In Need Of Help!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Robynnlouu

Robynnlouu

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 21, 2017
Messages
12
Reaction score
16
Points
85
Hey guys!

So yesterday i got 2 new guinea pigs! I'm a first time owner and just want to make sure I'm doing everything right!

My question is (I'm sure there will be many more!) do you use woodshavings or fleece for your piggies?

At the mo i have shavings down as thats what the store recommended but I'm seeing a lot of videos and blogs (ive been doing my research) where people are using fleece.

What are the pros and cons? Is any particular one better than the other?

Thanks in advance! :) x

IMG_1290.webp
 
Welcome to the Forum.

:wel:

When it comes to bedding there isn't a right or wrong answer - you have to find what works best for you and your piggies.

There is a great overview of bedding types here;

Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview

I started out with Auboise (a bit like woodshavings) and after a couple of months switched over to fleece, and found that was better for me.
It meant I was throwing away less stuff, and there was less mess in the house. Plus I found cleaning easier.
But I do sew, so was able to save a fortune by making a lot of my own cage liners and pads for under houses etc.
If I had to buy everything it would have cost a lot.
 
Hi and welcome!

There are now a range of alternative beddings to wood shavings. Most members with indoor guinea pigs use softener-free fleece with an aborbent underlay.

You may find our new owners information bundle helpful, as it contains information on the basics - housing/bedding, diet etc. but also help with settling in, interacting and understanding your guinea pigs as well as learning what is normal and not and when you need to see a vet as well as links to lists of recommended vets. We have tried to cover the most often asked for issues as well as providing help for potential problems that many new owners are not aware of in order to enable them as smooth a start as possible.
New Owners' " How To" Starter Kit
 
Thank you both so much!

Think i will stick to shavings for now! ☺️
 
What beautiful piggies! I use jumbo shavings (dust extracted) that is quite cheap for a big bale. My pigs don't smell at all and it's comfy for them too
 
Your piggies are very sweet!

We started with wood shavings but I found they were messy (got all over the house somehow!) and hard work to change. We generated a lot for waste.

I switched to fleece which I find easier to change / clean. However I personally feel it gets smellier quicker than the wood shavings.

The link that @Swissgreys gave you is definitely worth a read. There is lots of choice and it's just a matter of finding what suits you and your routine best.
 
Welcome! You have some beauties there!

I use fleece, it's super easy to keep clean and it's cheap. I didn't like how dusty shavings are and was concerned about URIs (even dust extracted ones make me choke with the dust) and it is super messy and expensive in the long run.

It's a personal choice though, worth experimenting for sure!
 
IMG_1310.webp Ah thank you all! I'm completely besotted with them!

Yeah i think ill see how i go with this then possibly switch as i have noticed theres wood shavings all over my carpet

Also, i have another quick question. They are both males. The brown one (buddah) is very outgoing and not really shy at all! However the white one (goofy) is very skittish and jumpy. Will he become more relaxed with time? And when should i start handling? ive waited 2 days, they are both already eating from my hand and Ive managed to stroke buddah but goof just bolts.

Sorry for more questions! Thank you☺️
 
We handled ours from about day 3 and got them out every day for very short amounts of time and gradually increased it. Tended to feed them some herbs as an incentive as they love them! One of ours has always liked being handled more than the other but I figured it was important we could do health checks etc so persevered with both. Coco the one who was never so keen still doesn't like being caught but is happy with being held. There are some good videos on here about different ways to catch your piggies using tunnels etc Some people have trained their piggies to go into a carrier for example.
 
I also use none of the above, but use Carefresh Natural instead. The Carefresh Ultra is too cotton wool like and the basic stuff in the small bags always reminded me of tissue paper that would help nobody, but man, the Natural stuff is just amazing. Which only goes to prove that piggy bedding purchases can be one of the most complicated things on the planet.
 
Hello and welcome :)

I use fleece and find it super easy to clean. Doesn't take much space away, not a lot of rubbish, dust free, not too expensive in the long term. Use it with puppy pads. Used wood shavings first during their first week to get them settled as this is that they were used to.

One of my three girls is quite shy as well whereas the other two quite happily greet me and eat out of my hand. None of them likes being picked up or "cuddled". Getting them trained on using the pet carrier when it's time for weighing or floor time. Works well!
 
Robynnlouu said:
Hey guys!

So yesterday i got 2 new guinea pigs! I'm a first time owner and just want to make sure I'm doing everything right!

My question is (I'm sure there will be many more!) do you use woodshavings or fleece for your piggies?

At the mo i have shavings down as thats what the store recommended but I'm seeing a lot of videos and blogs (ive been doing my research) where people are using fleece.

What are the pros and cons? Is any particular one better than the other?

Thanks in advance! :) x

View attachment 62273
Click to expand...
They look cuties!
 
I started out using wood shavings for my two boys, but cleaning their cage became such a messy chore. My piggies also sneezed a lot from it.

I switched to fleece and they loved it rigt away. They both started stretching out at nap time and I'm sure it fel softer on their feet. It's also MUCH easier to clean. Poo piles up more since it can't be buried, but it takes much less time with the hand vac and dust pan than having to change oug and buy all those wood shavings!

Good luck! :)
 
Hello! I used to use wood shavings, following a pet stores recommendations, but with the mess and expense I've now switched to Vet Bed, with towels underneath to absorb wee and water spills - I also noticed that one of my pigs was getting red feet, which have now gone back to normal since using the Vet Bed.

As others have said it's much easier to clean when the poop can't be buried, and as long as you have an absorbent layer underneath the top layer stays dry, and they don't smell (they live in the living room)!

See how you and the pigs get on with the wood shavings - I switched after about three months :)
 
So guys. I'm afraid I'm a crying mess today. I woke up and buddah was laying on the floor. He was trying to walk but couldn't so i rushed him straight to the vets.

Turns out he had a birth defect in which he had no anus and couldn't poop so he was impacted and likely infected. They put him down this morning. I am distraught. He was such a lovely boy and i had only had him for a week. I'll be going to pets at home because i made sure they checked both my boys before i took them home and they said nothing about the fact he clearly had no way of poo leaving his body. Its disgusting and my poor boy suffered for longer than he should have because of it.

Rest in perfect peace my boy xx

IMG_1308.webp
 
I would write immediately to head office if you don't they could be flogging them to anyone.

I am so so sorry, for your loss, it must have broken your heart.
Hugs coming your way
Sleep tight little Baddah.
Run free to the rainbow bridge.
 
I am so sorry you have had to go through this.
Please don't be hard on yourself - you gave you little boy a wonderful week in a loving home.

Firstly I would make sure you keep absolutely everything from the vet about the condition that your boy had.
Keep all receipts and write down the details.
Approach the local store, but I would also write to head office as @Tiamolly123 suggested.
It won't bring him back, but these people need to be made aware of the suffering they are causing by not having proper vet controls in place to ensure their animals are healthy.
 
Thank you all for your kind words. I have already contacted head office and sent all the docs from the vet.

This now obviously leaves my little goofy. Again with him I've only had him a week. I cant bring myself to get another pig just yet. How long before i should look at getting goof a companion? I want whats best for him so if it should be asap then i will have to deal with that but as a first time owner to have gone through this i just want whats best

Thank you all x
 
Obviously it would be better to get him a new companion, but if you're not able yet that's understandable. See how the little one is, if he seems to be desperately pining then a new companion would be a priority, but otherwise, it should wait for a few weeks. If you'd rather not go back to P@H, you could see if any of the rescues in your area can help with finding, and even possibly bonding with, a new companion, which could take a good bit of the stress off of you.

I'm so sorry about Buddah, it's never easy to lose a pet no matter how little time they may have spent with us. RIP little one.
 
Oh he looked such a lovely little guinea pig. I do hope you get some kind of compensation from pets at home. I do wish they wouldnt sell any livestock.

I hope that you find a lovely friend for your bereaved guinea pig.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top