5StarPigs
Teenage Guinea Pig
Looked at the ingrediants and didnt see pine. Hope there wasnt incase i didnt look hard enough.
Potentially Dangerous Cage Accessories And Toys
- Thread starter Veggies Galore
- Start date
Shelbylou
Junior Guinea Pig
Not sure if this is the correct place to post the thread, but I wanted to make people aware of the danger of the Gnaw play block from Pets at Home! (UK)
I have four beautiful piggies but tonight it almost became three. Saturday (Yesterday) I bought two large gnaw blocks, I filled the blocks with their favourite treats and hay. This was what was suggested on the Label as well as the label stating it is suitable for rabbits and guinea pigs and promotes natural behaviour!
So I bought two! But I bought them from the shop, so naturally I didn’t check the online reviews... which has so many awful reviews on the danger of this block. My baby Gaz, got his head stuck so tightly that It took bolt cutters to break the block to get him out! My first thought was to take him to the Vet but in all honestly I didn’t think we had time. I feel as guilty as anything as I checked on them this morning and they were fine and then I was out and checked on them as soon as I got back... I am so thankful I got to him when I did. Sadly he is not out of the woods and I can only hope he is okay in the morning.
I’m so upset, he is sitting on my lap now on a towel and seems okay!
Please do not buy this product! I will be writing a strongly worded letter to Pets at Home first thing tomorrow!
I have four beautiful piggies but tonight it almost became three. Saturday (Yesterday) I bought two large gnaw blocks, I filled the blocks with their favourite treats and hay. This was what was suggested on the Label as well as the label stating it is suitable for rabbits and guinea pigs and promotes natural behaviour!
So I bought two! But I bought them from the shop, so naturally I didn’t check the online reviews... which has so many awful reviews on the danger of this block. My baby Gaz, got his head stuck so tightly that It took bolt cutters to break the block to get him out! My first thought was to take him to the Vet but in all honestly I didn’t think we had time. I feel as guilty as anything as I checked on them this morning and they were fine and then I was out and checked on them as soon as I got back... I am so thankful I got to him when I did. Sadly he is not out of the woods and I can only hope he is okay in the morning.
I’m so upset, he is sitting on my lap now on a towel and seems okay!
Please do not buy this product! I will be writing a strongly worded letter to Pets at Home first thing tomorrow!
D
DMS260820
Make sure you post the photo aswell. Pack some punch behind that letter or email. Glad you cut him free
Claire W
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Thank goodness you managed to cut him free! Did you hear back from PAH?
Cheese&Biscuit
Junior Guinea Pig
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OMG I'm a new piggy owner and I have bought a few things mentioned in this post thinking I was spoiling my boys, but now I realise I am putting them at risk of harm! So glad I joined this website! I'll be removing them as soon as I finish writing this then I'll be looking for safer, homemade toys. Thanks guys!
Shelbylou
Junior Guinea Pig
I did, I got a refund for the products and was told it was something they were looking into! Wasn’t too happy with it so the battle is ongoing! I will keep you all updated on my progress. Really want rid of this product!
You may find this link here interesting! You can do a lot with very simple stuff or just by making the normal veg and pellet time fun for the piggies so they have to work for their food for enrichment. An apple, pear or willow branch will do for gnawing. Toilet rolls, paper bags (any handles cut through), cardboard boxes etc. are time tested toys that also apply to the piggy inclination for destruction and environmentally a lot friendlier, too!
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
Leafy Lou
Junior Guinea Pig
Yes, toilet roll empties stuffed with treats, cardboard boxes, B&M do a nice edible hay roller for cheap, good ideas on this forum also..Nothing with wires, just be aware of the sharp wires that some of these toys have..horrendous things. In saying that the log house has wires, but the wood is that thick, but a wee daily check does wonders..common sense applies in whole also!
Lucky I joined the forum! I was going to buy one of these for my Mimi and Creamie!
Poor thing! I hope he is ok :-(
Laura M.
Junior Guinea Pig
Oh dear, I just bought some for my piggies - I haven't given it to them yet, but is it OK as a treat? (I can't take it back)
Oh dear, I just bought some for my piggies - I haven't given it to them yet, but is it OK as a treat? (I can't take it back)
I have made the same experience that they get stuck very easily on piggy teeth. Generally they are a waste of money and were mostly ignored by any piggies of mine in the olden days. Sweetcorn is also high in sugar; it is the equivalent of a bar of chocolate.
Herbal forage is a much better, interesting and healthier treat if you want to treat. However, turning regular feeding time into fun time and making your piggies work for their food is a lot cheaper, more entertaining and definitely more stimulating for your piggies!
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
FrancesV
New Born Pup
We came home today and knew something was wrong when got to the front door as we could hear one of our babies screaming. We came in to find she had knocked this rack down and had her head stuck in.I’m so so thankful she is ok, but it must have been the most horrible shock for her and I have to say rather a horrible shock for her humans too! Please avoid!
I am glad that your girl is unharmed!
The ribs in that hay rack are indeed spaced far to far apart and are an accident waiting happen, unfortunately.
Roselina
Forum Donator 2024/25
Thank goodness she is ok !
Claire W
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Thank goodness your girl is ok. Thank you for the warning x
I've luckily never had any dangerous experiences with my piggies getting stuck, but I did recently have a rather unpleasant experience with Pets at Home, which I try to avoid and have even more reason to do so now.
Was given a chew toy from them and was disappointed to discover the entire thing seemed to be held together with hot glue. I'm glad I checked it over before giving it to them, they might've choked or gotten sick. It's really unfortunate how little care there is in chain petstores for safety, especially for small pets.
I've also noticed that a lot of tubes and houses marketed towards guinea pigs tend to be cramped and sometimes far too small, I'm guessing because they like to market guinea pigs as being smaller than they really are to tempt more people to buy them.
Mostly nowadays I use homemade chew toys, they're simple enough and have proven to be far safer.
Was given a chew toy from them and was disappointed to discover the entire thing seemed to be held together with hot glue. I'm glad I checked it over before giving it to them, they might've choked or gotten sick. It's really unfortunate how little care there is in chain petstores for safety, especially for small pets.
I've also noticed that a lot of tubes and houses marketed towards guinea pigs tend to be cramped and sometimes far too small, I'm guessing because they like to market guinea pigs as being smaller than they really are to tempt more people to buy them.
Mostly nowadays I use homemade chew toys, they're simple enough and have proven to be far safer.
Roselina
Forum Donator 2024/25
I agree Capy - I bought a rosewood toy ‘rattle’ but (I always examine things before my boys get them ) the end tassel came away and lots of black ‘peppercorn’ size balls fell out ! I returned it. I think you are right Capy homemade chew toys/ play toys are best .... you cannot beat a box of hay or a brown paper bag 
piggiemummy03x
Forum Donator 2023/24
Hello my fellow piggie lovers!
So something very frightening happened the other day and I want to share it with you all!
Attached is an image of the toy that almost blinded my poor boy Benji...
Came home to find Benji (acting normal) but had a completely clouded over eye!
So Story summary, DO NOT USE TWINED TOYS! i was only out of the house for 2 hours tops and thats how much damage it did
View attachment 46440
i’m so sorry to jump on this post but how awful! is twine the string thats holding this together? i hope he made a full recovery!
Roselina
Forum Donator 2024/25
Gosh that’s awful piggymummy03x - you acted quickly so well done. I’m sure Benji will recover well after your care and Dr Ben’s. I find my boys love a paper bag ( that they can eat too) full of hay/ forage food - also toilet rolls filled with hay makes an easy play toy. Take care
Thank you for warning us too
Thank you for warning us too
piggiemummy03x
Forum Donator 2023/24
hiya sorry for the late reply! it wasn’t actually me or my piggie that experienced this, i had just commented on the post. thanks for the paper bag idea! i’m trying to get some currently but worried about if they are sprayed / coated in anything!
jenna_r_9
New Born Pup
totally agree! we were advised by someone at the pet shop to buy this and for my last piggies it was great, however this time round the little chain had broken and fallen into the cage, luckily found it before anything happened x
Look in the supermarket for paper lunch or sandwich bags.
Anything designed to be used with food for human consumption will be safe.
piggiemummy03x
Forum Donator 2023/24
thankyou!
ScrufflesRules
Forum Donator 2024/25
I thought I'd best let everyone know about the potential dangers of 'willow balls' (https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/woodlands-medium-willow-twist-ball).
About 7 years ago, one of my guinea pigs managed to get his head stuck inside the ball (they'd chewed a hole in it), and we had to use secateurs to get him out. He was absolutely fine, thank goodness, but only because I was in the room when he got stuck. It was terrifying at the time, but looking back on it now we joke about his 'astronaut helmet' incident.
To be honest, willow balls are pretty rubbish enrichment anyway- it only really got in the pigs' way when they were running around. Hay in a cardboard tube is much better
Moral of the story: guinea pigs can get stuck in much smaller gaps than you think they can...
About 7 years ago, one of my guinea pigs managed to get his head stuck inside the ball (they'd chewed a hole in it), and we had to use secateurs to get him out. He was absolutely fine, thank goodness, but only because I was in the room when he got stuck. It was terrifying at the time, but looking back on it now we joke about his 'astronaut helmet' incident.
To be honest, willow balls are pretty rubbish enrichment anyway- it only really got in the pigs' way when they were running around. Hay in a cardboard tube is much better
Moral of the story: guinea pigs can get stuck in much smaller gaps than you think they can...
Roselina
Forum Donator 2024/25
Thanks for the warning !I thought I'd best let everyone know about the potential dangers of 'willow balls' (https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/woodlands-medium-willow-twist-ball).
View attachment 225286
About 7 years ago, one of my guinea pigs managed to get his head stuck inside the ball (they'd chewed a hole in it), and we had to use secateurs to get him out. He was absolutely fine, thank goodness, but only because I was in the room when he got stuck. It was terrifying at the time, but looking back on it now we joke about his 'astronaut helmet' incident.
To be honest, willow balls are pretty rubbish enrichment anyway- it only really got in the pigs' way when they were running around. Hay in a cardboard tube is much better
Moral of the story: guinea pigs can get stuck in much smaller gaps than you think they can...