Are these chews safe?

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Bubble64

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My guinea pigs have never really been into toys or chews like many other guinea pigs I have heard of. I always thought they needed them to keep their teeth worn down but apparently the hay does that. The only toy that they ever chewed on were these strange textured ones from pets at home. They love these and chew them lots. I have started to wonder if they are safe and healthy and okay to ingest some of it. If not I will stop buying these. Also is hay enough to keep their teeth down or is something more needed? Thank you.
 

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I am not sure about the toys but as a general rule of thumb I do not buy any "toys" for my piggies. They are more often than not sold to make money, not to enrich your pigs life. Toys like these are generally made from compacted sawdust which makes them unsafe for pigs, but from what I have found online these are not made from sawdust, although I do wonder where the colour comes from.

The only "toy" I personally buy for my pigs are willow tunnels/balls. Just sticks weaved in and out each other which gives them something to gnaw on if they wish to, and it is not coloured or anything! Amazon.co.uk

Yes, hay should be the only thing needed to keep the teeth ground to an appropriate level. If I am not wrong it is the silica in the hay that helps wear down the teeth. Although there is no harm providing your pigs with something else to chew on, I would just avoid the coloured ones! (personally)
 
Thank you for your reply. Seems like I will probably look at the willow ones and maybe ditch those ones. They do cost quite a bit to keep regularly buying them. And it's great to know that the silica in the hay should do the trick. Thanks!
 
The hamster community strongly discourages those 'chews' due to the fact (according to people who have done more research than me) that they are made of dodgy softwood and honey, neither of which you'd really want your piggies to be eating.
As Piggl said, hay (hay, and more hay!) is the way to go. :)
 
I hadn't heard about the silica in the hay. I was told it was the act of chewing hay constantly that meant the piggies teeth ground against each other and wore down that way. I don't know where I'd heard that so I'm not sure how reliable that is. You've got me wondering now.

Either way the same rule applies hay + hay + hay = happy healthy piggies
 
Yes it’s the abrasive silica in hay and grass which keeps the molars wearing.

Chewing toys doesn’t do anything for the teeth.
They are only able to chew toys with their front teeth but the front teeth are self sharpening and are actually kept in check by the correct action of the back teeth.
 
My lot love fruit woods to chew on, l have 20 fruit trees and keep all the cutting for them ,along with the 🍃 🍂
 
Mine like chewing on the wood from my apple tree too. It’s commercial chews like the ones in the picture which are a waste of time usually!
 
Mine also consider table legs to be a delicacy 😁
They are very meh about applewood but are VERY partial to sweet bamboo, that I get from Amazon.
 
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