My Guinea Pig Eats Newspaper

[TrisFrayPotter]

My piggy has been scratching the newspaper that we line the bottom of her hutch with, and then eating it. I'm not so worried about the scratching, but I'm worried about her eating it. She has 24/7 access to food, so I don't know why she would be doing this. She's only started within the past few days, and has never done this before. Is it bad, and if it is, what make her stop?

 

[artcasper]

mine often have a nibble of the newspaper and cardboard from their boxes/hideys.. i don't think it does them any harm but someone more experienced will know...

 

[Wiebke]

My piggy has been scratching the newspaper that we line the bottom of her hutch with, and then eating it. I'm not so worried about the scratching, but I'm worried about her eating it. She has 24/7 access to food, so I don't know why she would be doing this. She's only started within the past few days, and has never done this before. Is it bad, and if it is, what make her stop?

Guinea pigs love newspaper and other rough fibre. If they have been very ill, like after a bad tummy upset, a strong antibiotic or an operation, they actually crave it. A little hut made out of brown cardboard or a brown paper bag filled with hay (please always cut through any handles) make good objects to vent their destructive side.
Guinea Pig Toys

 

[Flutterby]

My Gwen loves plain cardboard and has been eating it more over the last couple of weeks as she's been under the weather. The newspaper won't do them any harm as most paper makers use vegetable based inks.

 

[Patchwork Staccato]

My two guinea pigs would just dig the hay out of the way, and just nibble on the newspaper. It doesn't do them any harm, as they have been doing it since I got them. When I saw them do it I was very worried, as I thought maybe the hutch was to small so they were trying to escape from it. But after a few weeks I realised that it didn't hurt them one bit.