Panicking that the hay i gave guinea pigs was mouldy!

[ChesterandPatch2025]

DH brought a couple of bags of hay at the weekend, one absolutely fine but other I opened and thought it was maybe slightly damp, abit fuzzy/dusty looking maybe afew bits looked abit spekeldy.I left it out, thinking i might take it back to the shop.
Today, I looked at it again and the top seemed dry, no visible mould.I pulled therest out and it smelt abit foisty but didn't seem damp....it did seem quite dusty though and now worrying incase it was mould spores.Hadn't had a chance to return it and thinking the guinea pigs might need some tonight, seeing as it didn't seem too bad i put it into the hutch.
Guinea pigs went back from the run early evening into the hutch.I gave them some food about half an hour ago and noticed there was the foisty smell in the hutch.I also noticed one guinea pig seemed abit raspy breathing wise and also he coughed abit.Obviously I pulled all of the hay out straight away incase it was that causing it.Other guinea pig seemed fine but he was downstairs so more ventilation.
They also got caught out in the run in an unexpected shower earlier (did have igloos and didn't get wet themselves, but obviously still damp air) so don't know if that helped.
I really hope the boys are OK....panicking abit now as Google says if the hay had mould it could cause serious health problems or be fatal.
They were only in there with it for probably 3hrs or so, but obviously they could have ingested a fair bit within that time and were breathing near it

 

[Wiebke]

DH brought a couple of bags of hay at the weekend, one absolutely fine but other I opened and thought it was maybe slightly damp, abit fuzzy/dusty looking maybe afew bits looked abit spekeldy.I left it out, thinking i might take it back to the shop.
Today, I looked at it again and the top seemed dry, no visible mould.I pulled therest out and it smelt abit foisty but didn't seem damp....it did seem quite dusty though and now worrying incase it was mould spores.Hadn't had a chance to return it and thinking the guinea pigs might need some tonight, seeing as it didn't seem too bad i put it into the hutch.
Guinea pigs went back from the run early evening into the hutch.I gave them some food about half an hour ago and noticed there was the foisty smell in the hutch.I also noticed one guinea pig seemed abit raspy breathing wise and also he coughed abit.Obviously I pulled all of the hay out straight away incase it was that causing it.Other guinea pig seemed fine but he was downstairs so more ventilation.
They also got caught out in the run in an unexpected shower earlier (did have igloos and didn't get wet themselves, but obviously still damp air) so don't know if that helped.
I really hope the boys are OK....panicking abit now as Google says if the hay had mould it could cause serious health problems or be fatal.
They were only in there with it for probably 3hrs or so, but obviously they could have ingested a fair bit within that time and were breathing near it

Hi and welcome

Please never feed musty smelly hay to guinea pigs. It can happen if either the hay is not completely dried out when filled into bags or moisture gets into bags through tiny holes or rips during storage.

The short time should not have done any major harm unless you have a piggy with already existing respiratory problems or if you are feeding unsuitable hay on a more regular, long term basis.

Please take the piggies out and give the hutch a proper deep clean from scratch to remove any tiny fungal spores if that helps to ease your mind.

Report/return the mouldy bag to where it was bought.

 

[Betsy]

Hay should smell sweet, like honey, when you open a new bag. If it doesn't don't use it.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Occasionally as mentioned hay can sweat and keep damp if bag up that way.
If not sure DONT USE.

 

[ChesterandPatch2025]

Thanks for the helpful replies! Luckily both guineas seem absolutely fine today thank goodness.... glad i pulled it out promptly and will definitley be careful not to make the same mistake in future!

 

[RosieLily]

Good-good, make sure to keep an eye on your little ones! Some years ago I dropped some hay in the cage that just exploded with this gross moldy dust. I took it out instantly and cleaned the cage, but darling Rosie still managed to develop a URI!

Luckily it was an easy fix. Took my whistling girl to the vet and a round of antibiotics cleared her right up.

Just so you know what to look out for if anything does happen!