Alternatives To Snugglesafe

RosieMaia

RosieMaia

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi there!

I just read a couple of threads on the alternatives of the SnuggleSafe heat pads, and I have a few questions. Since the old threads are now closed, I'm opening a new one.

My arthritic pig reeeeaaally likes laying down on a soft surface, preferably larger, so he can pancake out. He dislikes the SnuggleSafe and avoids the beds into which I've put it.

Can you recommend a heating pad which is soft and comfy? Would the Hotties one (Hotties Microwave Heat Pad | Health & Hygiene | The Hay Experts) be suitable?

I'm not sure that the self-heating ones will do much for him, I'm afraid. And I'm paranoid enough to want to avoid putting in one that needs to be plugged into the electricity, because, well, they're made in China and look terribly flimsy, I'd be terrified they'd overheat, the thermostat would fail, or it would cause a fire...

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm more than happy to order anything, regardless of the price, so long as it's safe, stays warm for 5 hours at least and is soft and comfy.
 
I also find the snugglesafe ones rather hard so I just alternate between 2 ordinary human size hot water bottles that have furry covers! I then place them between layers of hay and they keep the heat nearly all night! My piggy Tansy always makes a beeline for the hottie when I change them! The furry cover is comforting too I feel.
 
Yes, hot water bottles aren't soft enough for him either, he avoids them - I've tried putting his favorite hidey on top of a hot water bottle and he refused to get in. :( He's a very princess-and-the-pea kind of guy.
 
I use Vetfleece from Vetfleece.co.uk in my piggy nests and on some of their floor areas.This is recommended for helping dogs and animals with arthritis so he may like this! It’s thicker than the fleece you can buy to make tunnels etc, pee wicks away through it so would keep him comfy and dry!
 
Betsy said:
Not tried either one but on looking at the Bucky Hottie Bodywrap I wouldn't go for that as it is filled with Buckwheat seeds just to be on the safe side! As you know guinea pigs will chew anything.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I would be making a vetbed/fleece pocket with an absorbent layer beneath, so he can lay on it and not get wet, but I really wanted to know how soft and comfy each of these are.

I see one of the old threads was started by Beans&Toast Alternatives To Snugglesafe Heat Pad. @Beans&Toast, I wonder what product did you end up using?
 
I use snuggle safes as I like the convenience of them however can understand your pigs hesitancy and the need for heat too.

I tried the thermal covers - reflecting silver foil things with a fleece cover over the top - but washing is a problem and didn't provide enough reflected heat back especially if you have an older piggy or ill one. But fine for winter use.

I also know what you need over the chinese electric pads, so i found this - not cheap, the cable is armoured and I found the quality very good. It does use a transformer and so the plug socket needs not to be an outdoor one. It's wipe clean and easy to place a cover over the top.
@RosieMaia
 
We use these for the hedgehogs, the 33’s are 33cm x 22cm and are a perfect size :)
Flexiguard Pet Heat Pads

Edit: just seen your comment regarding you not wanting a plug-in type, sorry hun :( x
 
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RosieMaia said:
Thanks!

I would be making a vetbed/fleece pocket with an absorbent layer beneath, so he can lay on it and not get wet, but I really wanted to know how soft and comfy each of these are.

I see one of the old threads was started by Beans&Toast Alternatives To Snugglesafe Heat Pad. @Beans&Toast, I wonder what product did you end up using?
Click to expand...
I ended up just sticking to the snugglesafe. I tried some other things but they didn't work as well. I use fleece as padding on the snugglesafe as I feel it's a bit too hard for them
 
Thanks, @Beans&Toast! I tried adding more fleece around the SnuggleSafe this evening, and his cage-mates liked it enough to sleep there, but not he :) Weird little gentleman he is

Mother Hubbard said:
I also know what you need over the chinese electric pads, so i found this - not cheap, the cable is armoured and I found the quality very good. It does use a transformer and so the plug socket needs not to be an outdoor one. It's wipe clean and easy to place a cover over the top.
@RosieMaia
Click to expand...

Tim said:
We use these for the hedgehogs, the 33’s are 33cm x 22cm and are a perfect size :)
Flexiguard Pet Heat Pads
Click to expand...

These look very good indeed! Do you confidently leave them on while you're away from home? I guess I sound like a technophobe, but I'm really terrified about an accidental fire in their cage, especially as they're on fleece and plastic, it would spread so quickly I shudder at the thought.

(we recently renovated our apartment, and I went to incredible lengths to find a fire-resistant fridge, after reading that many accidental fires come from a malfunctioning fridge)
 
I've been looking at these two:

and

But for more than a hundged ponds, I would have liked more & better reviews, and more than 4 hours of heat retention... I'm still searching Ebay and Amazon.de, but if I don't find something handy, I'll purchase one of these two.

I've no idea why the Amazon links can't be persuaded to appear. It's "Soehnle Cordless Rechargeable Heat Cushion for Outside" and "Hydas Mobile Heat Warming Pillow Cordless"
 
RosieMaia said:
Thanks, @Beans&Toast! I tried adding more fleece around the SnuggleSafe this evening, and his cage-mates liked it enough to sleep there, but not he :) Weird little gentleman he is





These look very good indeed! Do you confidently leave them on while you're away from home? I guess I sound like a technophobe, but I'm really terrified about an accidental fire in their cage, especially as they're on fleece and plastic, it would spread so quickly I shudder at the thought.

(we recently renovated our apartment, and I went to incredible lengths to find a fire-resistant fridge, after reading that many accidental fires come from a malfunctioning fridge)
Click to expand...

I'm happy with the heated mains dog pad because it is on a transformer which means it's protected moreso than a normal 3 pin plug straight into the mains.
 
Mother Hubbard said:
I'm happy with the heated mains dog pad because it is on a transformer which means it's protected moreso than a normal 3 pin plug straight into the mains.
Click to expand...
Oh, I know I'm being silly!

I think the issue is partly me sucking at physics, and because I don't understand how the electrical appliances' protection works, I don't trust it. :hmm:

I will think about it - I checked the reviews, and it appears that a lot of people are leaving it unattended and on for months on end without any issues, so I assume it's reasonably safe.
 
You aren't being silly, you are just a concerned piggy owner and like all good owners, we worry about their welfare.

I fret about the silliest of things really but I know I'm not alone.
 
Thanks, @Mother Hubbard, I really appreciate it!

It's really exciting to build a new piggy cage, and I tend to fuss over each tiny detail. Even though the reason why we're building a new one is sad (our still very young boar has arthritis and can't manage the ramps in their current cage), I can't help being really excited about it. Purchased Vetbed now, some new fleeces, and hubby and I are spending the evening looking at cage setups. I feel very inspired
 
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