My Boys Have Eaten Something They Shouldn't!

[Betsy]

Yesterday when I put Dennis and Christian to bed I noticed they had had a nibble on a bush that has grown itself in my garden so I don't even know what it is let alone if it is piggie safe! I blame myself as I thought I had put the run far enough away from this bush so that they wouldn't be able to reach it. They had plenty of nice juicy fresh grass to eat in the run. I have hardly got a wink of sleep worrying about them and I'm scared to go outside to check on them in case they aren't OK. They were OK last night.

 

[Redribbon]

Have you got a pic of the bush?

 

[Betsy]

Here is the bush........



I have just checked on my boys and they seem fine. Scoffing hay and chatting to the girlies.

 

[Deleted member 114675]

it's good to hear they're OK

We have a privet hedge in our garden . When I need to put their run near the hedge, I put a groundsheet over that side of the run to make sure no bits of hedge poke in .

 

[Betsy]

Thanks. I'm rather relieved I must say!

I'll put an old sheet or something next to the bush next time. What a good idea. Why didn't I think of that!

 

[Redribbon]

Looks most like viburnum tinus, it's classed in most areas toxic. Glad your boys are ok

 

[Betsy]

So am I! I only think they had a small amount of it. I won't be putting the run there anymore!

 

[Wiebke]

Just put a blanket or some cardboard on that side of the run when you push it up against the bush, so they can't eat it through the bars. That is what I do with my smallish lawn and any boarder plants I don't want to be nibbled.

Good that all has gone well. it depends on the toxicity and the ingested amount of the poisonous substance whether you get problems. Thankfully, in most cases there aren't. Guinea pigs have double the number of taste buds compared to us humans. Most poisonous plants taste bad, so will not be eaten.