Recommended Bedding
I recommend lining the hutch/cage with newspaper to soak up urine (great recycling too!). They place hay
on top of this. As well as being a soft bedding, hay is is also an essential part of their diet, so should be given in unlimited
amounts.
The most important thing though is that guinea pigs should NEVER be kept on wood shavings or sawdust. I will not rehome
guinea pigs to live on wood shavings and the reason why are explained below.
Why not woodshavings and sawdust?
Sawdust
is far too dusty for guinea pigs to live on and can make them very poorly. They will constantly be inhaling dust making them prone
to breathing difficulties and infections, which ultimately can be fatel. Sawdust can also cause allergies in the house hold as
they are so dusty.
Wood shavings are widely used as bedding and are often recommend and used by pets shops. Adopters will say
to me that they have always used shavings and never had any problems. But there is much research now on the dangers of using
wood shavings with any rodents and small animals. To make my point as well, I would ask you to put your head in a bag of wod
shavings and try breathing whilst a close distance from the wood shavings, and see how long you can tolerate the strong smell
and dust for, this is what guinea pigs have to inhale all the time. Also try rubbing the woodshavings in your bare hands - does it
feel nice? Woodshavings remove the oils from your skin, leaving them feeling try. This is what your guinea pig would be having
to sleep and walk on all the time.
The Cambridge Cavy Trust state that wood shavings are not suitable bedding for piggies.
Wood shavings can cause:
* Breathing problems
* Skin problems - particularly fungal infections, and itchy and dry skin
* Eye problems
*
Ulcerated feet
In fact wood shavings can lead to the premature death of your guinea pig.
Here is a Quote from Peter Gurneys Collins
Pet Guide to support
not using wood shavings. Peter Gurney says
"There are always fine dust particles in sawdust
or wood shavings and as guinea pigs are the type of animals that root around with their noses close to the ground, they breathe these
particles…".
He goes on to say " Although wood shavings may soak up the animals' urine they do not give it a
chance to evaporate. Therefore, on the grounds of hygiene, they are not good idea. If you really want to use shavings, then use shredded
paper instead' (page 43).
Also in the Guinea Piglopedia (Margaret Elward & Mette Ruelokke) "Wood chips are a bad
idea. Most have wood oils that are toxic to guinea pigs. Even lighter woods are bad, as they are rough and hard and can hurt guinea
pigs feet. The best bedding is plain black-and-white newspaper. Line the cage with that. Next add a pile of hay"... (Page 31).
This is what I use and recommend.
For more information on the research into the dangers of wood
shavings being used for
guinea pigs please see the following link:
Other types of bedding
There are also other tyes of bedding available now that are safe for guinea pigs, and that guinea pigs
like.
Some people like to use vetbed (profleece). This keeps guinea pigs dry and is soft on their feet also. It needs to be
washed regularly though.
Other people have recommended fleeces and sheets as the piggies like to burrow under these.
