can't find her on eBay at the moment, but I do have her email address. I can PM you it if you'd like?
 
Thanks so much for all the information!
 
catherine said:
Well...the second liner I've got I wouldn't recommend the seller as she made it much too small and then got stressy with me when I told her...

The first lady was a different seller, I can't find her on eBay at the moment, but I do have her email address. I can PM you it if you'd like?
Click to expand...

Yes please I'd love that! Thank you so much! x
 
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