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Info from Gorgeous Guineas re: fleeces

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Isnt that a bit harsh? I do not agree with all the problems with fleece. If you change it every three days then it is fine. It is nice and cosy for piggies.
 
There are some interesting points raised but it is a teeny bit bit biased against fleece, isn't it? lol !
 
When my piggies got ringworm i did change to wood shavings temporarily just in case and my cageliner's absorb the pee then dry out so they dont stay wet or smell i change once a week after the fleece has been properly prepared which in my opinion take's more than the reccomended 3 to 4 washes and only improve's with more washes I'm happy with fleece and am sticking to it
 
Heehee you beat me to it, I was about to post this :)

They really are anti-fleece.
 
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I think there are some good points raised, we are encouraged to wash at 30 degree's but bacteria is not killed at 30 degree's and not all washing powder's kill all bacteria or fungal spores. I was recently looking at my own habits and that's when I discovered I should be using a strong disinfectant on my VetBed.

Although I think it's harsh to say pigs aren't happy on VetBed they are right about the washing habits and the fact Guinea Pig's also need somewhere to forage.

I have invested in Trigene (unscented) for my VetBed.
 
My piggies are on vet bed for about 75% of their home - the other 25% is thick newspaper with loads of loose hay- changed in the morning & in the evening - It seems that you cant do right from wrong
whatever you do these days !:{
 
I wouldn't worry about it TAN - everyone has different idea's of how they should be kept at the end of the day all we can do is what's best for our pigs. Mine are kept the exact same way and I won't be changing, as you never find my pigs sleeping on hay that's for sure!

They love there vetbed.. cozies and cuddle cups. I do have a hay tray which is 25% of there cage and I can assure you they only eat in there! x
 
I don't really understand why Karen's saying that Vetbed is acceptable but fleece isn't. Is there really that much difference in how effective they are at wicking away urine? I've used both and not found much difference.

I agree that bedding should be washed at high temperatures and I've always routinely washed my fleece hotter than instructed on the label. With regard to soaking in disinfectant, I've never done this before but will do during any fungal breakouts. Karen mentions Virkon and Conficlean as suitable disinfectants....can anyone confirm that these kill the fungal spores which cause Ringworm? (I know that F10 does and understood that to be one of very few which does). Anyway I wouldn't routinely disinfect bedding but if I felt that I needed to then I probably would switch to something else as it would be hard work on a regular basis.

I'd be curious to know how Vets routinely wash/sanitise their Vetbed etc.

With regard to denying foraging, I can understand where she's coming from but I feel it is possible to use fleece and still make provision for foraging/burrowing. Mine always have a tray full of hay to get in/on and their veg is often hidden around the cage for them to find so I don't feel that I'm denying their instincts.

Karen is obviously very experienced and perfectly entitled to her own personal opinions but I found her comment about indoor owners often being excused for the substandard care they give their pigs particularly unhelpful! Her recommendations are food for thought but that comment really spoiled my appetite, I'm afraid!
 
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I remember reading Virkon doesn't kill Fungal spores but F10 does as you stated no idea about conficlean, I know trigene doesn't kill fungal spores but we aren't planning a fungal outbreak in the near future! :))
 
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I have to say that whilst yes they do raise some good points I think some people could read that and panic thinking they're doing the wrong thing. I use vetbed with fleece on top and a layer of newspaper underneath it all. They are swept out daily and have a full clean out twice a week. They also have a 2x2 hayloft which is full of hay and I know they love diving through it and scratting round in it BUT they never sleep in it. I have always washed their bedding on a 90 degree wash so as far as I'm concerned it's cleaned well enough. Surely having fleece is more absorbant than newspaper?

I really think someone who specifically sells products for guinea pigs should be more careful about expressing such biased opinions on their site as they are in danger of isolating their customers.
 
Oh dear oh dear! :S I do think everyones entitled to their own opinion and there is no right or wrong answer at the end of the day whatever works best for you and your pet.

Woodshavings doesn't work for me, it caused more harm than good...Percys long hair gets tangled in it and becomes matted, Artie suffers from URIs and wheezes on it too.

I'd prefer using something thats environmentally friendly, and something thats reusable like fleece or vetbed.

So I'm sticking with fleece/vetbed and my hay trays, its cheaper, less hassle and doesn't cause my boys to become ill. I wash all the boys fleece/vet bed on a 50's including all the cosies too, and use ecocover detergent. I only wash on a 60's if i haven't cleaned them in a week. So far I've only ever had one vet trip with Artie with his URI and eye infection when they weren't kept on vetbed, and they're happy and healthy. :)

Very interesting article though!
 
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Gems said:
I have to say that whilst yes they do raise some good points I think some people could read that and panic thinking they're doing the wrong thing. I use vetbed with fleece on top and a layer of newspaper underneath it all. They are swept out daily and have a full clean out twice a week. They also have a 2x2 hayloft which is full of hay and I know they love diving through it and scratting round in it BUT they never sleep in it. I have always washed their bedding on a 90 degree wash so as far as I'm concerned it's cleaned well enough. Surely having fleece is more absorbant than newspaper?

I really think someone who specifically sells products for guinea pigs should be more careful about expressing such biased opinions on their site as they are in danger of isolating their customers.
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My god you wash at 90 degree - is your electric bill not though the roof? :o. I'd love to wash at 90 but my parents may kill me!

Between I'm sure the Guinea's pig's that on equisorb in the garden are much better treated than mine! rolleyes:))
 
Well, horror of horrors, I use shavings and funnily enough don't seem to have pigs dying of respiratory diseases or continuous skin problems.

I tried fleece for a while but it's not for me, though Baldric has plenty of cozies that he adores and I'm sure lots of the rescue piggies will too when the get them this winter. It's great to get a 'how to' with lots of practical advice, especially for the use of vetbed as I use it in hospital cages.

Suzy x
 
flintstones said:
My god you wash at 90 degree - is your electric bill not though the roof? :o. I'd love to wash at 90 but my parents may kill me!

Between I'm sure the Guinea's pig's that on equisorb in the garden are much better treated than mine! rolleyes:))
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Haha surprisingly not! I tend to manage to do all the bedding in 2 loads as my washing machine has a large capacity so have it on that 4 times a week. Clothing I just wash at 30 so I dunno maybe it balances out?
 
I have always used fleece and towels for the past year and a half since I have had my piggies.

I wash at 40 degrees and all my piggies seem in very good health, I haven't had any fungal or ringworm from the ones I have kept on fleece.

The piggies prefer the comfort of fleece and often lounge right out, other beddings seem too harsh in my opinion for them to lay on. although megazorb is quite soft:)
 
we are a family of five, and although i thought about using fleece, decided against it as i think it would kill my already stressed washing machine! we do however have some cosies and plonks for all our boys and they love these, the rest of the cage is covered in thick newspaper and hay,in places, which is quickly spread around. Do get through a hell of a lot of newspaper tho, and i am always asing my neighbours if they have any!
 
I think whatever you do, someone is going to have the opinion that it is wrong and not in the piggies best interests.

For me, fleece is just too much hard work. So I stick with my megazorb/auboise/hay/newspaper combo which works well for me. I'm sure my piggies would probably be happier on fleece as it's more cosy but I can't justify it. I'm sure some people would "look down" on me for using that type of bedding but you can't please everyone.

For people who use fleece, I think you should just go with it. Although the article is very interesting and has some valid points, at the end of the day we do live in a cotton wool society and unless you had a genuine issue with fungal infections etc a few germs aren't going to do piggies any harm. The same as how, a few germs don't do babies or humans any harm either.

I've been picking up guinea pig poo and forgetting to wash my hands for years now and I'm still alive :(|)
 
I'm really grateful for the article, as have been washing my fleece at 30... What is the highest temperature you can wash fleece and vetbed at without shrinking?
 
youthnovels said:
I think whatever you do, someone is going to have the opinion that it is wrong and not in the piggies best interests.

For me, fleece is just too much hard work. So I stick with my megazorb/auboise/hay/newspaper combo which works well for me. I'm sure my piggies would probably be happier on fleece as it's more cosy but I can't justify it. I'm sure some people would "look down" on me for using that type of bedding but you can't please everyone.

For people who use fleece, I think you should just go with it. Although the article is very interesting and has some valid points, at the end of the day we do live in a cotton wool society and unless you had a genuine issue with fungal infections etc a few germs aren't going to do piggies any harm. The same as how, a few germs don't do babies or humans any harm either.

I've been picking up guinea pig poo and forgetting to wash my hands for years now and I'm still alive :(|)
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:)):)):))
 
Hmm, an interesting article.

I don't think they're coming across as anti-fleece, I think they're just trying to point out that it takes temperatures of at least 60 (generally 67 is quoted) to kill any nasties living in it.

I've gone from fleece to vetbed and wash both at 90. I also wash my bedding at 90, and my clothes at 60. This whole washing at 30 just doesnt seem clean to me!
 
Amanda1801 said:
I don't think they're coming across as anti-fleece, I think they're just trying to point out that it takes temperatures of at least 60 (generally 67 is quoted) to kill any nasties living in it.
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I interpreted this comment about the use of cheap fleece made for human use to be most definitely anti-fleece (and anti fleece users!):
"Unfortunately however appealing or cute this may look, or easy and acceptable to maintain in the Human home, it is not providing the needs as outlined by the Animal Welfare Act. If your equine bedding (or the like) does not fit in with your house, then maybe guinea pigs don't either?"
 
missy said:
I interpreted this comment about the use of cheap fleece made for human use to be most definitely anti-fleece (and anti fleece users!):
"Unfortunately however appealing or cute this may look, or easy and acceptable to maintain in the Human home, it is not providing the needs as outlined by the Animal Welfare Act. If your equine bedding (or the like) does not fit in with your house, then maybe guinea pigs don't either?"
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I appear to have missed that bit! I admit, I was reading it on my phone whilst in the chinese takeaway :))
 
Whatever I use on the base of the cage, I always put lots and I mean absolutely loads of hay over it. My piggies love to get under the hay and play in the hay, as well as eating lots too. Whenever I add more hay they popcorn around. My 20 piggies and two bunnies go through a whole bale of hay a week.
 
I think the article is good and raises important issues if an owner is using, or considering using fleece or vet bedding.

The importance of high temp washes in order to kill off bacteria and fungal spores; and of washing on a regular basis (every few days) to prevent any problems regarding animals sitting on wet bedding. (Just as you would regularly remove wet spots in other bedding.)

The importance of providing a pile of hay in which the guinea pigs can forage. This is a natural and important behaviour for their mental well being. SOME people with fleece bedding seem to go out of their way to have all hay tucked into hayracks preventing it dirtying up their fleece, but totally neglecting the animals natural instincts. Others will provide space in which guinea pigs can benefit from hay in which they can nest, forage and generally have fun, whilst still keeping some clean hay in hayracks for them to eat.

Personally, I didn't like using fleece. But so long as it's cleaned often enough, and at high enough temps and a foraging area is available to the pigs; I don't see a problem if it's what other people like.

Many people sing the praises of fleece; I think it's good that there is an article that refers to the possible pitfalls and how to work around those.

To write an article that comes across as "anti-fleece" would serve no purpose to someone in the business Karen is in; but to improve lives of guinea pigs and highlight problems she's become aware of through her line of work.
 
I don't know what to make of this really :( I have used various bedding over my piggie owning years, from wood shavings to just plain paper & hay. With my new piggies I am trying fleece & so far so good, yes you have to wash a lot, I change the whole lot twice a week, do a 40 degree wash because I am worried it will shrink otherwise. It is always spotless when it comes out & I dry it outside. Yes it is a little bit more maintenance but over the years I had a few piggies that by digging under their hay have had hay pokes in their eyes. I still give them a pile of hay but after eating they trot off to their hideys or just lie on the fleece for a snooze, they clearly love it :)) I put them in a pop up run with just newspaper when I clean the C & C out & you can see they don't like it as much rolleyes

I will add that when on newspaper & hay mine did have the odd yellowing tummy from where wee sat on top of the paper, so I can't see why fleece would be more likely to cause any problems at all!
 
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